February 2017 - Dialogue - lists.wedgeblade.net

8/11/16, Spong: The Unlikely Honored Guest at the Democratic National Convention
by Ellie Stock via Dialogue 31 Jul '18

31 Jul '18

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He was surrounded in that reserved and exclusive seating area by the power-elite of the Democratic Party: A former President, the sitting Vice-President and the “second lady,” the spouses and children of the nominees, as well as those especially invited guests, who were uniquely and politically related to the convention’s eventual nominee. This unlikely guest was in his own way quite unique. He was a Republican, one who had been elected to a state-wide office as a candidate of the opposition party. He served as the governor of Virginia from 1970 – 1974 and was the first Republican governor of Virginia since 1869 in the last days of reconstruction. Later he sought his party’s nomination to the Senate of the United States, losing to another Republican, John Warner, who served with distinction from 1979 until he retired in 2008. The name of this mystery quest is Abner Linwood Holton. He is now, and has been since the day I first met him, an extraordinary man. People, unaware of the history of the Democratic Party in Virginia, find it strange that the man I regarded as the best governor of Virginia during the years I lived in that state would be a Republican. Let me tell you his story.</p> <p>Linwood Holton was born in 1923 in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, a town deep in the heart of Appalachia. He was a Republican from the moment of his birth. He was also bright and ambitious. Being a Republican in Virginia in those days was to be part of a distinct minority, perhaps even an endangered one! The Democrats of Virginia were the only cohesive political force in the state. This majority party was run by Virginia’s senior United States Senator, Harry Flood Byrd, who after serving a term as governor from 1926 to 1930, effectively ran the state until he died in 1966. It was said of Harry Byrd that he and a few of his closest political advisors would sit on the porch at his home in Berryville, Virginia, and pick the candidates for every political vacancy in Virginia from governor on down. The electorate was deliberately kept small by poll taxes, which effectively discouraged both blacks and poor whites from voting. A Byrd loyalist was in every county seat in Virginia to run the party. Racism was deep and “States Rights” was a holy slogan designed to make racism seem socially acceptable. Virginia was a one party state. Frequently the Republicans would not even nominate candidates and, even when they did, no one paid much attention to them because whoever won the Democratic primary seldom even campaigned in the general election, since Republicans simply did not win in this state! Linwood Holton made it his life’s ambition to establish two-party politics in Virginia.</p> <p>He graduated from Washington and Lee in Lexington, Virginia, and then entered the law school at Harvard University. Along the way he married a Roanoke girl, named Virginia Rogers, who went by the name of Jinks. She was the daughter of Frank Rogers, an upright, but ultra-conservative, successful and well-connected Roanoke citizen, who was the grandson of the first Episcopal Bishop in Southwestern Virginia. In his mind, the two greatest virtues were to be a conservative Episcopalian and a loyal Byrd Democrat. Jinks, the more rebellious of Rogers’ two daughters, chose to marry a Republican and a Presbyterian! Supported by this remarkable woman, Linwood began his life’s task of strengthening Virginia’s Republican Party. This party’s base, such as it was, had always been in the mountains of the western part of Virginia. As a force in opposition to Byrd Democrats, the Virginia Republican party tilted slightly leftward. There was no room to the right of the Byrd machine. The Virginia Republicans were known for their party’s efforts to improve education statewide and to develop better state mental health facilities. Linwood’s organizational efforts were so successful that in 1965 he was the Republican nominee for governor opposing the Southside, Virginia, Byrd Democrat, Mills Godwin, who had emerged as the new leader of the Democratic Party. The sickness, retirement and subsequently the death of Senator Byrd meant that the torch of party leadership had to be passed to the next generation. It is interesting that Harry Byrd, Jr., always known as “Little Harry,” who was appointed to succeed his father in the Senate, did not succeed him in the leadership of the statewide Democratic Party. Holton was defeated in that first run for the governor’s office, but he garnered a respectable total of votes and succeeded in introducing himself to the state. The day after the defeat, he began planning for his second run in 1969. The governorship in Virginia, we need to note, is limited by the Constitution to a single term.</p> <p>National issues soon began to erode the Byrd majorities. Poll taxes were declared unconstitutional in 1964. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 opened the ballot to people of color. The feminist movement began to galvanize women into an effective political force. A national- thinking Virginia Democrat, named Henry Howell, began to build a liberal political base made up of labor unions, blacks, women and young people. His challenge to the Byrd machine resulted ultimately in his election as Lt. Governor in 1971, but he could go no farther. He remained anathema to Byrd Democrats. In the Democratic Primary of 1969, the Byrd candidate, William Battle, the son of former Governor John Battle, defeated Henry Howell in a bitter contest. The party could not heal this division, so in the General Election, Linwood Holton, supported by many of Howell’s still angry voters, rode to victory with a 65,000 vote majority.</p> <p>In his inaugural address, Holton called for an end to Virginia’s pattern of racial discrimination and its racist politics. No Virginia Governor had ever uttered such words before. Words, however, were not enough. People looked for actions. They would follow soon.</p> <p>In the most dramatic step imaginable, the new governor and his wife made the decision not to put their children in the church-related or independent private schools of Richmond, where all governors’ children had previously attended, but to enroll them in Richmond’s public schools which were at that time about 80% black. It was such a startling action for a Virginia politician that the New York Times covered it with a front page story and a picture of Virginia’s Governor Holton escorting one of his daughters into a school surrounded by a host of black faces smiling broadly. In a state where the official response of the ruling Democratic machine to “Brown vs. the Board of Education,” had been to call for “massive resistance to the law of the land,” a state in which some counties chose to close their public schools rather than to integrate them, here was the highest elected official in the state escorting his children into the majority black public schools of Richmond, Virginia. No action could have announced better that a new day was dawning in what had once been the capital of the Confederacy. One of those Holton children entering those public schools on that day was their oldest daughter, Anne.</p> <p>The white population of Virginia was shocked. They believed and stated that their new governor was sacrificing his children on the “altar of integration.” Many suggested that the “inferior education” that his children would receive in those heavily black schools would cripple them for life. It was a strange argument that gave the lie to the previous white claim that all of its racially segregated schools were “separate, <em>but equal</em>.” Anne, in her early teens, would be an exemplary student. She received a fine education and upon graduation from high school would be admitted to Princeton University, from which she graduated <em>magna cum laude</em>. She seemed not to have been penalized at all in her educational achievements. After Princeton she was accepted into the class of 1983 at the Harvard Law School, from which she now holds a doctor of Jurisprudence degree. From there she went into a legal career that in time would include being a domestic relations judge and Virginia’s Education Secretary.