Raising Flags for Truth and Reconciliation

 

Melanie Cormier says she makes an effort to teach her daughters, Juliet, left, and Jolie, about the legacy of residential schools. (Michael Cole/CBC - image credit)

Our garage doors are quite visible driving onto our court so they bcome the billboards for Canada Day, Pride Month, and Truth and Reconciliation Day -- today. The flags are on display in season and we trust that no one will deface or steal them. We live in weird times. 

You may have heard that a Greater Toronto Area schoolboard decided that the Every Child Matters/Truth and Reconciliation Day flag would not be allowed on its buildings as part of a general policy about flags.  Indigenous parents and others in the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board were dismayed by this decision. After a public outcry Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra directed the board to amend its flag policy, allowing the survivors' flag to be raised at its schools 

From my perspective this is a sobering reminder that colonial culture has a tendency to reluctantly acknowledge certain issues and realities and then attempt to move on, often using bureaucracy to do so. 

Phyllis Webstad is the Residential "School" survivor who had her orange shirt taken from her as a child, leading to her telling the story decades later and starting a national movement for both Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day every September 30th. In the intrroduction to her new book Phyllis reflects on the thirteen years since the momentum related to her story began, sharing that she has been subjected to a great deal of negativity, some of it vile, flung her way by denialists and racists.

I'm grateful that the Outreach Committee at Trenton United devoted Sunday's service to the Every Child Matters theme and that the orange flag flies on the outside the church building. Several Christian denominations, including the United Church participated in the "school" system (the quotes are often used by Indigenous writers because the institutions were not about indoctrination, not education). If we are committed to Truth and Reconciliation then we must continue to be active in tangible ways.

This is the tenth anniversary of the report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which issued 94 Calls to Action. The Canadian government has been slow to implement them and has even vigorously resisted some until legal action was taken. https://thewalrus.ca/truth-and-reconciliation-series/

You might revisit those Calls to Action as part of your respectful response to this day. 

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf

                                                                      Phyllis Webstad as a Child 

When the Trumpeters Sound in Creation Time!

Look, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 

For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

I Corinthians 15:51-52 NRSVue

 Last week the cancellation of a visit from friends led Ruth to suggest that we go for an early morning kayak paddle on the Moira River north of Belleville. We saw deer and kingfishers and a green heron -- all wonderful. As we returned to the landing we heard unusual honking, then saw the source, a pair of trumpeter swans in flight. These swans are unusual in this area where not-so-mute swans are the norm.

There was a thrill to the sound of the Creator's trumpets, the whoosh of their wings, and the moment of realization of the source. This gave us a great start to a day during Creation Time.

The encounter also brought to mind one of my favourite memories in ministry, back in 1997, one I've shared here before. While living in Sudbury I came upon a conga line of young trumpeter swans following a kayaker on a nearby lake. They were part of a project out of Guelph University to condition the swans to fly behind an ultralight aircraft to wintering habitat in the United States in order to reestablish a migratory route.This project was partially sponsored by the Falconbridge mining company.

If this scenario sounds familiar, one of the leaders, Wayne Bezner Kerr, was the "goose wrangler" for the popular film Fly Away Home. When the swans eventually followed the ultralight it looked much the same. 

Wayne and his wife Rachel, who was pregnant at the time, were in the increasingly cold water with the swans every day as part of their work and Ruth kindly invited them for a meal in our home. We also had a well-attended potluck dinner at St. Andrew's United where they explained their research and methodology.

They did teach the swans to follow them and, yes, the swans did return. There are still trumpeter swans coming back to Kelly Lake decades later. About ten years ago Wayne, who now lives in the United States, called me in Belleville just to reminisce about those eventful months. Needless to say, I was delighted to hear from him. 

I appreciate that the apostle Paul was declaring the resurrection of Jesus when he wrote about the trumpet in his letter to the Corinthians, but he also wrote about the groaning of Creation. I'm glad that those trumpeter swans came back after so many decades. We humans can do worthwhile things when "living with respect in Creation."

