West Hill Podcast: Guest speaker

The Religious Person

Dana Wilson-Li — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:22:00 -0500

August 22, 2010.

Guest speaker Ken Ramsay introduces us to Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986) and in particular Krishnamurti’s exploration of the “the religious person.”

The first link below is the video Ken showed at the conclusion of his meditation (to 3:20). More information can be found about Krishnamurti (“K”) in the subsequent links.

Krishnamurti speaks with Dr. Allan Anderson :: One of a series of interviews with Dr. Allan Anderson, San Diego State University, Dept of Religious Studies
The Speaker :: Youtube video outlining the life and message of J Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti :: Wikipedia entry
J Krishnamurti online ::

File Download (21:28 min / 4 MB)

I am the captain of my soul

Dana Wilson-Li — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:29:00 -0500

August 15, 2010.

Scott Campbell again explores how we might create the meaningful life we want.

File Download (31:41 min / 6 MB)

Creating the Life We Want - Communities

Dana Wilson-Li — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:30:00 -0500

August 8, 2010.

Guest speaker Scott Campbell explores how we might create the life and relationships we want. He offers several suggestions for creating deeper relationships within community.

File Download (33:47 min / 6 MB)

Heaven is Earth

Dana Wilson-Li — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:16:00 -0500

August 1, 2010.

Using music, poem, verse, art and song, guest speaker Ted Snyders explores the idea of transcendence, here on Earth. He titles his presentation: “Of Course We Believe in Heaven, We’ve Been There.”

Ted is introduced by his wife and partner of 30 years, Andrea Rowan.

File Download (30:50 min / 5 MB)

Memoirs of a World Religions Teacher

Dana Wilson-Li — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:52:00 -0500

July 18, 2010.

Guest speaker and high school teacher Jeff Bower explores his time teaching world religions. He talks of his own religious journey and the insights of his students on the big questions of the universe.

File Download (46:36 min / 8 MB)

Common Dreams

Dana Wilson-Li — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:33:00 -0500

May 30, 2010.

Scott Kearns tells of his and Gretta’s travels in Australia and New Zealand. He shares some of the comments and discussions he had while at the Common Dreams Conference and highlights the wonderful welcome he and Gretta received.

File Download (30:13 min / 5 MB)

Everyone Makes Mistakes (Except Me!!)

Dana Wilson-Li — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:18:00 -0500

May 9, 2010.

Guest speaker Scott Campbell discusses cognitive dissonance as he explores why we can so easily justify our own conduct.

File Download (36:46 min / 6 MB)

At Home in the Cosmos

Dana Wilson-Li — Sun, 02 May 2010 18:14:00 -0500

May 2, 2010.

Scott Campbell shares his thoughts on cultivating wonder in the natural world as a way of creating meaning for our lives. He offers examples of some of the amazing wonders of the universe.

File Download (39:11 min / 7 MB)

A Common Story

Dana Wilson-Li — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:34:00 -0500

April 25, 2010

Alan Ely shares his understanding of the Golden Rule and how this common theme ties us to each other and the world.

File Download (14:06 min / 3 MB)

Concious Living

Dana Wilson-Li — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:59:00 -0500

April 18, 2010

Guest speaker Diane Hoover shares her ideas on progressive conscious thinking. She finishes with a reading from Janice May Parviainen’s book, “Courage To Love Yourself”.

Diane Hoover :: Visit Diane's website and find out more about her.
Courage to Love Yourself :: Visit Janice May`s website to find out more

File Download (31:48 min / 6 MB)

Shaping Connection

Dana Wilson-Li — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:12:00 -0500

April 11, 2010.

Guest speaker Trisha Bower extends last week’s theme of connection, highlighting how working with clay allows her to connect deeply not only with others, but with herself. She gifts the congregation with an opportunity to connect as well.

File Download (26:00 min / 5 MB)

A Diverse Journey

Dana Wilson-Li — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 13:29:00 -0500

March 21, 2010

Special guest speaker Shodja Ziaian shares the winding path of his journey to West Hill and the diversity of his background.
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Dr. Shodja Eddin Ziaian is a Professor at Glendon College, York University and a Research Associate in the York Center for International and Security Studies (YCISS). Holding a BA from the National University of Iran, an MA from the University of Dijon, and a doctorate in [Peace] Economics from the University of Paris, Dr. Ziaian authored “Contes Iraniens Islamisés”, and translated into Persian André Piettre’s “Marx and Marxism” among other books. He worked as an editor in the National Iranian Radio and TV and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). He has publications in English, French and Persian. He is a former National Defense Critic and Peace Building Advocate in the Shadow Cabinet of the Green Party of Canada.

File Download (29:17 min / 5 MB)

If Nobody Knew

Dana Wilson-Li — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:57:00 -0500

March 14, 2010.