</p> <p>While at Harvard she met, fell in love with and married a fellow law student, who was born in Minnesota and educated at the University of Missouri. His name was Tim Kaine. She lured him back to Richmond, where his earlier life experiences, including his Jesuit high school education, his year as a volunteer missionary to Honduras and his mastery of the Spanish language, prepared him to begin his Richmond law practice as a civil rights attorney. Then responding to an expressed community need, he entered politics at the most local of levels, running for a seat on Richmond’s nine-member City Council. In a majority black city, Tim not only won that seat, but was also later elected by that majority-black city council to be Richmond’s Mayor. Two years later, in 2001 he moved to the state level, being elected Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor. In 2005, he won the governor’s office. His wife, Anne Holton, became the first person to be at one time living in the governor’s mansion as the child of a Republican governor and then a second time as the state’s first lady and wife of a Democratic governor. In 2012, Tim Kaine won a seat in the United States Senate. In 2016, with two years remaining in his first term as senator, he was chosen by the presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, to be her vice-presidential running mate. Anne Holton was there with him, waving to the crowd on the final night. As Hillary Clinton raised Tim Kaine’s hand high, former president Bill Clinton was at her side and Anne Holton was at Tim Kaine’s side. The crowd roared with approval.</p> <p>In the VIP section of that vast Philadelphia arena sat the former Republican Governor Linwood Holton, now 92 years old, with his wife Jinks, both still vibrant and attractive, watching their daughter being introduced to the nation. There is sometimes a reward for integrity. Linwood and Jinks Holton, who would not allow their lives to be twisted by the prejudice of racism, challenged the distorting and debilitating social structures of his generation in Richmond, Virginia. Doing what is right sometimes carries with it intimations of transcendence and even immortality. To this day he remains one of my heroes.</p> <p>John Shelby Spong</p> <p>Read the essay online <a target="_blank" style="color: #4487cf;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;" href="http://johnshelbyspong.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b51b9cf441b059bb2…">here</a>.</p> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top"> <div style="color: #000000;font-family: Georgia;font-size: 16px;line-height: 150%;text-align: left;"><h2 style="color: #4487cf;display: block;font-family: Georgia;font-size: 30px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 100%;margin-top: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 10px;margin-left: 0;text-align: left;">Question & Answer</h2> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Alberto Mejia Aguilera from Mexico writes via the internet:</span></p> <h4 style="color: #4487cf;display: block;font-family: Georgia;font-size: 22px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 100%;margin-top: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 10px;margin-left: 0;text-align: left;"> Question:</h4> <p>I am from Mexico and I would like to know your opinion about Liberation Theology. Do you think that this theology is still an inspiration for the struggle against the social injustice?</p> <h4 style="color: #4487cf;display: block;font-family: Georgia;font-size: 22px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 100%;margin-top: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 10px;margin-left: 0;text-align: left;">Answer:</h4> <p>Dear Alberto,</p> <p>Liberation theology was, I believe, was born in Latin America, so you should be especially proud of it. I associate the name of Leonardo Boff, primarily, with it, but there were others like the murdered Bishop Oscar Romero. It was born in an attempt to apply the principles of the gospel not just to individuals, but also to the structures of our society, which so often drive the masses into poverty. It identifies God with the poor. For those reasons it tended to be resisted in ecclesiastical circles, especially by the leaders of the Roman Catholic during the years of Popes John Paul II and Benedict, both of whom were so politically conservative that they saw it as another manifestation of Communism. I think they were both wrong in this judgment. Liberation theology, I believe, constituted a call to Christianity to see that its alliance with power, both in Europe and the new world, had corrupted the essential justice that Christianity requires.</p> <p>Christianity was born among the poor and the outcasts. It rose to dominate society and so became the religion of kings. Liberation Theology was a necessary correction.</p> <p>I wish you well.</p> <p>John Shelby Spong <a target="_blank" style="color: #4487cf;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;" href="http://johnshelbyspong.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b51b9cf441b059bb23…">Read and Share Online Here</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top"> <div style="color: #000000;font-family: Georgia;font-size: 16px;line-height: 150%;text-align: left;"><h2 style="color: #4487cf;display: block;font-family: Georgia;font-size: 30px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 100%;margin-top: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 10px;margin-left: 0;text-align: left;">Announcements</h2> <div style="text-align: center;color: #000000;font-family: Georgia;font-size: 16px;line-height: 150%;"><a target="_blank" style="color: #4487cf;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;" href="http://johnshelbyspong.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=b51b9cf441b059bb2…"><img align="none" height="262" style="width: 350px;height: 262px;margin: 0px;border: none;font-size: 14px;font-weight: bold;line-height: 100%;outline: none;text-decoration: none;text-transform: capitalize;display: inline;" width="350" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b51b9cf441b059bb232418480/images/e67ac6a0-334…"></a></div> <h2 style="color: #4487cf;display: block;font-family: Georgia;font-size: 30px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 100%;margin-top: 0;margin-right: 0;margin-bottom: 10px;margin-left: 0;text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:26px"><span style="color:#000000">Bishop Spong at the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan September 10th & 11th</span></span></h2> <strong>Schedule:</strong> Saturday, September 10, 2016 1:00 pm at the Reynolds Recital Hall, Northern Michigan University 7:00 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Marquette Sunday, September 11, 2016 2:00 pm at the Memorial Union Building , Michigan Technological University At each location, there will be an opportunity for Q&A and book signing.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="top"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></center><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" id="aolmail_canspamBarWrapper" style="background-color:#FFFFFF; border-top:1px solid #E5E5E5;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top" style="padding-top:20px; padding-bottom:20px;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></center></div> </div> <style type="text/css">#AOLMsgPart_2_1c149769-41d3-4c3b-8300-eaccdde19ae7 td{color: black;} @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .aolReplacedBody table[id="canspamBar"] td{font-size:14px !important;} .aolReplacedBody table[id="canspamBar"] td a{display:block !important; margin-top:10px !important;} } </style>

