Home
About Us >
Congregations
Missions
Ministries
Camps
Sermons
News
Newsletters >
- UCJCI Update
- CIRMC Weekly
Calendar
Photo Galleries
Accommodations >
- Cayman
- Jamaica
Weddings
Links
Contact Us

CIRMC Weekly

Page: [1-10] 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 [21-30] [31-31]


The Transfiguration by Rev. Dr Yvette Noble- Bloomfield Wednesday Feb 23, 2022
	Please read Luke 9:28-36, [37-43a] In this passage, we read of God’s affirming presence and voice as Jesus entered the final phase of His life on earth. The affirmation of Jesus as the chosen Son of God, deserving of our attention can be heard in the words, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" This same voice of God affirmed Jesus at His Baptism. The Baptism marked the beginning of His ministry, and the words were almost similar, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17.) The glory of God at the Baptism descended in the form of the dove, alighting on the shoulder of Jesus. It was witnessed by John the Baptizer and those who gathered to hear his preaching. At the Transfiguration, Jesus was glorified. His entire being appeared to have undergone a metamorphosis, which resulted in the change of His face and his clothes became dazzling white. Indeed, this glorification provided further proof that Jesus was the Son of God, and the inner circle of Disciples, as sleepy as they were, became the witnesses of the Christophany. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Charge Realignment and the Sustainability of the Ministry and Mission in the CIRMC Wednesday Feb 16, 2022
	Theological and Ecclesiological Rationale Our Reformed ethos constantly calls us to discern the direction of the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the sake of ministry and mission. At the 42nd Synod to the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, held in April 2021, Regional Mission Councils accepted the mandate to examine the Charge alignments and the effectiveness of ministry and mission. Strategic Direction for Mission in the Region In the last five years, there was minimal growth in the membership of some of our Congregations. While three of the nine Congregations were experiencing dynamic growth, the others were either stagnant or in decline, the latter being due in part to the constant change in personnel between 2015 to 2020. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Rooted in Christ and Called to Flourish and Bear Fruit Wednesday Feb 09, 2022
	The reading from Psalm 1, is a powerful analogy and reminder of the need to be rooted and grounded in a fertile and well-watered place to flourish and bear fruit. It is said that the Book of Psalms contains instruction and information for the whole of human life. The Psalmist clearly understood the complexities of human nature and the need for divine presence and the blessed assurance of grace and pardon. The Psalms provide the basic guidelines for our spiritual conduct, our relationship with God and others, our relationship with nature and they also provide solace and consolation for the darkest hours of human existence. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Called for a Closer Walk by Rev Otto Menko Thursday Feb 03, 2022
	Please read Isaiah 6:1-8 (Isaiah’s vision and call) and Luke 5:1-11 (The miraculous catch of fish) According to the liturgical calendar of the Church, we are halfway through the Season of Epiphany. One of the meanings of the word epiphany is ‘manifestation’ or ‘appearance’. This meaning is clearly expressed through the presentation of the newborn Jesus as the Savior to both Jews (represented by the shepherds) and to the Gentiles (represented by the Magi) in the nativity narrative. But Epiphany has another meaning, too. Epiphany is also an experience of a sudden and striking realization. We may be familiar with what is known in psychology as an ‘Aha! moment, when we unexpectedly realize or fully comprehend something. However, having an epiphany is more profound and much deeper. Our lectionary readings touch upon this aspect of Epiphany. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Rooted and Called to Respond without Fear by Pastor Ormond Williams Wednesday Jan 26, 2022
	Please read Jeremiah 1:4-10 The call of Jeremiah to be a prophet to the Southern Kingdom of Judah occurred at a time in his life when he was still of youthful years. Some researchers believe that Jeremiah was either a teenager or in his early twenties when God called him. Jeremiah himself confessed that he was young, without knowledge of what to speak to Judah. The message to Judah was a warning of impending captivity by the Babylonians because Judah had been disobedient to God. They had been warned to be faithful to God with a loyalty that was singular and not shared with other gods. They were to teach their children about the faithfulness and goodness of God. They were to live in such a righteous manner that their lives will be the perfect example for other nations to emulate. In all these requirements from God, Judah failed to be the people God demanded them to be. Their hard hearts and stiff necks were ripe for the balm of forgiveness from their loving God. They were heading steadfastly to 70 years of Babylonian slavery, but the people of Judah remained blinkered against God’s demands to move in the right direction please click here for more information (PDF file)

