February 2016 - OE - lists.wedgeblade.net

GORDON'S MEMORIAL SERVICE
by Roxana Harper via OE 10 Feb '16

10 Feb '16

Greetings, all -- Gordon's memorial service will be at Seattle First Baptist Church (1111 Harvard Ave., Seattle, WA 98122) on Wednesday, February 17, at 11 AM. Although parking is available on- and off-street, be aware that it is in the middle of a work week; carpooling is encouraged! A celebrative lunch for all will follow in the Fellowship Hall on the lower floor of the church, where there will also be opportunities to share stories of Gordon with each other. Should you wish to make a donation in his memory, Gordon requested in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to either of the following organizations: 1) ICA Archives Project, 4750 Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60640 and 2) The Romney Fund, Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122. I and all our family have been strengthened and encouraged by all your heartfelt responses -- thank you, so much. Grace, peace, and love, Roxana -- *"It seems to me that I have greater peace and am close to God when I am not "trying to be a contemplative," or trying to be anything special, but simply orienting my life fully and completely towards what seems to be required of a person like me at a time like this."* -- Thomas Merton

1 0

Re: [Oe List ...] Parliament of World Religions ??
by via OE 10 Feb '16

10 Feb '16

1 1

Re: [Oe List ...] OE Digest, Vol 47, Issue 6
by Jaime R Vergara via OE 10 Feb '16