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Feb. 2017 "Journey Reflections" blog posts
by John C via Dialogue 28 Feb '17

28 Feb '17

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from pschrijnen
by pschrijnen via Dialogue 28 Feb '17

28 Feb '17

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2/23/17, Spong/Wolsey/Vosper: Putting the Shark Back in the Ocean: Restoring the Sacred. Reclaiming Jesus. Reforming the Church.
by Ellie Stock via Dialogue 23 Feb '17

23 Feb '17

HOMEPAGE MY PROFILE ESSAY ARCHIVE MESSAGE BOARDS CALENDAR Putting the Shark Back in the Ocean: Restoring the Sacred. Reclaiming Jesus. Reforming the Church. By Roger Wolsey Bluntly speaking, American Christianity has jumped the shark.* It has been co-opted, hijacked, and derailed. There are exceptions, but for the most part, the way of following Jesus in the U.S. has become reduced to an overly personalized, private state of mind that involves individuals giving intellectual assent to certain truth claims – believing X, Y, and Z about Jesus and God – instead of a state of mind and a collective way of being that is about becoming less anxious, more serene, more mindful, and more composed and intentional in our actions and way of being. This American form of Christianity still involves living in fear instead of living in faith. It’s why many American Christians own guns and give their blessings to having a national military that has a full time standing army stationed at some 800 bases around the globe, and an obscenely overfunded Defense budget that is more than the next 8 nations spend on theirs – combined. This privatistic and dogmatic – “I believe the right things about God and Jesus – and that’s all that matters” form of Christianity is a corruption of the faith that renders the religion impotent and results in moral quietude (save for certain pet items, namely scapegoating homosexuality and abortion) and poor stewardship of the Earth – which is resulting in environmental destruction. It’s repulsive and it’s no wonder that the fastest growing religion in America is what Bishop Spong calls “the Church Alumni Association.” I’m a Christian. But I probably shouldn’t be. If you’re a young or middle-aged adult in America, you probably shouldn’t be either. The odds are increasingly against it. Few friends who went to high school or college with me, and even fewer of my more recent friends and acquaintances, identify themselves as being Christian. Many of my peers who were raised in the Church have shifted away from Christianity toward other religions — or increasingly, to no religion. A few years ago, the Barna Research Group conducted a study of young people asking them what they think of when they hear the word “Christian.” The top three answers were, “anti-gay,” “exclusive,” and “judgmental.” If that’s what Christianity were all about, I wouldn’t want any part of it either. Happily, it isn’t. Over the past 20 years, there has been a growing movement to reclaim Christianity from those who’ve distorted it into something that Jesus and his earliest followers wouldn’t easily recognize — conservative evangelicalism and fundamentalism. The movement has emerged on two fronts, roughly simultaneously. One wing comes from the mainline Protestant and Catholic Churches that, due to the shift from modern era mindsets into postmodern ones, have shifted from liberal theology to “progressive” Christianity. The other wing comes from young people within the Evangelical communities who are questioning and redefining their tradition and is known as “emergent” Christianity. Combined, these movements are a new Reformation. The late, “emergence” scholar Dr. Phyllis Tickle asserts that every 500 years, Christianity has experienced such renewal movements. We’re due for another one — and it’s happening now. Emergent Christian pastor and author Doug Pagitt suggests that human society is now entering the “Inventive Age” and this correlates with reformation in the religious realms. I’m part of this reformation and everyone who is reading this newsletter is as well. As a proponent of progressive Christianity I’ve come to question some of the things that have been written about it. The description of progressive Christianity on the website Religioustolerance.org conveys several misnomers. It begins by stating, “progressive Christianity represents the most liberal wing of Christianity, just as fundamentalist Christianity is the most conservative.” I challenge that statement in two ways. Progressive Christianity is influenced by a post-modern mindset and liberal Christianity is a product of the modern era. Progressive Christianity is a post-liberal phenomenon. Moreover, people are increasingly not seeking to be convinced by logical or rhetorical evidence in order to come to Christ. They sense that faith isn’t something that one comes to through debate, data, or arguments. Instead, they realize that faith comes by noticing the lives of people who have faith and then living into it themselves. Today’s generations embrace a more nuanced, experiential, paradoxical, mystical, and relational approach to faith and spirituality. We like it relevant, down-to-earth, and real. This is arguably a similar approach that the early Christians experienced and understood. What’s referred to as “progressive Christianity” isn’t really new. It’s a reformation of the Church to its earlier, pre-modernist and pre-Constantinian roots. Rather than focusing on exclusion, judging, and damning, progressive Christians reclaim our original values of inclusion, grace, acceptance, and unconditional love. In reality, it is progressive Christianity that is conservative — conserving what made Christianity such a beautiful gift to the world in the first place. Metaphorically, progressive and emergent Christianities are trees that have been growing parallel to each other — largely without much awareness or inter-action. It may be fair to say that progressive Christians are more unanimously pro-LGBTQI while emergents are of mixed minds on those matters. However, we’re now in a “mash-up” culture where the lines are increasingly being blurred and emergent Christian writers Brian McLaren and Rob Bell are now identifying as a progressive Christians. Unlike the dated description from ReligiousTolerance.org (“they are not particularly vocal about their beliefs”) progressive Christians are increasingly overt and vocal. We are boldly reforming Christianity for the 21st Century. One area that we would do well to give special attention to is the need to reclaim the heart of the faith – direct mystic encounter with the Divine; felt connection with Source/God; prayerful relationship with the Cosmic Christ; and a deep trust in the Way, teachings, and example of Jesus. I contend that too many progressive Christians still have some of their toes dipped into the pond of the modern era’s liberal Christianity. We’re still too overly enamored with science and too quick to defer to scientists with the last word. We spend too much time trying to “explain the miracle stories of Jesus” via science instead of letting simply allowing them to be what they are – challenging and inspiring stories that invite us to adopt a different way of thinking, a more Godly perspective, and to reorient ourselves from thinking that it’s all up to us in life and that there really isn’t a God – or at least not one who can do much of anything. Not a few of us who identify as progressive Christians are actually Deists or practical atheists. I was one of them. For the past 5 years, I gave God the silent treatment by only engaging in centering prayer and avoiding praying “to” God. That all changed this past summer where I experienced a mystical sense of God yearning for me to be real and present – really – once again while on a retreat on the Island of Lindisfarne. I’ve since been re-exploring my actual relationship with God – and feeling God’s love (redundant – as God is love) again in ways that I had been shunning and eschewing. That “Dear Me, it’s only me here” way of being misses the heart and the depths of our faith and is ultimately unsustainable and unsatisfying. Ironically, the field of science has been evolving more toward embracing the spiritual and/or mystic – and yet, certain quarters within progressive Christianity have been resistant to doing this. It’s more than ironic, it’s tragic as that should be our strength. One way forward is to help inform people about the merits of panentheism and process theology – schools of thought that help restore a sense of God being fully transcendent from all Creation as well as being fully immanent within all Creation. Those approaches help us to sense that there is a God who cares for us – and yet who cannot intervene in the Superman-like ways of conventional/supernatural theism. God still has agency but God’s power is persuasive instead of being coercive. As such, we need to shed notions of omnipotence, and instead simply trust that God is at work more in the realms of the energetic and the subtle – frequently involving how we think, feel, and decide to act. But the reformation that is needed needs to involve more than just adopting new mind-sets and schools of thought. It’s more than taking on new ways of thinking. What’s also needed is transformation in our ways of feeling. Our hearts need to change. We would do well to re-explore the ways and insights of mysticism – including learning from the great mystics who have been part of our Christian tradition since the start. The author of the Gospel of John attributes these prayerful words to Jesus: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (17:17-23) Whether or not the historic Jesus actually said those words, we would all do well to seek to have that sort of intimate connection with Divinity such that we might experience at-one-ment, true communion, and deep awareness of our inter-connectedness with all that is. These sorts of heart-felt transformations invite us into mature spirituality, holiness, and sanctification. Growing into this more mature state of being may involve delving into the time tested spiritual practices of centering prayer, petitionary prayer (knowing that we’ll be actively involved in any answering of such prayers), lectio divina, labyrinth walking, spiritual journaling, paying attention to dreams, working with spiritual directors, enneagram work, etc., – as well as exploring spiritual practices from outside of the Judeo-Christian family tree. It is this work of “going inward” that allows us to effectively engage with a challenged world that is rife with injustice – with compassion, integrity, authenticity, sustainability, and love. We need to maintain our commitment to intellect, the insights of contemporary science, and holding our truth claims loosely — as well as to embrace and nurture our innate connection to Source, Spirit, and Mystery. This is not an optional or peripheral matter. It’s a matter of life or death – for ourselves, to the faith that we care about, and frankly, to the planet. Over half of the world’s population are Christians – and the more of us who come around to an approach to our faith that bears fruit in caring about the Earth, and provides us with satisfying connection to Source and Spirit that sustains us and our pursuits of social justice – the better off we all will be. The New Reformation matters. ~Roger Wolsey Read online here * When the episode of the TV show Happy Days where the Fonz rode his motorcycle over a ramp jumping a shark tank – spelled the demise of that great show. “Jumped the Shark” has become slang for any group or movement that goes wayward and off course. About the Author: Rev. Roger Wolsey is an ordained United Methodist pastor who directs the Wesley Foundation at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and is author of Kissing Fish: christianity for people who don’t like christianity; The Kissing Fish Facebook page; Roger’s Blog on Patheos “The Holy Kiss” Question & Answer Carole from Boise, ID