Thought of the Week
... skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep insights can he winnowed from deep nonsense. ... The well-meaning contention that all ideas have equal merit seems to me little different from the disastrous contention that no ideas have any merit.
Carl Sagan, Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science
Centennial Members' Blog
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Inerrancy of the Scriptures.
This is the first point some thought was necessary in order to call one a Christian. To believe this is to completely deny the very fabric of history. People have always loved a good story. They have also loved to explain how they understand things, how events have transpired, and how their ancestors lived, loved, fought and overcame their many challenges.
Ancient writings exist because people have put forward their ideas and understandings about life. The collection of writings in our Bible were written by many different people, collected and edited by many others, and before having been written down they had been part of an oral tradition that may have existed for centuries.
The central story within the Bible for Christian’s is the stories about Jesus. Yet if these stories are so crucial why are they so different? Could they really be in contradiction with one another? For example the birth of Jesus was it in a stable (Luke) or in a town (Matthew)? Who was present the shepherds (Luke) or the magi (Matthew)? On the first Easter morning, who went to the tomb to find it empty? Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, as reported in Matthew; or did Salome accompany them as reported by Mark; or was it just ‘women’ as reported by Luke; or was it only Mary Magdalene as reported by John? If Jesus is such a central figure shouldn’t the followers of Jesus at least have gotten their facts correct?
What about the two different creation stories in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2? Would the sun standing still be a reality (Joshua 10:12-13), when in fact it would have to be the earth which would have to stop its orbit? What would be the result of something like that happening?
Scripture is essentially a human document outlining the experiences certain people have had in regards to that which they have called Holy. People’s writings can be most inspired but they are certainly not without human error, hence the Biblical account is a collection of inspired writings, but not without error.
Written on Thursday, 09 May 2013 15:19
in Members' Blog
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A translated poem by the mystic lyrical Sufi poet from Persia, 1320-1389 AD.
My
Beloved said,
"My name is not complete without yours."
I thought:
How could a human's worth ever be such?
And God knowing all our thoughts---and all our
thoughts are innocent steps on the path-----
then addressed my heart,
God revealed
a sublime truth to the world,
when (God) sang,
"I am made whole by your life. Each soul,
each soul completes me."
----Hafiz
Written on Friday, 12 April 2013 17:30
in Members' Blog
Read 56 times
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Love as a Measure of Religion
It has been shown that religion has been one of the biggest culprits when it comes to the causes of war. Yet even more insidious is the inherent divisiveness within the religious realm. Being Christian I will look first at aspects of Christianity that appears to malign others of different persuasions.
Within the Christian community we hear the following pairings: church vs. un-churched, saved vs. unsaved, believer vs. non-believer, and Christian vs. the name of some other religion. We also hear words, which supposedly convey a sense of superiority such as spirit-filled, evangelical, or true-believer.
Stepping out of the Christian model for a moment we see that other religions also make divisions such as: Hindu vs. Muslim, Jew vs. gentile, catholic vs. protestant, and Muslim vs. infidel.
Following the model of Jesus we should never fall into these traps of divisiveness. Jesus brought healing and wholeness to many different people. He treated all people with love and kindness. This should be the measuring stick used in our relationships with one another. It should never be about ones beliefs but rather about how we extend love and understanding to others.
Religion should always be a tool that enhances our ability to love others. If our religious practices cause us to feel smug, complacent, holier-than-thou, aloof, proud and certain, they should be scrapped. If our religion causes us to be involved in the lives of others, extending care and love to others, working in order that others may also live, it is a most holy enterprise.
May our ability to love others always be the norm by which our success is measured.
Written on Friday, 05 April 2013 17:14
in Members' Blog
Read 72 times
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The divinity of Jesus and the historicity of the Virgin Birth
In the ancient world people, who others considered important, were said to have been born of a virgin. This claim was made by the Romans in regard to their emperor. In fact in most ancient religious traditions there had been some person who had been conceived by the god that was worshipped! A person who was said to be 'born of a virgin' was someone who was important and held in high esteem.
We are living in the year 2013. We recognize through the wonders of science the reality of birth. Jesus's birth like all other people on this earth happened because of human biology. If people claimed he was born of a virgin it was because of the esteem in which he was held and the honour they were bestowing on him.
The easiest way for humans to disregard the teachings of Jesus is to claim Jesus to be something other than human. By putting him on a pedestal and worshipping him, we need not see his teachings and his actions within the range of possibility but can see them as 'out-of-this-world' teachings - they can be seen as an ideal rather than as something attainable within our life-time.
