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CIRMC Weekly

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 [11-20] [21-25]


Finding Peace in Anxious Times by Mrs Raquel Forrester Wednesday Aug 25, 2021
	For many families, these last few days before the reopening of school is a time to restructure and tighten home rules and to reintroduce the necessary routines. It is also a time to shop for school supplies and uniforms. Some of us seem to be at peace amidst the hustle and bustle of back-to-school preparations. We have things under control! But have we stopped to think about those parents who struggle to find their children’s school supplies and uniforms? What about those children who are anxious about going into new classes and meeting new teachers? What about those children who are anxious because they find it difficult to engage in school activities and make new friends? What about those children who have low self-esteem and those who struggle with their schoolwork? What about those parents and teachers who are beginning to dread the early morning traffic? Then, there are those students who are anxiously awaiting the reopening of school because school for them is the only escape they have from the challenges they experience at home. There are so many pressures and anxieties as the school year begins. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Peace Amidst Chaos and Strife by Mrs Katherine Jackson Wednesday Aug 18, 2021
	In St. John 14: 27, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Peace and harmonious relationships were elements that God placed in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were created – love, peace, and harmony – God said that this work was “very good”. So it was, yet, that was not to remain. Why? Well, God also put the element of “choice” into the mix as He didn’t want his creation to be “beholding” to Him, nor did He want puppets on a string, or mechanical robots. So, enters Mr. Slippery Slick who moved into the territory with his sweet words and smooth talk … and convinced the woman that there was so much more to life than God was letting on about. That lovely fruit would reveal all – but it destroyed the love, peace, and harmony that God had planted. God’s peace was also a forerunner of the peace that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour would bring … that’s why Jesus could say: my peace I give to you – not as the world giveth, give I unto you – let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” … so from the very first act of deception in the Garden, humankind has tried time after time to build peace – with each other, within communities, among nations – and we still can’t get it right, or make it last. It almost seems as though chaos is causing life to tumble down through the ages, and as it does, it is unraveling whatever it passes by … but again, what does Jesus say to us? “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” please click here for more information (PDF file)

Welcome Back Rev Myers! Wednesday Aug 11, 2021
	With a deep sense of gratitude and an abundance of joy, the CIRMC welcomes back Rev. Donovan Myers, Minister of the John Gray Memorial United Church, West Bay. Rev. Myers and his loved ones have recently been through a particularly difficult time in their life, yet during the many trials and tribulations they remained strong in their faith and never gave up hope. We celebrate God’s goodness and mercy toward them, for God has restored him and filled him with renewed strength and zeal. Rev. Myers has resumed the administrative duties of his Charge as of August 1, 2021,and will take on his full duties on September 1, 2021. We continue to keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers as they embark on this new phase of their life. The CIRMC also wishes to record its gratitude to all those who have assisted in various areas of congregational ministry during the temporary, yet prolonged absence of Rev. Myers. Their contributions proved to be invaluable during this critical period. please click here for more information (PDF file)

CIRMC Summer Camps 2021 Wednesday Aug 04, 2021
	Since 1982 the Prospect Youth Centre of the UCJCI in the CIRMC has been hosting children and youth camps during the summer months. Over the years, for countless campers, it has become synonymous with a lifetime of memories, lasting friendships, life-changing decisions, not forgetting the plenty of fun, great comradery, and important lessons learned. The various activities at camp offer a plethora of opportunities to our children and youth to learn about what it means to share space with others, to consider each other’s needs, to communicate effectively, to organize themselves, and most importantly, of course, to learn about God, about what it means to put our trust in God, who has a purpose and plan for each of us. It is indeed very challenging, if not outright impossible to capture in words what a camp experience means for one’s spiritual formation and overall wellbeing and development. please click here for more information (PDF file)

CIRMC Vacation Bible School - John Gray Memorial Church Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
	The John Gray Memorial Church held its VBS on July 12-16, 2021, (Mon.-Fri.) 8:30 am – 12:30 pm. focusing on the theme, “Rocky Railway” where everyone was able to learn about how Jesus’ power pull us through in anything in life. The activities consisted of the children and volunteers rotating between stations such as Bible Adventures, Games, KidVid Cinema, Craft & Play, Imagination Station, the morning get-together was called “Sing & Play Express” and the afternoon closing event was “Rocky Wrap-Up.” A favourite activity was “Chew Chew Snacks” a.k.a. snack time, where each snack for the day related to theme/Bible point. please click here for more information (PDF file)