writes: Question: What do you make of the Season of Lent? How should the Christian Church observe it? Answer: By Gretta Vosper Dear Carole, The season of Lent is traditionally understood to be a time for reflection, contrition, and consideration of the sacrifice Jesus undertook for our sins. It has been, as you know, traditionally recognized for the forty days leading up to Easter. Preceded by Shrove Tuesday, upon which Christians are to prepare to confess their sins, Lent is entered into as a holy season of penitence. Of course, all that is contingent upon a belief in the atonement theory of the crucifixion by which we accept that Jesus died to save us from our sins and bring us into eternal relationship with the divine being, God. If our belief in that story has cracks in it, the idea of Lent can become nonsensical. Why would we need to be penitential if we are considering the death of a man who didn’t die for our sins? Or if we didn’t believe in the idea of sin as it was constructed in the early centuries of Christianity? Why would we consider an act of contrition the appropriate response to an act of barbarity and violence? The seasons of the Christian year and the festivals and traditions that are celebrated within them are usually based upon doctrinal or theological premises that may be difficult to discern at first blush. Communion often feels like a beautiful, communal meal. The doctrinal assertions that undergird it, however, are considerably different than many assume. Similarly, Lent can be thought of as a meaningful time for reflection and the consideration of love, justice, and kindness when the doctrinal beliefs upon which it is built no longer synch with contemporary understandings elicited through the study of the historical Jesus or the evolution of the idea of God. If our understandings have shifted and we no longer believe that Jesus died for our sins, something I do not believe, does that mean, however, that we should give up on the idea of Lent? I do not think so. Sometimes setting aside a period of time for intentional reflection on life, on love, and on the things that flow from the often challenging intersection of those two things, can be a very important discipline to undertake, particularly in the busy craziness of twenty-first century Western society. And so I invite you to undertake a course of reflection and study if that is your wont and to set aside a prescribed period in which to do it. Forty days feels good to me. And giving something up for Lent, an idea that is built on the practice of fasting, again, an act of penitence, can be worked in, if you like, by way of breaking a bad habit, or building up a good one. As with other ecclesial practices and understandings, however, I invite you to leave behind the exclusively Christian word associated with it: Lent. To hold onto it continues to overshadow your period of reflection with a bleak and dangerous interpretation of a tragic story. I am not suggesting that you deny others their right to use the word or to critique them for it. My thought is simply that you practice without it and see if it feels okay for you. You don’t need the doctrinal interpretation to reap the benefits of reflection and a sabbatical time away from the daily grind. And I would be willing to bet that if you share the news of your intentional forty-day practice with someone who is not involved in church – someone at work or a family member – they will be far more likely to want to know what it is you’re doing and why. If you’re at a loss as to what you would do if you weren’t self-flagellating, here are some ideas. Think about what one or another of them would elicit in and from you. Would it make your life or the life of another more beautiful? If so, it is certainly worth trying. But the list is simply to stir your own imagination and see what you might undertake against the backdrop of your own life. Consider, make a pledge to yourself, and, if you can, keep track of how to feel as you move through your time. • Use one of Barbara Frederickson’s 15 minute Love 2.0 Meditations each day. • Sign up for a poetry blog and read a new poem every morning when you get up and the same one every evening before retiring. Better yet, write a new poem every day! • Tape West Hill United’s words of commitment, As I Live, up next to your bathroom mirror. In the morning, consider how they can affect your day positively; in the evening, acknowledge what you might have done better and celebrate the good you made happen. • Write a thank you note to someone every day. Like that person down the street who you don’t know but who gifts the community each year with a beautiful garden or Christmas light display. • Think of a charity you’d like to support. Every day, place an amount of money you’d like to contribute to it and a note to explaining why you want to support it (yes, a different one each day!). Read the notes when you’re done and, if you feel like it, send them in an envelope with your cheque. • Subscribe to the daily TED talk and learn something new every day. Follow up on stuff that really intrigues you. Break the mold that Lent has been and release the new you that you’ve not yet met! And don’t forget to celebrate you while you do it! ~ Gretta Vosper Read and Share Online Here About the Author: The Rev. Gretta Vosper is a United Church of Canada minister who is an atheist. Her best selling books include With or Without God: Why The Way We Live is More Important Than What We Believe, and Amen: What Prayer Can Mean in a World Beyond Belief. She has also published three books of poetry and prayers. Announcements Join us as we celebrate Marcus’ new book Days of Awe and Wonder On March 10th and 11th The Marcus J. Borg Foundation will celebrate a new collection of writings by Marcus Borg, Days of Awe and Wonder in Portland OR. On the evening of March 11th, Marc’s birthday anniversary, we will have a fundraising dinner at the Heathman Hotel ... Click here for more information and to register...

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Update: Live Broadcast from Standing Rock // TOMORROW
by Ellie Stock via Dialogue 21 Feb '17

21 Feb '17

<div id="AOLMsgPart_2_d587aae7-e5d8-4f96-855b-e0d4167dfa8f"> <div class="aolReplacedBody"> Dear Friends of Standing Rock, Wednesday, February 22, is another day of prayer at Standing Rock. It is also the deadline the state of North Dakota has set for Water Protectors to be out of the Oceti Oyate (forN?MÑNHNJHJJNmerly Oceti Sakowin) Camp or face citations or arrest, or have the camp cleared. We pray there will not be a violent confrontation with officials. They are inviting people to be with them in prayer. There is also a link to streamline events there on Wednesday. Others in the movement continue to try to work through the courts and also through DIVESTING from financial institutions and fossil fuels. You are invited to join them in these efforts as well. Ellie <a href="mailto:elliestock@aol.com">elliestock(a)aol.com</a> <div id="aolmail_AOLMsgPart_2_162599ff-e17d-432e-9ee7-54c65a2f95e8"> <style>#AOLMsgPart_2_d587aae7-e5d8-4f96-855b-e0d4167dfa8f td{color: black;} .aolReplacedBody #aolmail_AOLMsgPart_2_162599ff-e17d-432e-9ee7-54c65a2f95e8 td{color: black;} .aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolmail_ExternalClass {width:100%; background:inherit; background-color:inherit;}.aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolmail_ExternalClass p,.aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolmail_ExternalClass ul,.aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolmail_ExternalClass ol { Margin: 0; }.aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolmail_undoreset div p,.aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolmail_undoreset p { margin-bottom: 20px; }</style><style>#AOLMsgPart_2_d587aae7-e5d8-4f96-855b-e0d4167dfa8f td{color: black;} .aolReplacedBody #aolmail_AOLMsgPart_2_162599ff-e17d-432e-9ee7-54c65a2f95e8 td{color: black;} @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) { .aolReplacedBody .aolmail_aolReplacedBody { padding: 0!important; 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max-width: 625px;"><tbody><tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout_table_dad247a6ac524d40980dc8ab7f426fc3b21487be" valign="top" align="center" width="625"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-table aolmail_aolmail_root-table" width="625" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1284" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1284" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_picture aolmail_aolmail_" align="left"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1284" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_aolmail_image-td" align="left" valign="top" width="625"><a style="margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; color: #045FB4; display: block; min-width: 100%;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://unify.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=9ad566cb83ed2ebe1e17d2b2c13fa2e8&i=107A14…"><img alt="" width="625" style="display: block; border: none; outline: none; width: 625px; opacity: 1; max-width: 100%;" src="http://unify.imgus11.com/public/8603641f9895fef549d7af3d1c13a9b9.jpg?r=1120…"></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1285" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1285" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_spacer aolmail_aolmail_"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1285" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" height="19"><div class="aolmail_aolmail_spacer" style="margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; height: 19px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_aolmail_spacer-body" valign="top" height="19" width="625"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1283" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1283" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_text aolmail_aolmail_" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1283" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_text_div1151" class="aolmail_aolmail_td_text aolmail_aolmail_td_block" valign="top" align="left" style="line-height: 125%; color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.25; text-decoration: inherit; font-family: Arial; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"> <div style="line-height: 125%; margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; text-align: left; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; line-height: 1.25;"><span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit;font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit; font-family: tahoma, "trebuchet ms", arial, sans;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">Hello Standing Rock Family,</span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;"><span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">We thank you for your continued support, prayers, and commitment</span> to the historic Gathering of Nations here at Standing Rock. We are all witnessing and co-creating an <span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">enormous transformation of consciousness</span> here on the front lines, that is reaching another peak point tomorrow on February 22nd.</span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">Now that the new administration has approved the Dakota Access Pipeline, crews have been working around the clock to finish its route under Lake Oahe and the Missouri River, the principal drinking water and irrigation supply for more than 13 million people.</span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">Everyone at Oceti Oyate, the Camp of All People, has been given <span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">the deadline of February 22nd to clear out.</span> As of now - we are being told that at 2pmCentral anybody who is still in the main camp will <span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration:inherit;">be arrested for trespassing.</span></span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">We are asking you, and our entire global family, to <span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">focus your loving, peaceful, awareness </span>upon all of the souls here as often as possible up until February 22nd. Specifically at 2pm Central on Wednesday, we will engage our global family to <span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">meditate and pray for Peace to Prevail here. </span></span> <div style="margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; color: #045fb4;"><span style="color: #045fb4; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration:inherit;"><span style="color: #045fb4; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">We will Pray for the safety and peace of all First Nations Tribes and all Water Protectors. We will Pray for all of the Peace Officers to feel and receive love, and to respect the fellow humans who they could easily overpower. We will meditate for the spirits of all of the workers on this pipeline as well, and their highest good. </span> </span></div> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">No matter the outcome - the consciousness of this movement at Standing Rock has already changed history. <span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">This brave action has unified people </span>all across the globe in our shared need to Protect Mother Earth, and the life-giving water she blesses us with. </span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">If you are able, there is still a call from the Prayer Camps here to <span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">come and take part! </span> We are still working, sharing, and learning on a daily basis. <span style="color: inherit; font-size:inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">Main Camp is 80% clean</span> from the tens of thousands of earlier supporters, and Spirits are still very high. Chants of MNI WICONI and Native songs and ceremony sporadically break out in the midst of the cleanup efforts. Please check out ways to engage at the official <a target="_blank" style="margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; color: #045FB4; text-decoration: underline;" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://unify.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=9ad566cb83ed2ebe1e17d2b2c13fa2e8&i=107A14…"><span style="color: ; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">Oceti's website.</span></a></span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">As long as the satellite signal stays the same here, <span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit;font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">we will live stream</span> the events that unfold over the next two days of growing intensity. Check for daily updates through our <a target="_blank" style="margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline;" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://unify.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=9ad566cb83ed2ebe1e17d2b2c13fa2e8&i=107A14…"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">Facebook Page.</span></a></span> <div style="margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #084b8a; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;"><span style="color: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-weight:bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">From the depths of our heart, w</span><span style="color: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">e thank you for helping to change history. </span><span style="color: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;"> </span></span></div> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;"> <span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">Tell your friends and family about Standing Rock,</span> and on February 22nd at 2pmCentral, unite your energy with the Brave Water Protectors here. They are a historic, inspiring, and incredible example of how to remain in Peace and Prayer in the face of violent oppression, arctic blizzards, and minimal comfort. </span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">From the Native Lakota language here at Standing Rock,<span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;"> Aho Mitakuye Oyasin.