The claim that Jesus was born of a virgin hinges also on ones understanding of the Divine. The idea of God as the great grandfather figure in the sky supports the idea of an immaculate conception. If the Divine is the very energy, power, force that has caused the universe to come into existence, the very power that continually nurtures all of nature, the very power the early Israelites called YHWY than the idea of a virgin birth speaks not about the condition of Jesus's birth but rather the affect he had on his followers.
Written on Thursday, 21 March 2013 16:59
in Members' Blog
Read 90 times
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May 26th, 2013
Call to Worship
This is the day that God has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. As we gather in worship, may our gratitude find expression.
Let us thank God for spinning things: the good earth that arcs through space, the whirl of ideas that pulse in our minds.
Let us thank God for stable things: the regular habits of sun and moon, stars and tides; the solidarity of firm friendship.
Let us thank God for soft things: the favorite chair that absorbs our tiredness, the pliable sounds of a baby learning to talk.
Let us thank God for simple things: the snapping taste of an apple, the gentle strength of faith.
With thanks in our hearts for all these things and more, we come to worship God.
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June 2, 2013 – Celebration and Communion Sunday
Call to Worship
We have gathered to worship God.
We have come seeking comfort, inspiration, community, and insight.
We have come to open ourselves to the power of God’s presence in our midst.
We have come to offer up the seasons and the turnings in our lives, and to ask God’s help in our learning and in our growing.
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May 19th, 2013 ~ Pentecost Sunday
Call to Worship
O wind that sways no branches,
fire that does not burn,
unimaginable light that does not blind,
fountain of life that has no end,
infinite river of joy,
flawless mirror of God's power,
kind laughing agent of God's mirth,
gentle consolation of God's mercy,
O Holy Spirit of God, abide with your people;
come to us now. . .
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May 12, 2013 – Mother’s Day
Call to Worship
Today we celebrate the nurturing, loving care we have received throughout our lives.
Thank you God for all that has nurtured us into being.
We attribute this love to mothers – the people who gave us life, nursed us, and gave us our first understandings about life.
Thank you God for our mothers and for the gift of life.
Throughout our lives we have been blessed by many people who have taught us, sat with us, walked with us, and loved us.
Thank you God for being present to us through the lives of other people.
As we have been blessed by your nurturing, loving, presence –
May we also become a channel for that love and nurture in our living. Amen.
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April 28, 2013 – Celebration Sunday
Call to Worship
We gather in worship to open our lives to the depths of mystery, wonder and awe.
Make our hearts and spirits receptive to your presence.
We gather in worship to open our lives to the wonders of seeing love and forgiveness in action, through the life of Jesus.
Make our hearts and spirits open to the embodiment of your presence.
We gather in worship to bring life to the church, the structure which attempts to bring Holy Presence into community.
We are present today to help in building God’s House!
Let us worship together!
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April 21st, 2013
Call to Worship ~ Barb Dickinson
God calls each of us into relationship.
Let us renew our relationship with God.
We are reconnected with God through Christ’s love.
We become ambassadors for Christ.
Let us accept God’s generous love and grace!
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April 14, 2013 – 3rd Sunday of Easter
Call to Worship
Each day is a new day. We travel along life’s pathway seeing new vistas, having new experiences, finding new treasures, and celebrating the incredible gift of life. We are always journeying! We are always finding new ways of understanding your love, your grace, and seeing your fantastic presence in so many new ways. We are called to travel – to continue on our journey of discovery and to be open to you. Our Spirit is called into being by your Spirit which is forever leading us home. Thanks be to God!
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April 7, 2013 – 2nd Sunday of Easter
Affirmation of God’s Love: Jesus, whom others called the anointed one, stressed the reality of a loving, forgiving, nurturing God. We seek forgiveness and wholeness. We believe that the God who formed our universe, the Teacher who taught us about love and forgiveness and the Spirit who resides within us are all leading us forward on a path of healing, wholeness and acceptance. Thanks be to God.
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March 31, 2013 – Easter Sunday/Communion
Call to Worship
God of uprisings, God of the rising sun, the rising tide, the rising wind, the rising mist, the rising crocuses, you have raised Jesus Christ from the dead, raising our hopes to the skies, opening up glorious new possibilities for our living, for our dying, for our living again. Raise us to new life here and now, that we may walk in faith and love every day; in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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