Honouring St. Francis with a Holiday

 “LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”. I

n the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. “Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs”

from the opening of Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home -- Pope Francis

During Creation Time Rev. Isaac at Trenton United has included references to St. Francis of Assisi, the Roman Catholic patron saint of ecology and the environment. The 13th-century friar renounced a life of luxury to help the poor. He was an Italian mystic and poet who founded the Franciscan religious order and was canonised in 1228, two years after his death at the age of 44. Francis had a heart for the downtrodden and there are many stories about his relationship with different creatures. We have a poster of the stained glass window at the Taize Christian community in France where Francis preaches to the birds. 

There's going to be a new/old holiday in Italy to honour St. Francis. He was given a public holiday in 1958, during Italy’s postwar economic boom, before it was scrapped from the calendar in 1977 due to austerity measures. According to Georgia Meloni's government "This is not just about adding another holiday to the calendar – it’s a choice that touches the very core of our nation’s identity. Saint Francis isn’t just part of religious history, he is an integral part of our civil history.”

Next year marks the 800th anniversary of Francis' death and I wonder what the celebrations will entail in Assisi, across Italy, and in the Roman Catholic church. Pope Francis chose his papal name because of his own commitment to caring for Creation and his powerful encyclical, Laudato Si, was dedicated to the saint. I hope that Pope Leo will take this opportunity to uphold the environmental legacy of his predecessor. 

The new holiday will be on October 4, the Feast of St. Francis, and the final day of Creation Time.

                                                               Stained Glass Window from Taize

Forgiveness on Late Night TV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also,  and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well,  and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...       Matthew 5: 38-44 NRSVue

 I'm one of more than 20 million people who have watched the 17-minute opening monologue offered by Jimmy Kimmel during his return to late night television. Of course, I saw it the next day. I didn't watch Jimmy Kimmel Live in real time because I'd been in the land of nod for hours at the time the show aired.

Kimmel's show was suspended because of what his network, ABC, and Disney deemed inappropriate remarks about the senseless murder of Charlie Kirk, a young right-wing phenom. The storm of protest over his suspension -- his comments were imprudent but not that controversial -- resulted in his reinstatement. Kimmel didn't apologize but he did clarify that he felt that violence never made sense and that he had immediately extended his sympathies to Kirk's widow, Erika. 

He was emotional at this point, on the brink of tears, and was again late in his monologue when he expressed admiration for the declaration of forgiveness by Erika during the memoral for Charlie: 

There was a moment over the weekend, a very beautiful moment. I don’t know if you saw this. On Sunday, Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband. She forgave him. That is an example we should follow. If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, as I do, there it was. That’s it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply, and I hope it touches many. And if there’s anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that.

I found Kimmel's praise of Erica Kirk touching, a profound moment on an often glib platform. 

At the Charlie Kirk  memorial President Trump followed Erika's comment that "the answer to hate is not to hate" saying “That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry.”

Of course, Trump was not sorry and later his press secretary offered that the president was just being his authentic self. 

We might follow the example of Erika and Jimmy, and Jesus...remember Jesus? 

Outdoor Play in Creation Time/Tide

 

On Saturday we will get together with our three adult children, their partners, and our four grandchildren at a Provincial Park. Hurray! Even though they are all within a couple of hours of us we tend to be a herd of cats when it comes to all of us being in the same place at the same time.

Because there are children involved we'll explore around, play games, and generally have fun outdoors. Our location is alongside Lake Ontario so we may see migrating Monarch butterflies. 

 What about seniors and outdoor play? We will certainly participate in the activities but what about beyond the few hours we're together? I heard an interview yesterday with Eun-Young Lee, associate professor at Queen's University who with her team just issued a study showing how outdoor play is beneficial to people of all ages. 

I have to agree with these findings from my humble, anecdotal, perspective. We do our best to get outside to cycle, paddle, walk, and swim as often as possible. We still attempt winter sports, when we can find snow. We figure that we cycled farther and swam more often this summer than we have since our youth. Most of the swimming was in lakes, along with a bracing dip in the North Atlantic. 

