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RETURN with Assurance by Rev. Dr. Yvette Noble-Bloomfield RDGS-CIRMC
Wednesday Jan 04, 2023
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![]() 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. please click here for more information (PDF file) |
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Christmas Message 2022 from Rev Rohan Forrester -Chair of Council
Wednesday Dec 21, 2022
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![]() 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.” please click here for more information (PDF file) |
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Advent 4 – LOVE
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
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![]() 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! please click here for more information (PDF file) |
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A Life of Significance by Rev. Otto Menko
Wednesday Dec 07, 2022
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![]() 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 please click here for more information (PDF file) |
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Just Jesus – God’s Anointed Hope Rev. Euthman Wray
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
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![]() 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. please click here for more information (PDF file) |
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Get Ready for Jesus, Our Soon Coming Hope by Rev. Donovan Myers
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
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![]() 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) please click here for more information (PDF file) |
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The Official Renaming of the Prospect Youth Centre to Olive Miller Memorial Building
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
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![]() 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. please click here for more information (PDF file) |
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Sing A Song of Hope in God’s Victory by Mr. Denver Bloomfield
Wednesday Nov 09, 2022
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![]() 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. please click here for more information (PDF file) |
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From Former to Future Glory by Mr. Herman Wilson
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
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![]() 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. please click here for more information (PDF file) |
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Lessons from Habakkuk Rev. Norbert Stephens – General Secretary (UCJCI)
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
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![]() 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. please click here for more information (PDF file) |
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