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CIRMC Weekly

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 [11-20] [21-30] [31-31]


Giving is a Grace from God by Rev Donovan Myers Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
	Please read 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 For many people, giving represents an appeal to altruistic feelings. We give because it’s the human thing to do. If others are in need, our duty is to ‘help out’ where we can. But also, many see giving as a necessary outpouring of their excess. I have more than I need, so I should share. While those two motivations might be reasonable, the letter from Paul to the Corinthians speaks about giving in a way that challenges some commonly held assumptions. On the one hand, for him, giving fundamentally challenges the concept of ownership, the right we have to possess ‘stuff’. It asserts that what we think is ours, is only ours on loan. We are not really owners but rightly managers. Giving, then is an outworking of the responsibility of our management of those resources. We don’t lay claim to things in a way that ties us to them and them to us. On the other hand, when Paul wrote in the way that he did about the giving of the Macedonian Christians, he was challenging the Greco Roman worldview that wealth was the result or sign of divine approval. That somehow, it is in having a lot of stuff that we demonstrate out strong connection to God or that God likes us. Both people who have a lot and people who have a little are blessed by God. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Grounded in Prayer by Mrs. Sonia Wallace Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
	Throughout the month of September, we have been exploring the topic “A church responding with God-given confidence.” From Old Testament to New, the Bible depicts prayer to our Heavenly Father as our response to a loving God who knows us and watches over us. Heb 4:13 tells us “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” The passage affirms that God is in control. God sees and is aware of everything and everyone. In relationship with us, God directs our steps, supplies our needs, is ever present with us, and works supernaturally on our behalf. This is so whether it is for our deliverance, healing, comfort, protection, provision, or guidance for living lives pleasing to God. A life grounded in prayer This reflection is a reminder of our need to live a life grounded in prayer to God at all times and in all circumstances. We will briefly look at Jesus, our example, also Paul’s exhortation to Timothy and draw examples from the experience of the prophet Jeremiah and the Psalmist Asaph. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Rescued by God’s Grace and Mercy by Rev. Rohan Forrester (Chair of Council - CIRMC) Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
	Please read Luke 15:1-10 The month of September in the Cayman Islands Regional Mission Council is a time for remembering, renewing of our commitment to Christ and celebrating our mission in these islands. The Cayman Islands Regional Mission Council of the United Church in Jamaica and The Cayman Islands celebrates on September 11, 176 years of unbroken mission and partnership that led to the establishment and expansion of the church in the Cayman Islands. It all started in 1845 when the Presbyterian Church of Jamaica decided to send Missionaries to preach the Gospel in Africa. It was also in 1845 when the missionaries set out for Calabar in Nigeria, they did not get beyond the Cayman Islands as their ship was wrecked on the reef at East End and thereby noticed the spiritual situation among the locals. However, early in the springof1846, Rev. William Niven, a Scottish Presbyterian Missionary who was at the time serving in Jamaica, also passed through Grand Cayman while on his way to England and observed the situation firsthand. Later in July 1846 on his return from England Rev. Niven placed the matter before the Presbytery of Jamaica for consideration. A decision was then made at the Synod meeting at Goshen in St. Mary, Jamaica, that someone should go to the Cayman Islands. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Responding with Complete Surrender by Rev. Otto Menko Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
	Please read Luke 14:25-33 There are many ways our Christian faith can get derailed, go wrong, taking us on a path of a fruitless, self-absorbed existence and consequently discrediting the message of the Gospel. The statistics of late clearly indicate the decline of the Church globally and church membership in general, and this has become the trend and not just an anomaly due to the recent pandemic. But what is behind this worrisome development? There are some who point to the failure of the Church (and there are many for sure), while others blame Christians and their wishy-washy, lukewarm faith and life or the hostility - and at the same time - attraction of the postmodern world we live in. The truth is most likely a combination of all these. There are efforts of all sorts worldwide by Christian leaders and institutions to address this issue and chart a way out of this problem, and only time will tell if the ‘solutions’ indeed take us back on track or not. In the meantime, there is something we all can do to become part of the solution and not part of the problem. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Responding With Humility & Generosity by Rev. Dr. Yvette Noble-Bloomfield Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
	Please read Hebrews 13:1-8 We are invited to reflect on the sub-theme, ‘Responding With Humility and Generosity’ as we continue to journey with the Synodical theme ‘Rooted, Resilient: Responding in Hope.’ As a denomination, constantly we remind ourselves that God expects that our response to humanity must always be characterized by humility. We should never see ourselves as being “above” others. A humble church, which is generous with God’s gifts and respectful of others, is what God expects us to be. This pericope in Hebrews 13 is a timely reminder to the Church and us as individuals of the required Christian attitude and practices that need to be followed and displayed in the world. It provides a comprehensive list for us to adhere to as we share in the faith. The list includes the following: Love for each other and those in the world, hospitality, care for the incarcerated, support for those who suffer in body, the importance of marriage and family, and avoidance of the lust and lure of money. Humility and Generosity in the Church Love for each other in the Church ought to come from an understanding of what it means to be humble and generous. Humility is the recognition that we are equal to the other in our dependence on God and God’s sustaining grace. It is the capacity to see the image of God in each person we meet and to treat each person with dignity and respect. It is also at times the ability to place the need of the other above one’s own needs. Generosity is being able to respond to the needs of others beyond the minimum requirement. It requires being willing and able to do so without complaint or resentment. These capacities of humility and generosity are high callings and can best be achieved when we are truly engaged in our commitment to Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Responding in Righteousness and Justice by Ms. Camile Watt Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
	Please read Matthew 5:17-20 Righteousness by definition is the quality of being righteous and righteous means acting according to divine or moral law. It means to be free from guilt or sin. Justice or to be just is often used in conjunction with the word righteous as it refers to the quality of being fair and responsible. Other words that could be used to describe being Just are soundness, validity, or legitimacy. The Biblical definition of righteousness is seen in the New Testament Greek text, which is used in Matthew 5:20 as “being righteous before others”. This conveys the same meaning of conforming to moral law. But interestingly in this text Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount said to His followers, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Jesus in His sermon referred to the imperfections of the law. He emphasized that He did not come to destroy the law; hence giving credit to the importance of the law, however, further stated that He has come to fulfil the law. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Find Us Faithful by Mrs. Katherine Jackson Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
	Please read Hebrews 11:1-16 First, let us see how faith is defined by Hebrews 11:1 and 3. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for, and assurance about what we do not see. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” The writer then begins his walk through the various chambers of the Faith Hall of Fame, naming some of the Heroes of Faith: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel. So, what about us? Are we living by faith? Can we look through our families and name the generations? Can we look through our Churches and name the families? At John Gray Memorial here are the surnames of some of the stalwart families there: Gray, Ebanks, Bodden, Bothwell, Hydes, Henning, Jackson, Farrington, Banks, Dilbert, Bush, Rivers, Glidden, Robinson, Parsons, Bonner, Elliott, Gordon, McDermot, Thompson, Burke, McLaughlin, Wright, Kandler, Smith, Anglin, Powery, Welds, Powell, Dixon, Pouchie, Rankine, Voaden… and this list could go on and on. please click here for more information (PDF file)