I go to the gym on a regular basis but being in a weight room with no windows is not my favourite form of exercise by any stretch. There is something so wonderful about being outdoors, whether it is purposeful or random play. We can constantly see, hear, feel the gifts of Creation through the seasons and working on our geezerly fitness while we're at it. It doesn't get old, even though we are. We figure that getting out into nature a lot during the COVID pandemic saved our sanity. I am very grateful that we both enjoy good health, although some days I could be the guy in the cartoon below.

Multigenerational play never disappoints either. What a timely reminder during this liturgical season of Creation Time/Tide! 

                                            Eun-Young Lee, associate professor at Queen's University

Here is a description of the study from the Kingston Whig Standard: 

According to new global research by Outdoor Play Canada, playing in the outdoors is as advantageous for adults as it is for children and should be incorporated into all that we do.

A three-year study, which featured consultations with more than 200 global experts representing all inhabited continents, found outdoor play promotes confidence, facilitates ongoing learning, and encourages a sense of community and belonging, among many other benefits.

The research is included in the Global Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play and was released at the Breath of Fresh Air (BFA) Outdoor Play Summit, taking place September 25–27, in Ottawa.

Those leading the development of the statement say the evidence is clear: outdoor play is a powerful, practical way to address many of the challenges we face globally. The 2025 statement builds on the original study, released a decade ago, but this time other factors were considered.

Eun-Young Lee, associate professor at Queen’s University and visiting professor at Yonsei University (South Korea), helped lead the development of the Global Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play,.

“What we did this time was to link active outdoor play to the potential for solving global challenges like climate change, mental health issues, digital addiction and equity issues,” Lee said. “My team is hoping to bring active outdoor play back to life because we are losing it, but at the same time, we ask how we can solve these global challenges by getting people active in nature.”

A Musical Pilgrim's Progress in Stained Glass

1 Come down, O love divine, seek now this soul of mine,

and visit it with your own ardour glowing.

O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,

and kindle it, your holy flame bestowing.

2 O let it freely burn, till earthly passions turn

to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;

and let your glorious light shine ever on my sight,

and clothe me round, my onward path illuming.

3 And so the yearning strong with which the soul will long

shall far outpass the power of human telling;

for none can guess its grace, till love creates the place

wherein the Holy Spirit makes its dwelling.

Music: Ralph Vaughn Williams tune: Down Ampney (1906)  Voices United 367

How much do I know about composer Ralph Vaughn Williams? Precious little, other than he was a great musicial figure in the first half of the 20th century. He was very English in his expression through many forms of music, including spiritual. There is a hymn with a tune by Vaughn Williams that I really like with the title Down Ampney. It turns out that Down Ampney was the parish where his father was the rector and where he began life. 

There is a relatively new commemorative window in this church by artist homas Denny which is gloriously light-filled. It reflects the seasons and the 17th century Pilgrim's Progress, a literary work that fascinated RVW throughout his life. In speaking about his creation Denny noted that the composer felt that in heaven he would no longer hear music but be music. Wonderful. 

Here is a description of the window, or windows, and below that an excerpt from his Sea Symphony.

Down Ampney Stained Glass Window Unveiled

A newly commissioned stained glass window by artist Thomas Denny has been unveiled at All Saints, Down Ampney in Gloucestershire, at a service of dedication in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

The window is a memorial to the composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, whose father was Rector of Down Ampney, and who was born in the Rectory there in 1872.

This design is intended to suggest something of Vaughan Williams’s life pilgrimage, of the doubts, hopes and revelations of his life and his music. On the right his nostalgic affection for the music traditions of the English nation on the left; his great cycle of symphonies starting with the sea and passing through the stresses of both world wars to the unknown future on the right; and, in the centre, his lifetime preoccupation with the journey of the soul reflected in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. 

RVW's first encounter with The Pilgrim's Progress was, as a young child in the late 1870s, when the story was read to him. The gripping story and vivid imagery stayed with him and over seventy years later the complete opera (or 'Morality') of the same name was first performed at Covent Garden.

Thomas Denny is a stained-glass artist and painter, educated at Edinburgh College of Art in the 1970’s. Denny has concentrated on stained-glass and has now made some fifty windows for churches and cathedrals. He says: 

"Stained glass is not music. But one can experience it in musical terms — movement, orchestration, light and dark, colour, narrative. It is hoped that the texture and the character of this window might be a homage to the experience of listening to the music of Vaughan Williams."

#RVW150 11 December 2022

• Movement 2: "On the Beach at Night Alone"

On the beach at night alone,
As the old mother sways her to and fro singing her husky song,
As I watch the bright stars shining, I think a thought of the clef of the universes and of the future.

A vast similitude interlocks all, ...
All distances of place however wide,
All distances of time, ...
All souls, all living bodies though they be ever so different, ...
All nations, ...
All identities that have existed or may exist ...,
All lives and deaths, all of the past, present, future,
This vast similitude spans them, and always has spann'd,
And shall forever span them and compactly hold and enclose them.

                                                                    Ralph Vaughn Williams 1920

Protecting Marine Diversity in Creationtide

 

 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:

 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Gird up your loins like a man;
    I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
    Tell me, if you have understanding.
 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
    Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk,
    or who laid its cornerstone
 when the morning stars sang together
    and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? 

“Or who shut in the sea with doors
    when it burst out from the womb,

when I made the clouds its garment
    and thick darkness its swaddling band,
 and prescribed bounds for it,
    and set bars and doors,
 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come and no farther,
    and here shall your proud waves be stopped’?

                     Job 38:1-11 NRSVue 

Tjhree weeks into Creation Time/Creationtide I'm aware of how many discouraging stories and statistics I could share to convince us all that a planetary apocolypse is at hand. There are encouraging signs as well and there was a good news report about oceans last Friday that almost sailed by -- yup, pun intended. Humanity has been pillaging and plasticizing our oceans in a piratical frenzy and the lawlessness is putting us all in peril. Now there is the treaty, endorsed by 60 nations and under consideration by others. 

According to a CBC report:

The first treaty to protect marine diversity in international waters will come into force early next year after Morocco became the 60th nation to ratify the agreement on Friday.

The High Seas Treaty is the first legal framework aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in international waters — those that lie beyond the jurisdiction of any single country. International waters account for nearly two-thirds of the ocean and nearly half of Earth's surface, and are vulnerable to threats including overfishing, climate change and deep-sea mining.

"The high seas are the world's largest crime scene — they're unmanaged, unenforced and a regulatory legal structure is absolutely necessary," said Johan Bergenas, senior vice-president of oceans at the World Wildlife Fund.

Still, the pact's strength is uncertain, as some of the world's biggest players — the U.S., China, Russia and Japan — have yet to ratify. The U.S. and China have signed, signalling intent to align with the treaty's objectives without creating legal obligations, while Japan and Russia have been active in preparatory talks.

Perhaps we'll hold off on the hallelujahs for the moment, but gratitude to the Creator and all those involved seems in order. 

I'll add a quick note about one of our visits to the Anglican Church on Change Islands, Newfoundland this summer. St. Margaret's was built by fishermen well over a hundred years ago but the huge lectern bible predates the building by several decades. When we went in it wasn't visible, tucked away in the vestry. In an act of holy subterfuge I brought it out and placed in on its usual stand at the front of the sanctuary. When I randomly opened it some mysterious force chose the passage above with it's thrillling description of the sea. Amen 

No Longer Slave or Free

 Urge slaves to be submissive to their masters in everything, to be pleasing, not talking back, not stealing, but showing complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the teaching of God our Savior.

Titus 2: 9-10 NRSVue

There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 

Galatians 3:28 NRSVue

During August I read an excellent book on Harriet Tubman by Tiya Miles called Night Flyer. I'll write more about it another time but it gave me fresh insights into Tubman, a remarkable woman enslaved in Maryland during the 19th century. She liberated herself, eventually made her way to Canada, but returned to danger several times to lead other enslaved people to freedom. She was strongly motivated by her Christian faith and immersed in scripture, even though she was illiterate. 

