Brief Graveside Sermon for Grete Olson

Brief graveside sermon by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, for Grete Olson, based on Isa 66:13; Matt 5:4; Phil 4:13. December 4, 2020, Bawlf cemetery, one o’clock.

Comfort, during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we need God’s comfort. All is not well with the world. There is so much discomfort, disorientation, suffering, sorrow and uncertainty. The coronavirus has reminded us of how fragile life is. So we turn to the LORD and his word for comfort. The word comfort, comes from the two Latin words, com-with, together, and fortis-strong—as we gather together in the presence of God and through his word, we are stronger. So as Jesus promises us in the beatitude: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted,” we benefit physically, mentally, emotionally; and we are strengthened spiritually in our faith; because in mourning together we are Christ’s presence for each other, and that brings us comfort.

Moreover, the Greek word for “comforted” in Jesus’ beatitude (paraklethesontai) is related to the Greek word for the Holy Spirit (paraclete) the “Comforter”—and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, so we are comforted. 

That also reminds me of our verse from Isaiah: “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” The presence of God is like a mother who comforts; who provides consolation; who contributes to the well-being of her children. Just as the Israelites returning from Babylonian exile found comfort back home in Jerusalem—so as members of Grete’s family, I’m sure you found comfort in Grete’s presence and home. 

Grete Olson, child of God, daughter, sister, wife, mother, neighbour and friend has left this life to join the company of saints in heaven. I am sure that you who loved her will miss her. 

In conversation with Odell, I learned that a most appropriate Bible verse that compliments Grete’s life is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”—which Odell found on the graduation exercise folder for one year when both Grete and her future husband, Palmer attended CLBI. 

As Odell shared with me some of the life-journey of Grete, I’m sure she needed to rely on Christ’s strength to do all that she was able to do. Life was not easy for her. She was very busy raising six children on limited means; as well as meeting the needs and living up to the expectations of being a pastor’s wife which, back in her generation, among other things, often involved playing the organ for worship services and being active in the ladies aid groups. Grete worked hard providing for you family members, sewing, knitting, canning, baking and much more. The life of a pastor, a pastor’s wife and family involves challenges, struggles, disappointments, as well as times when peace and joy, hope and love prevail. 

As time went on and the family grew up; Grete and Pastor Palmer were able to enjoy some of the good things in retired life, like golfing and cross-country skiing, and visiting friends and relatives. When she lived in Rosealta and Seasons, Grete frequently befriended residents and staff. Over all, Grete lived a very full, long life, relying on Jesus for her strength to do all things. Her faith in Christ gave Grete resilience; her ability to cope with the challenges of life; and her joy through adversity; were, without doubt, an inspiration to you as well as to many parishioners, friends and neighbours. 

So, we give thanks to God for the life of Grete Olson, as we commend her into the eternal care of the LORD. 

Brief Book Review: Philosophy 100 Essential Thinkers

 

Philosophy 100 Essential Thinkers

Author: Philip Stokes

Publisher: Arcturus Publishing Ltd.

382 pages, paperback

Author

Amazon.com provides the following information about Philip Stokes: "Phil Stokes is married with two children and currently living in Thailand. He teaches English language and Critical Thinking skills at a Thai university, while pondering - ever so slowly - on the prospect of turning his scrivenings into further books. His latest work is an opensource critical thinking textbook written for lecturers and students of philosophy." In addition to this, the author has a blog (essential thinking.wordpress.com), where he states that he studied philosophy at the University of Reading and the University of Bristol. 

Structure and Content

This work is sort of a Reader's Digest version of the 100 philosophers and their philosophy. On average, the author devotes 3-4 pages to each philosopher. So obviously the volume only provides a very brief introduction into the philosophy of each philosopher. In short, it is designed as an introduction for readers who have no or very little background in philosophy. 

Professor Stokes divides the philosophers into several groups: The Presocratics, The Eleatics, The Academics, The Atomists, The Cynics, The Stoics, The Sceptics, The Neoplatonists, The Christians, The Scholastics, The Age of Science, The Rationalists, The Empiricists, The Idealists, The Liberals, The Evolutionists, The Pragmatists, The Materialists, The Existentialists, The Linguistic Turn, The Postmodernists, The New Scientists.

As for content, the philosophers focus (among other things) on everything from the origins of the universe, to dialectics such as mind and body, matter and spirit, good and evil, faith and atheism, universal and particular, individual and collective, to the meaning-or lack thereof-of human existence. 

After reading this volume, I was left with the following question: Why did the author choose these philosophers, and omit others? For example, there are only two women-Mary Wollstonecraft and Simone de Beauvoir. Therefore, I would highly recommend readers to balance this male-dominated volume with any of the following ones: Women Philosophers: A Bio-Critical Source Book by Ethel M. Kersey, Women Philosophers by Mary Warnock, The Philosopher Queens by Rebecca Buxton & Lisa Whiting, A History of Women Philosophers: Ancient Women Philosophers 600 B.C. - 500 A.D. by Mary Ellen Waithe.    

 

Book Review: The Night Trilogy

Book Review: The Night Trilogy Consisting Of A Memoir, Translated By Marion Wiesel, And Two Novels: Night, Dawn, Day

Author: Elie Wiesel

Publisher: Hill and Wang A Division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux

339 pages, paperback

Author

Elie Wiesel was a Holocaust survivor, award-winning author of 57 books, Nobel Peace Prize winner, professor, and political activist.

Night

In his "Preface to the New Translation" of Night, Elie Wiesel begins by stating: "If in my lifetime I was to write only one book, this would be the one." (p. 5) He then claims that it is the key to understanding all of his other works. Then he goes on to reflect on why he wrote Night. 

Night was a testimony written by Wiesel as a witness to what happened in the Holocaust. It was written as a moral obligation to prevent the enemy from succeeding in erasing their crimes from history. "Convinced that this period in history would be judged one day, I knew I must bear witness." (p. 6)

According to Wiesel: "Only those who experienced Auschwitz know what it was. Others will never know." (p. 7) Hence the necessity of Holocaust survivors being witnesses and bearing testimony to the world.

Wiesel grew up in the town of Sighet in Transylvania. He was a devout Jew who studied Talmud, the Jewish mysticism of Kabbalah and attended synagogue.

Wiesel describes how his mentor, the Beadle, Moishe had escaped from the Nazis and came back to Sighet to warn the people there of how the Nazis were killing Jews and that their lives were in danger. Tragically no one, including Wiesel, believed him. Some thought he was even mad.

No one believed the Nazis would come to Sighet, until one day they did.

When the Nazis came, they systematically destroyed the rights, privileges and freedoms of the Jews in Sighet. They also took their silver, gold, jewelry, and other valuables. Then they were loaded into box cars and taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau. 

On the first day in the concentration camp Wiesel witnessed people being thrown into a burning pit, including young children and babies. Witnessing this evil, he wrote: 

"Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky.

Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever.

Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes." (p. 52)

One day, a young boy along with two men were hanged, and all the other prisoners had to watch. The boy however remained alive for over half an hour. Everyone had to walk past him. Behind Wiesel a man asked: "For God's sake, where is God?" And from within me (Elie), I heard a voice answer: "Where He is? This is where--hanging here from this gallows...."(p. 83)

Wiesel tells of the Jews in the concentration camp participating in the last day of the year--Rosh Hashanah service. Rather than blessing God's name, Wiesel asks God some difficult questions, functioning like a prosecuting lawyer, placing God on trial. 

"How could I say to Him: Blessed be Thou, Almighty, Master of the Universe, who chose us among all nations to be tortured day and night, to watch as fathers, our mothers, our brothers end up in the furnaces?" (p. 84)

Wiesel goes on to say: "I was the accuser, God the accused. My eyes had opened and I was alone, terribly alone in a world without God, without (sic) man. Without love or mercy." (p. 86)

Wiesel goes on to describe the cruel struggle for survival until the Americans arrived at Buchenwald on April 11, 1945. 

Dawn

In his Preface to this, his first novel, Wiesel describes the setting: Palestine under Great Britain, prior to the state of Israel. He also describes the protagonist, Elisha, a member of the Jewish resistance. Wiesel also mentions some of the questions raised in the novel such as: good and evil, hatred and revenge, terror and justice.

Elisha was a young 18-year-old Holocaust survivor. He left Buchenwald concentration camp to live in France. One day he met Gad, a messenger, who recruited Elisha to join the Jewish resistance Movement for an independent homeland. 

A Movement fighter, David ben Moshe was captured by the English and he was to be executed at dawn--rejecting appeals to show clemency. 

The Movement had captured British Captain John Dawson. Elisha was assigned the responsibility of executing Dawson at dawn.

The Movement told the British that for every Movement member the British captured and executed the Movement would capture and execute a British soldier. Their ideology was to use violent, terrorist tactics against the English to force them out of Palestine. 

"If we must become more unjust and inhuman than those who have been unjust and inhuman to us, then we shall do so. The commandment Thou shalt not kill was given from the summit of one of the mountains here in Palestine, and we were the only ones to obey it. But that's all over; we must be like everybody else. Murder will be not our profession but our duty." (pp. 162-163)

According to the Movement's leader, called the Old Man, they were to live by the eleventh commandment--hate your enemy.

The night before Elisha is going to kill John Dawson, he is plagued with the following thoughts: "He who has killed one man alone is a killer for life. He may choose another occupation, hide himself under another identity, but the executioner or at least the executioner's mask will always be with him." (p. 195)

Day

Day, Wiesel's second novel, is a sequel to Dawn. 

The protagonist in the novel is hit by a taxi crossing Times Square in Manhattan, and struggles between life and death.

Is there meaning in life after Auschwitz? The tragedy of indifference and survivor's guilt are, among others, themes in this novel. 

After surviving surgery, the protagonist's worst enemy was a fever. He tells the doctor: "You see, Doctor, what people say is true: man (sic) carries his fiercest enemy within himself. Hell isn't others. It's ourselves." (p. 245)

The novel then moves to Paris, where the protagonist--who is still not named--meets Kathleen. In the beginning of the book he had been with Kathleen on their way to a movie, when the taxi hit him. 

In his thoughts, the protagonist struggles with theodicy and seems angry with God. "Man (sic) prefers to blame himself for all possible sins and crimes rather than come to the conclusion that God is capable of the most flagrant injustice." (p. 264)

"Yes, God needs man (sic). Condemned to eternal solitude, He made man (sic) only to use him as a toy, to amuse Himself." (p. 265)

The protagonist--a Holocaust survivor, seems like he is Elisha from the first novel, even though he's still not named--suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and has nightmares and screams. 

Elisha's thoughts as a Holocaust survivor are imprisoned by the past: "You cannot hide suffering and remorse for long. They come out. It was true: I was living in the past. Grandmother, with her black shawl on her head, wasn't giving me up." (p. 325)

He continues this line of thought concerning survivor's guilt: "We cannot forget. The images are there in front of our eyes. We feel ashamed and guilty to be alive, to eat as much bread as we want, to wear good, warm socks in the winter." (p. 325)

At the end of the novel, a Hungarian artist friend, Gyula, appears. He speaks of life and death and shares his thoughts about their meaning. He leaves by carrying out one final act.

These three works of Elie Wiesel are very sobering, difficult and challenging to read. However, I would recommend them as essential resources on the Holocaust. 

My New Book: Praying The Lectionary Cycle B

My newest book has just been published by CSS Publishing Company. The prayers are based on Revised Common Lectionary semicontinuous cycle B. For more information, and to purchase either a hard copy or ebook, click here. 

My top 10 list of must-listen to Canadian musicians during COVID-19

Alberta: Joni Mitchell

Joni was born in Fort Macleod, Alberta. As a singer-songwriter, she has explored and excelled in several genres, including: folk, pop, rock, and jazz. She was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada. Joni has released at least 19 albums. It is difficult to choose one song of hers. My choice is from her 1994 Turbulent Indigo album. I'd classify it as a lament--appropriate during this time of COVID-19--focussing on the biblical story of Job, Sire of Sorrow. 

British Columbia: Luke Wallace

Luke Wallace is a young singer-songwriter, folk musician. He has released 5 albums, I'd never heard of him until recently. I was quite impressed. Listen to his latest album, What On Earth here. 

Manitoba: Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennitt was born in Morden, Manitoba, and is a multi-talented musician, exploring and performing: world music, Celtic, and Middle Eastern genres. In addition to her singing and song-writing, she plays the harp, accordion, and piano. She was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada, a Western Canadian Music Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and Juno Award winner. My favourite song is her rendition of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, The Lady of Shalott. 

New Brunswick: Charles Thomas (better known as) "Stompin' Tom" Connors

Stompin' Tom was a Canadian country and folk singer-songwriter from St. John, New Brunswick. He was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, founder of 3 record labels, promoting his own music as well as other Canadian musicians, and a popular Canadian storyteller. One of his popular songs is about Canada's favourite sport, The Hockey Song. 

Newfoundland and Labrador: Great Big Sea

Great Big Sea was a Newfoundland and Labrador folk-rock band in existence from 1993-2013. The band members were: Alan Doyle, Bob Hallett, Sean McCann, Darrell Power. They interpreted traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year-old Irish, Scottish, and Cornish heritage. From 1996-2000, they won the Entertainer of the Year award at the East Coast Music Awards. Wave Over Wave is an ode to the sailor's way of life. 

Nova Scotia: Sarah McLachlan

Sarah McLachlan is a Nova Scotia singer-songwriter, who plays: piano, keyboard, guitar, ukulele, banjo, and harp. Sarah is the winner of 9 Juno Awards, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, and inducted into the Order of British Columbia. She was also instrumental in establishing the Sarah McLachlan School of Music in Vancouver, and which has now expanded to Edmonton, providing music education for inner city children. She is also a member of the Canadian charity, Artists Against Racism. Visit this page on her website to listen to and watch several of her songs, including my favourite, I Will Remember You. 

Ontario: Bruce Cockburn

Bruce Cockburn is my favourite, all-round, Canadian singer-songwriter. Bruce has had a long, productive, and distinguished musical career, and is still an active musician. Over the years, Bruce has experimented with and excelled in  several genres, including: folk, rock, jazz, blues, to name a few. He has released 36 albums, making him one of the most prolific Canadian singer-songwriters. A person of deep faith, he addresses many contemporary issues in his songs, with a prophetic voice reminiscent of the biblical Jeremiah. It is very difficult for me to choose one of his songs, since so many of them are my favourites. Give a listen to Tried and Tested, on his 2003 You've Never Seen Everything album. 

Prince Edward Island: Gene MacLellan

Although Gene MacLellan was not born in PEI, he lived there several years, where he was active as a singer-songwriter. Many will remember Gene's song, Snowbird, which made Anne Murray famous. Gene struggled with depression throughout his lifetime, and in 1995, tragically committed suicide. He released 4 albums ( a 5th one was released posthumously). I remember first seeing Gene on the CBC TV program Singalong Jubilee, and was immediately impressed with his music. From 1980 until his death in 1995, he performed only in small noncommercial venues such as churches, prisons, and nursing homes. Posthumously, Gene was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, and given the East Coast Music Association's Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award. My favourite song is Put Your Hand In The Hand from his 1977 album, If It's Alright With You.  

Quebec: Kate and Anna McGarrigle

Sister Kate and Anna McGarrigle were active Quebec singer-songwriters from 1975-2010, until Kate's death in 2010. They performed folk-rock and country-folk genres, and released about 10 albums together, plus collaborating with other musicians, including: Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, and The Chieftains. In addition to singing and songwriting, they played several instruments, including: button accordion, banjo, fiddle, guitar, piano, keyboard, flute, and harmonica. In 1993, they were appointed Members of the Order of Canada, and in 2004, received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award. One of my favourite McGarrigle Sisters's songs is Travellin' on for Jesus. 

Saskatchewan: Connie Kaldor

Connie Kaldor is a Saskatchewan-born folk singer-songwriter. Connie started her full-time musical career in 1981, releasing the first of her 16 albums. In that same year, she created her own independent record label, Coyote Entertainment. She wrote the lyrics for Svetlana Zylin's musical, feminist interpretation of the Bible, The Destruction of Eve, which premiered in 1998. Connie is a three-time Juno Award winner for best children's album. In 2003, her television show @ Wood River Hall, debuted on VisionTV. Connie was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2006. One of my favourites (I'm also Saskatchewan-born) is the title track from her album, Love Sask.  

What do you think of my list? Do you have other favourites? I'd be happy to find out if you care to share them in a comment below.  

The Weekend in Black and White - July 10, 2020

Flåm Church, Norway

 

                        For The Weekend in Black and White

Brief Book Review: Forty Days with the Messiah Day-by-day reflections on the words of Handel's oratorio

Forty Days With The Messiah: Day-by-day reflections on the words of Handel's oratorio

Author: David Winter

Publisher: Abingdon Press

138 pages, including: Forward by Simon Over, Introduction, eight sections, and Notes For Group Study

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

David Winter, at the time of publishing this volume, was a priest in the diocese of Oxford and the author of What's in a Word: 40 Words of Jesus for the 40 Days of Lent, also published by Abingdon Press. 

   As the title suggests, this volume is a devotional-meditative work based on G.F. Handel's Messiah. 

   According to Simon Over, Messiah was often revised by Handel to suite a variety of circumstances. 

   The oratorio's text--compiled by Handel and Charles Jennens--is comprised of many Hebrew Bible prophetic passages and New Testament passages of the King James Version of the Bible, and passages from the Psalter of the Book of Common Prayer.  

   One of the concerns of the author is that many people are very familiar with Messiah, and that familiarity may lead to taking the words too much for granted, without appreciating their significance for our faith. Hence Winter endeavours to provide important information about the biblical contexts of the passages; as well as unpack meanings of a few Hebrew and Greek words. 

   The section titles are: The Coming Messiah: Promise And Warning, The Birth Of Messiah, The Life Of The Messiah, The Suffering Messiah, The Risen Messiah, The Messiah King, Life Through The Messiah, and The Triumph Of The Messiah. 

