United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands

CIRMC Weekly

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Resilient: Listening, knowing, and following the Shepherd’s voice. By Mrs. Brenda Dawkins

Wednesday May 04, 2022
 
Sunday, May 8, 2022, is the 4th in the liturgical Season of Easter,
and we continue to celebrate the resurrected Lord, Our Great
Shepherd - the Lamb of God.
It is also Mother’s Day, and I wish all mothers and those
mothering the happiest and most blessed moments with their
families. May your children grow up and call you blessed!
It is befitting that this weekend we focus on the theme,
RESILIENT: LISTENING, KNOWING AND FOLLOWING
THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE. This is appropriate for two main
reasons.
Firstly, listening, knowing, and following commands and
directions are what mothers wish their children to do, not only
once, but repeatedly. We hear parents saying, “you are not
listening”, “I need you to follow my instructions”, “This does
not happen in our house —you know who you belong to”.
Amid all the expectations and beseeching of children, mothers
must remain resilient, pliable, and adaptable (sometimes to the
point of nagging---and I am not encouraging nagging). But
today there are so many other voices reaching our children’s
ears, or should I say ‘noises’ in our society that are competing
with us as parents for our children’s attention. Despite our best
efforts to repeatedly instruct, guide, or lead by example, our
offspring don’t seem to get it. Nevertheless, I wish to encourage
us to be resilient, strong and persevere with a hope that one day
they will KNOW, LISTEN AND FOLLOW our positive lead.

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Resilient: Feed my Lamb by Rev Godfrey Meghoo

Wednesday Apr 27, 2022
 
Please read John 21:1-19
Would you believe that when small children were brought to
the Lord, the twelve disciples objected? When Jesus saw this,
He rebuked the apostles, saying,” Let the children come to me,
do not forbid them, for they too belong to the Kingdom of
God!” Somehow, those men felt that children must be seen and
not heard. They thought that children should wait until they
become adults. They were misguidedly saying that only adults
can become believers. It would be like us saying mistakenly that
children should wait until they become adults to go to school or
get inoculations. But the Lord says today:
For I will receive them,
And fold them to my bosom;
I’ll be a Shepherd to these lambs:
O drive them not away.
For, if their hearts to me they give,
They shall with me in glory live:
Suffer little children to come unto me
(William Hutchings).
I believe that many of us lovingly called our little child ‘my
little lamb’; and when we had our dinner at home, we made sure
that the children ate first. We remember the words, “Train up a
child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not
depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) We teach them by example to
give thanks before having a meal. We carefully plan for their
education. We go with them when and if they are going off to
college. But more than that, we show them by example what a
happy family should be.

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Resilient: In the Face of Doubt By Mr. Herman Wilson

Wednesday Apr 20, 2022
 
All people experience doubt throughout their lives. Believer in
Christ, however, have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit
to overcome this negative experience concerning the things of
God.
It is evident in the Gospel of Mark that before His crucifixion,
Jesus’ disciples were somewhat doubtful about the resurrection;
they could not grasp it. “He said to them, “The Son of Man is
going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him,
and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand
what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. (Mark 9:31-
32)
In John 20:19-31, Christ Jesus our Lord appeared to His
disciples in His resurrected state. He gave them the Holy Spirit
by breathing on them. Thomas, who was not present at this first
encounter, did not believe that Christ Jesus had indeed rose
from the dead. He doubted. However, Thomas believed when
the Lord Jesus appeared to all the disciples the second time.
Christ Jesus said to Thomas: “Because you have seen me, you
have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me yet have
believed.” (John 20:29)

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Resilient: In the Face of Unbelief By Rev Donovan Myers

Wednesday Apr 13, 2022
 
Please read John 20:19-30
At last, we are at the threshold of Resurrection Sunday.
Finally, after all the waiting of Lent, what we hoped for is almost here. What could
top the news of resurrection? Certainly, everyone should be
ecstatic. Yet, John’s gospel reveals that when Mary Magdalene came to
the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away, rather than being
excited, she stood weeping - locked in her grief, unable to recognize
Jesus. Her tears blurred her vision; it was as if she never
expected to see Him again. Later when she tells the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord!” they retreat, huddled behind locked
doors. They are locked in! When the mood should be festive
and joyous, they are fearful and restrained by their doubts.