CELEBRATING OUR SEAFARING HERITAGE by Mrs Katherine Jackson Wednesday Jul 21, 2021
	' He hath founded it upon the Seas' - Psalm 24:2 On Sunday, 11th July, the John Gray Memorial Church in West Bay included in their worship service a celebration of the life of Seafarers here in the Cayman Islands, and in particular, those brave men that hailed from that district, and particularly from that Church. Mr Loxley Banks gave the following overview: Today we are celebrating “Sea Sunday 2021” here in the Cayman Islands, and knowing that many of our stalwart seafarers came from this district, especially those who sailed on the MV Adams, the Goldfield, and other great ships of the world, we thought it very appropriate to include this celebration in our worship service today. “Sea Sunday” is the annual day, which was established over 100 years ago, that many Churches around the world set aside to remember and pray for seafarers and their families, and to give thanks for their lives and work. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Vacation Bible School - A Brief History by Rev Otto Menko Wednesday Jul 14, 2021
	When preparing for their annual plan, most Congregations include an old-time favorite, Vacation Bible School. For many of us, it is almost impossible to imagine summer without this staple of the church year. The acronym VBS conjures a rich mixture of fond memories in our minds; days filled with Bible stories, singing songs, making various crafts, playing games, and having a lot of fun. Interestingly, it is as much anticipated and enjoyed by volunteering grown-ups serving in various capacities as by participating children. VBS offers a very special opportunity to congregations to engage the children of the church and community in a more intense, more focused, more impactful way. Besides being exposed to the message of the Bible day after day in various activities, they also learn to ‘connect’ to the church environment and its people, forming positive impressions in their hearts and minds. Through our daily interactions with them they begin to see the church as a big family with an open heart, with love that welcomes, embraces, appreciates, and eager to journey through life with them. VBS in progress at the John Gray Memorial UC July 12, 2021 The real benefit of VBS and indeed, the key to our ‘success’ as The church lies not in what we are able to ‘drill’ into them about God in a short week (or during the weekly Church/Sunday School and other activities), but in the quality of relationships, we can develop. No amount of religious teaching or fancy programs can match the power of being exposed to persons who are living examples of faith, who through their attitude, behavior and actions display genuine and au please click here for more information (PDF file)

Summer 2021! by Rev Otto Menko Wednesday Jul 07, 2021
	Summer is that special time of the year most of us –regardless of our age- look forward to with great anticipation. Whether we have a two months break from school or just a week or two of a family vacation, it is the time that promises lots of fun, offers opportunities to recharge, explore, and make memories that often last a lifetime. Then in 2020 came the coronavirus pandemic and we – like most people around the world- were forced into a temporary albeit prolonged isolation and were severely restricted in our movements. Very quickly we had to adapt and adjust to a new way of living, working, interacting, and fellowshipping. For the most part, life, as we knew it, has changed for everyone, including institutions, organizations, workplaces, and the Church. Consequently, in 2020 we had to cancel all the usual summer-time activities such as the children and youth camps, VBS, and Sunday Schools in our congregations and shift most of our ministries to be conducted online. please click here for more information (PDF file)

A Call to Peace by the Moderator- Rt. Rev. Gary Harriott Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
	Our Church, the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, in response to all that has been going on in our societies of Cayman, Jamaica and the global community, on account of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and other challenges, has determined to focus on the theme, 'Rooted, Resilient;Responding in HOPE, -HOPE being an acronym for Health, Opportunities,Peace and Evangelism. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Times of Healing by Rev Otto Menko Wednesday Jun 23, 2021
	Please read Mark 5:21-43 (Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman) One cannot help but stand in awe and wonder witnessing not only the divine power of Jesus in full display but more so His deep love and concern for others, especially for those deemed less important by the social convention of His time, such as women and children. In this reading we see Jesus responding with understanding and compassion to the anguish of a father and a woman, as they were both seeking desperately Jesus’ help. The unnamed woman has been suffering for twelve years with hemorrhage. This condition was bad enough in itself but what made it even more unbearable was the social and religious stigma of ritual uncleanness associated with her condition. She was an outcast, an outsider, who didn’t count or belong. After trying for years everything possible without avail, she saw in Jesus her last chance. Cloaked in the anonymity of the crowd she touched Jesus’ garment, fully aware that she was forbidden to do so. please click here for more information (PDF file)