United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands

CIRMC Weekly

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RETURN with Assurance by Rev. Dr. Yvette Noble-Bloomfield RDGS-CIRMC

Wednesday Jan 04, 2023
 
SYNODICAL FOCUS
The theme chosen for the next Synodical period (2023-2025) is
Rooted, Resilient: Re-ignited by the Spirit. Four words are
connected to the theme which offers a strategic direction,
Return, Reconnect, Realign, Re-ignite. These four words
currently reflect the ongoing strategic direction for each of the
four Regional Mission Councils. Return-NERMC, ReconnectWRMC, Realign-CIRMC and Re-ignite-SRMC.
This approach allows for continuity and alignment in the
direction of the church, which is then supported and reinforced
in our worship and study spaces at Synodical, Regional and
congregational levels.
Each quarter of 2023 will have a focus on one of the strategic
words for use in our worship and study ministries. It is our
conviction that this season of the church’s ministry and mission
should continue to focus on a needs-meeting ministry and
mission, which includes but is not limited to, the ministry to
Children and Youth, witness and evangelism, worship and
stewardship as we seek to flesh out our VISION of “Touching
Lives, Nurturing Disciples, Seeking Transformation through
Christ.”
Between January and March, our focus will be on the word
RETURN.

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Christmas Message 2022 from Rev Rohan Forrester -Chair of Council

Wednesday Dec 21, 2022
   
Jesus Christ Our LIVING Hope

Please read Isaiah 62:1-12; Psalm 97; Luke 2:1-20

Our waiting is over! We’ve been waiting since
the start of Advent, preparing ourselves in
anticipation of this day. Amid all that is still
wrong in the world, today we proclaim that God
comes to us in the Christ child. Each week of the Advent season
led us closer to the ever-brightening path to the manger of the
Christ Child. As a people of hope we have waited, not in despair
or dejection. We waited with joy, because we know that even
though the end was not in sight until a day like today, the end
of our waiting would come to pass. What a wonderful feeling
to know the One who is the reason for this season. Let us
rejoice, praise and give thanks to God!
At the birth of Jesus, we receive living hope. We have
tremendous possibilities as a result of this birth; possibilities
that didn’t exist in the Old Covenant. Christ is indeed our living
hope. However, there is a major difference between the way a
believer and an unbeliever define the word hope. When the
world speaks of hope you’ll hear something like this, “I hope I
win the lottery.” But what do they mean by that? The chance of
people involved in a game of chance actually winning the
lottery is very small, but we often hear another expression, “I
just wish I would get lucky.”

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Advent 4 – LOVE

Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
 
During the first three Sundays, -and weeks- of Advent,
Christians around the world focused on the themes of Hope,
Peace, and Joy as essential aspects of our faith. Now that we
have arrived at the final week of this season, we complete our
spiritual journey and preparation for Christmas by focusing on
Love.
The miracle of Christmas is the wonderful love of God which
was poured out into this world and into every heart that is ready
to receive Jesus. He is the love of God in human form, the Love
Incarnate, the embodiment of God’s love.
The love of God, Jesus, breathes life into the deepest part of our
broken and wayward hearts. It changes and transforms us into
a new being, a new creation.
How comforting and empowering to know, embrace, and be
embraced by this amazing love. Amid our loneliness,
confusion, pain, grief, hopelessness, and disillusionment He
comes and in Him, we find acceptance, understanding, healing,
hope, peace, and joy. Jesus is, indeed, the greatest gift of all!
The priceless gift, the gift that is freely given, the gift that is so
much needed!

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A Life of Significance by Rev. Otto Menko

Wednesday Dec 07, 2022
 
Please read: Luke 1:26-38
Every one of us plays a unique role in God’s universal plan. But
what is that role? What is it that only we can do and no one else?
In the case of Mary, it is obvious. She was chosen to carry Jesus
in her womb, to give birth and nurture Him into adulthood. It is
as unique as it can possibly be.
So how about us? What is our unique role in God’s plan?
Perhaps at some point in our life, we dreamt of becoming a
popular evangelist like the late Billy Graham, able to reach out
to millions around the world. Or maybe we dreamt about
becoming a famous gospel singer who captivates the hearts,
brings people to tears and is in constant demand. Or maybe, we
dreamt of becoming a renowned theologian, an internationally
recognized Church leader, or a successful pastor of a
megachurch. Or again, maybe, we don’t dream of such things
because we ‘know’ that we are not fit for these roles or because
we are fully content and satisfied with what we do where we
are. In our simple way, we wish to live a quiet, hidden life of
faith in the company of our loved ones and friends, safely
tucked away in the Congregation we attend

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Just Jesus – God’s Anointed Hope Rev. Euthman Wray

Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
 
Please read: Isaiah 11:1-10 & Luke 4:14-22a
The familiar lines from one of our favorite carols (O Holy
Night!), exclaim: “A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for
yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!!” Finally, the
fulfilment of a hope that was long expressed, for the Promised
Messiah who was expected to come and offer liberation and
salvation to God’s chosen. This was the sign of His birth and
the fulfilment of hope!! Israel had been waiting for a weary
world to rejoice. And then, over yonder, breaks a new and
glorious morn. Many of the early witnesses and participants
responded with much anticipation. He of whom the prophets
spoke was here! It was a thrilling hope!
One Gospel writer, much earlier, echoed similar sentiments in
reference to this Jesus as the fulfilment of that hope:
“14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee,
and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region…
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed
Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal
the broken-hearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And
recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are
oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the
Lord." …21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture
is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4: 14 & 18 – 19, 21)
Here, the text points out that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed
One. The Greek word Christ is the same as the Hebrew word
Messiah, the Anointed One.

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Get Ready for Jesus, Our Soon Coming Hope by Rev. Donovan Myers

Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
 
Please read Matthew 25:1-13
We tend to think of Advent (coming) as a time of preparation
for Christmas (the coming of Jesus into the world as a baby),
and it is indeed. Advent is, however, also a reminder of the
promise of Christ that He will come again. His second coming
is a time of great anticipation for most believers. It is what we
live for.
The second coming of Christ, [also called the Parousia], is a
taught fact in the Bible. It is a complex reality that is told in
simple terms and, therefore, can cause significant confusion.
Paul wrote this little section in his first letter to the
Thessalonians so that his readers would not be ignorant of the
state of those who have died. In verse 13 he
indicates, “Brothers and sisters, we want you to know what
happens to those who die. We do not want you to mourn, as
other people do. They mourn because they do not have any
hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13 NIRV)

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The Official Renaming of the Prospect Youth Centre to Olive Miller Memorial Building

Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
 
Close to eighty people gathered on Monday, November 14,
2022, at the Prospect Youth Centre to celebrate its renaming to
‘Olive Miller Memorial Building’. The initiative came from the
Cayman Islands Girls Brigade to honor its founder, former
President, and Patron. Those present included Girls’ Brigade
Companies from every corner of the Island, family members of
the late Ms. Olive, members of the clergy and the Cayman
United Church Corporation, and others.

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Sing A Song of Hope in God’s Victory by Mr. Denver Bloomfield

Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
 
Throughout the centuries, humanity has been wrought by
disaster and conflict, including the threat of nuclear war,
problems related to biological and chemical weapons, climate
change, famine, monetary failure, overpopulation, asteroid
strikes, and disease epidemics. The recent bout with the
COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing conflict between Russia
and Ukraine are stark reminders of the unsettling moments of
life’s journey.
Periods of turbulence also attend us in our local communities,
places of work, neighborhoods, schools, churches, families, and
personal relationships.
As the Church, ecclesia, the called-out people of God, we are
commissioned to comprehend the complexity of human life and
proclaim the doctrine of salvation. The Book of Psalms is
referenced as a description of the basic spiritual conduct,
occasional movements, and thoughts of human life, where
nothing to be found in this human life is omitted. Dietrich
Bonhoeffer (Life Together, p. 44) posits that “nothing is
wanting which relates to the knowledge of eternal salvation.”
The Psalter, Book of Songs, “might well be called a little
Bible”, as Martin Luther (Luther’s Works, 35:254) describes it. 

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From Former to Future Glory by Mr. Herman Wilson

Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
 
Every believer in Christ Jesus has been sealed with the Holy
Spirit for the day of redemption, and lives in the hope of the
future glory of God.
Through the life and times of Israel, God by God’s providence,
invariably demonstrates that the choices of humanity apart from
God, will, result in hopelessness. This is because we have all
fallen short of God’s glory.
Because of the disobedience of the Israelites, the Babylonians
in 597 B.C., destroyed first temple built by King Solomon This
temple was glorious because the Ark of the Covenant was there.
However, that glory eventually faded, and the Israelites were
exiles in Babylon for seventy years as punishment for their
hardheartedness.
Upon their return to the Promised Land, the Israelites undertook
the rebuilding the temple. However, due to objections from the
people who had occupied the land during their absence, they
ceased from the work and became complacent.

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Lessons from Habakkuk Rev. Norbert Stephens – General Secretary (UCJCI)

Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
 
Please read Habakkuk 1:1-4
At some time or the other all of us have engaged in sightseeing.
Some of us in faraway places others of us within these shores.
Indeed, some of us are seasoned tourists who have seen and
experienced many, some or a few of the great sights and
wonders of this world. Often for every visit we tend to ask two
pertinent questions, “why?” and “how long?”
You see there are basically two ways to engage in sightseeing,
the first is as a tourist, the second is with a mission in mind.
When you are a tourist, your sightseeing has intent without
long-term investment. Your interest is to be informed and or
inspired but the sight is merely one on your bucket list and while
you might ask the questions of why and how long, once done,
you are moving on to another sight. Intent without long-term
investment.
When you sightsee with a missional focus in mind you have
intent with long-term investment. This is not merely a place or
issue on your bucket list; indeed, it is the bucket on your list.
You are no longer a tourist, you become vested. For the location
or issue requires both your ongoing presence and participation.
Intent with long-term investment.
Truth be told, you cannot truly engage in mission without
sightseeing. One enables the other… it’s the act of sightseeing,
which generates the mission, which in turn seeks to address the
why and how long questions.

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United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands