the old bill

pilgrimage to pentecost

Pentecost this Sunday, and, as is so often the case, Rilke comes to mind.

All will come into its strength again;
the seas will rage, the field will be undivided,
the trees will tower and the walls will be small,
and in the valleys, nomads and farmers as strong and varied
as the land itself.

No churches to encircle God as though
he were a fugitive, and then bewail him
as if he were a captured, wounded creature.

Houses will welcome all who knock, 

a sense of boundless sacrifice will prevail

in all actions, and in you and me.

No more waiting for the Beyond, no longing for it,
no belittling, even of death,
we shall long for what belongs to us,

learn the earth,
serve its ends,
and feel its hands about us like a friend's.

- from "The Book of Pilgrimage" in Rilke's "Book of Hours"

prayers for mogadishu

Situation in Somalia does not sound good. So much pain. in so many places.  Talking with good friend Mayran [from Mogadishu originally] about how hard it's been to shake off illness/viruses this last month.  She's convinced it's because of exposure to pain, to stories.  She might be right.  Yet somehow people keep walking, and that alone is a powerful repudiation of pain, each step makes the ground beneath it holy, each step gives us reason to hope.

Narrative Worship: where the story shapes the liturgy

Have been experimenting with a pattern of worship which I've called 'narrative worship' [hardly creative naming, simply worship in which form is shaped by the narrative] . . . and which I assume others must have explored, tho I can't seem to find any reference to it via google.  It simply involves starting with a blank page with no set form, sketching the structure of the narrative then taking the regular elements of a worship service [prayers, peace, offering, confession, whatever] and weaving them in as they fit into the narrative.  Same thing with music.  No set number of songs. No sermon per se, but commentary woven throughout.  Scripture bits permeate - service begins with narrative opening and closes with narrative closing.  Means the structure is different each week.  Did 4 of them [Abraham/Sarah; Isaac/Rebekah, Jacob/Leah/Rachel, and Job/Mrs Job/friends].  Response was quite astonishing.  Will try to post some of the manuscripts in the back room, later.  Hardly seems revolutionary, but it really seemed to connect.

supersizing otis

Numerous studies, of course, have talked about the dangers of american obesity - not only does it affect your sexual health it also adds to greenhouse gases and reduces fuel efficiency, This all came home to me whilst trying to ride the elevators at the Marriott with the multitudes of  bible quizers.  At one point, when there were about 42 sweaty neopharisaic adolescents and me piled into the elevator I glanced up and saw the sign.  Was concerned. Then did the math.  Apparently do grow them big down there. 

Jesus Camp: the gameshow

Am staying in Minneapolis at the Marriott City Center, where, and I am not making this up, the national Bible Quiz Championship is being held.  Hundreds of born again teens competing - trying to stay above the "black line of death" to stay in the competition.  The teams have names.  Some are simply annoying [G-sus saves] and others are downright frightening [Heir Force - with the profile of a fighter jet as a logo].  I wish I hadn't watched Jesus Camp.

Green Lantern: Christian or Jewish?

File this under 'burning theological questions':

Perhaps you too have been kept awake at night,  troubled by this theological ambiguity:  Was the Green Lantern Christian or Jewish?  Turns out that Superman was methodist, no big surprise there.  And The Hulk a lapsed catholic.  Find them all here in this helpful visual display.

While so many of us are distracted by refugee issues, poverty, AIDS or the environment, it's great to know someone has time to devote to answering some of the questions that can plague us in those moments just before we fall asleep. 

strange beauty: landscapes of loneliness

  Had occasion to walk about the backstreets of downtown winnipeg today, on my way to check out some stuff at city hall, and along the way, both in the alleys and front streets, were bits of abandoned clothing.  old shoes. sweatpants. undies.   Sun was shining and the wind strong, blowing the dust everywhere.  And somehow those random shapes of old clothes had this curious beauty.  Bits of colour in odd flowing form on this grey background.  Exquisite but lonely.  Like the inner city itself.

A bit later I went down to graham to catch the 20 bus and  there was a guy with a green guitar, singing a kind of crusty blues, and no one, including me, was paying much attention.  But he kept on singing.  He'd introduce the song, tell a little story, as if he had a full audience, and say thank you at the end.  He was only half in my attention when the words to a particular song started to come through.  It was a kind of gospel thing.  He was singing about God, and though I can't quote the lyrics exactly, the end of it ran something like this:  "So i was asking God/what's to become of people like me. . ." and then a linking line I couldn't quite catch and then something like "and I knew the answer was 'nothing,. . ."  As the song finished he said something like "I wrote that song myself a couple of years ago at Christmas. . "  And then he kept singing, more blues, and it was art.  It wasn't panhandling or begging or whatever, it was art, and so strangely beautiful.  So if you're in Winnipeg on Graham, at the bus stop near the Bay, and the guy with the green guitar is there, ask him to sing it.  And if you see some abandoned clothes on the street, take a moment and look, you might see beauty there too.  I guess it's everywhere, if we've got eyes to see it.

btw turns out a guy named Stephen Twardowski has a photo gallery of abandoned clothing.  Worth checking out.

hi again

Hmmm. Been a while.

After FlickFest I crawled to Easter, and afterwards found that I was completely fried.  Got a bout of vertigo as a result.  I sometimes have a problem with words - certain pairs of words get mixed up in my mind.  Unfortunately  one such pairing is vertigo and libido.  Telling parishioners that I'm taking a few days off because I've been afflicted with libido isn't the perfect way to try to re-establish my rather shaky credibility.

Anyway polonged winter + exhaustion + vertigo/libido +having nothing much to say = blog silence. 

Should say, however, that FlickFest was incredibly successful - must have been over 300 on Friday night and about 200 on Saturday. We'll set up a board for next years - hope that Canadian Mennonite University will join the fray. "Son of Man" was astonishing – and if you get a chance to see it someplace, grab the opportunity. Perhaps the most memorable image of resurrection I've seen in a film.

Today the sun is shining and its lovely and warm [just passed two young women in shorts!] and I'm writing this draft entry while sitting on the 20 bus [92 Tempo finally died], and it just passed Holy Trinity Anglican where the sign read:  "Sun Worship 9:30 & 11:00 am"  Didn’t know the Anglicans were into that, but I can’t say I blame them.  Sun makes me feel kind of worshipful too.

Winter was brutal.  Decimated the locals, can’t imagine how African expats survived.  And by the end, I, like probably half the prairie population, gave up all pretense of theological sophistication and instead simply prayed for warmth.  Thank God we did too.  Just imagine how long the cold could have lasted without those earnest entreaties.

Wish I had something profound to offer here, but I guess profundity will have to wait a bit longer. A bit more warmth, more sun  But, for the first time in a long while, I feel like we're gonna get there.

pastoral couture

Hmmm. This should make Peacebang happy.  Turns out that there is a glossy new lifestyle magazine called, well, "Called" targeted at the female pastors demographic. While somehow this should gladden the heart, just knowing that there are now enough female clergy out there to become a demographic big enough that someone would want to create a glossy mag for it, the titles of upcoming articles are, uhm. . . well . . .what do you think?

Coming in Fall, 2008: Secrets of Highly Successful Female Pastors: Lessons Learned, Struggles Conquered, and Successes Gained, which is, I guess, fine, given the success culture that pervades the church, plus Fall into Fashion: Shoes, Bags, Accessories and More, and of course, Energy Foods that Keep you Going

That'll be followed in Winter edition on: Shoes that Feel Good and Look Great!  and Missionary Etiquette: Greetings, Dress Codes, Table Manners, Gender Politics...and more.

2009 will bring juicy articles on vital topics such as 5 Christian Designers That Will Spring You Into Fashion [Spring issue] and Summer Fashion for Every Ministerial Occasion

I dunno.  Somehow I can't connect Jesus with either Christian fashion design [sort of contrasts with 'if you have 2 coats, give one away'] and he'd probably not get much approval in the missionary etiquette department since his greetings, dress codes, table manners and gender politics each repeatedly annoyed the better folk of Judea.  Is this in any way moving us forward? 

Jesus FlickFest bits

hmmm. just noticed there is no link to the Jesus FlickFest blog.  Oops.  Click here for info.

Saw Son of Man at the prescreening yesterday morning.  Thought about it all day.  It's quite astonishing in many ways.  Very moving too.  If you are planning to come to the Thursday premiere, plan to come early - Convocation Hall only seats about 130, and it's possible that we will have a good crowd.

According to Matt at Bible Films blog, this might be the biggest collection of Jesus Films screened at the same time/place.

Quite a bit of media attention in both official languages [fortunately Jim Christie, Dean of Theology] is fluent in french.  The Free Press ran a great article.  Alison Gillmor might write a review of Son of Man - if so it'll probably run in tomorrow's paper.

Jesus FlickFest Schedule

Here's the final schedule for FlickFest

Monday, March 17  University of Winnipeg

Jesus' Friends? 

Judas  6:30 UW1 

Gil Amici di Gesù – Giuda [Close to Jesus]. 8:30 UW1

Cine-Jesu 

Je vous salu, Marie [Hail Mary]  6:30 UW2. NC. 

Jesus of Montreal.  8:30 UW2.

Tuesday, March 18  University of Winnpeg

Epic

Quo Vadis  6:30 UW1

Alt.Epic

The Last Temptation of Christ.   6:30 UW2

Wednesday, March 19   University of Winnipeg

Silents of the Lamb 1 

Intolerance: Love's Struggle through the Ages   6:30 UW1

Super Duo

Jesus Christ Superstar.  6:30 UW2 

Jesus Christ Superstar 2000 [UK]  8:15 UW2

Thursday, March 20  University of Winnipeg

Festival Premiere. 

Son of Man 6:30 & 8:00 UW: Convocation Hall

Friday, March 21.  Knox Centre [400 Edmonton]

Jesus & [non?]violence

Jesus Camp   1:00 K1 

Hill Number 1 2:30 K1 

Colour of the Cross   3:45 K1

Seduto all sua destra  [Black Jesus]  6:30 K1 

Johnny Got his Gun 8:15 K1. NC

Silents of the Lamb 2

From the Manger to the Cross F 1:00 K2

La vie et la passion de Jesus Christ [The life and passion of Jesus Christ].  2:30 K2 

King of Kings. 3:45 K2 

Ben Hur: A tale of the Christ 6:30 K2

Cine-Gesu

Il Messia [The Messiah]. 1:00 K3 

Il Vangelo secondo Matteo [The Gospel according to St. Matthew].  3:45 K3

Feature Film

Son of Man 7:30 K3

Saturday, March 22  Knox Centre [400 Edmonton]

Tunes & Tunes

The Miracle Maker. 1:00 K1 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 4:00 K1 

Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus. 6:30 K1 

Godspell. 8:15 K1

A to Z

The Nativity Story  1:00 K2

The Passion of the Christ  3:00 K2. NC

Relief

The Book of Life. 6:00 K2 

Life of Brian 8:15 K2

Diverse Images

Jesus. 1:00 K3 

Colour of the Cross S3:30 K 

The Last Temptation of Christ.  5:30 K3. NC

Feature Film

Son of Man S 8:30 K3

Admission is by donation.  All welcome.  Please note that not all films are family friendly - NC indicates not suitable for children. 

Prayers for Harry 2

Thank you to all who are holding Hendrik/Harry in your prayers.  Harry is 11 months old with a very rare form of cancer - on the liver and in the lungs.  His family has set up a blog Hendrik's Journey - and I invite you to read it, and through your prayers be a part of his journey, a journey we all believe/hope leads to healing and wholeness.  Here are a few pictures from the blog - to give you some images to accompany your prayers.

lewis on vulnerability

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one... Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. [CSLewis]

pernicious winter: correctly atributing fault

March 6.  Minus 38 wind chill. 

"It was the White Witch.  She's the one who makes it always winter, always cold."

"Son of Man" at FlickFest

This just in:  We've received an okay to screen Spier Films award winning film Son of Man at this year's FlickFest.  Son of Man won top honours at Sundance in 2006 - and has since added many more honours from film festivals around the world. It has, as far as I know, only been shown once before in Canada - at the Vancouver Film Festival.  It is still on the festival circuit - no word yet on when there will be theatrical release in North America [UK theatrical release is in April].

Sone of Man will be shown on Thursday at the University of Winnipeg, and we hope to show it again on Friday and Satruday at Knox [depending on film format]. 

Watch for more news.

prayers for Harry

Hendrick is 11 months old. His parents call him Harry.  His mom calls him her Prince Harry.  They're two of the most loving people I know.  Last weekend they found out that Harry has cancer - in the lungs and on the liver.  They believe strongly in prayer, and I know from our experiences how important it is, and how profound and comforting it is to know that you are being held in other people's prayers.  I know that, athough this blog has a modest readership [to say the least] - that they're also a far flung group - from Ireland to Korea.. Can you hold Harry in your prayers?  And if you are connected to a spiritual community, ask them to pray too. . . Thanks.

space shuttle returns just in case

News story:  Space shuttle returns one day so Americans can shoot down sattelite. 

Ummm.

Just how bad is their aim?

frozen bits

Minus 44. Again.  Just in case: Lord, whatever we've done, we're sorry. . . really sorry. . . please, a south wind?. . .

Seen the Obama song? It's great.  Best orator since Tommy Douglas.

Weaving pain into beauty

Last night I attended a Ukrainian prayer service in celebration of the life of Rita Chomiak, Dave Chomiak's wife.  I didn't know Rita [Dave and I have known each other since high school - where, likely, no one would have expected him to be Minister of Justice or me to be, well, a minister].  But the witness, and I don't know what else to call it, of the words spoken of how out of pain she wove a life of great beauty was poignant and deeply moving.  All the more because I sat a few rows in front of Hoosli, an astonishing men's Ukrainian choir, who stood at the back and sang in response to the chanting of the priest, and sang a capella with such poignancy and power that I had no words, all kinds of harmonies, weaving, building - it was perhaps the most beautiful music I have ever heard.  The simplicity and honesty of Dave and Rita's life resonated. 

Jesus FlicFest3: Film List

Looks like we are close to a final list of films for FlicFest 3  held during Holy Week.  Here's a sneak peak:

• Ben Hur: A tale of the Christ (1925) USA. Silent. B&W / tinted. Often overshadowed by the 1951 remake, the original is considered far superior by many.
• The Book of Life. (1998). France/USA. Comedy about a rather reticent Jesus returning as judge, deciding whether to open the Book of Life [a Mac Powerbook]
• Colour of the Cross (2006). USA. Afro-american Jesus - crucifixion as a hate crime.
• From the Manger to the Cross (1912). American. Silent.
• Gil Amici di Gesù – Giuda [Close to Jesus]. 2001. Italy.  The story from the perspective of Mary Magdalene, Judas, Joseph of Nazareth and Thomas
• Godspell. (1973)  Film version of Broadway Musical.
• Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus. (1973). USA. Johnny Cash’s take on the story.
• Hill Number 1 (1953). USA. James Dean makes his screen debut oddly cast as John the Beloved disciple in this passion tale that doubles as a passionate informercial for the Rosary.
• Il Messia [The Messiah] (1975)  Italy. Rossellini.  Distribution issues kept this film from having the impact many felt it deserved.  Many consider it as good or better than Pasolini’s gritty epic.
• Intolerance: Love's Struggle through the Ages  (1916) USA. Silent. D.W.Griffith's classic exploring the theme of intolerance throughout history, including in the trial of Jesus.
• Je vous salu, Marie [Hail Mary] (1985) France. Jean Luc Godard’s controversial  portrayal of the virgin birth in modern France.
• Jesus Camp (2006). USA. Documentary about children attending an evangelical ‘boot camp’, training them for spiritual warfare.
• Jesus Christ Superstar (2000). UK.  A remake using the London cast.
• Jesus Christ Superstar.  (1973). USA.  Norman Jewison’s take on the rock opera.
• Jesus of Montreal. 1989.  Canada/France. Denys Arcand.  French  with English subtitles.  A passion play within a passion play.
• Jesus. (1999). Czech/Germany/Italy/USA. Epic mini-series. Jeremy Sisto, Deborah Messing & Jacqueline Bisset.
• Johnny Got his Gun (1972). USA. Donald Sutherland is Jesus in what many regard as the most powerful antiwar film in American cinema.
• Judas (2004).  The story from Judas’ perspective.
• The King of Kings. (1927). Silent. B&W / colour [2 strip]. Cecille de Mille's classic.
• La vie et la passion de Jesus Christ (1903).  France. [The life and passion of Jesus Christ].  Silent.  The first 'feature length film'
• Life of Brian. (1979). UK.  Montie Python's tale of Brian, born in the stable next door, and thereafter mistaken for the Messiah.
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe . (2005) USA. C S Lewis' classic tale
• The Miracle Maker. (2000) [animated]  UK & Russia.  Animated. Ralph Fiennes & Julie Christie. Foam puppets but this film is notf luffy - some consider it one of the best film depictions of Christ.
• The Nativity Story,  (2006) USA. Dramatic presentation of the early life of Jesus & his family.
• The Passion of the Christ, (2004). Mel Gibson's controversial film.  In Aramaic, Greek & Latin.  English subtitles . Graphic violence.
• Quo Vadis (1951). USA. LeRoy's extravagant treatment of Sienkiewicz's novel, with Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr and Peter Ustinov.
• Seduto all sua destra  [Black Jesus] (1968). Italy/France.  a fictionalized portrayal of Congolese leader, Lulabi [closely resembling real life’s Patrice Lumamba] as a Christ figure, played by Woody Strode in what many consider his best performance.
• The Last Temptation of Christ. (1988)  Scorcese.  Controversial film based on Nikos Kazanzakis novel - that the last temptation Jesus faced was a peaceful and pleasant life.
• Il Vangelo secondo Matteo [The Gospel according to St. Matthew].  Italy. 1964. Pasolini’s gritty portrayal of the story, using non-actors – a film that is both bleak and beautiful.