Rooted and Anointed by Mrs Katherine Jackson Wednesday Jan 19, 2022
	I invite you to reflect with me on the theme, “Rooted and Anointed”, with our scriptural focus coming from Luke 4: 14- 21. ‘Rooted’ is a great word to associate with the Christian faith, and I believe that each one of us at some point in time must take some time to reflect on our standing in the faith. Where are we? Are we still on the edge of the pool or are we enjoying the deep fellowship and relationship with our Jesus in the middle of the pool? Are we still on the surface or are we digging deeper into this relationship? We must know where we are! I grew up on Elizabeth Street in West Bay in the days when every home had a white sand yard and every Saturday you could see the ladies of the homes brushing their yards with a new rosemary broom. What a beautiful sight – and no one dared to walk through that yard after she was finished – not even dog tracks were allowed! That yard was ready for Sunday! However, every other week or so, Mama would tell me early on Saturday morning, or maybe even on Friday evening, that I had to come out with her and help to pull up the weeds that had sprung up – that was called “pulling bush” and I loved it because you got to be outside in the sunshine and cool breeze and work along with your mother. I truly didn’t like to be in the house that much! please click here for more information (PDF file)

Rooted and called by a New Name – ‘Transformed’ Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
	It is unfortunate that sometimes we reduce people to a challenge, a mistake, an experience, or a particular time of their lives. It is as if they are only identifiable by whatever disability they have or by the one negative story that we know about them. So, we end up using incomplete, inaccurate, and hurtful labels to describe them. Like “Blind Sally” or “jailbird Tom”, and so on. The truth is, we are not fully known by one quality, one action, or one thing that might even be true about us. Regrettably, persons often believe that they are named by their circumstances and over time ‘buy into’ whatever that name represents. An example of this can be seen in the story of a disabled woman whom Jesus healed while she was in the synagogue on the Sabbath. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Being Rooted: Called to Remember God’s Reassurance by Rev Euthman Wray Wednesday Jan 05, 2022
	Please read Isaiah 43: 1-7 A reading of the Deutero-Isaiah text of Isaiah 43, gives one a sense of a nation in urgent need of consolation, assurance, and hope. They have been in a tough place, in a state of ambivalence or even hopelessness. The previous chapter (42) ended with the prophet giving warnings of a condition that wasn’t favorable nor appealing. While Israel, God’s chosen nation was … “His servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight…” (42: 1), by the end of that chapter, they were described as a people plundered and looted; trapped in pits, or hidden away in prisons (42: 22f); Hope was waning. Encouragement sadly lacking. The prophet, here in Chapter 43, in seeking to bring that sense of reassurance, first highlights even further their perilous plight, using the images of waters and rivers; fire and flame. Verse 2 reads: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze”. Waters, rivers, fire and flame are harsh depictions of greatest difficulties and dangers which are very imminent and threatening. Later in verses 5 & 6, he also describes God’s people as being scattered in the east, west, north and south (43 vs. 5 &6). please click here for more information (PDF file)

In Everything...with Thanksgiving by Rev Dr Yvette Noble-Bloomfield Wednesday Dec 29, 2021
	In a few days, the curtain will close on 2021 and the dawn of the new year will begin. Although the challenges during 2021 were many and varied, because of God’s divine providence we were resilient and persisted in accomplishing all the undertakings. We can therefore enter 2022 with a deep sense of gratitude because of all that God allowed us to achieve by God’s grace in 2021. However, we need to take note of the fact that in our personal lives, in the community and the Church, the start of a new year is always an opportune time for reflection and recommitment. Despite God’s faithfulness and our faith, some persons will enter 2022 being particularly and completely worn out by the gruelling nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with the realities of the last four months in the Cayman Islands. With the upsurge in the COVID-19 positive cases, the deaths that have occurred, the new Omicron variant and the seeming never end insight to the vicissitudes of the pandemic, some persons are challenged to remain hopeful. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Christmas Message -From the RDGS Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
	Warm Christmas Greetings, As we enter into the Christmas Season, we are invited to reflect on the words the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians. Colossae was a thriving town in Asia Minor and was famous for the quality of the wool produced there. Although Paul may not have visited Colossae, he earnestly wrote to them while he was in prison in Rome. This was occasioned because of the false doctrine being taught by some persons regarding the incarnation of Christ, particularly that God was too holy to make contact with human flesh and remain undefiled. Further, it was being taught in the Church in Colossae that salvation would only be for those who completely observed the Mosaic law. Of particular interest to us is the pericope in Colossians 3:12-17 in which Paul enjoined the Colossian Christians to live according to God’s expectation. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. please click here for more information (PDF file)