Shortly after reading this book one of the daily lectionary readings was from Titus and when I continued on in the chapter I came upon the instructions about slaves. It's possible that you've never explored Titus, a tiny New Testament letter that has has an attribution to the apostle Paul but probaby wasn't written by him. I can't recall ever drawing on a text from Titus for a sermon and certainly not these verses. 

While we might be relieved that these aren't Paul's words the reality is that he seemed  ambivalent about slavery, perhaps because it was a given in everyday life in the Roman Empire. In the letter to Philemon which follows immediately on Titus in the New Testament Paul makes the case to free Onesimus, a companion who may have been a runaway or "self liberated" enslaved person. 

Verses such as the ones from Titus were used by enslavers and preachers to justify the scourge of slavery in the United States and would often quote them to emancipators in debates. We now regard slavery as the "original sin" of the American experiment, one that resulted in a civil war -- or do we? 

The Trump administration has instructed the Smithsonian Institution, the National Parks system, and other entities under the "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" executive order. One photo in particular has been ordered removed showing the scarred back of a formerly enslaved man (see below)

As Trump put it: "The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.”

Hmm. Slavery very bad, equality very good, for all of humanity. I figured this premise was now a given. Of course, the largest denomination in the United States is the Southern Baptist Convention, a church born out of a split regarding slavery. The SBCs formal apology for racist policies, including opposing the Civil Rights Act of the 1960s, didn't happen until 1995 and there are still disturbing conversations about Critical Race Theory. 

This issue shouldn't be rearing its ugly head in 2025 but our assumptions about right and wrong, justice and injustice, love and hatred are being challenged at every turn. One of the earliest Christian documents, preceding the Gospels, is Paul's letter to the churches in the region of Galatia. It upholds freedom and equality for all, a message that we need to hear loudly and clearly in these tumultuous times. This is sanity and truth. And we can all look to the example of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass and other formerly enslaved people who understood the North Star of freedom in Christ. 

'The Scourged Back', an 1863 photo of a formerly enslaved man named 'Peter', which solidified public support for the abolition of slavery (William D. McPherson and J. Oliver (public domain))

A Call for Mercy during the Jewish Holy Days

 

Summer ends today at about 2:30 in the afternoon and this evening marks the beginning of the Jewish Rosh Hashanah -- no, they're not related but they happen to fall on the same day in 2025. Rosh Hashanah is the "head of the year" in Judaism, so akin to New Year, although with strong religious connections. After these two days there is a period of introspection, repentance, and teshuva—a return to the authentic principles of mercy and goodness lost in day-to-day life— reflection and repentance before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, on October 2. 

Already I'm seeing commentary from Jews about what these holy days might entail this year in light of what is unfolding in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. Separating the military actions of the state of Israel from Judaism as a religion has been challenging and complicated even more by Jewish extremists within the region, particularly in the West Bank. It has led to a disturbing rise of anti-semitism, including in Canada. 

We must keep before us that the terrorist organization Hamas ruthlessly killed innocent Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023 and still holds hostages in terrible conditions. Yet the retribution by Israel has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, thousands of them children, and left Gaza in ruins. 

We also need to be aware that some Jewish genocide experts at Israeli universities and elsewhere have named what is happening as genocide.  There are rabbis who decry what is happening as contrary to the Jewish scriptures. More than 1,000 rabbis and other Jewish leaders from around the globe, including in Israel and the U.S., have signed a public letter urging Israel to allow extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza. They maintain that Israel's actions damage not just the country's reputation, but Judaism itself. 

Some military reservists are refusing to respond to call-ups and even family members of those murdered by Hamas have spoken against the relentless destruction. There are former political and military leaders who condemn the severity of this war on civilians as against the fundamental principles of the state of Israel. What is transpiring is not a righteous cause. 

We need to be clear that anti-semitism is poison, that Hamas is a terrorist organization, and that Israel has a right to exist. Israeli captives must be released. At the same time, the terrible loss of life for civilians, medical personnel, and journalists must end. 

Will these Holy Days make a difference? That might seem like a naive hope but they may open the way for deeper discussion and reflection with the second anniversary of October 7 so close at hand.  I'll be watching and praying for reflective and honest commentary during the days ahead. 

World Alzheimer's Day & Christian Compassion

 

Loving God, We lift up to you all those who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Grant them dignity, comfort, and moments of clarity and recognition. Sustain their families and caregivers with strength, patience, and compassion as they navigate the challenges and heartaches of this journey. We pray for the scientists, medical professionals, and researchers working to understand, prevent, and treat Alzheimer's disease. Bless their efforts with wisdom and guidance, leading to new discoveries and hope for a cure. For all of humanity, we pray for an end to the suffering caused by this devastating disease and for a world where those affected are met with understanding, support, and love. Amen. 

This is World Alzheimer's Day, an occasion to put the spotlight on this specfic form of dementia and the many others.  As populations of Western countries age the number of people with dementia increases. In Canada an estimated 800,000 persons live with dementia and more than 55 million worldwide. It's hard to imagine any of us not knowing someone with dementia and millions of others are affected by this affliction as caregivers.

My mother died of dementia and while she knew us to the end her last months were really difficult. We have a family member who developed early-onset Alzheimer's and now at 69 her short-term memory often doesn't extend beyond 15 minutes. Yet she continues to be a loving person who has a deep appreciation for the beauty in each day and can engage in meaningful in-the-moment conversations. Life is exhausting, though, for her caring husband who is committed to the "in sickness and in health" aspect of their marriage vows. She is aware that she has dementia and, sadly, there are times when she feels shame about the things she says or doesn't say because of her disease. 

It seems to me that on this day Christians and their congregations might deepen their commitments to compassion and education regarding dementia. I've noted before that study and information groups I've led in different congregations about dementia have been well attended. Participants have shared from the heart about their losses and we have talked about how to ensure that loved ones are treated with dignity and not lost as memory fails. We can make a difference in so many ways, including prayer. 

On the Move for Refugees

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them with food and clothing. 

You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 10: 17-19 NRSVue

Let mutual affection continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 

Hebrews 13: 1-2 NRSVue

 AURA (Anglican United Refugee Alliance) is a Canadian charitable organization assisting in the sponsorship and resettlement of refugees based in Toronto. We work in partnership with Anglican and United Churches as well as local community groups to support the arrival of newcomers through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. Our mission is to provide support and expertise to groups involved in refugee sponsorship and resettlement.

Recently I wrote about the disturbing rise in anti-immigrant sentiment in Canada. While this xenophobia and outright hatred is grimly apparent south of our border it is more evident here than I can recall in decades. 

I have some positive news about welcoming the stranger, a biblical imperative, and it comes in the form of an event today, sponsored by Trenton United Church. Again this year more than 30 people took part in Walk N Roll for Refugees,  walking and cycling to raise money for the needs of refugees who come to this country. Our event took place a week earlier than some in other communities and we had perfect weather for it. 

While this is a joint United Church and Anglican AURA initiative the participants were from a range of backgrounds. And they were from a wide range of ages including a couple of 71 year-olds. With one exception we were probably the oldest participants by nearly a quarter century!

The majority of the gang were young people -- about 20 -- with perhaps  half from the Trenton UC congregation and the rest being their friends from school. One mom from another Christian community told me during our concluding hotdog lunch that this is a lowkey way to remind her children each year of the importance of welcoming refugees which has the bonus of fun with friends. Before we set out Pastor Isaac, our son, explained in simple terms what we were doing. 

We love the energy of this outing and we were delighted that in the end more than $2,000 was raised for those who will make a new start in a new country, often after experiencing displacement and trauma in their homelands.

 Once again, thanks to daughter-in-law Rebekah for all her organizing, and to Bill and Marie, Rosemary and Don, for hosting the lunch. It was good to participate in this "faith in action" event and to realize that evangelisation can take a positive form. Compassion for the stranger/refugee is a biblical imperative and never gets old. 

Notes on Gossip in a Tale-Bearing Age

 

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

            Proverbs 18:8 KJV

 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.  Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.

