Snack time Inspiration

Last week I participated in an event at the student center, mid-campus in our University of Calgary. It was one of many occasions planned as part of United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week, an annual event hosted by this city’s Interfaith Council. Titled “Scriptural Sharing: Harmony in a World of Crisis,” this austere title turned out to be nothing but a circle of chairs in a comfortably arranged office and meeting room obviously designed for things like this. The name of this second floor place is Faith and Spirituality Centre.

The inspiration for me was not so much the words shared in that circle (many accents challenging this senior with audio problems), but rather the occasion. We were reflecting on two sacred texts, one from the Ahmadiyya Muslims Quran, and one from the Bible, Romans 12. Not only Muslims and Christians, but also Unitarians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus and others in absolute respect and peacefulness holding forth in this talking circle, speaking thoughtfully about “let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice” and “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” [i] along with related thoughts that came up during the two hour gathering.

The occasion seemed to incite a spirit of joy on this gathering of university students and a few assorted retirees, professors and clergy. Near end of the talking circle, our discussion facilitator asked one of the women if she might lead in a song. She was taken by surprise, but almost immediately replied, “Sure let’s try.” Using the tune “Frere Jacquez” there we were, all of us, not quite karaoke but singing our hearts out, round song complete with clapping, missed starts and laughter for all. It was spontaneous and happened only because two in our midst exercised a freedom of spirit and the gift of music.

Consistent with tone of this meeting, there was food; lots of variety and served to us by several students from different faith communities. Even as I overheard them talking about some unique flavors coming from certain shops in the Food Court one floor down, I could not but enjoy the hospitable camaraderie, obviously communicating a youthful connectedness with others in this student center.

And then there was the carpool to and from this location. Alongside shortest or best GPS instructions, the personality of carpoolers also came into play. Our host provided the ride including gas and parking fee, all this alongside back-seat driver instructions from each of his passengers. J

My enthusiasm for Interfaith events in this city is definitely beyond a nice activity to occupy an old thinker. This year’s chosen theme of crisis harmony addresses the very thing everybody, all cultures, young and old, male or female, rich or poor, [ii] is aware of. There was an undeniable willingness to participate with all in something we all desire - definitely more than just 'sumpin to do'.

So our University of Calgary, secular institute of higher learning, very attentive to the education needs of a pluralistic, multinational student body, has a spirituality center well attuned to this day. The unpretenscious down-home hosting of a UNWIHW event communicates nothing but good news, perhaps also contributing to its increasing Times Higher Education (THE) rating and definitely a notch above all the separatist divisive lingo being touted in this province.

The carpool ride home included hearty conversation about our understanding of God (Yup, a Mormon, Unitarian, Mennonite, and a Muslim all in this neighborly rideshare). We were agreed it had been an uplifting meeting. I posit also that this was healthier for mind and soul than the religion and politics we avoid at so many of our family dinners or coffee klatches.

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[i] From Quran 5:8 and Romans 12:9-21

[ii] Galatians 3:28

 

Sunday School

It is not often that I get inspiration from the Calgary Sun, one of our local newspapers. Referred to as The Rag by those of us not fans of its political orientation, I nonetheless read it as a freebie along with my coffee at our local McDonald's halfway through each morning’s constitutional walk. This morning’s read was one of those. The front-page article was a begrudged affirmation of our Prime Minister’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Next page was equal print to Donald Trump’s rambling speech obviously not pleased with the standing ovation "Mark" had received. 

This free read was... almost balanced.[i] In fact, a few pages in and back to the local scene, Rick Bell, the Rick Mercer of the Conservatives, went as far as to identify some problems in Alberta’s healthcare system after his recent experience in an Urgent Care facility! Interestingly, Bell, the unofficial PR man of Alberta's UCP, gets immediate response from our government Hospitals Minister Matt Jones also admitting there are some problems. Really? Nice to at least have it acknowledged, even if it's only damage control. 

So our Rag was uncharacteristically balanced today. Media is that form of communication; words, images, art, a whole lot of posturing, and always conforming to the ones who are buying in, i.e. paying their wages. Media will give a balanced perspective if it is consistent with the owners' identified business goals. Anyway, today's newspaper is what inspired the pious-looking title you see at the top. Given the vested interest of media and the deep contrariness of speeches in the big arenas, I wonder about what is actually at the heart of daily news. As a Christian reader and writer, sometimes I also wonder what is at the heart of what comes from the pulpit. It's a good time to relearn something old, to sit with one another not only in coffee klatches and watering holes, but in a healthy way. Back to Sunday School!

Here we go! So far we still live in a free and democratic society, therefor important (urgent) that churches and faith communities learn - perhaps relearn - how to speak with one another! The truth of all 'stories' is larger than information, whether it comes from journalists, politicians, or from preachers (Yes clergy, we must admit this). 

In the congregation I belong to we have devoted recent months to an intentional transition process - preparing ourselves for engagement with the next pastor, reimaging our future. Guess what, now that we think we know what we want, we discover there is a limited supply! This perceived challenge for churches casts us in the same environment as the media. If we are dependent only on adequate professionals, good luck finding the right pulpiteers or managers to do it just right. 

Sunday School. I am a member of a congregation in the low church tradition, in my case the Mennonites. In our communion we do not need to emulate fellow Christians in the mainline and/or evangelical churches since we are not dependent on authoritative structures or popes or bishops or preachers to validate us (although historically some incredible leaders). Our strength and our confidence is in what we are known for - community of believers. It means we practice the scripture at the heart of our theology, For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them (Matthew 18:20). This is what orders our life.

Aaron Stauffer, in the latest issue of Sojourners, a U.S. social gospel magazine, writes about how important it is for congregations to act on what matters, the “sacred values we hold,” not just by what is being preached.[ii] These sacred values are best nurtured in circles of learning, the practice of gathering, not to form official opinions or to hammer out agreement on sticky Bible passages. It is here we sit with one another, usually dependent on one or several who have a gift of teaching, "we have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.... if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach" (Romans 12:6-7). This is the way to discern implications for the journey of faith. 

One further feature of good Sunday School is that it can be multigenerational. I recently visited a Mennonite Church near Two Hills, AB, where the starting age for Sunday School is four! Classes range from preschool to adult, classrooms with collapsible fronts so as to provide space for larger goszgebats (gatherings). Much inspiration in the education wing of this church. And Sunday School precedes a one and half hour worship service! The faith and the energy in this fellowship of believers is palpable, and certainly more convincing than latest meeting and worship formats with sermons from high-salaried professionals. The word, as touted by many in media or from pulpits, is not adequate.

There is considerable loneliness experienced also by those seeking to provide leadership. Once our perceived solutions are limited to 'input' - speeches or opinions as described in the opening paragraphs above - then we are hopelessly lost. Jimmy Carter, President of the United States 1977-81, served his country and his people well, losing after one term to Ronald Reagan, but winning the Nobel Peace Prize twenty years later. One of his involvements that began years before his presidency and only ended years later, was his regular schedule, teaching Sunday School in his home church in Plains, Georgia. 

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[i] Although subsequent issues back to Alberta separation and other hot topics. E.g. Rick Bell, “Not Taking the Bait,” Calgary Sun, January 30, 2026.

[ii] “How Congregations Act on What Matters,” Sojourners, Jan/Feb, 2026, p.12.

To Babylon and Back

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV)

My latest post was kind of academic, but like usual, ignited by a little personal incident. I started writing it, and then the good seasonal distractions. It almost didn’t make it as a 2025 model; finally hit publish on New Year’s Eve! This one in front of me now has no incidental ignition. It is merely ‘thinker material'. Here it is, thanks to whatever has accumulated to date!

Theology is a large subject that most people steer clear of. So I do not expect many to read this because there is no opener sparkplug. Instead of reading theology the preferred option for most people is to find a tradition or a conviction or a “comfortable pew,” as Pierre Burton once put it,[i] or the standard go-to for many, which is ‘nothing.’ No readers? That's okay with me; this still must be written. 😀 These days many things are changing; given new demographics and humanitarian conditions, along with increasingly autocratic politicians. The inhabitants of this world (that's us) are having second – or hundredth – thoughts about religion! Theology will never be outdated.

I have been thinking about the Babylonian captivity, right there in my Old Testament college memories of long ago. Interesting how when reflecting on new things, it is old things that come to mind. At this point the stimulus for me is my involvement in an Interfaith community in our city. Ironically, it is conversations with persons of other faith traditions that is getting me to review some so-called familiar stuff right there in our Bible. Muslims, Jews, Aboriginals, Latter Day Saints, Sikhs, Seventh Day Adventists, and a variety of both evangelical and progressive Christians provide a good environment to talk about and think Old Testament history, more-so than in the years when I was preaching sermons.

I am fascinated (inspired, relieved) in a new way to review some basics about our Bible - the helpful way our sacred text is arranged. There is law, prophets, and writings in the O.T. and gospels, epistles, and a bit of review, or overview (e.g. Hebrews and Revelation) in the N.T. Interestingly, there is an O.T. - N.T. pattern: Law - Gospels; Prophets - Epistles; Writings - Overview. [No footnote needed here; just this recent observation, thanks to paging around in my favorite book]. There is some New Testament in the Old Testament and also vice versa.

This morning, again in usual routine, my wife and I were reading from Jeremiah 31, and suddenly a surprise - surprised that we got a surprise! This chapter is uncharacteristically positive in a book generally thought of as the scolding “weeping prophet” warning his fellows, the people of Judah, that they have much suffering ahead of them because the Babylonians are coming, and this is consequences for their lackluster self-centered living. Now, near the end of all that gloomy doomy material, near end of the book, surprise, we have that same prophet’s message of a joyful people coming back. 

See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor together; a great company, they shall return here (:8).

All is well? Happy? Time warp? Coming back from where? What gives? Is this a prediction of those same people coming back - or an even further look into the future? That opens a centuries old interpretive scenario. Given that this was written well before they returned, and we kind of know some subsequent history - good vantage for me to think about this. It is clear not all people left for Babylon in 587 BC, some already in 596. Some got taken, some stayed back, or left behind because they were poor, as per author Patty Krowec, [ii] unresolved tensions, different voices, family issues even, all of it alongside the prophets’ “told you so.” And when they landed in Babylon they spent some 70 years trying to figure out what to do in the strange land (read Jeremiah 29). Evenso, there will be a coming back, so we read this morning.

Furthermore, there are other religious communions with origins and lineages also involved here. As per earlier Old Testament history (Genesis 16), it was Hagar, the 'other wife' of Abraham, who became mother of Ishmael who had twelve sons (12 tribes) one of which, Quraysh, was the tribe of Mohammed, the Prophet who became the father of Islam about a millennium later. Mormons claim their space here also. Their extra-biblical, but historic records have this time as essential in their formative story. Prophet Lehi and two sons Laman and Nephi) [iii] avoid the Babylon captivity by loading up their tribespeople on ships, crossing the ocean to the Americas and they are now part of that new world history. The return to Jerusalem for them is an anticipated apocalyptic scenario. 

Then there are those of us who accept only the Bible as sacred text. Yes, as per the epigraph above, we believe in the whole Bible, complete with its firm packaging at the end of the last chapter. If anyone adds anything to them... And if anyone takes words away... God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City (Revelation 22:18-19). Within ranks of all who live by this canon we still have a huge variety in our denominational palates. There are the Catholics, Anglicans, Episcopalians, the Reformers, the Anabaptists (including dunkers and sprinklers), with evangelical and charismatic and progressive and fundamentalist variations in almost all of these. So, even as a believer in the adequacy of the Word in our Bible, I do find it interesting that, although not highlighted, the O.T. has some historical ingredients not recorded, yet with consistent prophecy of a messiah. The N.T. is celebration of that Messiah - Savior available for even those whose story line deviates from ours.

Anyway, this is long-haired thinking, and now I'm reminded of some good advice also in our Bible, Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body (Ecclesiastes 12:12). At the moment I do not need to go on and on about this. Now my head is back to the next Sunday School lesson in our church. It is based on John 14, including some verses about Jesus going to prepare a place for us, no specifics about how many (144,000?) or who (only those who say Lord, Lord correctly? Matthew 7:21). This first lesson of the new year - January 4, 2026 - nothing complicated or long-haired about that; just good material for us to chew on with one another.

Back to the Jeremiah 31 passage, that 'happy return' passage, including the extra-biblical content just referred to. Both of us in conversation about all of this, Verna makes a catch-all statement, “They’re coming back from captivity not because they have been perfected, but they've learned something of the grace of God.” Yes, so true! We found ourselves rejoicing, suddenly hit by that New Testament message of grace already so present in the OT. Right there in the prophets is beginning of the New Testament! God’s grace, God’s unmerited favor already there, and very much what we need to claim these days. Nothing new really, but a pleasant discovery, even among all as us of the faith communions look sideways at, or relate with one another. 

The biblical message of grace, the birth of a child come among us. This next Sunday of the Epiphany we will note that Good News so very important also to those kings coming from Persia or Iraq.

So surprise! It's good news heading into this New Year, and we need it regardless of the circles of comfort or discomfort we find ourselves in. Happy New Year.

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[i] Pierre Burton, The Comfortable Pew  (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1965).

[Ii] Patty Krawec, Becoming Kin (Minneapolis: Broadleaf Books, 2022), p. 81.

[iii] 1 Nephi chapters 1-3, The Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Intellectual Reserve, 2013).