I often think of those seekers, pagan wizards from faraway lands, as they made the long trek over desert sands following the bright star in the sky toward Bethlehem.  Their thirst for Wisdom brought them to Jesus, and Sophia guided them faithfully in resisting the tyranny of Herod.  That is what seeking and learning is all about … following the Spirit, finding God, and battling the fallen powers.

This year, in the household of Rivendell, Epiphany marks a new adventure in wisdom-seeking.  Christopher, our eldest, is  going to be homeschooling.  Well, “unschooling” is a more accurate term for what he is doing.  For those of you who have never heard of unschooling, here is a really good site to check out:  http://sandradodd.com/unschooling

We’re sad that Christopher will not be attending St. Mary’s anymore, and we’re deeply thankful for the many good years he had there.  But we’re also very excited about this new “experiment in truth”.  Not only does it mean that Christopher will have the freedom to learn in a very new way, but also that we will get to spend much more time together.  For that, I’m truly grateful!

Epiphany blessings to each of you!

Shawn

Our family spent the morning carrying groceries and picket signs walking close to 5km through the west side core, in the “Food Desert Hike”.  This walking protest was designed to draw attention to how hard it is to access healthy food in the inner city of Saskatoon, and it was also the kickoff event for Poverty Awareness Week.

After that, we came home for a short rest, then headed down to Friendship Park for the Occupy Saskatoon gathering.  It was great to be there … the numbers weren’t huge, but the Spirit was definitely present.  The leaves from some of the most beautiful trees in the city were gently raining down on the people gathered, the food tent was cooking away, the daycare tent had crafts going on, and there were people of all ages and colours just hanging out.

When the Free Assembly began, I was interested to see the commitment to consensus for decision making, and the willingness of so many to listen carefully to what was being said in the circle.  Very different from so many political rallies where there are one or two talking heads, and everyone else’s voice recedes into the void.

I have no idea where all this “occupy the globe” stuff is going … part of me is a little cynical that it will just peter out into nothing … but most of me is very excited about it.  People are catching on that the powers that be are like a gaggle of naked emperors.  The little child has shouted: “hey, he’s got no clothes on!!!”  Once that word is out, there is no telling what might happen.

May Sophia give guidance and strength and the courage of conviction to all who Occupy Saskatoon, and the World.

What is JADE?
JADE is a ministry of presence, working primarily with those outside the walls of the church. It is a “fresh expression” of church, an emergent ecclesial experiment in the radical truth of the gospel. Rather than being parish-based, JADE orients itself primarily toward the Rainbow Tribe: spiritual seekers, radical activists, the lgbtt community, young people in search of meaning and love, artists, oppressed minorities, greenspiritualists, and those many varieties of beautiful people who have felt shut out of traditional Christianity for a myriad of different reasons. JADE proceeds on the assumption that the Spirit of God is alive and well, and moving in surprising and powerful ways among this unique constellation of communities.

What does JADE do?
- monthly Sacred Circles … gatherings in churches and other venues for experiments in worship, reflection, spiritual practice, music, art, community, and justice-making
- Ministry of Presence … spiritual companionship, solidarity, and pastoral and ritual care among the Rainbow Tribe
- Incubation of Sacred Arts … creation of original music, imagery, poetry, craft, liturgy, spoken word, film, podcasting, street art, sacred theatre … in tandem with the revitalization of ancient forms of spiritual practice such as prayer, meditation, fasting, beads, incense, labyrinths, chanting … anything to help our people go deeper into relationship with Spirit, self, neighbour, and Earth

Who is JADE?
The core ministers in JADE are Emily Carr and Shawn Sanford Beck. But as a ministry collective, JADE is open to collaboration with other priests, pastors, and lay leaders (young and old), and seeks to cultivate partnerships with parishes in the diocese, ecumenical companions, and other organizations in the community.