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The Divine Choices of Lent By Rev L. Christopher Mason

Wednesday Apr 06, 2022
 
The temptations of Jesus take us on a spiritual journey into the
wilderness and end on a Friday in Jerusalem, where the old,
rugged cross is standing on a hillside. During this time, we have
an opportunity to recall the details of that treacherous journey.
Satan tried to trip Him up at every turn, yet Jesus experienced
protection for the journey by choosing good over evil.
Lent - what does it mean? What does it mean for you
personally?
It can mean a variety of things. It can be a time of reflection and
self-examination and a time for inner healing. We can look back
to the times we have fallen into the snares and traps that Satan
set for us along the way. We can examine our attitudes and
responses and root out such things as unforgiveness and
bitterness. The Lenten season is a time to allow the spotlight of
the Holy Spirit to bring to the surface those areas that have
brought failure and disappointment. It is a time of hope for us,
as well. No matter how far we have strayed away from God’s
plan for us, God is there to lead us back to safety. God’s
protection for our spiritual journey is there for us each day

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Service of De-Linking, Linking and Induction of Minister of the Bodden Town – Savannah Charge

Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
 
On Sunday, March 27, 2022, at 5:00 pm, members of the
Webster Memorial, William Pouchie and Savannah United
Churches gathered in Savannah, along with members of
Council for a Service of De-Linking, Linking and Induction of
Rev. Euthman Wray, Minister of the newly formed Bodden
Town-Savannah Charge.
The Service, focusing on the theme, “Rooting with Resilience
to Respond in Hope” began with the procession of the Bible and
the Platform Party. Interim Minister, Rev. L. Christopher
Mason acted as Liturgist of the Service. Mr. Harwell McCoy of
the Webster Memorial United Church offered the Prayer of
Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Confession. Members of the
combined Savannah United and Webster Memorial Girls’
Brigade presented a special item. 

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Rooted and Reconciled by Mr Bryan Bothwell

Wednesday Mar 23, 2022
 
Please read Psalm 32:1–5
The theme for us to consider under the mind-opening guidance
of the Holy Spirit is “Rooted and Reconciled”. That is, rooted
in Christ and - in Christ - reconciled to God, by the redeeming
grace of God through the Crucified and Risen Christ. An act of
such magnitude that, unfortunately, too many people still take
it as, literally, “incredible”, and view the enormity of its
transformative power as, literally, “unbelievable”.
Therefore, while contemplating the Scriptures, I was saddened
anew by two recent contentions that Cayman’s Christian
Heritage was one thing that stymied the development of our
young people. When these were published, I had felt a real
sense of anguish that no one had been able to help these two
young people find and hold fast to the words of Jesus Himself,
“you must follow Me” – not anyone else [John 21: 22]. The call
of Christ to the individual is to follow Christ alone. And there
is no way that committed to and following Christ, genuinely
endeavoring to live as He lived, in caring concern for other
people in all circumstances, and in loving obedience to God,
can stymie the true development of anyone. 

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Rooted and Equipped to Stand in God’s Divine Presence-by Mrs Sonia Wallace

Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
 
These days, when world news awakens fear and trepidation for
the future, how will you withstand this creeping fear that
pervades our every plan? Whether they be plans to travel, study,
do business, or provide for your family, what do you hold to as
a strong root for stability and assurance when fear and concern
occupy your thoughts and emotions?
I invite you to read Exodus 3:1-15 and other passages as we
seek answers to these questions from the Word of God. The
answers will come from these main points
1. The Place of Prayer
2. The Plan of God
3. The Posture of Worship.

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Service of De-Linking, Linking and Induction of Minister

Wednesday Mar 09, 2022
 
On Sunday, March 6, 2022, at 4:00 pm, members of the
Webster Memorial, East End, Gun Bay and William Pouchie
United Churches gathered in North Side, along with members
of Council for a Service of De-Linking, Linking and Induction
of their Minister Rev. Rohan Forrester.
Lay Pastor Mr Ormond Williams, Liturgist of the Service led
the Congregation in Worship and prayer. 
A brief history of the Congregations was presented by Mrs
Vernie Harris (Gun Bay United), Mrs Marge Quinland (East
End United) and Mrs Shari Welcome (William Pouchie
Memorial)

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Lead Us Not Into Temptation But Deliver Us From Evil - by Mr Michael Bowerman

Wednesday Mar 02, 2022
 
Please read Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13)
One reality that everyone faces is the evil in the world and the
resulting hardships of life. Christians are not immune to them.
Scripture tells us over and over about the conflicts, the
struggles, the challenges we will encounter. We are warned by
Jesus and the New Testament writers that living as Christians
in this world is spiritual warfare. Paul, for example, tells us that
“our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of
this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Peter tells us that there is a
devil out there who is our great enemy, prowling around like a
lion “looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 1:8).
We live in a fallen world. As Christians, there is often the
temptation to give in to it, to take a shortcut, to compromise.
Not only are there these pressures from the world, but we have
fallen, sinful natures, too, and further, our enemy, the devil is
alive and well.

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United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands