Time for a new look

It has been a while.  Only snag is the loss of the nav bar up top with it's quick link to the dashboard....

The NExt Book of 2010

Not going to number this one because it is a re-read of a book I read back in August of 2008.


As we move in to house hunting in preparation for our move (meeting with the bank to talk about mortgage stuff this morning) it seemed time to re-read that one.

Why????

As long as I have known, Good Friday (and usually Easter Monday) have been public holidays.  And this made perfect sense to me because I was part of a family that was active in the church.  Besides, for many years we went to my grandparents' for Easter and the 4 day weekend made this more possible.

But more and more now I have to wonder why.  AFter all why, in a nation that has no official religion, do we make a public holiday of one religion's holy day?

Book 8 of 2010

The JNAC Report of the church to which I am going named that they are in the transition zone between Pastoral and PRogram.  So when I knew I was interviewing with them and then saw this book at the book display at PResbytery I picked it up.  (interestingly, although it is an ALban Institute resource it no longer appears on their website bookstore so it must be out of print)

I am now wondering if it was worth it.  SOme of the book was pretty good.  Of course you need to translate the US bias in places (Canadian churches generally have different numbers for the various sizes).  But the last chapter, the process left me feeling kind of flat.  Maybe it would be of more interest if you were in the process of planning to implement it.

Moving on....

At the close of worship this morning I read out my letter requesting a change of Pastoral RElations.  That is church-talk for saying that I have accepted a call at another church and will be moving.  ANd you know what?  Despite interviews and travelling to visit the place and making decisions te most stressful part of the whole process (thus far, purchasing a house and packing and moving will provide their own stress I am sure) was standing there in front of those people I love to read that letter.

Then when I got home from Bible Study the e-mail was there confirming that the congregation has had their meeting and approved the call.

WE will be going to Grande Prairie ALberta to serve with this congregation.

Book 7 of 2010

I've been working on this one for a while now.  A couple chapters a week since it was my "in tub" reading.

I have long thought that hospitality was at the heart of being church.  Which is why I picked this one up.  But to be honest I am still unsure how I feel about it.

Some chapters drew me right in.  At least one left me kind of bleh. on balance I'd say it is worth a read but maybe not a "must read".

Book 6 of 2010

On my trip this Monday I read this one (with a 3.5 hour layover in the Calgary airport the book went pretty fast).

ANd oh do I wish I had found it a few years ago.   The process Cawley outlines is one I think would work really well in this congregation to explore identity questions.  But right now is not the right time to start the process.

SHe suggests an identity exercise that leads the congregation into describing the person that the congregation is.  WHat is their gender, their age, their life-stage, their health etc.  And all this she grounds in reminding the congregation that they are the body of Christ.  I heartily recommend this book.

Imagine the Time to Set this up....

Note to USan Conservative (nutbar-ily so) Groups

Even if I were:
a) a US Citizen and so eligible to vote in your elections and had Congresspeople to contact
b) remotely in agreement with your nutbar allegations and paranoia and hatred

Sending me 6-10 copies of the exact same e-mail in 3 days would automatically make me disagree with you.  And why are you allowing your system to add an e-mail adress that ends in ".ca" anyway?????