November 28, 2012 - Christian Vegetarian Association Update Newsletters


	2012 Newsletters

CVA Weekly Newsletter
November 28, 2012

Thanksgiving Turkeys

Upcoming Activist Opportunities

Commentary on the 12/3/12 Lectionary - Luke 21:25-36; An Apocalyptic Vision

This Week’s and Last Week’s Sermons from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

1. Thanksgiving Turkeys

I’d like to share a story with you that happened a few years ago. We were having our Thanksgiving dinner about 2:00 in the afternoon. It was a great meal as my wife goes out of her way to make it a feast and it always is. We always seem to discuss the way we do not “suffer” in the least with our meal and cannot understand why people always ask “what do you eat for your holiday meal if you don’t have turkey or ham or whatever other meat?” It was then I noticed a light snow falling. It was the first of that season. We live in a beautiful rural area of northeast Pennsylvania and we are surrounded by large hemlock trees. Well, after I mentioned the snow we all stood up and were looking out our large back window and from out of the trees came about 30 turkeys – at least! We often see smaller flocks but one so large is unusual if not rare in our area. We laughed and also became a bit misty-eyed at this sight. So for that day we had turkey over at our place for dinner - in a most spectacular way! I hope they come back to visit us this year.

God bless you and have a wonderful and compassionate Holiday Season.

Nick Pokoluk

2. Upcoming Activist Opportunities

12/4      IL Hoffman Estates The Story Tour By Mathew West
12/6      TX Cypress              The Story Tour by Mathew West
12/7      TX Dallas               The Story Tour by Mathew West
12/7      PA Hershey              Bill Gaither Christmas Homecoming Tour
12/8      PA Pittsburgh      Bill Gaither Christmas Homecoming Tour
12/8      TX San Antonio          The Story Tour By Matthew West
12/8-9    OH Canton          Relient K - "Christmas Homecoming shows"
12/9      IN Wabash               New Song's Very Merry Christmas Tour
12/10         MI Port Huron      New Song's Very Merry Christmas Tour
12/11         MI Manitowoc       Newsong's Very Merry Christmas Tour
12/14         OH Cincinnati      Gaither Homecoming Christmas Tour
12/15         MI Grand Rapids         Gaither Christmas Homecoming Tour
12/15         TN Nashville       Relient K Christian Concert
1/4       WV Charleston      Winter Jam 2013 Tour Spectacular

Contact Paris at christian_vegetarian@yahoo.com if you can help. To find out about all upcoming leafleting and tabling opportunities in your area, join the CVA Calendar Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/christian_vegetarian/.

3. Commentary on the 12/3/12 Lectionary - Luke 21:25-36
An Apocalyptic Vision

This passage is an apocalyptic vision of great tribulations, evidently preceding “redemption” of Jesus’ followers. Jesus declares, “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place” (Luke 21:32; see also Mark 13:30). If we are to understand that Jesus is predicting the destruction of the world as we know it and the Final Judgment, then was Jesus and/or the writers of Mark and Luke wrong?

This is the conclusion of many New Testament scholars, including Albert Schweitzer and Rudolf Bultmann. Some, such as N.T. Wright, have argued that the apocalyptic vision relates to the disastrous revolt against the Romans, which culminated in the destruction of the Temple.

I offer another theory. Perhaps Jesus recognized that these times, as with nearly all other times in human history, would see great tumult. Humans have found it difficult if not impossible to avoid violence. Sometimes that violence is limited by the scapegoating process, which tends to restrict violence to a smaller number of victims. But scapegoating violence does not eliminate all other violence in the community, and of course scapegoating violence is still violence.

Nearly every generation thinks that it is experiencing times of strife, because what one experiences is far more vivid than what one has heard about. Jesus was warning his followers that his ministry would not immediately result in peace and harmony, though he did offer a path toward communal peace for those who chose it. There are different kinds of “redemption,” and one is to be redeemed from the human attraction to violence and scapegoating. Only with this kind of redemption can there be communities of peace.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

4. This Week and Last Week’s Sermons from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

Are We Living As Jesus Christ Desires?

The Makings of a Real Thanksgiving

Previous Newsletters

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