10 Feb '16

A draft for Tuesday, Feb 16 in the Saipan Tribune (I need the year of birth). Editing is welcome. Gordon The name in our title is that of Gordon Harper (19**-2016),a friend in the US who died February 8 from leukemia he was diagnosed with nottoo long ago. He expected to end hisexistence within a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of a year. Leaving off his last name in the title makes it clear thatthis reflection is not so much about the historical particulars of the man, thespacetime he occupied and the roles he played. Nor how he affected other people, including his supportive wife Roxannawho remained effectively in the background. As a senior facilitator of Top@ facilitator, the Technology ofParticipation, he facilitated groups to articulate their vision, identifycontradictions, offer proposals, and most importantly, decide on a course of action. I do remember him, first, as a staff member in the MaliwadaHuman Development Training Institute (HDTI) to trigger a movement in India of new communities, Nava Gram Prayas, in the plateau of Maharashtraoutside of Aurangabad where the relics of history are carved in the Elloraand Ajanta caves. I went to learn of their construct only tofind out that whatever they had on their plates emerged collegially from headsbutting against each other around a table, and that conceptually, I was pedagogicallyfamiliar with it. As a group, we wanted to take the four-year Liberal ArtsBachelor's program and make it accessible to those who think they did not havethe brain to handle it, nor the resources to pay for the chance. Gordon worked on University 13. So when it became obvious that a movementaldynamic was waiting to be triggered in India, we had a contentless constructready to be filled with flesh and blood. In the same fashion, I needed to go to the Philippines, and "justdo it". I did, on Mactan Island among coral limestone in Sudtongganvillage, with the Altons and company as host, where Gordon and other colleagues joined increating a human development program on the time's new globality for the islandand beyond. Success in numerical terms,or of awards from the Rotary Club or recognition from the Chamber of Commerce,were not in my agenda. From Maliwada, asfar as career went, I no longer had any. I learned to "just go do it", ignore the judgment orexpectations of society and history. We called it HDTS, a school rather than an Institute. We targeted 24 villages in Mactan, building atraining school in Sudtonggan and invited villagers for replication projects inLangub (the name translates to "cave") north of Davao City inMindanao. I used to tell time by Gordon's pouring his 5 pmgin-and-tonic and smelling the waft of his pipe as he lit up for relaxation. A Baptist minister, I never understood how hecould get away from his habits (I was an ordained Methodist cleric) until Irealized that not all Baptists were created equal! Nor Methodists for that matter! Gordon was afacilitator par excellence, and I wasprivileged to sit under the smell of his cherry-flavored smokes. He kept to his gin-tonic routine to himself,not encouraging others to join him. Since Gordon announced his leukemia, I've reflected moreabout the facticity of aging now that I've passed 70. I've turned into a "clutch", dropping thingseasily, and discovering that it was no longer facile to get back up from thefloor. The leg calves cramp atnight, and we visit the bathroom a few times before sunrise. Brain cells are no longer as quick on thememory as they used to. I taught sixgraders 2003-2008 and it is embarrassing to recognize faces of former students in Saipan but could not remember names. Manynow staff NMC offices, and when we go there to see if we can teach a fewcourses next semester, I am greeted by a familiar face behind a desk but the name escapes meall together. Often, I get into the car to drive to the store, and when Iget there, I forgot what it was that I needed. I connect to the Internet and forget what website it was I wanted. I am busy at my dwelling everyday, withplenty of trails of things that got started but not accomplishing any ofthem. I could picture Gordon nodding hishead on all of these, raising a twitch-like lift on one side of his mouth,without letting on that he probably went through this part of aging in the lastten years. Like Gandhi, he hadplayfulness about him on life's serious matters. We won't go into "eternity" as I do not think Gordondelve into that much. Neither do I. But as one of my students last year askedafter my spiel on the here-and-now: "Are you an atheist?" Another jumped to answer: "You've notbeen listening. He just wants everyoneto know he is totally responsible for the 86 years of his existence." I may be projecting but this is how I picture Gordon on hisbed. He grimaced at the terminus. The end cometh, he says. He lived his life. Reviewing its fullness is finished; outrospectiondone, he introspects. With a beatificsmile plastered on his face, he dies his death. As the old metaphor exuded: GloryHallelujah, praise be! wangzhimu2031 earthrise consciousness, a gift; earthbound commitment, my choice yesterday, appreciate; tomorrow, anticipate; today, participate! in all, celebrate! -----Original Message----- From: via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> To: oe <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Wed, Feb 10, 2016 12:40 pm Subject: OE Digest, Vol 47, Issue 6 Send OE mailing list submissions to oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to oe-request(a)lists.wedgeblade.net You can reach the person managing the list at oe-owner(a)lists.wedgeblade.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of OE digest..." Today's Topics: 1. In Memory of Gordon (David Rebstock via OE) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2016 21:40:29 -0500 From: David Rebstock via OE <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe(a)wedgeblade.net> Subject: [Oe List ...] In Memory of Gordon Message-ID: <CAAkTkq-R5PQjJvW6GxmZ_WooB5QyvOPMpFaT1oQ6K_FDuV_Zqg(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" ?In thy face I see the map of honor, truth and loyalty? *Henry VI, Part II.* One could see a loyalty in Gordon that did not waiver, loyalty to family, friends and colleagues, his church, the Order and the Institutes. Our families were connected in several ways thru the years. Gordon was born and raised in Neenah, WI as was Ellen and Ellen?s dad gave Gordon a job at a Neenah paper mill during summer vacation in college. We lived with the Harpers in Singapore in 78 and 79 and our son Mark attended school at Earlham College with Stuart and Elena. While we lived in California we made an annual trek to the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon with the Harpers, the Hockleys and sometimes the Cookinghams. Gordon being the Man of Letters usually lead the reflective conversations and interpretation of Shakespeare and the others plays. (always with clear insight and his wry sense of humor especially eliciting comparisons of the plays to what is going on in 21st century society) I recall several long walks with Gordon there and in Seattle discussing Order history and the NRM. We had the good fortune of visiting with Gordon and Roxana in September after he knew he didn?t have much time. I hope that I can have the same attitude to the completion of my life as Gordon had. As John Dryden 17th century poet said of Shakespeare, he might have said of Gordon, ?He was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets had the largest and most comprehensive soul.? David and Ellen Rebstock [image: Inline image 1]

1 0

Announcing the completed life of Gordon Harper
by Roxana Harper via OE 10 Feb '16

10 Feb '16

Dear family, friends and colleagues, It is with heavy heat that I write you of Gordon's death yesterday, February 8, around 6:30 PM. His leukemia took fierce hold of him this past Thursday and quickly ran its course. He was not in pain but continued his labored breathing for life until he could no longer resist. Geoff, Stu, Elena and I will be planning his memorial service at Seattle First Baptist Church in the coming days and will send you specific information as soon as possible. Grace, peace, and love, Roxana -- *"It seems to me that I have greater peace and am close to God when I am not "trying to be a contemplative," or trying to be anything special, but simply orienting my life fully and completely towards what seems to be required of a person like me at a time like this."* -- Thomas Merton

3 2

In Memory of Gordon
by David Rebstock via OE 10 Feb '16

10 Feb '16

“In thy face I see the map of honor, truth and loyalty” *Henry VI, Part II.* One could see a loyalty in Gordon that did not waiver, loyalty to family, friends and colleagues, his church, the Order and the Institutes. Our families were connected in several ways thru the years. Gordon was born and raised in Neenah, WI as was Ellen and Ellen’s dad gave Gordon a job at a Neenah paper mill during summer vacation in college. We lived with the Harpers in Singapore in 78 and 79 and our son Mark attended school at Earlham College with Stuart and Elena. While we lived in California we made an annual trek to the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon with the Harpers, the Hockleys and sometimes the Cookinghams. Gordon being the Man of Letters usually lead the reflective conversations and interpretation of Shakespeare and the others plays. (always with clear insight and his wry sense of humor especially eliciting comparisons of the plays to what is going on in 21st century society) I recall several long walks with Gordon there and in Seattle discussing Order history and the NRM. We had the good fortune of visiting with Gordon and Roxana in September after he knew he didn’t have much time. I hope that I can have the same attitude to the completion of my life as Gordon had. As John Dryden 17th century poet said of Shakespeare, he might have said of Gordon, “He was the man who of all modern, and perhaps ancient poets had the largest and most comprehensive soul.” David and Ellen Rebstock [image: Inline image 1]

1 0

Passing of a legend
by Linda and Milan Hamilton via OE 09 Feb '16

09 Feb '16

Linda and I add our condolences to the growing list of fellow travelers with Gordon Harper. Although our paths crossed only at brief junctures through the years, stretching all the way from the Academies of the late 60s to our year with FOOD FOR ALL when Gordon helped facilitate a major turning point for our growing organization, to the connection through the ICA ToP Trainers Network, our memories are clearly of one of those deeply caring souls. We wish a grand celebration of Gordon's life and much sharing of memories among his family and friends, and Gordon, safe passage! We are not far behind. Peace. M&L Linda and Milan Hamilton 80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373 909-7923-4482 (Home) E-mail: lindaandmilan(a)gmail.com

2 1

ICAI Global Buzz
by ICA International via OE 07 Feb '16

07 Feb '16

Enjoy catching up with what is happening in ICAs across the globe.....If you wish to SEND a report...send to your ICA contact person OR...go to the members section on the ICA International website Please click the link below for the February 2016 issue of the Global Buzz Global Buzz Report: February 2016 or copy and paste this URL into your browser's address bar http://globalbuzz.icai-archives.org/7dayreport-16/2016-02-01.php ICAI Communications

1 0

Winds & Waves Magazine Readership Survey
by ICA International via OE 06 Feb '16

06 Feb '16

Greetings "Winds and Waves" magazine is published three times a year by ICAI (Institute of Cultural Affairs International), sharing stories and insights on human development. In 2016, as we enter our sixth year of publication, we invite you to share your thoughts about our magazine's current and future directions. This readership survey consists of 10 questions, some of which can be answered by checking a box and some of which request a written answer. The survey should take between 10 and 15 minutes to complete. To show our appreciation for your participation, we will enter you in a draw for a copy of "Changing Lives, Changing Societies: ICA's Experience in Nepal and the World" (2014). We are particularly keen to hear individually from you, and everyone subscribed to the ICAI global email list representing our member organisations worldwide. Please find a few minutes to respond before 18 February. many thanks. Please click this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2GTM9XD Martin Gilbraith on behalf of the ICAI Winds & Waves team

1 0

Correction - Grits, Green Beans and the Holy Ghost
by Ken Fisher via OE 06 Feb '16

06 Feb '16

Correction: Kay’s ‘on-behalf-of’ apology was sent to all the Order Youth before the 2000 reunion. Another apology was agreed upon at the reunion and signed by by 150 Order parents and adults.

2 2

Re: [Oe List ...] Grits, Green Beans and the Holy Ghost: Memoirs of a Girl Monk
by Zoe Barley via OE 05 Feb '16

05 Feb '16

1 0