is comfort what we really want?

This weekend I finished reading Pierre Berton's, "The Comfortable Pew." Written in 1965 and commissioned by the Anglican Church of Canada, this book is: 'a critical look at the Church in the New Age' (that age being the mid-1960's). The scary thing is, most of his critiques of the church are just as applicable today, so I strongly recommend reading it if you're at all concerned about the current state of the Church and where we Christians are headed. I thought I'd just share a few quotes:

"In short, the maintenance of the religious establishment has become an end in itself and not a means, something more important than Christian principle, Christian action, or even real Christian brotherhood." (p.82) is it possible that if we focused on mission outside the walls of 'the church' as opposed to institutional survival that we would in fact succeed in surviving?

and

"When Christianity becomes part of the religious and social establishment, when it weaves itself into the national creed, it becomes an inflexible religion, suffering truly from a kind of 'rightness' that renders it disdainful of new conditions, mores, habits, or attitudes. It looks back upon the past rather than forward into the future, until it becomes itself fossilized, using symbols and language no longer appropriate for its place and time." (p. 101)i think that the church has in fact been making some strides in regards to this matter, but of course there is still plenty of room for improvement.

In a nutshell, Berton argues that the Church is out of touch with the world and by ignoring the reality of its context, it is ensuring that it remains irrelevant. Since when was Christianity about upholding the status quo? The mainline churches in Canada are undeniably declining in their membership and their cultural, social and political influence. How can we change our old ways to address this new reality in a way that is in tune with the spirit? Read this book...

The Church of Christ, in Every Age

It's Pentecost today - a remembrance and celebration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and the church that was to come. I went to church this morning after missing last week...it was my first time back at Advent Lutheran since early April and felt like a true homecoming. I feel so fortunate to have found such a warm and open congregation with whom to worship. The theme of today's sermon was "God is love" - a very basic message but one that we often seem to lose sight of. As Christians we are called above all else to love each other, whether friends, acquaintances or strangers and regardless of class, creed, background, etc. What does it mean to be "church" today or rather, how is the Spirit calling the Church to be/show God's love on this earth? An important and necessary question to ask ourselves on this day of Pentecost. God has sent her Spirit to be among us, to guide us and lead us in love. The church has a responsibility to model this radical love to all the world, particularly when it comes to honouring, embracing and standing in solidarity with our gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, transsexual and queer neighbours.

I wanted to share the lyrics of one of the hymns we sang this morning. This is a familiar one but the words had never struck me the way they did this morning. A very 'social gospel' themed hymn, I think we should sing this every Sunday to remind us of what it means to be a church in any age:

The church of Christ in every age,
beset by change but Spirit-led,
must claim and test its heritage
and keep on rising from the dead.

Across the world, across the street,
the victims of injustice cry
for shelter and for bread to eat,
and never live until they die.

Then let the servant church arise,
a caring church that longs to be
a partner in Christ's sacrifice,
and clothed in Christ's humanity.

For he alone, whose blood was shed,
can cure the fever in our blood,
and teach us how to share our bread
and feed the starving multitude.

We have no mission but to serve
in full obedience to our Lord:
to care for all, without reserve,
and spread his liberating word.

Words: Fred Pratt Green
Words © 1971 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
For permission to reproduce this hymn, contact:
In US & Canada: Hope Publishing Company, www.hopepublishing.com
Rest of the World: Stainer & Bell Ltd., www.stainer.co.uk

Summer School

This summer I am taking my first summer course ever: Canadian Political Theologies. I have been surprised (or maybe not) by how hard it has been to motivate myself for this course. I don't have to take any summer courses but this one sounded really interesting and is only a summer offering so I went for it. And it's not like I have anything more productive to do with my time. But it seems to come down to the reality that summer and school should just not go together. I need my four month break from studies...my head is not in the right space to do school in the 'off-season.' My motivation difficulties aside, this course is actually pretty interesting. We've been learning about the Social Gospel movement, Christian Socialism, Roman Catholic social teachings, etc. and the influence they have had on the Canadian political scene. As much as Canada has become a secular society, these movements have left an indelible mark on our political and social system - go CCF-NDP! I guess the question we are asking throughout this course is: what political role should/can the church play in our current context? Probably not a question many Lutherans might ask themselves...we don't have much of a history of political activism in Canada.

In other news, I have found a placement for my contextual education course next year. I will be spending my 8 hours a week at Toronto Urban Native Ministry, which I am very excited about. I don't know many more details at this point but I met with the man who will be my supervisor earlier this week and I think it will be a great placement. Hoping to learn lots about Aboriginal culture and Christianity, and also to discern ways in which I might play a role in the healing of the relationship between First Nations people and the rest of Canadians.

Back in the T.dot

I have arrived safely back in Toronto, for all those of you who may have been concerned. And for those of who you didn't even know I had been away. I just spent two wonderful weeks in western Canada - 4 days in Vancouver and 11 in Regina. It was a relatively quick trip and I was most certainly not ready to leave Regina but I guess it had to be done. I took a walk this evening to explore my new surroundings a little more...there's a lovely bike trail that begins at the end of my block and I ventured as far as the Canadian National Exhibition and Ontario Place. It was actually a very beautiful night in Toronto. I have to admit that the sky was looking pretty nice...which is a big compliment coming from a prairie girl. Although it was no Saskatchewan sky.

Kind of fun...my flight this morning was delayed. Initially I was meant to fly to Calgary and then on to Toronto but when I showed up at the airport they offered to book me on a direct flight leaving at 11:20am. It meant a little more sitting around the airport (I was originally supposed to leave at 9:50) but I still ended up arriving in Toronto earlier than I would have otherwise. To make the deal even sweeter, I was given $7 of complimentary snacks on my flight because they had changed my flight - how great is that!

Well I'm still on Saskatchewan time but it's 11:30 here and I have commitments tomorrow so I guess I should try and sleep.

My Orange Room

I finally made the move out of residence this past weekend to a beautiful townhouse just off the waterfront. Here are a few pics of my wonderful orange room.

settling in and winding down

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted. But how often do I say that...it's always too long between posts. But now that school is finished I have no more excuses. It's been a busy 8 months but it's nice to have these end points when you can look back and see how far you've come. All the new experiences I have had, the new things I have learned, the new friends I have made. I can read Greek now! (more or less). And things to look forward to as well. I've just moved into a really great place right on the harbourfront, I'll be starting a new job in a few weeks and next week I'll be in Vancouver for the CTSA meeting to begin planning for next year's theological students' conference. It's been a good transition and I'm looking forward to what's ahead. Life is good!

radical inclusivity

Just last night I began to filter through the notes I had taken at the conference in Montreal earlier this month on theology and sustainability. I had big plans to write numerous posts to share all my new knowledge but somehow (well I guess I know how) life gets in the way. I only have 3 weeks of class left in this semester! A little scary but I have faith I'll make it through ;) Those of us who were at the conference will be sharing our experiences at school this week so I figured this would be a good time to start blogging my experiences as well...bit by bit.

The keynote speaker for this conference was a woman from New Zealand named Jenny Plane Te Paa. She was an incredible speaker - intelligent, passionate, realistic yet hopeful. She spoke about the need to build sustainable relationships with each other before or as we work for sustainability with(in) creation. While we cannot deny our past of colonialism, imperialism, exploitation and oppression, if we are to make a future for ourselves on this planet we must recognise that we are all in this together - we must practice radical inclusivity. We must also be in right relationship with God before we can be in right relationship with each other and the world. While the idea of practicing radical inclusivity is somewhat abstract Jenny grounded it somewhat by explaining that we need to look for common projects. In other words, what are those issues that affect us across cultural and socio-economic borders? Significantly, these are often environmental issues (and of course others). If we come together to work on a common project we create connections (and hopefully relationships) with others whom we might never have had any contact otherwise. What common projects can we work towards in Canada to build sustainability?

pool humour

it may just be lifeguard humour but i think this video is hilarious...the really funny bit is near the end so don't stop watching too early.

Modern Day Monastic

I have given up tv for Lent (especially downloads) and already I'm finding other outlets for my procrastination. But since I don't consider updating my blog procrastination I am going to make a concerted effort at posting a little more often. Currently I am 'procrastinating' from doing my readings for History of Christianity. Next week we will be looking at monasticism in the 4th century so that's what I've been reading about this afternoon...until I started surfing the net. But back to the monasticism, I am just floored at the parallels I see with our society. Or maybe I'm surprised at how much I can relate to these early monastics - those who were seeking solitude from the world.

The earliest monastics were hermits who simply wanted to escape the stresses and distractions of society. By isolating themselves they could dedicate more time to studying scripture and furthering their own spiritual growth. However, if they were 'successful' they would of course gain followers and their knowledge and spiritual discipline would gain them renown, sometimes throughout the empire. Soon they would find themselves being called back to the 'real world' to positions of leadership in the church (even against their wishes at times). Eventually monasticism became a communal enterprise and apparently many people became converts to Christianity because they were attracted by the ideals of simplistic living and service.

I find myself caught in this web between wanting to move to the country, far far away from the 'hustle and bustle' of the city life; to escape what sometimes feels like madness to be closer to nature and to God. But then I feel this call to ministry and service - something that of course cannot be done in isolation. Somehow it was very comforting to realise that my desire to cut myself off from the craziness of this world isn't a new thing. Although our globalised world is wholly different from the 4th century Roman Empire there were perhaps more similarities than we are sometime aware. And I know that no matter how often I try to escape the world I will be drawn back into it...and that's probably a good thing.

A Beautiful Thing

I came across this story today and thought it was one of the most beautiful things. An eternal embrace. I think I'd like to be buried like this...instead of locked up in some box.
Here's the blurb from CBC:

ROME (AP) - Italy's recently discovered prehistoric couple will continue their 5,000-year-old embrace undisturbed through Valentine's Day and beyond.

The two skeletons unearthed last week will be scooped out of the earth together to undergo tests before going on display in the northern Italian city of Mantua, archaeologists said Tuesday.

This file photo provided by the Archaeological Society SAP in Mantua, northern Italy, on Wednesday, Feb, 7, 2007 shows a pair of human skeletons found Monday Feb. 6 at a construction site outside Mantua. (AP Photo/Archaeological Society SAP, ho)This file photo provided by the Archaeological Society SAP in Mantua, northern Italy, on Wednesday, Feb, 7, 2007 shows a pair of human skeletons found Monday Feb. 6 at a construction site outside Mantua. (AP Photo/Archaeological Society SAP, ho)

The pair, buried between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago in the late Neolithic period, are believed to be a man and a woman who died young, because their teeth were found intact. Archaeologists have hailed the find, saying that double burials from that period are rare and none have been found in such a touching pose.

The burial was unearthed on the outskirts of Mantua during construction work. The site is located just 40 kilometres south of Verona, the city where Shakespeare set the story of "Romeo and Juliet" and the discovery fuelled musings in the media about prehistoric love.

Archaeologists also said there was little doubt the couple's pose was born of a deep love, but warned it would be almost impossible to determine the exact nature of their relationship and how they died.

Mantua's archaeological office said in a statement Tuesday that, in some cases of the period, the wife would be sacrificed when her husband died and buried with him. However, the statement said that "at the current stage of research" there was no evidence that this was what happened to the Mantua pair.

After undergoing lab tests, the couple are to be displayed at Mantua's Archaeological Museum, the statement said.

The discovery was made in a region rich in Neolithic treasures, including some 30 burial sites, all single, as well as the remains of prosperous villages filled with artifacts made of flint, pottery and animal horns.

Montreal Here I Come!

Well it has been rather a long time since I've posted on here. What can I say? I'm just getting lazy...and honestly, I've basically just been doing a whole lot of school work. But just this morning I woke up to find that I had received a wonderful email. A blog-worthy email you might say ;)

From March 3-9 the Canadian Theological Students Association is hosting their annual conference in Montreal on the theme of Theology and Sustainability. My school, Emmanuel College, pays for two student representatives to attend and I am one of the lucky chosen! So yes, I will miss a whole week of class but I can't wait. To spend an entire week exploring issues of sustainability in a theological context with other students from across Canada representing all different denominations...it's going to be pretty neat. And a whole week in Montreal! All around a very cool opportunity.

Apart from this exciting news, since being back in Toronto I've been really busy with school. Again this weekend I have three assignments to write. But only one more week of class before reading week. And then some time to relax ;) Or more likely, get ahead on some of my work for March because God knows, there is a lot of it.