Sermon 5 Easter Yr B

Read my sermon for 5 Easter, Yr B here: 5 Easter Yr B

Yom HaShoah-Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 18, 2012

Tomorrow—April 18, 2012—is Holocaust Remembrance Day in Canada. Here are a few websites and blogs of interest.

1 Listen to an audio clip on today’s CBC Calgary’s Homestretch program here. Program host interviewed Jewish playwright, Emily Talia Sztabzyb about her play, “The Treasure.”

2 Time and date.com provides information on Yom HaShoah, as well as a calendar listing the dates when the event is observed over the span of several years, here.

3 Canadian Society for Yad Vashem has a variety of items of interest, including events and videos, etc., here.

4 National Task Force on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research lists several Yom HaShoah events in the larger cities across Canada here.

5 The Atlantic Jewish Council lists several Yom HaShoah events in various towns and cites of Atlantic Canada here.

6 Doing Jewish In Toronto has a listing of several events in that city here.

7 Read the Wikipedia article on Yom HaShoah here.

  

Christ and Thomas

Thomas has been known as the patron saint of the sceptics and doubters. Most of us I think can identify with him, since in our faith and life journey, we have times of scepticism and doubt too. As the old adage goes, there are at least a thousand words in a picture, one of my favourite works of art that depicts the risen Christ with Thomas is from Malaysian artist, Hanna-Cheriyan Varghese, titled, “My Lord & My God,” acrylic and paper, dating back to 2001. The artist, I think, captures beyond words, the depth of reverence, mystery and awe of Thomas and the other disciples, in the presence of the risen Christ.   

Amnesty International launches human rights mission to South Sudan

Amnesty International Canada’s Secretary-General Alex Neve arrives today in South Sudan. He is joining an important human rights research mission called to investigate attacks on villages and aerial bombings of the tens of thousands of civilians living in vulnerable conditions along the border region of Sudan and the world’s newest country, South Sudan.

   We wish Alex and the team of AI researchers our best, and pray for their safety as they travel to remote and volatile areas, doing the important work of gathering first-hand reports from those affected by the violence in the region.

 

 

Sermon Easter Day Yr B

Read my sermon for Easter Day here: Easter Day Yr B.

Dr. Harold Brackman’s Report

 Historian and Simon Wiesenthal Center consultant Dr. Harold Brackman, has authored Europe and the Jews 2012: Dramatic Rise in Anti-Jewish, Anti-Israel Prejudice detailing the current crisis in Europe.

   Covering anti-Semitic hate crimes, Holocaust denial, anti-Zionism, extreme right and left anti-Jewish and anti-Israel conspiracies, and listing country-specific trends, the newest report details the current crisis in Europe and finally concludes with what can be done to combat the growth of anti-Semitism and Jew hatred in Europe today.

   This is very troublesome, and for these trends to continue all it takes, as the period prior to the Holocaust has proven, is for ordinary people to turn a blind eye and do nothing for evil and hatred like this to prosper and flourish. I’m reminded of the following words of Pastor Martin Niemoeller: “In Germany,” he wrote, “they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak.” I hope and pray that there will be enough people of good will around the world who do speak up and act against such evil and hatred to reverse these troublesome trends.

Instead of arresting George Clooney and his dad, arrest despot Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and other despots

 Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. This is certainly one of those Stories, even though George Clooneyand his dad have been released from jail, they should never have been arrested in the first place. Rather, despots like Omar al-Bashir should be arrested immediately and brought to justice before the International Criminal Court, which issued a warrant for his arrest back in 2009. Yet, he is allowed to travel freely, and avoid being brought to justice for his alleged crimes.

   In this same vein, I have recently supported Amnesty International’s appeal to the UN Secretary General, urging further arrests of fugitives from the International Criminal Court.

   The 11 with outstanding International Criminal Court arrest warrants are: Democratic Republic of Congo: Bosco Ntaganda, whom the ICC has charged with enlisting and conscripting children under 15. The Congolese government is shielding him following his integration into the national army.   Uganda: Accused Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) leader Joseph Kony and LRA commanders Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, and Dominic Ongwen continue to evade trial after being charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes. They and the fighters they lead continue to move between the Central African Republic, north-eastern DRC and South Sudan and commit crimes.   Sudan: President Omar al-Bashir has been charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Darfur region. He has yet to be arrested despite regularly conducting state visits abroad. Sudanese officials Ahmad Harun and Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein and accused “Janjaweed” leader Al! i Kushayb are also at large.   Libya: Saif al Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi are charged with crimes against humanity committed during the crackdown on protesters in Libya. Saif al-Islam was captured on 19 November 2011, but has not yet been surrendered to the ICC.

   The UN has a critical role to play by providing political, diplomatic, and logistical support for efforts to arrest individuals named in ICC arrest warrants and to protect civilians in countries where the ICC is investigating crimes.