  The volume can be read by sections or as daily devotions; alone or with family members; and along with listening to the music. It could also be a resource for groups. 

   According to Winter: "The text of Messiah is a finely constructed piece of biblical interpretation, bringing together prophecy, narrative, worship, and praise to create an integrated picture of the whole scheme of redemption" (p.10).

   Although some of the devotions are quite inspirational and insightful; I would have appreciated it if the author and/or publisher of this volume had employed inclusive language. A bit more information on Handel, and the context surrounding the composition of Messiah would also have been appreciated by this reviewer.  

Book Review: Wolf Willow

Wolf Willow

Author: Wallace Stegner

Publisher: Penguin Books

306 pages, plus Introduction, Suggestions For Further Reading, Acknowledgments, paperback

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

Wallace Stegner was a 20^th century, award-winning, American fiction and non-fiction author, who spent several of his childhood years living in Eastend, Saskatchewan. In the novel, Stegner refers to Eastend as Whitemud.

    This volume is difficult to categorize, since it combines history of the Cypress Hills region, autobiography and fiction.

    In a conversation with Richard Etulain, Stegner confessed that he was ambiguous about his identity: “I wasn’t sure whether I was American or Canadian, so I decided I was Norwegian; I took my grandfather’s Old Country name and signed it in all my schoolbooks, which was quite preposterous except that it probably indicated a desire for a continuity that wasn’t there.” (p. xvi)

    The book is divided into four parts, each containing three or more chapters: I The Question Mark In The Circle, II Preparation For A Civilization, III The Whitemud River Range, IV Town And Country, followed by an Epilogue: False-Front Athens.

    Stegner—in contrast to a geologist who said southern Saskatchewan was “one of the most desolate and forbidding regions on earth” (p. 6)--goes to considerable length to describe the geography, ecology, etc., with awe and wonder. “It is a country to breed mystical people, egocentric people, perhaps poetic people. But not humble ones.” (p. 8) He is astounded by the wide-open prairie, the wind and sky, and birds like the meadowlark.

    The Cypress Hills were visited and sometimes occupied by the Métis, aboriginals including Sitting Bull, the Hudson’s Bay Company, and the North West Mounted Police. Stegner observes how ranchers and farmers struggled to survive in the area. He also describes life in Whitemud (Eastend): Main Street, the theatre, church, hardware stores, school, elevator, hotel, the confectionery store, the people who had ambitious dreams for the town, and those who became disillusioned and left.

    One of the deepest memories of his childhood in Whitemud was the “tantalizing and ambiguous and wholly native smell” of the wolf willow shrub. “It is wolf willow, and not the town or anyone in it, that brings me home.” (p. 19)

    Living in southern Saskatchewan during the homesteading days, Stegner states that his education was much different than growing up in Europe with easy access to art galleries, libraries, bookstores and museums. “Education tried, inadequately and hopelessly, to make a European of me.” (p. 24)

    One of the favourite childhood adventures in Whitemud was a visit to the dump ground. Here Stegner and his friends found a wide array of things that sparked their curiosity—everything from old bottles and smashed wagon wheels to bits of metal, worn-out furniture and field mice.

    Stegner admits that many of his contemporaries inherited prejudices about indigenous people without question or thought. He goes on to provide some history of several of the indigenous tribes including: the Blackfoot, Cree, Piegan, Gros Ventres, Crows, and Sioux. He also describes some of the injustices of the settlers towards the Métis and the heroism of leaders like Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont. According to Stegner, if you wanted to be accepted as one of the ‘in group,’ you had to be a white male, tough, stoic, and prejudiced against all other races, ethnic and minority groups, and all who seemed weak or too aristocratic.

    Reflecting on how Americans and Canadians crossed the 49^th parallel, Stegner observes: “Civilization is built on a tripod of geography, history, and law, and it is made up largely of limitations.” (p. 85)

    Stegner greatly admired the cowboy and ranching culture. However, the winter of 1906-07 brought about a major change from mainly ranching to more farming. Stegner describes that unbearably cold winter, which killed lots of cattle, and nearly killed the cowboys in a fierce blizzard. In spite of that Ray Henry convinces his Molly to purchase the T-Down ranch.

    Wallace Stegner was definitely a creative, accomplished storyteller. For this reviewer, who grew up in southern Saskatchewan, it was as if one was transported back in time to re-live one’s life growing up on the prairie.

Those readers who grew up or continue to live in the Palliser Triangle will likely identify with and appreciate this volume.

Earth Day 2020

Tomorrow-April 22-is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Originally, it was designed to provide environmental education. 

   As a person of faith, I am mindful that: "God saw everything that he made, and indeed, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31) God also gave humankind a huge privilege and responsibility: "...have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." The word "dominion" however does not mean thoughtless abuse and exploitation of God's creation without thinking about the consequences of our actions. No! Rather, "dominion" is better understood as thoughtful, respectful stewardship of God's creation: realizing that we human beings are all connected with and dependent upon God's creation. In destroying God's creation, we are destroying ourselves. In living a more environmentally-friendly life, God's creation will be sustained and continue to be life-giving. 

   There are many practical things we can do to celebrate Earth Day. Here are a few:

1. Offer God a prayer and/or song of praise and thanksgiving for the tremendous beauty of God's creation.

2. Go for a walk or run or bike ride-and remember to practice social/physical distancing of 2 metres. While you're walking, running or riding bike, look for different species of birds, animals, and plants, and enjoy their beauty.

3. Weather permitting, have a picnic in your back yard or some other favourite place-again mindful of social/physical distancing. 

4. Clean up your yard or, while walking, running or bike riding, stop to pick up garbage, bottles, etc. 

5. Recycle as many of your household items as possible. 

6. Avoid driving your car, truck, motorcycle, etc. 

7. Keep educating yourself about some aspect of God's creation-biology, physics, chemistry, etc. 

8. If you're an artist or photographer, draw, paint or photograph God's creation. 

9. Enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset.

10. At the end of the day, offer God another prayer and/or song of praise and thanksgiving for the gift of life today.

Happy Earth Day!

  

Brief Book Review: The Bible In 20th Century Art

The Bible In 20^th Century Art

Author: Nicholas Usherwood & Paul Holberton

Publisher: Pagoda Books

111 pages, including: Forward, Introduction, The Plates, The Artists, Glossary, and Additional Acknowledgements

   Nicholas Usherwood, at the time of publishing this volume, was a foremost British art critic and historian. He worked at the Royal Academy in London, and as Deputy Director of Exhibitions at the British Museum. He wrote an informative Introduction to this volume.

    Paul Holberton worked on many books as both art historian and editor—including Sir David Piper’s four-volume Encyclopaedia of Art, and at the time of publishing this volume, he was completing a doctorate with the Warburg Institute. He wrote a helpful commentary on the artists. The Glossary was compiled by Julius Nelki, which will be appreciated by readers without a background in art.

    This volume consists of the works of 40 artists, profiling both Hebrew Bible and New Testament stories—most of which are paintings, with a few exceptions, like the collection of wood engravings of Paul Nash, depicting the creation story of Genesis chapter one. This reviewer was not familiar with many of the artists; hence I appreciate, for the most part, the authors’ selection of artists. However, female artists are definitely under-represented in the volume—there is only one, Paula Modersohn-Becker, and her oil on paper painting, The Good Samaritan.

    With the exception of Paul Nash’s wood engravings; all of the other works are accompanied by each of the biblical texts; cited from the Good News Bible.

    During this sobering time of the coronavirus pandemic; I highly recommend reading and viewing this volume and others containing works of art in order to lift readers’ spirits; as well as appreciate God’s gift of artistic creativity; bringing joy and hope to humankind.

Brief Thoughts on Maundy Thursday 2020

Image credit: Last Supper by Hanna-Cheriyan Varghese

The Passover with the Disciples Matthew 26:17-30 (NRSV)

17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve;[a] 21 and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Footnotes:

a Other ancient authorities add disciples

b Other ancient authorities add new

Some readers may not be aware of the word Maundy. There are actually three possible origins of the word. Perhaps the most widely held view is that it comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning “command,” as in Jesus giving his disciples a new commandment to love one another as recorded in John chapter thirteen on the last Thursday evening of Jesus’ life on this earth. Others think it may come from another Latin word mundo, meaning “wash,” as in Jesus washing his disciples’ feet on the last Thursday of his earthly life. A third possibility may be that it originated from the word maund, meaning “basket,” as in providing food baskets for the poor on this day.

    Maundy Thursday this year is certainly the saddest one that I can recall. Indeed, it may go down in the annals of church history as one of the most tragic ones of all time. Maundy Thursday, of coarse, is best celebrated in the community of faith—since our identity as Christians is collective. This year, Christians around the globe will not be gathering together because of the coronavirus.