            Ephesians 4: 29-31 NRSVue

We have a neighbour who is a friendly, caring person who is the go-to on info about everybody in our court. We are often in the dark about developments amongst the other households and sometimes worry that something has happened, such as a family death or illness, and we've been unintentionally callous because we are clueless. Somehow she seems to be well informed and so we'll wave, saunter over, and get the skinny. 

In recent months she has reconnected with her Christian faith and with another neighbour has gone on a tour of churches around the city. She has a binder to organize her questions and priorities and on a couple of occasions she's asked me what I think about everything from God's acceptance of LGBTQ2S persons to women in leadership to...gossip. She figures the bible is clearly agin gossip (true) and I figure she's wondering if she is guilty as charged. I admire her for doing this soul-searching and while I don't find her malicious I don't know her heart either. 

As it turns out,  I was waiting on a library book with the great title You Didn't Hear This From Me: (mostly) true notes on gossip by Kelsey McKinney. She has a podcast on the subject called normal gossip that I haven't checked out yet. The book is entertaining and thoughtful and, lo and behold, there is a chapter on gossip from her perspective as someone who was raised in what seems to be an evangelical church. She basically loved gossip when she was young and struggled with it as an earnest Christian. She admits that theoretically she wanted to quit but when a juicy story came along she not only wanted to hear it, she wanted to shape it and mold it for retelling. She wrote the verse from Ephesians 4:29 on her bedroom mirror in dry erase marker as a reminder and approach but it didn't work. 

She notes that there are only eight verses in the bible about gossip and thousands on caring for the poor. Iin the King James Version of the bible the word gossip isn't used at all because at that time it didn't have the connotation that slander did. Actually, we have allowed "gossip" to become cozy enough that it has lost its schmeck and we might do well to return to using slander or talebearer.  McKinney points out, rightly, that while gossip/slander/talebearing is condemned it isn't really defined. Is it any conversation about someone else when that person isn't present or does there have to be a certain threshold of nastiness? 

Churches are gossipy places and while sometimes its just "did you hear about"  it is often downright venomous. Sometimes questions about others are genuine concern but clergy are regularly pulling on the "full armour of God" to fend off gossip, much to the chagrin of certain parishioners. I can picture some of them right now. I figured there were always a few people on church boards who were there to find out about what was going on than to actually contribute to "building up the body of Christ." And there is an expression "churches kill their wounded".

McKinney also insightfully points out that admonitions against gossip in churches can be employed by leadership to control narratives about leadership abuse. also true.

She notes that in Islam the word "backbiting" is used, meaning "talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like." I assume this applies to sisters as well. 

The sin of gossip is one we might all consider with a degree of honesty and introspection, like our neigbour. I couid claim I never gossip but then I'd also be guilty of the sin of lying. Now, I hear, said the gossipy blog writer...

A Good Thief in Kingston?

                                     The Church of the Good Thief -- Kingston, Ontario

 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”  But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in  your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

                          Luke 23: 39-43 NRSVue

"I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies, neither like Judas will I give Thee a kiss; but like the thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord in Thy Kingdom."

                           Orthodox Eucharistic Prayer

If you are familiar with the older parts of Kingston you may be aware of Portsmouth Village, several kilometres from the historic downtown. The village was formally incorporated into the city nearly 75 years ago but it was established in the late 1700s and grew up around nearby Kingston Penitentiary. 

As some of you will know, in the summer of 1979 I did a four-month chaplaincy internship at KP and I think it was during that stint that I became aware of a lovely Portsmouth Village place of worship built in the late 19th century called The Church of the Good Thief. The name refers to the thief next to Jesus on a cross on Calvary who over the centuries was given the name Dismas. The church is dedicated in his name and while he never formally became a saint he is the patron of  condemned prisoners, repentant thieves, the dying and -- I love this -- funeral directors. 

                                                              Dismas, the Good Thief

 The limestone for the building was quarried nearby by inmates from the penitentiary and masonry and ironwork was done by prisoners as well. While they did this essential work they weren't allowed to worship in The Church of the Good Thief, which seems to be a form of theft to me. 

I've passed by the church many times but never been inside. Perhaps I never will. It was closed and deconsecrated in 2013. I'm grateful to the Kingston Whig Standard for sending me down this rabbit hole. 

Voluntary Compassion in Christ's Name

 

                                                           Shane Claiborne, Christian activiist

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 

                                 Matthew 25: 34-36 NRSVue

A few days ago a regular three-person panel on Fox News, the media entity that argued in a court of law that it is actually entertainment rather that serious news, addressed the issue of homelessness in America. The United States, as with Canada and other countries, is experiencing a dramatic rise in the numbers of the "unhoused" or whatever other term we want to use. They were responding to news of a stabbing death perpetrated by a homeless person. 

The Black person of the three suggested that if the homeless don't willingly enter into "treatment" -- is there treatment for rampant poverty and the disparity between rich and poor? -- they should be imprisoned. This was in itself an astonishing statement given that the US has the highest rate of incarceration amongst developed countries and that Blacks are heavily over-represented in prisons because of the injustice system. 

What was truly appalling was that the host, Brian Kilmeade, went further saying that unhoused people who refuse help should die by "...involuntary lethal injection, or something...ust kill 'em."

Astonishingly, Kill-meade still has a job on Fox. After considerable public outcry he decided to express regret for his remarks: 

“Now during that discussion, I wrongly said they should get lethal injections. I apologize for that extremely callous remark. I am obviously aware that not all mentally ill, homeless people act as the perpetrator did in North Carolina, and that so many homeless people deserve our empathy and compassion.”

No doubt Kilmeade's team fashioned this walk-back statement but I have trouble accepting its sincerity. The reality is that public figures, including the premier of Ontario, often make statements that disparage the unhoused, and callousness is an apt word to describe their outlook, but this was beyond the pale.  

It also bothers me that millions of Christians watch Fox News "religiously" and this shameful segment probably won't have any effect on their viewing habits. I've read pieces about the dismay some younger Christians feel because their parents or other family members soak up the divisive, hateful, and often deliberately misleading dreck from this source. 

At times voluntary compassion in Christ's name is hard work. Understanding the root causes of poverty, mental illness, addiction requires commitment. It often involves listening to the stories of those who have spiralled downward into homelessness and despair. Killing them is not an option, ever, and tossing them into prison is no answer either. Nor is saying, fatuously, "get a job" (do you hear me Doug?) 

God help us.

Dementia and Robert Munsch

 

There is a recent New York Times about Robert Munsch, the Order of Canada storyteller best known for best-selling books such as The Paperbag Princess and Love You Forever, the latter about the enduring love between a parent and child.  

I hadn't realized that Munsch spent seven years preparing for priesthood as a Jesuit before leaving the order. An American, he eventually made his way to Canada with his wife where they worked with children. He discovered that telling stories calmed kids at nap time and it was the director of the university daycare centre who convinced Robert to begin writing the stories down. Through the years of fame there was nothing he liked better than to spontaniously show up at a school where classrooms had written to him and tell stories.

Robert Munsch is now 80 and has Parkinson's disease and dementia. His sense of balance is precarious and his memory is failing, although he still remembers many of his stories and can tell them with gusto. For the most part his ability to create stories has departed. 

Robert has decided to eventually avail himself of Medical Assistance in Dying and while he is no hurry to depart this life he's aware that he must have the mental capacity to make an informed decision to end his life.  He had a brother who was a monk -- a brother who was a brother and a Munsch who was a monk? -- who died of the terrible Lou Gehrig's disease. Every measure was taken to prolong his life even though he wanted to die. 

There is so much here about what gives life meaning and how we maintain dignity as the light fails. No doubt his brother's religious order insisted that he continue on because this was somehow God's will, but why do we impose medical intervention on those who are suffering? 

I believe that a civil society must provide every support to the sick and the vulnerable and it is a moral failure and a sin not to do so. Isn't it also sin to insist that some people live when they are ready to go? If we trust in a life to come why hold on so fiercely to this life on behalf of others? 

I don't have ready answers for these murky waters but I trust that God, Father and Mother of us all loves us forever.