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Not a bad land
 | | A scene from the Canadian Badlands Passion Play. |
The Canadian Badlands Passion Play, presented for six days each July in a 30-acre natural canyon bowl near Drumheller, Alberta, drew a record attendance of 12,037 in 2009, its 16th year of operation. The play is a three-hour dramatic retelling of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ using over 200 performers.
Church on fire
Arson destroyed St. Paul's Catholic Church in Gatineau, Quebec, in June. Police found a gasoline can and evidence of a break-in but have no suspects. Since the parish was founded in 1840, fire has destroyed the church building twice before, the second time in 1904.
Church unsure
Two thirds of United Church members say the church has an obligation to spread Christianity at home and abroad, but only 44 percent of those under age 50 think so, according to the latest annual survey of United Church Observer readers. Half of the members aren't sure that mission is being met, and a tenth are certain it is not. Only 24 percent are comfortable with proclaiming their faith publicly. Only 11 percent of members (and 6 percent of ministers) believe the Bible is the literal word of God, 29 percent believe it is primarily literature, 45 percent believe it is divinely inspired metaphor, and 72 percent believe it documents historical relationships with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit (respondents could choose more than one answer on this question).
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Church on the street
A court case that was supposed to last six days in July, lasted eight days and has been scheduled to continue in the fall. The case concerns Street Church Ministries in Calgary, led by Artur Pawlowski. The group is charged with causing a disturbance by using amplifiers in its street ministry and by distributing food. In its defence, the ministry presented street people whose lives had been turned around by the ministry. The case is one of several Calgary police have brought against the ministry in recent years.
Small seed grows into a big tower
Mustard Seed Street Ministry in Calgary is going ahead with plans for a $75 million, 224-unit social housing complex even though decreased donations have forced it to cut this year's operating budget. The ministry has to raise $20 - $30 million for the project, with the rest coming from government. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2010. -- City Light News
Long hair is optional
The National House of Prayer in Ottawa is looking for 'Nazarites' aged 18 - 35 to come to Ottawa for 12 weeks starting September 18 and dedicate themselves to prayer for the nation. The tuition fee of $2,500 includes housing, meals, training materials and all programming.
More in the Bank
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank received $12.4 million in donations in 2008 - 2009, $4 million more than their previous annual record. The Bank also received $25 million in matching funds from the federal government's Canadian International Development Agency. The Bank is a consortium supported by various Christian denominations that receives donations in kind from farmers and cash donations from others in order to alleviate hunger overseas.
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August 7/2009
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