MY NAME IS JESUS AND I'M AN ALCOHOLIC

(By Harry Nigh)
www.friendsofdismas.ca

It's become a tradition at Dismas Fellowship to put on a skit at our Christmas celebration. The Christmas story always comes across in a loving though somewhat "twisted" way as some have called it. We like to have as many people involved as possible and to act like kids again.

If your memories of Christmas include your father pulling down the Christmas tree in a drunken rage, this may be the first time you've ever acted in a Christmas pageant and who cares if you're entering middle age.

This year Marie suggested we give the Dismas twist to the Huron Christmas Carol. Some of the guys at Keele got busy making angels wings and a portable moon. We bought plastic bows and arrows at the Dollar Store for the "wandering hunters (who) heard the hymn". We scrounged some fur coats for rabbit skin and then we looked for people to play the holy family.

We asked Dawn if she would be Mary and Keith to be Joseph and then we asked Joe if he would be the "radiant boy" Baby Jesus. We wanted Keith a.k.a. Joseph to carry him into the room and place him on Mary's lap with the angels and the hunters looking on.

I admit that in the picture he may look more like a corpse than a bouncing and messianic baby boy, but his entrance in Keith's sturdy arms was the hilarious high point of the play.

It was a comment though, that Joe made when we first asked him to be Baby Jesus that has stuck with me this Christmas. Without missing a beat he quipped, "My name is Jesus, and I'm an alcoholic."

Joe is full of quips but this off the cuff comment had bite. I sensed that he had struck the essential reality of Christmas.

This Christmas Day as we do every Christmas we will read from the Gospel of John "and the Word became flesh and lived among us".

We give this truth a fancy name - incarnation, "embodied in flesh", but when Joe puts it in the classic words of AA, "My name is Jesus and I'm an alcoholic", he startles me with a new picture of God's acceptance of our humanity.

Not even dying between two convicts lies outside the circle of his love.

Not even our half-baked skits can diminish its power.

SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE

My friends John & Colleen Kosti are part of the church I pastor.  They also run a community agency across the road called 'Spirit Of Excellence'.  This video is the best demonstration of the heart they have for what they do.

Colleen is leaving in a few days to visit friends in India where they will investigate opening a Spirit Of Excellence Center.

Great to see so many familiar faces in this video.

BOB GAL @ MARKETPLACE CHAPEL

Bob Gal is chaplain at Marketplace Chapel, inside Edmonton Mall.  You can see his website at http://www.marketplacechapel.com/

West Edmonton Mall is the largest shopping mall in North America and 5th largest in the world.  It has over 28.2 million visitors annually and even has its own police precinct.

RACE TRACK CHAPLAIN - KEN CARTER

I’m Ken Carter. I have been happily married to my wife Karen coming up to 45 years. (she should get a medal for that) We have 2 boys and 1 girl long with 4 grand children and 1 greatgranddaughter. We presently live in Grand Valley ON.

I have been in the horse business for most of my life. As a teenager, I galloped thoroughbreds before school, worked alongside my father with show horses while growing up. I have trained and driven harness horses. Then I became a blacksmith at Mohawk Raceway in 1967. I had been a blacksmith for 30 years prior to entering the ministry. I came to the Lord in the early 80’s. So I have been at the track both as a believer and as a non-believer.

I have been a chaplain at Mohawk Raceway in Toronto Ontario, Canada since September of 2005. Previous to that I pastored a church in Grand Valley ON. for 10 years until Les Riggs came to Canada to begin the chaplaincy program. . I always felt there was a need for a chaplain at the track. I felt I knew the needs and problems that people in the backstretch go through. During my time as a blacksmith, once I became a believer many opportunities for ministry opened in my blacksmith shop. So when the opportunity came I considered it.

I knew that if this was my own idea it would probably fail so after much prayer and putting out a number of fleeces to make sure this was of God I accepted the opportunity.

This has been a tremendous challenge in many ways but the blessings far outweigh the difficulties. To see God transform a broken life or even just put a smile on someone’s face makes it all worthwhile.