Guest speaker Scott Kearns examines the implications of Groundhog Day, the movie.

File Download (17:30 min / 6 MB)

Precious

Dana Wilson-Li — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:03:00 -0600

March 7, 2010.

With Gretta away, Scott Kearns reflects on the movie Precious and the value inherent in each person.

Precious :: Trailer for Precious, Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

File Download (33:53 min / 6 MB)

Affirming Diversity

Dana Wilson-Li — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:43:00 -0600

December 6, 2009

This Sunday we celebrate becoming an Affirming Ministry within the United Church of Canada. One of about 50 ministries that have joined Affirm United in support and in celebration of the LGBTQ, West Hill took this step after a year of exploration and following a unanimous vote supporting the motion at our June 2009 Annual Congregational meeting.

At our celebration, we hear again from Calvin Neufeld, who presents the certificate from Affirm United. Calvin spoke movingly to the congregation last February about his journey as a female to male transsexual and today he thanked us for encircling him with belonging. We were also privileged to have with us the Hon. George Smitherman, former deputy premier of Ontario and current MPP. Reflecting on his own positive welcome from his family, his words speak of the need to extend the circle of belonging to those who have been unwelcomed within their own family circles.

Finally, Gretta talks about the need to extend our embrace in ever widening circles, stretching it so far that we will be forever changed.

Calvin Neufeld :: Calvin Neufeld speaks to the congregation at West Hill United on February 22, 2009
Donate :: This podcast is made possible by the support of our listeners. Click on the link to donate

File Download (29:19 min / 5 MB)

Our response to life is love

David Barker — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:49:00 -0500

This week we consider the second section of the draft document, VisionWorks (2009), which is titled “Our response to life is love.” Jeff Bower leads a conversation about the nature of love, eliciting input from the congregation that reflects a wide range of experience and understandings.

VisionWorks (2009) :: Draft of the next version of West Hill UC's VisionWorks

File Download (20:51 min / 5 MB)

Song of the Open Road

David Barker — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:37:00 -0500

In the second part of their meditation, Ken Ramsay and Janice Meighan introduce Walt Whitman’s poem, Song of the Open Road. They use the poem to facilitate reflection on important themes we all encounter as we journey along the open road: our bodies, our relationship with the other and with the earth, wisdom, death, and courage to journey alone. They present the meditation as a liturgy, and after each theme, they invite people to come forward and light candles.

Song of the Open Road :: Poem by Walt Whitman

File Download (33:13 min / 6 MB)

Reflections on Sabbath

David Barker — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:33:00 -0500

Our worship leaders this Sunday are members of the West Hill family, Ken Ramsay and Janice Meighan. You can learn more about them on their web site, www.avatarconsultinggroup.com. Their service is presented here in two parts. The first part introduces the meditation, although it can stand on its own. In it, Janice reacquaints us with the notion of Sabbath time. As she observes, we are an exhausted people. As a spiritual community in the city of Toronto, we are acutely aware of this fact. Here in the city, it seems the pace of life accelerates year by year. There’s almost no time to renew ourselves, to play, to reflect, nor to connect in meaningful ways with our neighbours.

Avatar Consulting Group :: Web site of Janice Meighan and Ken Ramsay

File Download (11:27 min / 2 MB)

Life is Good

David Barker — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:24:00 -0600

With humour and grace, Calvin Neufeld shares with us his experience living with a label – female to male post-operative transsexual. While we tend (or are raised) to think of gender, identity and sexuality in simple categories, Calvin quickly surveys many ways in which our bodies (and minds) are anything but simple. He challenges us to imagine what it would be like to wake up every day inside a body that is at odds with our understanding of who we are. The resulting dysphoria, fear of coming out, feelings of isolation – all of these experiences contribute to the significant prevalence of suicidality among the transgendered. Yet this does not have to be the case. Calvin concludes by widening the circle beyond concerns of gender, identity and sexuality. Our embrace of diversity ends up springing from the one category that is simple: life. On the affirmation that life is good, we can ground a call to reach across difference.

File Download (34:08 min / 8 MB)

From Resolution to Action

David Barker — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:20:00 -0600

Following up on last week's meditation … While it's wonderful that we resolve to do better for ourselves and others in the new year, if we want our noble intentions to carry us for more than a few days into 2009, we have to take a few things into account. First, we have to acknowledge our tendency to say “Yes, but …” It's easy to rationalize our way out of commitments. We have to face down our natural tendency and say: “Nevertheless …” then move on to action. Scott Kearns guides us through the course from resolution to action with the help of many others whose wise words you can download here.

Wisdom for the journey :: Download a word doc of quotes that support the meditation

File Download (32:53 min / 8 MB)