Meeting: Friday, November 20th

This is a reminder about our upcoming get together this Friday:

Meeting time: 7pm, Friday, November 20th
At the usual place: High Point Coffee, 1735 W 7800 S, West Jordan

Come share what books you've been reading, your favorite blog posts and articles that you've read this past month, or just come for the conversation.

Meeting: Friday, October 23rd

This is a reminder about our upcoming get together in a couple of weeks:

Meeting time: 7pm, Friday, October 23rd
At the usual place: High Point Coffee, 1735 W 7800 S, West Jordan

Come share what books you've been reading, your favorite blog posts and articles that you've read this past month, or just come for the conversation.

Meeting: Friday, September 25th

This is a reminder about our upcoming get together next week:

Meeting is at a different time: 7pm, Friday, September 25th
But it remains at the usual place: High Point Coffee, 1735 W 7800 S, West Jordan

Come share what books you've been reading, your favorite blog posts and articles that you've read this past month, or just come for the conversation.

Sermon Event: Church in Utah: It's Time for a Revolution

I just learned that John W. Morehead will be preaching at New Beginnings Church at Mountain Vista United Methodist (8931 South 3200 West, West Jordan) on Sunday, Sept. 6th at 4:00 p.m. Sermon title will be Church in Utah: It's Time for a Revolution. The Scripture reference is Matthew 16:1-3. The main points of the message to be followed by a Q&A are:

1. We are living in a new world of challenge and opportunity for the church.
2. The challenges of late modernity, post-Christendom, and Utah culture.
3. The church in Christendom culture.
4. Church in the missional mode.
5. A concluding challenge with the need to cast a vision with strategy for missional church in Utah.

This looks to be an interesting conversation about church planting and missional church in Utah. Please spread the word.

The Life of Apostle Paul with Rick Steves

I love watching Rick Steves travel shows on PBS. Here is his show done on the Apostle Paul for the ELCA, of which he is a member. Enjoy.

We are now getting a Catholic radio station in Utah

I noticed in the paper today that we are getting a Catholic radio station. (From the Deseret News)

Catholic radio station to hold launch party

Utah's first Catholic radio station will have a "Station Launch Party" today, 9:30-10 a.m., at the KIHU (AM-1010) radio tower, 6173 W. 2100 South, West Valley City.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, will bless the station and do a ceremonial flip of the switch to being full-time Catholic broadcasting to Utah.

The station will be part of the Immaculate Heart Radio Network.

The Salt Lake Tribune also had an article that mentioned that a locally produced program may soon be coming.

Eventually, the Salt Lake City Diocese will air an hourlong program five to seven days a week, said Colleen Gudreau, communications director for the diocese.

Wester appointed a steering committee this summer to suggest programs for what is tentatively being called "Utah Catholic Now." A start date has not yet been set for that program, Gudreau said.

"It's got a lot of potential, but it takes a lot of planning to actually make it happen," Gudreau said. "It certainly is historic to have Catholic radio in Utah. It will increase the communication of what is happening in the diocese with Catholics and others interested in what is going on."

That sounds like it will be interesting, especially if it takes on the social issue of immigration.

Event Announcement: Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson visits Utah

The Latino Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah is honored to host Bishop Gene Robinson on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at the ECCU. Bishop Robinson’s address to the Episcopal Diocese of Utah will begin at 4:00 p.m. The theme of his address will be: “The Episcopal Church in the Twenty-First Century.” There will be a book signing and small reception following his address. Please RSVP to Karen Pena (801-322-4131) by Monday, August 17.

If you’re wondering what that strange writing means in our banner

I felt like spiffing up our site banner a little. Make it unique and a little more Utahish. So I downloaded Mormon Country’s very own Deseret Alphabet and wrote ‘Salt Lake Emergent Cohort’ in Deseret. It’s a phonetic alphabet, so I had to do a little homework to get the characters right, but I don’t think there are any hard and fast rules for the correct spelling of many words, so this is my best impression of things.

The font I used is designed after the one used in the Deseret First Book, published back in 1868. If you’d like to play around with the font for yourself, here’s the ReaderBee font for download.