Chaplain Ken Carter

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 331, Campbellville, Ontario L0P 1B0

Phone

Office: (905) 854-6146
Cell: (519) 942-6641

Email

info@rtchaplaincyofcanada.com

THE ROCK ON CAMPUS

The Organization

The Rock on Campus is a registered charity governed by a Board of Directors that seeks to accomplish three primary objectives. 

The primary goal is to provide chaplain services to students and staff on community college campuses.   Chaplains seek to 'be there' for students and staff, offer friendship in confidence, listen to, pray for, provide spiritual care as requested.  The Rock on Campus also provides a venue for campus ministry, allowing students the opportunity to be involved in and grow in their faith while in attendance at college.  Chaplains engage students in dialogue and find ways that give students and staff permission to explore how faith makes a difference each and every day.

The Rock on Campus also engages churches in the local community by linking students to a place that they can call their spiritual home while in school.  In addition, The Rock on Campus assists local faith communities in establishing and developing young adult ministry.  Seminars for parents on how to prepare for the post secondary years are available for booking.

Finally, The Rock on Campus is engaged in establishing and developing campus ministry models and planting qualified chaplains on community college campuses across Ontario and Canada by involving local churches into the world of young adults and by presenting a vision for caring for young adults during their post secondary years, and providing a rationale for staying in church when they graduate.

The People

Francois Kruger is a licensed minister and currently serves as the Executive Director of The Rock on Campus based out of London, Ontario where he is the Lead Chaplain at Fanshawe College.

Francois began as a campus chaplain appointed to Fanshawe in the Fall of 1995 by Ridgeview Community Church after serving in youth ministry for seven years. Since that time, campus ministry and chaplaincy have become a vital component in the lives of hundreds of students and a 'who-to-go-to' resource to the college for its spiritual needs. Chaplaincy also offers spiritual care in a variety of situations where the professional services of clergy is required.

Francois is happily married to Sandra and has 3 daughters who are the joy of his life. He attends Forest City Bible Church in northwest London, loves to read about what's going on in contemporary culture, and is an avid Montreal Canadiens fan.

Francois can be reached at: fkruger@therockoncampus.org

Nancy Gatten is our Administrative Associate. 

Nancy joined 'the Rock' in the fall of 2008 and brings a wealth of customer service experience.  Currently employed full-time at Creation Bookstore in London, Ontario, Nancy will be assisting in the office of The Rock on Campus and, with a professional approach to our office activities, demonstrate exceptional care for the details of 'the Rock.'

Nancy is married to Don and has twin adult sons.  Don and Nancy attend Summerside Community Church in south London.

To contact Nancy regarding any administrative matters you can reach Nancy atoffice@therockoncampus.org

Rielly McLaren joined The Rock on Campus in July of 2009.  Rielly serves as the Chaplain to St Clair College in Windsor, where he is also a chaplain at St Leonard's House, and serves as the Outreach Pastor at New Song Church.  He is presently working with St Clair students to create a venue for ministry as he awaits official status from college administrators. 

Rielly brings to chaplaincy and campus ministry a passion for people to connect with God and is  a talented musician to boot!  Rielly's loves to chat and you can connect with Rielly by email atrielly@therockoncampus.org

Dan Helps: Dan joined our team September 1st 2010.  Dan brings to The Rock a wealth of experience and a passion for young adults.  Students at Lambton College in Sarnia will get to see Dan taking time over coffee to listen and to encourage growth in faith and providing pastoral care where needed.

Dan starts walking the halls in early September, and he can be reached by email at dan@therockoncampus.org

Conestoga College: we're talking...

Fleming College: a formal invitation has been made!!

Sheridan College: rumours of interest abound!!

To contact the organization for further information by mail, our mailing address is:

     Francois Kruger, The Rock on Campus, Box 848, Granton, Ontario, N0M 1V0

Helping students journey along the road of life...

(reprinted from http://www.therockoncampus.org/5.html )

ST. LEONARD'S HOUSE

From 2003 to 2008, I worked as chaplain at St. Leonard's House, Windsor.  It was the first halfway house in Canada and was founded by an Anglican priest Neil Libby.  Here is their story.