</span> </span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight:inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">We are all related, and we are here to Remember our Oneness.</span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">In Unity,</span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;"> </span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">Joshua A. and the Unify Crew at Standing Rock</span> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">P.S. <a target="_blank" style="margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline;" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://unify.acemlnb.com/lt.php?s=9ad566cb83ed2ebe1e17d2b2c13fa2e8&i=107A14…"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit;">Click Here at 2 pm Central February 22nd to watch the live broadcast</span></a></span></span></div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1299" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1299" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_spacer aolmail_aolmail_"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1299" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; 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mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><tbody><tr><td height="10" style="line-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" height="2" width="625" style="line-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="2" width="625" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: auto!important; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; width: 100%; max-width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_aolmail_break-line" bgcolor="#084b8a" height="2" width="625" style="line-height: 2px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; height: 2px; width: 625px; background-color: #084b8a;"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td height="10" style="line-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1287" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1287" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_spacer aolmail_aolmail_"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1287" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" height="10"><div class="aolmail_aolmail_spacer" style="margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; height: 10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_aolmail_spacer-body" valign="top" height="10" width="625"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1289" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; 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min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1290" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_spacer aolmail_aolmail_"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1290" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" height="22"><div class="aolmail_aolmail_spacer" style="margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; height: 22px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_aolmail_spacer-body" valign="top" height="22" width="625"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1288" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1288" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_picture aolmail_aolmail_" align="left"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1288" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_aolmail_image-td" align="left" valign="top" width="625"><img alt="" width="625" style="display: block; border: none; outline: none; width: 625px; opacity: 1; max-width: 100%;" src="http://unify.imgus11.com/public/b2071600b4419ca52ce8718536024a45.png?r=2141…"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1286" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; 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min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1298" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_break aolmail_aolmail_"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1298" valign="top" style="line-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><tbody><tr><td height="10" style="line-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" height="2" width="625" style="line-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="2" width="625" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: auto!important; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; width: 100%; max-width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_aolmail_break-line" bgcolor="#084b8a" height="2" width="625" style="line-height: 2px; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; height: 2px; width: 625px; background-color: #084b8a;"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td height="10" style="line-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1297" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1297" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_spacer aolmail_aolmail_"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1297" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; 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min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1296" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_clear-this aolmail_aolmail_"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1296" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout_table_d588fd07ea466382ea0cd7bee335be0fc8275230" valign="top" width="239"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-table aolmail_aolmail_" width="239" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1292" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1292" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_picture aolmail_aolmail_" align="center"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1292" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_aolmail_image-td" align="center" valign="top" width="239"><img alt="" width="167" style="display: block; border: none; outline: none; width: 167px; opacity: 1; max-width: 100%;" src="http://unify.imgus11.com/public/c1a67abcc97fc49c87c43ba069d0a68f.png?r=2791…"></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout_table_777e69911c9ad6c8cf8d676833ea0c3293f056c9" valign="top" width="25"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-table aolmail_aolmail_" width="25" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1295" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1295" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_spacer aolmail_aolmail_"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1295" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" height="181"><div class="aolmail_aolmail_spacer" style="margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; height: 181px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt;mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td class="aolmail_aolmail_spacer-body" valign="top" height="181" width="25"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout_table_6d0177ccdbdddacbf7a8a061d06b56953dee0ddb" valign="top" width="361"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-table aolmail_aolmail_" width="361" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-margin1291" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row1291" class="aolmail_aolmail_layout aolmail_aolmail_layout-row aolmail_aolmail_widget aolmail_aolmail__widget_text aolmail_aolmail_" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;"><td id="aolmail_aolmail_layout-row-padding1291" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 13px; min-width: 100%; mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt;"><tbody><tr><td id="aolmail_aolmail_text_div1159" class="aolmail_aolmail_td_text aolmail_aolmail_td_block" valign="top" align="left" style="line-height: 125%; color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.25; text-decoration: inherit;font-family: Arial; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"> <div style="line-height: 125%; margin: 0; outline: none; padding: 0; font-size: 15px; color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; line-height: 1.25;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;">At UNIFY we share virtual and in-person transformational experiences that support your most passionate, peaceful, purposeful, and amazing life. </span><br style="color:#000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;"><br style="color:#000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration:inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans;">We also organize global synchronized meditations and days of social action. We now have more than 7,500 organizers that bring their communities together for campaigns we launch on Peace Day, Earth Day, Water Day, and more. Thank you for doing your part every day!</span></span> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div> <img border="0" width="1" height="1" style="display:block;width:1px!important;min-width:1px!important;max-width:1px!important;height:1px!important;border:0;overflow:hidden;" src="http://unify.acemlnb.com/lt.php?nl=2&c=107&m=144&s=9ad566cb83ed2ebe1e17d2b2…"> <br clear="all"><div align="center" style="padding: 10px; border-top: 1px solid #CCCCCC; background:#fff; margin-top: 5px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: #333; clear:both;"> Sent to: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="mailto:elliestock@aol.com">elliestock(a)aol.com</a> <a style="color:#333; font-weight:bold;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://unify.acemlnb.com/proc.php?nl=2&c=107&m=144&s=9ad566cb83ed2ebe1e17d2…">Unsubscribe</a> Unify, PO Box 4449, Santa Rosa, CA 95402, United States </div> </div> </div> </div></div> </div>

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Greetings!!!
by Lynette Ladysmth via Dialogue 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

- This mail is in HTML. Some elements may be ommited in plain text. - Hello, How are you doing? Please i need a quick favor from you so kindly reply me as soon as you get this mail. Thanks, Lynette Ladysmith

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FW: [Oe List ...] ICAI Winds&Waves magazine November 2016
by John & Robyn Hutchinson via Dialogue 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

Dear colleagues, Greetings. A number of folk have asked for the most recent copy of the ICAs global magazine, Winds and Waves. Here it is. You can find all copies on the ICA website. We will be publishing again shortly, and welcome contributions during 2017. Best wishes, Robyn for WW team. From: OE [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of ICA International via OE Sent: Saturday, 12 November 2016 1:13 AM To: oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net Subject: [Oe List ...] ICAI Winds&Waves magazine November 2016 cid:9641848402-1 Greetings, Welcome to the November issue of Winds&Waves, the online magazine of ICA International. This is our last issue in this format. After this we shall move to a new platform Medium.com and way of publishing. Weve made this a special bumper issue with the theme Looking Back and Forwards. It features articles from contributors as well as a selection of some of the magazines best articles from its six-year history. This issue is brought to you in several formats: to download or to read on line, (compatible with tablets and smart phones), also a high resolution PDF to download for printing. We encourage you to send it on to your networks and to contact the authors of the stories you read, to learn more, and to become more involved. We really appreciate receiving your letters regarding particular articles. If the author's email address is not included with the story, send an email to: hutchinsonsydney13(a)gmail.com To view: please follow this link : W <http://mtrack.me/tracking/raWzMz50paMkCGZlAmp1Zmx0AwVzMKWjqzA2pzSaqaR9AQHjA wNjAQHmWay2LKu2pG0kZQtlAGD3ZGD4ARV> &W Vol-6-November-2016 or paste this link in your browser address bar: http://windswaves.icai-archives.org/windswaves-mag/2016-november/vol-6-novem ber-2016.htm <http://mtrack.me/tracking/raWzMz50paMkCGZlAmp1Zmx0AwVzMKWjqzA2pzSaqaR9AQHjA wNjAQHmWay2LKu2pG0kZQtlAGD3ZGD4ARV> ICAI Communications _____ Saludos Bienvenido a la edición de noviembre de vientos y olas, la revista online de ICA Internacional. Esta es nuestra última edición en este formato. Después de esto vamos a pasar a una nueva plataforma - Medium.com - y la forma de publicación. Hemos hecho de esto una cuestión de paragolpes especiales con el tema "Mirando hacia atrás y hacia delante". Incluye artículos de los contribuyentes, así como una selección de algunos de los mejores artículos de la revista en sus seis años de historia. Vientos&olas es traído a usted en varios formatos: para descargar o leer en línea, (compatible con Tabletas y teléfonos inteligentes), también un PDF de alta resolución para descargar para imprimir. Le animamos a enviar Wind&olas en sus redes y para contactar con los autores de las historias que lee, para aprender más y participar más activamente. Estamos realmente agradecidos de recibir sus cartas con respecto a determinados artículos. Si la dirección de correo electrónico del autor no está incluido con la historia, envíe un correo electrónico a: hutchinsonsydney13(a)gmail.com ver: por favor, siga este enlace: W <http://mtrack.me/tracking/raWzMz50paMkCGZlAmp1Zmx0AwVzMKWjqzA2pzSaqaR9AQHjA wNjAQHmWay2LKu2pG0kZQtlAGD3ZGD4ARV> &W Vol-6-November 2016 o pegue este enlace en la barra de direcciones del explorador: http://windswaves.icai-archives.org/windswaves-mag/2016-november/vol-6-novem ber-2016.htm <http://mtrack.me/tracking/raWzMz50paMkCGZlAmp1Zmx0AwVzMKWjqzA2pzSaqaR9AQHjA wNjAQHmWay2LKu2pG0kZQtlAGD3ZGD4ARV> ICAI Comunicaciones Published by The Institute of Cultural Affairs International, 401 Richmond Sreet, West Toronto, ON. M5V 3A8 Canada All rights reserved. For more information or to unsubscribe, email: <mailto:inform@ica-international.org?subject=Unsubscribe> inform(a)ica-international.org Image removed by sender.

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Greetings!!!
by Lynette Ladysmth via Dialogue 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

- This mail is in HTML. Some elements may be ommited in plain text. - Hello, How are you doing? Please i need a quick favor from you so kindly reply me as soon as you get this mail. Thanks, Lynette Ladysmith

1 0

favor
by Doris Hahn via Dialogue 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

Tim, can you sent me the most recent version of ICA International newsletter? Thanks much, in advance. Doris Hahn

1 0

Invitation to ICA Archives Spring Sojourn, Mar. 13-17, 2017
by Timothy Wegner via Dialogue 18 Feb '17

18 Feb '17

2017 ICA Global Archives Spring Sojourn March 13-17, 2017 February 15, 2017 Dear Colleagues and Friends, You are invited to attend the 2017 Archives Spring Sojourn, March 13 – March 17, to be held at the ICA GreenRise Building in Chicago. SOJOURN HIGHLIGHTS The Spring Sojourn will begin at 9am Monday morning with: - A report from the Archives Advisory Committee on the current work of the Archives including the new website creation in collaboration with DePaul University - Status of the digitization process - Work being done by the Dominican University interns in preparation for the Fall Sojourn which will be focused on the Human Development Projects – Then and Now. - Ted Wysocki, CEO, will be doing an ICA Update and a conversation about the 40 year celebration of the Band of 24 Social Demonstration Projects in the fall. Individuals interested in working on the Fall Celebration of the Band of 24 are especially encouraged to attend. On Monday evening, the DePaul class of students will report on their website work and solicit our input for the new ICA Global Archives website. On Wednesday morning, there will be a session to plan and create objectives for the Fall Sojourn which will focus on the Band of 24. On Wednesday evening, Lesley Showers and Jim Troxel will report on the ICA GreenRise Capital Campaign at a reception including local colleagues. The final reporting session is scheduled for Friday, March 17 at 2pm to share the accomplishments of the week, followed by our Archives Sojourn Celebration. >From ICA Global Archives Team members: Beret Griffith, Doug Druckenmiller, Jack Gilles, Wendell Refior, Jean Long, Paul Noah, Olive Ann Slotta, Tim Wegner, James Wiegel, Mary Laura Jones, Nancy Trask, Ed Feldmanis and Steve Ediger P. S, - See the next page for the timeline for March 13 – March 17 Spring Archives Sojourn: Time Design Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Collegium 7am Poetry New media NRM New Spirit Movement New Human Development Profound Intent of the Archives Morning 9am Week Overview Archive work plan Website planning HDP research/Archive work HDP research/Archive work Report Preparation Afternoon 1pm Archive work plan HDP research/Archive work HDP research/Archive work HDP research/Archive work Final reports & Celebration Evening 5pm Website class presentation Green Mill Greenrise presentation Movie Night Meal Reservations: Alice will provide meals for attendees at $10 a day. Room Reservations: If you plan to stay at the ICA GreenRise, room cost is $30.00 a night and meals are $10.00 a day. To make room reservations send email to: reception(a)ica-usa.org Please contact Jean Long with questions or comments Email: Jean.long512(a)gmail.com Mobile: 720-633-5008 <(720)%20633-5008> -- Thanks until later. "To believe what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men -- that is genius." - Emerson in "Self-Reliance" Wendell

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