Next Meeting: August 26th, we’ll be discussing The Great Emergence

News about our upcoming get together:

The usual time: 7pm, August 26th
The usual place: High Point Coffee, 1735 W 7800 S, West Jordan

We decided to discuss as a group the book The Great Emergence, by Phyllis Tickle, so you’ll want to get it and read it before the meeting. Last I looked it appears to be available in most Barnes & Nobles and Border’s Books in the Salt Lake Valley.

Here are some additional resources you may want to check out: Here are some videos related to the book and a study guide available to download. Also you might want to check out some of the other videos available online of Phyllis Tickle discussing The Great Emergence.

Meeting: This Wednesday, July 22nd

This is a reminder about our upcoming get together this week:

The usual time: 7pm, July 22nd
The usual place: High Point Coffee, 1735 W 7800 S, West Jordan

Maybe we can read and discuss some of the faith jarring stories found in Peter Rollins new book The Orthodox Heretic.

And we might also discuss the current wallet jarring economic crisis and it's "theology". Here are a few articles worth checking out:

Praying for a revolution in economics, guardian.co.uk

Is the Economic Crisis a Sin?, Newsweek

The Market as God, by Harvey Cox

Vaticanomics: The Holy Father Tackles Globalization, The Wall Street Journal

The Episcopal General Convention and Utah

From today's Salt Lake Tribune there's a brief article on some of Utah's roll in the recent General Convention in Anaheim, CA.

Utah's Episcopal representatives joined the majority at this week's Episcopal General Convention in backing a measure to allow individual dioceses the option of choosing a gay or lesbian bishop.

"We want everything in our church to be open to all people," Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish said in a phone interview from Anaheim, ... "Our diocese has always been progressive on social issues, mainly because the state is so conservative."

Hmm.... Since our Bishop is retiring here soon, I wonder if this decision will play any roll in the Bishop selection process now going on?

Happy Birthday, John Calvin!

It's a happy 500th today for theologian John Calvin, a whole half a millennium old. Check out some of the souvenir idols they've made of him for the celebrations this year (above), and a bobblehead (below). I wonder if John Calvin would approve. Hmmm.

Man, I need to find a way to collect these kinds of trinkets, maybe ebay or something. I need this kind of comedy classic junk for show and tell.

Here's some more to get into the spirit of things here.

Our Salt Lake Emergent Cohort is now on Goodreads

I started a group on Goodreads for us to maybe have another avenue to network with other like minded readers and to see what each others is reading, what we hope to read, book recommendations, etc. So sign on up and check it out.

Review: The Great Emergence, by Phyllis Tickle

The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
The first part of the book about Christianity having a reformation every 500 years or so is a bit contrived. I don't think history really shows that pattern. But her thoughts on what is happening right now, that we are going through a kind of new Reformation, as she calls it 'The Great Emergence', I think she makes some really good points here. A book worth meditating on.


View all my reviews.

Last night’s interfaith lament over SB81

SB81 goes into effect today. Here is some of the press coverage on last night’s interfaith service/lament. The Salt Lake Tribune had an article, and KSL had a report (video below). Representatives from the Lutheran, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Episcopal churches spoke at the service. Also, Aaron Petterborg of the new Missionaries for Compassion toward Immigrants (Salt Lake Tribune article, facebook and web) showed up, it was good to finally meet him.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Utah faith leaders unite to lament SB81

There will be an interfaith service:
When: Tuesday, June 30th, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1070 S. Foothill Drive
More information: 801-582-2321

I plan to go.

Comment from Pastor Steve Klemz's press release:

A Service of Lament
On the eve of the implementation of SB81, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church hosts an interfaith service of lament. SB81, an omnibus anti-immigration bill, is symptomatic of a broken community and serves as a call to prayer among people of faith. Public lament is a way people of faith confess their trust in God above all else, especially as this bill further creates a climate of fear and diminish the fullness of life in Utah.

Here's the article from the Salt Lake Tribune:

Utah faith leaders unite to lament SB81
By Peggy Fletcher Stack

The Rev. Steve Klemz felt an overwhelming sadness at the passage of Utah's new immigration law, SB81, due to take effect Wednesday.

He mourned for all Utahns who live in the shadows, he said, without documents for themselves or a loved one. He agonized for those whose families will be severed by the law.

Klemz, pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Salt Lake City, sought solace in his faith, where he found numerous biblical passages that lament the world's injustice.

He then organized an interfaith service, scheduled for the eve before the bill is implemented, where people from every faith can read passages from the Psalms and other Bible verses. Catholic, Episcopal and Muslim leaders already have accepted his invitation.

"The bill is symptomatic of a broken community and serves as a call to prayer among people of faith," he said. "Public lament is a way people of faith confess their trust in God above all else, especially as this bill further creates a climate of fear and diminishes the fullness of life in Utah."

For Klemz, immigration is a moral issue -- and a personal one.

In 2002, he married Norma Gonzalez, who had come to the United States from Mexico to care for her ailing father and stayed -- without permission.

He joined her in the bureaucratic black hole that was her effort to become a legal resident. The couple prepared a petition to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, now part of Homeland Security. The federal government wanted to know if theirs was a marriage of convenience or a real union. They assembled scores of photos showing their family life and hundreds of letters from friends attesting to the genuineness of their marriage.

Finally, last November, supporters filled the immigration courtroom as the couple faced their future.

"They put us on administrative hold and encouraged us to go to Juarez [Mexico] and get Norma a visa," Klemz said, "but they are not actively pursuing us."

Though not conclusive, it was a relief.

"You have no idea how good it feels not to have a court date hanging over our heads as we did for five years," he said. "Now we are basically waiting and praying for immigration reform."

pstack@sltrib.com

It's the feast day for Sts. Peter and Paul

A couple of interesting things. Did you hear that the Vatican may have exhumed the bones of the actual St. Paul. That would be kind of cool... if it's true. You can read a little more about it here, here, and here.

And here's an interesting thought I found surfing today: "Peter and Paul were of course not always the best of friends (at least from Paul’s perspective!). But celebrating them together is important: in many ways, they are the Catholic apostle and the Protestant apostle. (Ecumenical) hope springs eternal." (From Cross Talk)

Meeting: This Wednesday, June 24th

This is a reminder about our upcoming get together this week:

The usual time: 7pm, June 24th
The usual place: High Point Coffee, 1735 W 7800 S, West Jordan

I thought we might be able to discuss the idea of pilgrimage. I’ve been seeing the topic all over the place lately, and going on one seems to be making a comeback… even in evangelical circles. Here’s is an article in the recent Christianity Today on the topic, He Talked to Us on the Road; more information and articles here. Religion & Ethics Newsweekly had a spot on young conservative Catholics revitalizing the ancient practice, Pilgrimage to Chartres (video and transcript). And not all pilgrimages are ancient, here’s one being made with more post-modern views in mind, The Abraham Path (lots of interesting things to see here).

In the Salt Lake Tribune - Transitions: The Mormon Migration from Religion to Relationship

What looks to be an interesting new program is mentioned in a Salt Lake Tribune article this morning, produced by WIIS (who appear to be inheriting the legacy of the now defunct Salt Lake Theological Seminary).

I commented on the article:

I just finished watching their 14-minute infomercial. This looks to be a good program. The fact is there are a lot of people immigrating out of Mormonism and this looks like it will be good resource to help them adjust to the transition, and with a lot less of the bitterness that generally goes along with that transition.

And I noted that this film isn't so much about trying to convert Mormons to Evangelicalism, but rather trying to help those already moving out of Mormonism (for whatever of various reasons) to adjust to their new Christian setting, if that is the route they choose. The makers of this film are taking advantage of a fact that has recently been given some press lately and that is that many people do not stay with the same religion, or religious institutions, they grew up with; Catholics are becoming Protestant, Evangelicals are joining the Catholic or Orthodox Churches, some Christians are converting to Islam, and Mormons are also a part of this fluidity in our culture. I myself have been a part of this journey, having been raised a Mormon I am now an Episcopalian.

Here's the infomercial:

Just wanted to encourage you all - St Barnabas' tomb in Cyprus

Since it’s the feast day of St Barnabas (June 11th) I thought I’d post the one relic I have of his. This is a picture of me at his tomb (purported) in Cyprus, back in 1998, when I was working to plant a church in Nicosia. Wow! That was over ten years ago. I’ll have to scan the very few pictures I have of my time out there and post them somewhere one of these days.