November 16, 2011 - Christian Vegetarian Association Update Newsletters


	Update Newsletters

Update Newsletters
November 16, 2011

1. A Prayer for Animals by Albert Schweitzer*

2. Activist Feedback

3. Essay: Using Our Talents

4. Vegan Organic Network: www.veganorganic.net

5. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

1. A Prayer for Animals by Albert Schweitzer*

Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals,

especially for animals who are suffering;

for animals that are overworked, underfed and cruelly treated;

for all wistful creatures in captivity that beat their wings against bars;

for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry;

for all that must be put death.

We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity,

and for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion

and gentle hands and kindly words.

Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals,

and so to share the blessings of the merciful.

* Schweitzer’s authorship of this prayer has been disputed

2. Activist Feedback

Patricia, who tabled at San Francisco World Vegetarian Day, writes:

The two-day event was again successful in terms of having a Christian presence. So much encouraging support for what CVA does and being there!

Several availed themselves of materials to share within their churches. Plus, there was more than one educator planning to share CVA materials with their class. Also, veg stickers including a baby chick depiction with a “Jesus Loves Me Too’ line, were very popular with ALL ages, and helped draw folks to the table. Special thank you to Paris Harvey for procuring those stickers.

This is an excellent opportunity to witness for Christ! It is truly a welcomed blessing.

Upcoming Activist Opportunities

11/25 SC Aiken Casting Crows Come to the Well Tour

11/26 TN Knoxville Casting Crowns Come to the Well Tour

12/1 TX San Antonio Casting Crowns Come to the Well Tour

12/2 TX Belton Casting Crowns

12/2 TX San Antonio David Crowder Bands Last Tour

12/3 LA Bossier City Casting Crows Come to the Well Tour

12/4 MS Jackson Casting Crowns - Come to the Well Tour

12/4 AL Chelsea Kampfire for the King

12/2 TX Dallas World Vision / A Christmas Spectacular

12/8 GA Atlanta World Vision / A Christmas Spectacular

12/9 NC Winston-Salem World Vision A Christmas Spectacular

12/9 OK Oklahoma City Night of Stories Christmas Tour

12/16 TX Richardson Night of Stories Christmas Tour

12/18 MO Independence World Vision A Christmas Spectacular

5/20/12 CA Van Nuys TABLE WorldFest 2012

International Event:

11/20 Canada, Ontario Parkway HUGE! Winter Jam

3. Essay: Using Our Talents

Reflecting further on last week’s theme of utilizing our talents, I am reminded of Ernest Becker’s comment to young mothers who asked him what they should say when their children are old enough to ask where babies come from. Becker said that they could talk about the egg and the sperm and the baby growing in the mother’s womb, but they wouldn’t really be true. To be honest, Becker observed, we really don’t know where babies come from. Similarly, we don’t know where our talents come from – we just have them.

Perhaps, as many believe, talents are gifts from God. However, I think such a view requires the adoption of an uncomfortable corollary, which is that disabilities come from God as well. None of us is totally able-bodied, and none of us is without talents. If the source of our strengths and limitations is unclear, an even more profound mystery is the source of life. How does a collection of inanimate atoms become a feeling being with subjective experience? To attribute this to a divine being seems like a reasonable hypothesis. It follows, in my view, that in awe and in gratitude we should dedicate what talents we have to serving God, the evident source of our being.

In the poem Two Tramps in Mud Time, Robert Frost wrote:

My object in living is to unite

My avocation and my vocation

As my two eyes make one in sight.

For the many people who do not have the luxury of unifying work and avocation, I agree with Sam Keen, who said in his wonderful book Hymns to an Unknown God that our work should not do violence to our values. A difficulty is that many of us work for corporations, and corporations exist to make money, not to enhance societal well-being. In future essays, I’ll explore the challenge of making a living while maintaining one’s values.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

4. Vegan Organic Network: www.veganorganic.net

“Our aims are to research and promote vegan-organic (also known as stockfree organic) methods of agriculture and horticulture throughout the world so that green, clean and cruelty-free food becomes widely available.”

5. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

Standing against the Giants in the Land
http://www.all-creatures.org/sermons97/s13nov88.html

Your question and comments are welcome

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