   I encourage readers of my blog to take action to protect victims of war criminals, please consider these actions: 1. Write a letter – A hand-written letter is Amnesty International’s oldest, and time-proven method of getting results. Please address the points in our online action, and address your letter, “Dear Secretary General” Address your letter to: Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon United Nations Secretariat New York, NY 10017 Affix $1.80 (Canada postage). Or you can go here to take action on this issue online. 2. Make a financial gift in support of Amnesty International’s human rights work – Your donations help A.I. mobilize letter-writers, publish highly respected human rights reports, and campaign directly to decision-makers. To donate now, go here.

Thank you and may God bless you as you work for justice and peace for the world’s most vulnerable.

 

Book review of the days before easter

the days before easter  

W.A. Poovey, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 128 pages

Softcover

 

A brief review by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

 

Some books I struggle to read through only once; others I might read twice; and a few rare ones I’ll keep going back to and read several times. the days before easter, in my humble opinion, is worth reading over and over again. It is one of my all-time favourite books to read during the season of Lent.

   Although the volume is a mere 128 pages, the content is incredible. Not only is it well written—Professor Poovey has organized the material in a well thought out fashion that holds the reader’s interest as if it were a fast-paced, page-turner novel.

   After a brief “About this book,” the content is divided up into three parts: Part 1. The Story of Lent, Part 2. Preparing for Easter, and Part 3. Devotions for Lent. In Part 1, there are eleven short chapters titled respectively: A time for reflection, A time for repentance, A time for rejoicing, Four men tell the story, Prophecy fulfilled, Origins of Lent, Customs of Lent, Hymns of Lent, Poetry of Lent, Sustenance of life, The end of Lent. Part 2 consists of eight brief chapters: Let’s have a Seder, Fasting and sacrifice, Who were the people? Symbols of Lent, A Lenten prayer list, A book for Lent, I am Pilate, Meditation for Lent. Part 3 contains forty-seven devotions—four the forty days of Lent, plus the Sundays—all based on the Book of Isaiah. One critique I have of the chapter A time for repentance in Part 2 is that Professor Poovey could have added some comment about the need for Christians to repent of the anti-Semitism and ant-Judaism of centuries past, which were incited no less by Christian leaders during the season of Lent. Another critique I have of the chapter Let’s have a Seder in Part 2 is that although the author tries to be sensitive and respectful toward the Jewish people and this important meal of Judaism’s Passover festival—he even advises Christians to consult with a local rabbi in planning a Seder—he stops short of actually counselling Christians to attend a Jewish Seder in a synagogue or Jewish home.

   All-in-all, this small tome, and albeit older and out of print, still is worth reading by pastors and laity alike for a wealth of information on the season of Lent.   

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Prayer of the Church, Christmas Eve/Day, Yr B

Prayer of the Church, Christmas Eve/Day, Year B

Lectionary Readings: Isa 9:2-7; 62:6-12; 52:7-10; Pss 96; 97; 98; Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7; Heb 1:1-4 [5-12]; Lk 2:1-14 [15-20]; Jn 1:1-14

P: Holy One of Israel and All Nations: On this marvellous festival day, the whole cosmos is united in an en-ending medley of hymns, prayers, praise and thanksgivings. All creation bows in adoration and worships you, O Blessed Holy Trinity! Our lives are overflowing with oceanic joy as we celebrate the birth of Jesus our Messiah! Joy to the world: C: The Lord is come!
P: God of Good News: We thank you for your Glad Tidings as it winged its way from ancient Israel to the ends of the earth. Bless all who preach, teach and hear your Word; that with the work of your Spirit, all people might see the salvation of our God. Joy to the world: C: The Lord is come!
P: Divine Ruler: We are truly grateful that, at the appointed time, the fullness of your majesty and mystery was perfectly revealed in your Son. O Christ, your realm is eternal; we, together with the angels are subjects of your benevolent reign. Rule over us always Christ King of kings and Lord of lords! Joy to the world: C: The Lord is come!
P: Eternal Word: On this holy day we celebrate your becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Shine your light into all the darkness of this world—especially where there is oppression, persecution, war and destruction. May the light you give us reflect outward into the dark places of this world. Joy to the world: C: The Lord is come!
(Additional intercessions and thanksgivings may be included here, ending with: Joy to the world: C: The Lord is come!)
P: Jesus our Healer: Remember on this holy, joyous day all people who are suffering from loneliness, depression, abuse, poverty, hunger, illnesses and injustice of all kinds—be they mental, physical or spiritual. Grant comfort and healing to them all, that they may receive the fullness of your grace and truth. Joy to the world: C: The Lord is come!
P: Grant peace on earth and good will toward all human beings; for the sake of Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace. Lead us in the ways of peace now and always Jesus our Prince of peace; in whose Holy Name we pray. ALL: Amen! Hallelujah!