    This year, as we celebrate Maundy Thursday alone in our homes, we are mindful of a couple very sobering realities. This day, just as centuries ago when the ancient Israelites celebrated the first Passover, the angel of death passed over their homes that had doorposts marked with the blood of a lamb. Tragically, because of the oppressive policies of the Egyptians, many of their people died. This Maundy Thursday, many people around the world will likely die of COVID-19. Some of the people who die today may be our friends, neighbours, members of our faith community, and even family members.

    So there is sorrow and grief in our lives this Maundy Thursday knowing that this was Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples; and knowing that for some people whom we love it may be their Last Supper too. In this context, we are in a state of lamentation; lamenting the loss of opportunity to gather together as a faith community to celebrate Maundy Thursday; lamenting the sorrow of that first Maundy Thursday which was our Lord’s Last Supper; lamenting the sorrow and tragic deaths of those who have died; who will die soon; and who are now suffering from the coronavirus.

    Be that as it is, we can celebrate Maundy Thursday in our homes by choosing to remember the great love Jesus had (and still has) for his disciples and for all future followers of Jesus down through the centuries up until today—including you and I. Focussing on Matthew’s account of the Institution of the Lord’s Supper, Jesus taking bread, giving thanks to God, and then commanding his disciples to take and eat it, gives a new meaning to the bread. It becomes his body. Just as bread is a life-giving food for our physical body; so the body of Jesus is life-giving spiritually. By giving up his body in love for the whole world when he suffered and died on the cross; we have the gift of spiritual life; the promise of eternal life.

    After taking the cup of wine and blessing it, Jesus commanded his disciples to take it and drink from it, saying that it was his blood of the [new] covenant, which forgives sins. Blood is the symbol of life. Just as the blood of a lamb on the doorposts of the Israelites saved them from death; so the blood of Jesus shed on the cross saved humankind by forgiving sin and promising life-eternal.

    Then Jesus tells his disciples that he will not drink with them again until the life-to-come at the Messianic banquet in God’s realm.

    So, this Holy Meal is the Lord’s Supper because he is the One who instituted it; and he is the One who is present both as the Host and Guest of Honour. We also refer to the sacrament as Holy Communion—emphasising that the holiness of it is due to Jesus’ presence with us in, with and under the elements of bread and wine. The word communion also emphasises that we celebrate the sacrament together with other members of the faith community—hence the sacrament draws us closer to Jesus and one another. In addition to this, we refer to the sacrament as the Eucharist. The word comes from the Greek, meaning “to give thanks.” We are most grateful for what God does for us through Jesus in this Holy Meal—forgiving our sins, being present with us, and promising the gift of eternal life where we will eat and drink at the heavenly Messianic Banquet.

    With hope and longing, we anticipate the time when the plague/the COVID-19 pandemic is over and we can gather together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper with one another—not in virtual space, rather, in real, physical presence.

    Until then, in the midst of this sombre time of suffering and death, let us do as Jesus and his disciples did to lift their spirits and ours. Matthew tells us they sang a hymn. I encourage you dear readers to do likewise. For as Martin Luther once observed; next to the Word of God music is God’s wonderful gift to humankind.

LWF Intercessory Prayer

The Lutheran World Federation has prepared the following intercessory prayer in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Readers can also access it at the following link:https://www.lutheranworld.org/sites/default/files/2020/documents/200312_-_intercessory_prayer_in_the_midst_of_the_spread_of_covid_-_en.pdf

Intercessory Prayer in the midst of the spread of COVID-19

O God our Healer, show your compassion for the whole human family that is in turmoil and burdened with illness and with fear. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer.

Come to our aid as the coronavirus spreads globally, heal those who are sick, support and protect their families and friends from being infected. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer.

Grant us your spirit of love and self-discipline so that we may come together, working to control and eliminate the coronavirus. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer.

Make us vigilant, attentive, and proactive in the eradication of all diseases, malaria, dengue, HIV & AIDS, and others [may benamed out-loud or in silence]... that create suffering and often result in death for many people. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer.

Heal our self-centeredness and indifference that makes us worry only when the virus threatens us, open ways beyond timidity and fear that too easily ignore our neighbor. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer.

Strengthen and encourage those in public health services and in the medical profession: care-givers, nurses, attendants, doctors, all who commit themselves to caring for the sick and their families. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. Inspire, give insight and hope to all researchers focused on developing a vaccine. Hear our cry, O God,Listen to our prayer.

Sustain all workers and business owners who suffer loss of livelihood due to shut-downs, quarantines, closed borders, and other restrictions... protect and guard all those who must travel. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. Guide the leaders of the nations that they speak the truth, halt the spread of misinformation and act with justice so that all your family may know healing. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer. 

Heal our world, heal our bodies, strengthen our hearts and our minds, and in the midst of turmoil, give us hope and peace. Hear our cry, O God, Listen to our prayer.

Hold in your gentle embrace all who have died and who will die this day. Comfort their loved ones in their despair. Hear our cry, O God,Listen to our prayer. Remember all your family, the entire human race, and all your creation, in your love. Amen!

Funeral Sermon for John Bergstrom

Funeral Sermon for John Robert Albin Bergstrom, based on Ps 23 & Jn 14:1-6, by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, at Zion Lutheran Church, Bashaw, February 12, 2020, at one o’clock.

We are gathered here today to remember John Robert Albin Bergstrom; to mourn his loss; to support one another; and to give thanks for his life as well as commend him into God’s care.

    As I met with family members earlier this week to plan this Service, they chose our two Scripture readings from the twenty-third Psalm and John chapter fourteen.

    In Psalm 23, we find some very comforting words. Indeed, this psalm contains some of the most comforting words in the Bible—and I think that’s why so many people choose it to be read at Services like this one. God is pictured as a Good Shepherd, who knows, loves and cares for his sheep in every way. God is our provider of life and all of our needs; and God is like a shepherd bringing us comfort in times of suffering and trouble.

    As the family spoke of John’s life, one of the qualities that they mentioned was his strong work ethic, which gave him a passion for his calling in life as a farmer. In doing so, John was reflecting to his family and to others who knew him something of what God the Good Shepherd does for us as our provider. God is hard at work to provide for our needs throughout our lifetime—just as a real-life shepherd does for their sheep.

    The psalmist reassures us that: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and staff – they comfort me. We all know that for many years, and especially during the last while, John had dark valleys to walk through due to several health issues. Life was not easy for John. His valley likely at times tested him to the limits. Valleys that caused John to suffer from several limitations. Yet, through these valleys, John had a strong will to live and enjoyed life as much as possible, even with his limitations because of illnesses. It would be wrong however to blame God as the cause of inflicting these sufferings upon John. It would also be wrong to pass judgement on John by saying that he somehow brought it on himself. It would be more accurate to say that God allows suffering. He does this not because he’s a bully; not because he takes delight in causing people pain; not because he likes or enjoys punishing people. Rather, he allows suffering to draw us closer to him; to rely more upon him for endurance, strength and comfort. The psalmist says: for you are with me. Even in John’s darkest valley of suffering, God was with him. God was there to share the burden of his pain, his limitations, his frustrations, and discouragements. God the Good Shepherd was there to give him the ability to endure; God was there to strengthen and comfort him. God is also with us; now and always; at all times; in all circumstances.

    That is one reason why I especially like the ending of this Psalm. The psalmist writes: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” The Hebrew word which is often translated into English as “follow” would be just as accurate if it were translated “pursue.” God is an active God—pursuing us, chasing after us, wanting us to have his goodness and mercy so much that he never gives up, making sure that he gives them to us. We will never be able to run away from God—he will always catch up to us.

    What I heard from the family about John’s life, I think that God did bless him in many ways with his goodness and mercy. God the Good Shepherd blessed John with many years of good health so that he could enjoy his work and providing for his family. God blessed John with his goodness and mercy through many loving relationships with his family members. He loved his family and showing up for his children and grandchildren’s activities, and spending quality time with them—which brings us to our passage from John’s Gospel.

    This passage gives us a comforting picture of Jesus’ promise to us. He tells us that for those who believe in God and in him: “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” In other words, there is lots of room, so much room that it is beyond our ability to even comprehend it on this side of heaven. The promise doesn’t end there however. Jesus goes on to say: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am there you may be also.”

    What a beautiful promise this is! As the old saying goes: “There’s no place like home.” Isn’t that true? Especially if we’ve been gone away from home for a long time—it is so good to be home. If you have been away from your spouse and family, isn’t great to have them welcome you back home? Picture it in your heart and mind: Jesus who is our way, truth and life, has gone ahead of us to heaven to prepare our eternal home. He has organized everything—all that we need for the whole of eternity is looked after. WOW! Isn’t that wonderful! What a gift—that’s why we call it God’s grace.

    As you know, John enjoyed being with family and friends. Think of how much he will enjoy meeting up with his friends and family who are already in heaven waiting for him. Perhaps he’s enjoying a good cup of coffee and visiting with them now. As the psalmist speaks of God’s abundance: “My cup overflows,” and, as John might say: “More is better.”

    So, too, my prayer for each of you here today is that you believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; that the LORD is your Shepherd; that one day you too, along with John may enjoy eternal life, in God’s dwelling place, where there is plenty of room for you, and more is better! For that, thanks be to God! Amen.