Who pays the bills?
As a foretaste of the future church, JADE operates on a low budget / no budget philosophy. With no buildings, no office, and no salaries, we are willing to take a risk in faith that freedom and flexibility will encourage creativity and commitment in our ministry. Of course, as the wider church becomes aware of the ministry, JADE will likely find itself the recipient of various forms of support – material and otherwise. When people see God in mission, they are excited to get on board. At some point in the future, there may be possibilities for a physical “home-base”, and paycheques. But in the meantime, the core ministers are willing to continue doing stipendary work in the diocese part-time, and devote themselves part-time to the work of JADE on a voluntary basis.

When will JADE begin?
JADE begins now, with the planting of the seed and the blessing of the bishop. We want to spend the next 9 months incubating this idea, watering the seed, experimenting with several projects and gatherings, praying, refining our strategy, building support and anticipation. Then, come Pentecost 2012, we will launch the project officially.

To me, the bigger issue, beyond our personal stake in the matter, is why the church continues to be filled with such irrational hatred toward people of various sexual and gender orientations.  We’ve been working hard for years trying to bring positive change, but the backlash is still potent.  At the end of the day, are we a church of Love, or of fear and discrimination?

Friends, please send prayers and good energy for Emily, and for all who suffer persecution and hatred in the church.  Pray as well for those who are trapped in homophobia, and can’t seem to break out.  And pray for the church, that one day SOON, we will learn to be Love Incarnate in the world.

Peace,

Shawn +

I know there are plenty of other things in the world to be upset about, but I found this act of sacrelige particularly troubling. Glastonbury is a bit of a magical place, a pilgrimage town for both pagans and Christians. The legend goes that this is the first place in Britain to have heard the news of the gospel, almost 2000 years ago. Joseph of Arimathea came to Glastonbury bearing the Word of Christ, and at some point during his visit, planted his staff in the ground. By the power of the Spirit, the staff sprouted leaves, and was transformed into the tree of the holy thorn.
Yes, I know, a legend. But a special legend for those of us who trace our spiritual heritage, Christian and pagan, back to the British Isles.
So today I mourn this tree, this link to the earliest layer of sacred history. May it spring forth again, shoot from stump, like the great Tree of Jesse. May there be spiritual rebirth as well, among those descended from this line. Amen.

“For me, my starting point with Christ is more often his divine nature as the Living Word, the second Person of the Trinity, the Cosmic Christ of Ephesians and Colossians and John’s gospel, through whom all things come into being. For me, the existence of Christ is co-eternal with the Abba, and the incarnation of the Word begins with the first moment of creation. The whole universe (uni=one, verse=word), throughout its entire history, is the Body of God (specifically the Body of the second Person of the Trinity, who is fully God). The reflections of Chalcedon are still at play here, in that I continue to make a distinction (while affirming the union) between the uncreated divine nature of the Word and the created nature of the cosmos. But the two are held together in the union of Love. This union comes to perfection and fulfillment in the specific incarnation of the historical Jesus of Nazareth (who, in this sense, can be said to be God Incarnate … so long as it does not negate the sense of the Word’s constant incarnation, moment by moment, throughout the whole creation, simultaneously calling that creation into being and indwelling it intimately).
So when I see Jesus, I see not only an ethical teacher par excellence, but also a microcosm, a hologram, of the Living God embodied within the whole creation. For me, Jesus incarnates the Cosmic Christ. The whole world dwells within him … he is the truly Universal One. When he is crucified, the universe recieves its deathblow; when he is raised, the creation is made new (although from our perspective, this is still a proleptic and eschatological reality.)
Conversely, when the earth is harmed, when creation groans under human and demonic bondage, this is an assault on the Body of God. Species loss, climate change, the blasphemy of the tar sands … all of this wounds the Incarnate Cosmic Christ. Ecocide is Deicide. A faithful ecological ethic flows rather from a living cosmology, and Christology, which (like Chalcedon) holds together the created and uncreated natures in perfect union.”

Theology eggheads, enjoy!