______________________________________________________________

“Unless our society can redeem those who go astray, we can hardly call ourselves civilized; and, anyone doing the work being undertaken in St. Leonard’s halfway houses deserves the support of all who believe in human dignity.”  Stanley Knowles, M.P.

Little is known for certain of St. Leonard’s history, as his early “life,” written in the eleventh century, has no historical value whatsoever. So let’s begin with the legend that recounts a sixth century French monk named Leonard who saved the lives of both the Queen and her newborn daughter, Bertoara. 

A grateful King Clovis granted Leonard a huge tract of land where he built a monastery christened Noblac. The King permitted Leonard to take prisoners under his care at Noblac, and then release them when they had proved themselves ready. St. Leonard became the patron saint of prisoners; his icon is generally represented holding broken chains in his hands.

In 1962, the first St. Leonard’s half-way home in Canada opened its doors right here in Windsor, to welcome men who had spent time behind bars and needed a safe haven to make a clean start. 

A practical and determined Anglican priest named Thomas Neil Libby and his supporters shared a vision to help offenders rehabilitate in a social climate where ex-offenders were regarded as unfit and undeserving of any support.

Neil Libby (left) pioneered the halfway house movement in Canada; today there are sixteen Society homes and affiliates across the country. Yet, when the first St. Leonard’s House was proposed in Windsor, it was greeted with extraordinary resistance. Neighborhoods and local politicians rallied against the idea of housing “ex-cons.” 

They waved fists in town meetings, screamed telephone threats to Board members and wrote angry letters to newspaper editors describing the dangers and risks to their wives and children, property values and business income.

All this, however, only strengthened the resolve of the founding members and convinced them of the importance of their mission.

Over 40 years later, St. Leonard’s has earned this community’s support. Situated in a modest, split-level building on Victoria Avenue in downtown Windsor, St. Leonard’s Society has intentionally kept a low profile to prevent residents from being singled out as they quietly re-build their lives.

And yet, St. Leonard’s is much more than the bricks and mortar of a building. A United Way supported agency since 1968, the society’s services are designed to give back to the community that supports its work with ex-offenders.

St. Leonard’s provides a place to live for those who have been in trouble with the law, and an opportunity to remove the stigma of being an ex-con through guidance, counseling, and understanding. St. Leonard’s also advocates reforms to the social justice system, to ensure that those who leave prison do not return to the community less able to live crime-free than when they left it.

The Society has steadily grown and responded to the changing needs of subgroups such as probationers, young men and women in conflict with the law, and those dependent on alcohol and drugs. Programs have been expanded to include life skills and job placement training, intermittent

 programs, and Lifeline, which helps those who have received long-term sentences to readjust to “life on the outside.”

St. Leonard’s Society continues to be active in Correctional Services and frequently makes presentations to parliament and other provincial government groups on issues that concern the incarcerated and released offender. They also organize seminars for the public, and develop position papers on the judicial system.

The strength and heart of the society’s work rests on building genuine one-on-one friendships with the people they serve in a setting of support – a place where they are challenged to value themselves and to actively find meaning in their lives through education, employment and relationships within the community.

The St. Leonard’s Society of Canada continues its work in response to the changing social justice environment in Canada.

(reprinted from http://stleonardswindsor.com/St-Leonards/History.html )

THE COST OF 'TOUGH ON CRIME'

The Conservative government's 'Tough On Crime' has a pricetag attached to it.  While this article talks about prison expansion in Canada, I wonder what the real cost is to our national soul when we warehouse people instead of creating new solutions for rehabilitation?

Read about prison expansion here:

http://www.vancouversun.com/Federal+prison+expansions+underway+meet+expected+flood+inmates/3475185/story.html

CHAPLAIN KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

We do not often think of chaplains risking their lives, but here's a story about a U.S. chaplain who was killed in the line of duty.  Read about Dale Goetz's death here:

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/02/chaplain-killed-in-action/

EMBRACING DEATH

Our greatest prejudice is against death. It spans age, gender and race. We spend immeasurable amounts of energy fighting an event that will eventually triumph. Though it is noble not to give in easily, the most alive people I’ve ever met are those who embrace their death. They love, laugh and live more fully.

-Andy Webster, hospice chaplain in Plymouth, Michigan

STAINED GLASS CHAPLAINS

This is a stained glass window in the Pentagon entitled 'Four Chaplains'.

QUOTE FROM JESUS MANIFESTO

Paul said that 'Jesus is head over all things for the church'.  Notice, Jesus is not head over all things for the state, but for the church.  All things are placed under His feet, Paul wrote, but Jesus has been appointed 'head' of 'all things' for the church.

Some have made Jesus the chaplain of the American Dream.  Others have made Him the chaplain of the Democratic Party.  Still others have made Him the chaplain of capitalism and Republicanism.  All are equally blasphemous.  But most blasphemous of all is those who would decapitate the head from its body and to render Christ irrelevant.

Jesus Manifesto, Leonard Sweet & Frank Viola pp.105, 106

WHAT CANADIAN MUSLIMS ARE SAYING

A group of Canadian Muslim clerics have signed a statement condemning radical Islam.  They present the case of a peace-loving Islam which is respectful of culture and diversity.

As a Canadian Christian connected to multi-faith relationships, I find their statements to be consistent with the Muslims and Imams that I have met.  I applaud their efforts to live harmoniously with all people.

Canada is a good place to birth change that can have global impact.


Read the news article at:

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24990/canadian-imams-condemn-radical-islam

WHAT YOU WOULD WANT FROM A CHRISTIAN CHAPLAIN

Just how many ways can you interpret the words of Jesus in John 14:5-6, 'I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me,' ... The worst this chaplain could be convicted of is ascribing to orthodox Christian historic faith, which is what I would think you would want from a Christian chaplain.

- Quote by Richard Land, President of The Ethics And Religious Liberty Commission

CREATING COMMUNITY

There are three activities that are absolutely vital in the creation of a community. The first is eating together around the same table. 


The second is praying together. 


And the third is celebrating together. By celebrating I mean to laugh, to fool around, to have fun, to give thanks together for life. 


When we are laughing together with belly laughs we are all the same. 



Jean Vanier in "Living Gently in a Violent World,"

ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS

Local journalist Frances Willick wrote a piece on the neighbourhood our church ministers in.  She had a front page article today in the Windsor Star.  Check it out:

http://www.windsorstar.com/Drouillard+Road+Down/3316330/story.html

PRAYING PUBLICLY AT CIVIC GATHERINGS

There are times when I’ve been asked to pray at a public event in the community.  I consider it to be a privilege and want to pray sensitively to the audience, but direct the words to God.

As a Christian, how am I to pray in these situations?

Here’s my current list of conscientious prayer reminders:

1.  Don’t show off.  Jesus chided the Pharisees for using prayer as a way to brag about their spirituality.  No trumpets on the street corner.

2. Keep the prayer appropriate to the request for it.  Who is asking you to pray and why?  In addition to the public prayer, I can always pray privately about how God wants to use me in the gathering as I meet people.

3. Pray to the God you know.  In multi-faith environments, there may be an expectation that you will pray to a generic God that fits all religions.  While there may be a sensitivity to all faith groups gathered, you represent your own faith group and that should be expected.  Pray intelligently in words that specifically address your God and are respectful and redemptive to all present.

4.  Pray and act as God’s ambassador.  You are representing in these situations and it’s more important that you are humble and approach with a servant’s heart.  This is not your opportunity to set the agenda of the gathering.

I was recently invited to say grace at the dedication of a new power plant producing cleaner, more efficient electricity.  It was held at the reception center of Hiram Walker distillery and was stacked with community leaders, industrial magnates and politicians.  I sit on a neighborhood redevelopment committee that received $300,000 from the new project to improve the environment.

Here’s the grace I prayed before the meal:

To the One who dwells in the Holy City, the Almighty Sovereign of Creation, we give thanks for this day of new beginnings and generous blessings.

May these good works and accomplishments that we celebrate be a reminder of your provision and compassion for people everywhere.  May we be inspired to new acts of justice and mercy, thoughtful connections and inspired vision.

Help us to see how kindness and generosity can empower our neighbors to live with ‘Shalom’ towards one another.

For this food, for our civic officials and leaders of industry and community, we give thanks.

Amen