Time for a Canadian Arbo(u)r Day?

 

It's not often that I envy the United States of America, especially in the current chaotic climate, although the Grand Canyon is very cool, not to mention the sequoias. And I'm sure that I've never said a positive word about the late, not-so-great President Richard Nixon. Yet today I wish Canada had an Arbor Day, a day to be mindful of trees and to plant them. It was proposed  by a journalist in Nebraska in 1872 as a project to plant trees in that state. Fast forward nearly a century to 1970, the first year of Earth Day, when Nixon established the last Friday of April as Arbor Day. Well done Tricky Dick. 

You'll know by now that I have something of a trees, trees, trees outlook. We have planted ten or so on our suburban lot where there were already a fair number and we don't really have room for more. Watching them grow during the past eleven years in this spot has been satisfying.

At the beginning of this April Earth Month I led worship at Trenton United and during the tree-themed service I noted the hundreds of references to trees in the bible. Something of my enthusiasm must have rubbed off because there are now plans afoot to plant shrubs and trees around the church, including a burning bush (how  biblical!) and a lilac.  TUC folk are doers, God/Creator bless them. 

Here's the question: would we need to add the "u" and  call it Arbour Day if we established one in Canada? It would be a worthwhile way to conclude Earth Month each year. 

Finding our Way in Grief

 

From “Empty and Me: A Tale of Friendship and Loss,” by Azam Mahdavi. 

Illustrated by Maryam Tahmasebi. Translated by Parisa Saranj.

A couple of months ago our son, Isaac, pastor of Trenton United Church, asked if I would lead a session or sessions on grief. I wasn't sure if I was the right person to ask. Yes, I have experienced loss and sorrow on a personal level. And in my role as a UCC minister for nearly four decades I presided at somewhere between 450 funerals and memorial services, everyone from preemie babies to centenarians. Many of those occasions  were for people I knew well, along with members of their families. I have certainly seen grief in many manfestations, everything from stoicism to emotional expression of biblical proportions.

 While I did lots of "celebrations of life" I was always mindful that grief is real and must be acknowledged and that the service is just one aspect of the process of mourning and grieving. I always wanted to uphold our resurrection hope in Christ but not at the expense of denying the profound sense of loss.

Preparing has taken me on an interesting path and the resources that have come my way have been downright providential. 

We begin three sessions this evening and here is the outline we've shared, for what it's worth. I'll see who shows up!

Finding Our Way in Grief – Study and Discussion Group

Is it okay for Christians to grieve, given our Easter hope? Of course it is!

We all feel loss, regardless of our age, our circumstances, and our religious convictions.

Join us for three Thursday evening sessions (6:30 - 8:00) to explore and discuss together how we grapple with grief.

Week 1 – April 25 – You Are Not Alone – grief is unique for each person, there are no universal expectations nor clearly defined stages. Our grief often comes back to visit, unbidden.

So how do we navigate our personal losses in ways which allow us to move forward, realizing that "one size does not fit all?"

Week 2 May 2 – We Are Not Alone – the ways in which our society grieves collectively are changing, rapidly.

What does that mean for our communities of faith, once the focal point for grieving together? How do we mourn the loss of our congregational friends?

Week 3 May 9 – The End Comes For Everyone – we will engage in dialogue with local funeral directors about the practicalities of funerals, memorials services, and the growing number of alternatives for farewell and burial.

Join us for these sessions and maybe bring along someone who is finding his or her way in grief.

World Good Book Day?

 

Yesterday was World Book Day, an opportunity for bibliophiles everywhere to celebrate the everyday miracle of the printed and now spoken word. Books come in so many forms, including audio and Braille for those who are vision-impaired. I'll admit to having a large print edition show up as a library request and enjoying the format in my dotage. I am still an avid reader despite of actual books despite my screen addled brain. I enjoy fiction and non-fiction from different cultures. We're happy that our four grandchildren get lost in books with pages that turn. 

That term "bibliophile" to describe book lovers sounds a lot like "bible" and the root for both is the Greek "biblio." The Christian bible is actually 66 books in the two testaments and the apocrypha adds some more. Often described as the Good Book the bible is a magnificent jumble of myth, history, prophecy, liturgical resources, poetry, historical accounts, letters, apocalyptic writings, and what we call gospels. 