The World Council of Churches 11th Assembly -“Christ's love moves the world to reconciliation and unity” Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
	“Christ's love moves the world to reconciliation and unity” is the theme of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches which will take place in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 31 August to 8 September 2022. This is the first time the assembly gathers in Europe since 1968 when the meeting was held in Uppsala, Sweden. “The WCC Assembly is the highest governing body of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and normally meets every eight years. It is the only time when the entire fellowship of member churches comes together in one place for prayer and celebration.” please click here for more information (PDF file)

New Perspectives & New Priorities by Rev. Otto Menko Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
	Please read Luke 12:13-21 The subject of today’s reading is our attitude to material things such as money and other assets that we regard in high esteem and also something that is absolutely necessary in our earthly life. Someone in the crowd asked Jesus to act as a mediator in a family dispute of financial nature. “Teacher, - the man said - tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” (v.13) It may seem strange to our modern, Western way of thinking that someone is asking a spiritual leader (in this case, Jesus) to act as a judge and officiate in a dispute, but it was and still is the custom in Judaism. Jewish men and women always seek the ruling of their rabbi and go to a secular court only as a last resort. The Torah, or Law, has extensive and often detailed instructions for almost every aspect of life, what is permitted, what is not, what course of action is to be followed, and so forth. Rabbis were and still are the professional guides and judges not only in spiritual but also in practical matters. This man’s complaint was not that he didn’t receive his rightful portion of his inheritance but that his older brother was still in charge of his share. The words, “tell my brother to divide the inheritance” indicates that this man was a younger brother and although after the death of their father his share of the estate was allocated to him, he still didn’t have access to it. He didn’t accuse his brother of misusing, mishandling the inheritance; he just wanted to take charge of his share now. He wanted to be independent of his brother, he wanted to have complete control over his assets. Obviously, this matter has become a matter of contention between them and maybe even strained their sibling relationship. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Vacation Bible School - John Gray Memorial and Savannah United Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
	John Gray Memorial VBS by Alikie Kandler The John Gray Memorial United Church VBS was held from July 4-8, 2022, with an average of 20 kids attending and a total of 15 volunteers for the week. This year’s theme was Jerusalem Marketplace focusing on learning about the week and the stories leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Leaders and kids alike were able to travel back in time to Jerusalem by visiting Synagogue School, Marketplace Shops, and the Village Playground. Savannah United VBS by Camile Watt The week of July 4-8, 2022, was filled with excitement as children walked into a whole new world of Adventure as the Savannah United Church Sanctuary, Hall and Sunday School Classrooms were transformed to reflect the theme: Discovering Adventure Island please click here for more information (PDF file)