There are plenty of critics who would take away the term "magnificent" and condemn it as a big mess during more harm than good, and we can understand why. Some Christian communities claim they take a literal approach to the bible which usually means that they figure everybody should adhere to their interpretation. Too often scripture is used as a weapon rather than an invitation to the wild and wonderful world of God's steadfast love through time. 

Not long ago a family member attempted to use the genocidal final scene from the book of Esther as a justification for Israel's aggression in Gaza and we were aghast. Esther is a small book in the Hebrew scriptures that doesn't mention God once, nor the covenant, nor does the story take place in Israel. This sort of proof-texting dishonours God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Using the bible or any religious text to justify violence or marginalize others is sinful and shameful.  

Just the same, the bible is the Good Book for me, and I continue to learn and grow as I explore this sweeping collection. Is it inspired by God? I would say an emphatic "yes" and I want to continue to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to my heart and mind as I humbly open the Word on my own and with others. 

The Uncertainty of Passover 2024

This is the first day of the Jewish Pesach or Passover for 2024. Because Passover, like Easter, is tied to the full moon the dates vary from year to year and many years this Jewish festival coincides with Holy Week in the Christian calendar. Last year we were in Israel when Passover, Holy Week and Ramadan overlapped. Tonight is the full moon for Passover so the observance begins a month after Holy Week this year.

A lot has been written about how fraught and uncertain this Passover is compared to others in recent memory. The Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel in October of last year resulted in 1200 deaths and the taking of prisoners. More than 100 are still held hostage and Jews around the world are asking how they can celebrate the historic freedom from bondage when these people are still captive. Some Jewish groups are urging families to set a place at the table to honour those who are still in bondage. 

Other Jews have expressed their ambivalence because of the war in Gaza during which tens of thousands of Palestinians have died. What about their lives and liberation? 

Many Jews are anxious and fearful because of the rise of anti-Semitism in places far from Israel/Gaza, including here in Canada. Are they at risk as they gather to celebrate Passover, in their homes and synagogues and schools? This resonates with persecution of Jews through the centuries, often around Holy Week and Passover. 

I'm grateful that the United Church of Canada has expressed good wishes to the Jewish community as Passover commences. Christian communities everywhere need to decry anti-Jewish sentiment and hate speech. Jesus was a Jew who celebrated Passover as his last meal with his disciples.

This is not at odds with the UCC calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and the end of violence in the West Bank. Our commitment is to peace everywhere in the world as followers of Jesus, the Risen Christ. 

I do wish Chag Pesach Sameach to Jewish friends and the world-wide Jewish community.

Earth Day for the Love of Creation

 

 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look[a] into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.  They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”  When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,“Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 

                      John 20:11-16 NRSVue

As comes the breath of spring with light and mirth and song,

so does your Spirit bring new days brave, free, and strong.

You come with thrill of life to chase hence winter's breath,

to hush to peace the strife of sin that ends in death.

                       Voices United 373 vs 1

Happy Earth Day! Happy? Really? In the midst of the gloomy news? 

 It is so tempting to downplay the celebratory aspect of this annual recognition of our planetary home, often termed Turtle Island by Indigenous peoples. Humans have made a mess of Earth in many ways and recent reports tell us of the decline in bird species, the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef, and the omnipresence of plastics. The first scientific reports of greenhouse gases and global heating were published in the mid-19th century yet nearly 200 years later we are still in willful denial, with our Canadian government actually subsidizing  fossil fuel corporations and building pipelines with taxpayer money. 

And yet... there are many voices shouting in the wilderness, inviting us to change our destructive ways. And as Christians we can connect the Risen Christ, mistaken by Mary as a gardener with the still abundant diversity of Creation if we're willing to look and listen. 

We are not hope-less and it is important that we spend time in Creation, as created beings to truly appreciate being Groundlings. formed of the earth. 

Somehow Ruth has agreed to bundle up and go for a paddle on what is literally a frosty morning in our part of Ontario. She indulges my insanity with grace and is the best possible companion for outdoor forays. Even on suspect days our spirits are lifted by venturing outside and each season offers its gifts. I do love the promise of Spring and the miraculous emergence of creatures that tucked themselves away against the cold or made their way to warmer climes for a few months. 

As I have mentioned, regularly, we almost always pause for a few moments to give thanks for Creator and Creation, an act of humility and praise. I intend to be happy on this Earth Day, although you might say a prayer for our extremities as we paddle this morning!

Our United Church Moderator, Carmen Landsdowne, has asked congregations from sea to sea to sea to recognize this as Earth Week and acknowledge the love of Creation. Here is her invitation and a link to UCC resources. 

Walking in Creation, I am filled with a love for all that surrounds me.... This abundant life is hurt and threatened by our greenhouse gas emissions and consequent warming of the planet. Livelihoods around the world are being disrupted. We need to summon a fierce love and act together. During Earth Week, April 21‒28, let’s show up For the Love of Creation. 

Moderator the Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne

https://united-church.ca/news/together-love-creation-earth-week-2024#:~:text=We%20need%20to%20summon%20a,For%20the%20Love%20of%20Creation.&text=During%20Earth%20Week%202024%2C%20The,opens%20in%20a%20new%20tab)%20.

Sea Spray, Winds of God, &...Plastics?

I feel the winds of God today; today my sail I lift,

though heavy oft with drenching spray  and torn with many a rift;

if hope but light the water's crest, and Christ my bark will use,

I'll seek the seas at his behest, and brave another cruise.

Voices United 625 vs 1

The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
    the floods have lifted up their voice;
    the floods lift up their roaring.
4 More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
    more majestic than the waves of the sea,
    majestic on high is the Lord!

Psalm 93: 4-5 NRSVue

This will be an unusual year for us as we embark on two trips within Canada, one to the west and the other to the east. We will be visiting Haida Gwaii the archipelago off the coast of British Columbia and then later in the summer, Change Islands, adjacent to Fogo Island in Newfoundland. We've been to Change Islands often and our elderly neighbour is bemused by our predeliction for heading out on windy and stormy days for the thrill of big waves and salt spray. 

It was a jolt to read this week that the aerosol "forever chemicals" from plastics in sea spray could be as toxic as industrial air pollution. While we would like to believe that these remote locations wouldn't be affected in the same way as other parts of the world this might be a delusion.

                                                                             Ruth in Iceland 

Plastics are now everywhere, including our arteries and it shouldn't be a shock or surprise. Half of all the plastic ever produced have been created in the last fifteen years. This addiction to plastics in every aspect of our lives threatens to overwhelm us. 

This year the Earth Day (tomorrow) theme is Planet vs Plastics with a call to reduce the production of plastics by 60 % and by 2040. This seems hugely ambitious yet vital for the wellbeing of all living creatures. 

One of my favourite hymns, I Feel the Winds of God Today, invokes the exhilaration of the voyage of faith in Christ. On this Earth Sunday the journey to eliminate plastics doesn't have quite the same cachet yet it can be the Creator's call for this moment. 

MLK, Going Deeper

 

Some of you may recall a blog from at least a year ago about the acclaimed biography of Martin Luther King Jr., King: A Life  written by Jonathan Eig. There have been many but Eig's is the first after FBI suveillance documents were released. MLK was hated by FBI director J. Edgar Hoover who didn't everything possible to discredit King, including fabricating "evidence" of his associations with communists.

It has taken me all this time to finish the book, all 550 pages of it. I am not a slow reader and the writing is superb and insightful but the next library book I put on reserve would come available and Eig's volume would gather dust for a while.

I came to the end with a profound sadness about King, not just because he was killed at the age of 39 leaving behind a wife and four children. Despite plenty of resistance and constant death threats MLK was an admired man around the time of the March on Washington and his Nobel Peace Prize. Civil Rights and Voters Rights became accepted and supported national causes by the majority of Americans. 

Martin came to realize that The Viet Nam War was killing a disproportionate number of Black men and diverting billions from addressing poverty. When he began speaking out against the war even those closest to him advised against it and his patriotism was questioned in media that had once supported him. He went from being near the top of lists of admired American leaders to 40% popularity in polls. There was a growing tide of rejection amongst Blacks as well as many grew weary of the notion of non-violent change through the Civil Rights movement.  

As the years went by Martin was hospitalized a number of times for exhaustion and depression, although efforts were made to hide this. President Lyndon Johnson had been a somewhat reluctant ally but turned against MLK when be became vocal about the war. 

Near the end of his short life he longed to return to the pulpit even though he had plenty of opportunities to speak, often several times a day at rallies. He needed to cease from being an icon and return to being a pastor and person. 

I would highly recommend this biography for lots of reasons but it is a cautionary tale about our heroes and martyrs. In a time when King is often mined for soundbite phrases, even by those on the political right, understanding him for his courage and vision is important. 

Considering the Birds on Earth Sunday

 

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

                                    Matthew 6:25-26 NRSVue

On Sunday morning Trenton United Church will acknowledge Earth Sunday, the Sunday closest to Earth Day on April 22nd. I spoke about trees on the first Sunday of this Earth Month and now we will participate in an intergenerational morning of worship and exploration of Creation related themes. Ruth and I have been asked to decorate our worship space with flowers and foliage while congregation members have been invited to bring in a favourite plant to contribute to the visual display. 

We have also been asked to do a brief information session on birds following the service while our young people are involved in theme-related crafts. We'll keep it low-key, in part because we wouldn't call ourselves "birders", those who are dedicated to bird identification and have an impressive base of knowledge. 

We do have multiple feeders outside our windows that are a constant source of pleasure for us and visitors. We figure we've seen about twenty species of birds in our backyard, maybe more. Now that we have the wonderful, free Merlin birdsong identification app we realize that there are species around us that are heard even when they're not seen. Both the Sibley Birds and Audubon apps are excellent and we still have our "old school" bird guides. 

On Sunday we'll make sure to point out that birds are everywhere in the bible, including as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus makes reference to birds as well, which makes sense given that he spent a lot of time rambling around outside. I've mentioned that the Rift Valley from Africa to Europe is a migratory route for half a billion birds and Israel is along that path. 

Our rambling is what got us going in our bird interest. We'd be paddling and hiking and grew  curious about what we were seeing and hearing. While we've never joined a group of birders on a junket (or is that junco?) we are aware of the birds around us and have experienced some delightful moments. The bald eagle that flew out of a tree beside us as we paddled last week is an example of an avian thrill, but the flocks of goldfinches at our feeders these days are enchanting as well. 

There has never been a better time for birding resources than today. That said, the decline of bird species and numbers is deeply disturbing. It's estimated that in North America there are  nearly 3 billion fewer birds today than in 1970. Paying attention and giving thanks to the Creator for birds is an important aspect of our Christian discipleship. I have to wonder if Jesus were speaking today he would give birds more of a shout-out.

 

Living Streams in an Ontario Spring

 

Marsh Marigolds beside a Belleville stream this morning 

When the poor and needy seek water,

    and there is none,
    and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them,
    I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
18 I will open rivers on the bare heights
    and fountains in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water
    and the dry land springs of water.
19 

Isaiah 41: 17- 18 NRSVue 

There was considerable concern that the lack of snow this winter would mean limited Spring run-off. This affects river and lake levels and poses a problem for farmers. Thankfully, the last couple of weeks has brought a lot of rain in our part of Southern Ontario with a positive effect on waterways. There are creeks and other tributaries, marshes and swamps that are looking healthy in terms of water levels.

I've seen a few articles in the past couple of months about the buried urban streams of many towns and cities, part of the infrastructure ethos of another era to divert them through culverts and underground channels. The result has been issues of flooding as these conduits are unable to deal with the volume of water as we pave everything in sight and we dealing with more climate change super-charged storms. There was a media kerfuffle and right-wing wuffing about a "rain tax" in Toronto that was really a proposal to make property owners pay for practices contributing to run-off. Thanks to the outcry this has been scrapped.

                                                              Lost Rivers Map for Toronto  

Efforts are underway in many communities to free these waterways to reduce flooding risk and to create environments that support fish and trees, butterflies and birds. There are people who are doing the work of rediscovering these waterways, either as personal projects or part of municipal plans to restore them as buffer zones. Havergall College. a hoighty toighty girls school in Toronto, has embarked on an impressive project to restore a stream and the riparian landscape on its property. 

It got me thinking about the biblical praise for sources of water, so important in a land where there is no rain for months on end. When we were in Israel last year at this time the Spring rains had lingered and on hikes we were wading through raging streams that would dry up in Summer. Waterfalls along wadis were still in full force. Everything was green and in bloom but our family members assured us that this would change in a matter of weeks. 

A nearby evangelical church here in Belleville also came to mind, It is called Desert Stream, an active congregation with a huge parking lot. I wonder if they know that there is stream adjacent to their property running through a culvert to Lake Ontario, only a few hundreds metres away? And what runs off that parking area into the lake? 

This also got me pondering about what metaphorical "living waters' we need to bring to the surface in what often seem to be dried up mainline churches. How is Christ, Living Water, the source of abundance and refreshment -- dare I say revival?-- in such challenging times? 

                                             

                                                      Ruth at Ein Gedi is the Judean Wilderness, Israel 2023

 

Congratulations, Kai!

 

Mayor Neil Ellis (l) presents Kai Freeland with a certificate honouring his winning efforts at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Calgary, April 15, 2024. (Photo: Quinte News/John Spitters)

One of the reasons I accepted a call to Bridge St. United Church in Belleville years ago was seeing how three siblings with Down Syndrome were a welcome part of the congregation when we attended worship during a scouting mission. I have been retired in the community for almost seven years now and I still see them around town. Kai (above) is well into his thirties  yet he almost always gives me a hug when we meet and I'm touched by his warmth.

Kai is an accomplished person in various endeavours, including athletics. Belleville Council recognized him this week for his impressive medal wins of a gold, two silvers and a bronze representing Ontario at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Calgary. Next month he will  be competing in power lifting at the Special Olympics Spring Games in Waterloo.

Congratulations Kai for your prowess. You are an impressive human being, loved by God and your faith community. 

Ripley, Caravaggio, & World Art Day

Andrew Scott in Ripley (2024), viewing, from left, Caravaggio’s The Calling of St Matthew (1599–1600), The Inspiration of Saint Matthew (1602), and The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew (1599–1600). Photo: Netflix © 2023.

 The latest screen version of Patricia Highsmith's 1955 thriller novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley. is the Netflix series, Ripley. In an early episode the devious con artist Tom Ripley learns about the troubled Renaissance painter, Caravaggio, and claims that he would like to see his various works throughout Italy. 

Caravaggio was a boozer with a violent temper, a murderer who had to flee the authorities of his day. He has fascinated me since my art history undergrad days. as he does Ripley. Tom travels to various churches where his dramatic biblical paintings are displayed, a sort of foreshadowing of his own tangled web of deceit and violence. 

                                                              Supper at Emmaus -- Caravaggio 

Yesterday was  Unesco World Art Day, which has only been around for a decade or so. The April 15th date is supposedly the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci and the theme this years was "A GARDEN OF EXPRESSION: Cultivating Community Through Art." I like that there is a day to acknowledge art in its various facets including visual art, music, literature, and architecture. 

Art is often profoundly spiritual, even when it's secular, sacred although sometimes produced by those who are profane. What is sometimes labelled as Christian art can be maudlin propaganda of the worst kind and yet some of the greatest art has been commissioned for places of worship.

 I've written about my love for the relatively modern space of St. Andrew's UC in Sudbury, a congregation I served for eleven years. The sand-cast doors and art pieces, along with the design itself spoke to me every time I entered. I also served two congregations with large traditional sanctuaries I would describe as holy spaces. 

Of course, music can be sublime and worship is enhanced beyond measure by what occurs musically, including hymn singing.  I love the work of great writers such as Marilynne Robinson who create fine novels with powerful and subtle religious themes. 

Art gives intimations of the divine. Come, Holy Spirit, Come. 

                         St. Andrew's United Church Sudbury -- one of three Jordi Bonet doors 

                                                                Da Vinci designed staircase 

A Common Vision and Dream

 During worship yesterday we heard that United Church congregations across the country, including Trenton UC,  had voted in favour of supporting the development of an autonomous entity for Indigenous communities of faith with a historical connection with the UCC. This decision was reached through what we term a remit, a referendum of sorts that requires at least half of all UCC congregations (not just half of those that vote) to make a decision on substantial change for denominational policy. 

Our United Church history with Indigenous peoples is a long one, stretching back more than 200 years, before our denomination was formed by a union of the Presbyterians, Methodists, and Congregationalists. In a colonial worldview the goal was to "save the Indian heathens" without any respect for aboriginal spirituality or life on the land. The ghastly result was the United Church complicity in the Residential School system which took children from their families and were actually institutions of indoctrination and cultural genocide. Hundreds and perhaps thousands of Indigenous children died in these places and tens of thousands were scarred for life. 

Through the decades the United Church repented of these destructive, racist practices that were antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ through public apologies. Indigenous congregations were recognized as more than missions in a patriarchal system. Eventually the UCC changed its crest to reflect inclusion of and respect for Indigenous members. This included the "all my relations" phrase in Mohawk, and the colours of the four directions. 

 Then in 1988 the All Native Circle was formed with more than 30 congregations joining, including some from urban ministries. Some Indigenous congregations chose to remain as part of the Conferences they were part of for a variety of reasons. 

The remit is in an important progression in our UCC commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and I'm grateful that congregations across the country have chosen overwhelmingly to support it. Here is the United Church General Council news release and the response from the National Indigenous Council. 

Published On: April 9, 2024

Remit 1: Establishing an Autonomous National Indigenous Organization has passed. The National Indigenous Council, 16 regional councils, and 80% of pastoral charges in The United Church of Canada participated in the vote on Remit 1: Establishing an Autonomous National Indigenous Organization.  

In response, the National Indigenous Council shares their vision statement with the whole church. They offer words of thanks for all who have brought the church to this moment, and state their commitment to moving forward together on the path of Right Relations.

Statement from the National Indigenous Council on the Results of Remit 1: Establishing an Autonomous National Indigenous Organization

We, the National Indigenous Council, are a diverse group of Indigenous Peoples, rooted in distinct innate values and wisdom. We:

• carry a common vision and dream
• respect everyone’s story
• care for one another
• uphold community
• build positive relationships.

We thank our Ancestors and All Our Relations who have brought us to this moment. 

We are all spirit first. 

The work of Right Relations continues. 

We commit to moving forward together in a good way. 

Quaking Before God

                                                  Iranian drones intercepted over Jerusalem 

But know that the Lord set apart His faithful.

The Lord will hear when I call to Him

Quake, and do not offend.

Speak in your hearts on your beds, and be still. 

Psalm 4: 4-5 -- Robert Alter translation

I've not been a "fear of the Lord" Christian for a long time now, at least not in terms of living in a constant state of anxiety about the wrath of God for sins real and imagined. I don't like it generally and not specifically the notion that God is in an unending grumpy "don't make me come down there" state of smiteyness so sent his Son to take the heat on our behalf. I do believe I am sinner and the death of Jesus is a "crucial" aspect of my faith, but sweating before a wrathful deity just doesn't seem to be Good News. 

That said, the past few days and today the lectionary psalm is the fourth and it does some serious soul-searching. As I often do I turned to the translation of the Psalms by Robert Alter, a preeminent Hebrew scholar. He regularly offers perspectives which are not reflected in other translations and paraphrases.  

Alter uses the word "quake" to begin verse 5, unlike other versions. In his commentary he offers this:

The auditors of the poem are exhorted to tremble as an act of conscience that will dissuade them from transgression, then commune with themselves in the solitude of their beds and speak no more...The verse thus moves from a state of troubled agitation ("quake") to silence at the end. 

We live in troubling times when the foundations of our societies are trembling and we wonder what will come next. We need clear, measured leadership yet we see the rise of blustering "strong men" who are actually morally weak. 

 There are days when it seems that few of our assumptions about the way the world works apply anymore. Even the cycles of Creation are in turmoil. 

The warmongerers have seized the moment and rockets fly. Last night the drones exploded over Jerusalem, the Holy City for three religions and people quaked in the darkness, as they have in Gaza for months. Our family members in Israel had an anxious night wondering about what would unfold in the darkness. 

Psalm 4 actually ends on a hopeful note but the clear direction is to be humble and prayerful and let God be God. Human posturing and hubris without God is perilous. Three thousand years later it is advice we can heed. 

You put joy in my heart,

from the time their grain and their drink did abound.

In peace, all whole, let me lie down and sleep. 

For you, Lord, alone, do set me down safely.

Psalm 4: 8-9 -- Robert Alter

A Nun, a Priest, & a Pastor Were Arrested...

 While I spent a fair amount of time in prison years ago (a chaplaincy internship in Kingston Pen) I've never been arrested and I hope I never will be. I have taken part in a number of public marches through the years protesting wars and environmental foolishness, as well as participating in Take Back the Night walks. I'm grateful that these were peaceful assemblies and I didn't end up in the hoosegow. I'm not sure that my "model citizen" history is a good thing. 

Some people choose to make public statement through sit-ins and assemblies which will almostly certainly lead to arrests, usually in a peaceful manner. Lots of celebrities get arrested for protesting pipelines and what they believe is trespass on Indigenous lands -- Jane Fonda is an example. Far too many Indigenous people are arrested on those same lands, even when their tribal claims are clear. They are often treated with far less respect initially, only to have charges dropped. 

This week RBC, Canada's largest bank and a huge investor in fossil fuels, held a shareholders meeting that involved a sit-in. It included a Roman Catholic sister, an Anglican priest, and a Baptist pastor (they didn't go into a bar) and it seems that all of them were arrested. This is catnip for the media and the headline was Nun arrested at Toronto bank protest. It's good that they were able to bring attention to the climate emergency and the unwavering greed of financial institutions in benefitting from it. For them it is a matter of conscience and Christian faith. 

I've been reading again about the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and how often Martin Luther King Jr. and others were arrested. At times their lives were at risk, as they were arrested and while they were incarcerated. On several occasions King refused the opportunity to be bailed out in order to make a point about racial injustice. 

We can't forget that John the Baptist, Jesus, the apostles Paul and Peter, were all arrested and paid the ultimate price for their convictions. Many Christians have suffered a similar fate. 

Here is a news item about the RBC protest: 

Nine religious leaders, including a Catholic nun, were arrested by Toronto Police following a “pray-in” at a downtown RBC branch April 9.

The protest was against RBC’s continued funding of fossil fuel projects. 

“RBC is fueling a climate disaster,” said Sr. Mary-Ellen Francoeur, who was among the nine charged with trespassing for disrupting operations at the bank branch at Yonge and Gerrard Streets. “We are calling on RBC shareholders to think of future generations and to vote to immediately end funding for new fossil fuel projects and wind down existing funding as soon as possible.”

Those arrested at the pray-in are leaders or members of Catholic, Anglican, Baptist and Unitarian congregations in Toronto. 

Among those arrested was Rev. Bob Paterson-Watt, minister of Woodbine Heights Baptist Church.

“As people of faith we believe we have a moral duty to protect God’s creation,” said Paterson-Watt. “That means non-violently resisting the RBC’s business-as-usual investment in fossil fuel projects that fuel climate-linked fires, floods, droughts and heatwaves, even if that means going to jail.”

RBC was the world’s second largest financier of fossil fuel projects in 2022, according to the Banking on Climate Chaos website. It said in 2022 alone RBC made $36 billion investments in fossil fuels, the site said.

The others arrested were Len Desroches, Anglican Rev. Michael Van Dusen, Suzanne Maziarz, Lyn Adamson, Margaret Rao, Kim Bradshaw and Brooke Lydbrooke.

Were Slaves "God's Ghostwriters?"

 

 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. 

The Lord be with all of you.  I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

2 Thessalonians 3: 16-18 NRSVue 

Along the way I've been straightforward about my Christian convictions -- mainly that I'm a Trinitarian, Easter kind of guy in my theology. I am inclined to a certain wariness when I hear someone described as a "progressive" Christian, in part because it sounds a trifle arrogant and also because it can mean that it is a faith stance that has moved away from the extraordinary and improbable movement that began 2.000 years ago after a Palestinian Jew was executed by the Roman empire. The very existence of Christianity as a world faith is a miracle.

This said, I really appreciate the theologians and writers who push me to think beyond conventional assumptions about gender and inclusion, patriarchy and institutionalism, caring for Creation.  I've found that women have often been most provocative and thought-provoking in this regard and most of the books I've read and chosen for study groups in recent years are written by women scholars. 

Recently I heard about a new book called God's Ghostwriters: Enslaved Christians and the Making of the Bible by Professor Candida Moss, a New Testament scholar. Moss  contends that those who actually physically wrote some of the letters of Paul could have been slaves. We find within certain letters that the apostle Paul used scribes to write down what he was dictating. He makes a point of saying, for emphasis, that he had written with his own hand at the conclusion of a letter to the church in Thessalonica. At the conclusion of Romans a scribe offers "I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord."

Candida Moss argues that in the ancient world some slaves would be taught to read and write specifically for the purpose of acting as scribes. While their role was to record what was being said accurately they may well have included personal flourishes. 

Is this revelatory scholarship or outlandish conjecture? The reviews I've read find the book intriguing and this is certainly something that has never occurred to me, even though I learned about Paul's use of scribes back in seminary days. 

Obviously, there is so much more that could be said about Moss's theory and we would need to read the book to find out what led her to these conclusions (yes I'm mightily tempted to buy it). In the end, it's worthwhile to see a subject in a different light. 

Christian Service, Young &...Young at Heart?

 

After a meeting at Trenton United Church this week our son, Rev. Isaac, shared this photo in our family chat. It is of the chair of the committee and it's newest and youngest member, a 16-year-old. As they talked they realized that there is a nearly 70 year difference between the two of them. I figure it's more like 65 years, but what do I know. The two of them are also members of the choir. In a day when many congregations are child and youth-free zones it is refreshing that there are several teens at TUC and they are helpful contributors to congregational life in several areas. 

We are very aware that many of our elder members have grown weary after decades of service, yet they carry on. For young people it is the reality of having few peers in their congregations and essentially spending time with a whole bunch of grandparents, yet they contribute.  

Through the years I served congregations where there were teenagers, sometimes plenty of them. We tried to figure out how to involve them in service and decision-making as aspects of their Christian discipleship and maturing faith. I'm pleased to say that a number of them -- perhaps half a dozen including Isaac -- went on to choose ordered ministry as a vocation, but there are lots of ways to serve. 

The bible has many examples of our equal opportunity God, with calls to people of all ages, some of whom were reluctant to answer because they figured they were either too young or too old. God saw it differently. To these two and others, thank you for saying "yes". 

The Abomination Bible?

 

I'm using today's blog to share a limited time, special opportunity offer for all of you. The Lion Lamb Blog edition of Holy Scripture is now yours for $50 Canadian, regularly $75. This bible has a Newfoundland sealskin cover embossed, in gold with the Canadian motto "from sea to sea" A Mari Usque Ad Mare taken from Psalm 72, verse eight. 

Can you imagine if this pitch was real on my part? Would you immediately choose to delete my blog from your computer? I do hope so. It would be hucksterism at its worst. Well, not as despicable as a former president of the United States who has never turned to the bible for wisdom in his life selling bibles to raise money to pay his legal bills for charges of fraud, illegal payments, and election interference.

That's what's happened with Donald Trump and sadly people are shelling out for the "abominable bible", not because of its content but the appalling misuse for personal gain. Since this bible has been offered Trump has compared his "persecution" to the Passion of Jesus and so have a lot of deranged Christians across the border. 

I'm not big on declaring situations heretical -- this tends to be subjective -- but if this isn't heresy I don't know what is. Others have labelled it blasphemy and idolatry. All three work for me, along with abomination. 

It's all disheartening. Please excuse me while I go dye what's left of my hair orange before my infomercial. 

Out, Standing in our Field

I have to follow up on what happened for us yesterday in search of the solar eclipse. We drove with our younger daughter and her fiance to a spot in Prince Edward County, several adjacent fields with mixed woods around the edges and alongside a large marsh. We figured the panoramic sweep would be perfect for viewing but we couldn't control the cloud cover. Because of the forecast we had already braced ourselves for disappointment but we were rewarded with breaks in the cloud and some good views of the eclipse as it unfolded.

It was a mild afternnoon here but as the darkness of the  totality swept toward and over us we were suddenly chilled and the breeze picked up. Then the spring peeper frogs from the marsh began an almighty chorus which only lasted the precious few minutes until the sky lightened again. We were in lawn chairs but spontaneously jumped to our feet and did some hootin' and hollerin' as we did our 360 degree turns of admiration and wonder. 

We saw on the news later how large crowds in various locations cheered during the total eclipse, and that must have been stirring. Our congregation was the frog choir and I wouldn't have traded that for anything, other than having more of the family with us. 

I have written often enough about how vital it is for humans to nurture admiration and awe and wonder as aspects of our spiritual lives and praise for the Creator. It was present in abundance yesterday and I pray that the fleeting experience will be unforgettable.

The photos here were taken by Emily and Brad and Ruth and I think they're pretty good at capturing our outstanding time out, standing (and sitting) in our field.