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UCJCI Update

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SYMPOSIUM ON PEACE BUILDING Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
	Last Thursday, March 9, 2023, stakeholders gathered for a full day of presentations and workshops for a symposium on Peacebuilding in Schools under the theme, “Overcoming Conflicts through Peacebuilding in Schools”. The presentations on Peace Building Programmes were done by Dr. Kim Scott, Programme Director for the Child Resiliency Programme, Dr. Geoff Walcott, Director of Dream a World, DSP Natalie Palmer, Safe Schools Programme and Rev. Kevin Nana Moses Calvert, Director of the Kairos Project. Mr. Richard Troupe, Director of Safety and Security, at the Ministry of Education and Youth, also shared greetings. A lot of important information was strategically shared as one of the intentions of this symposium was to provide training for the stakeholders for them to go back into the various spaces and share, practice and implement. As such, they were invited to register for one of three workshops in their area of interest and expertise. Workshop one focused on Implementing Peace Building Strategies in the School Space, workshop two focused on Peace Building in School and Community and workshop three focused on The Church in Peace Building in the Home and Community. Students and teachers from Carron Hall, Meadowbrook, Oberlin, Denham Town, Camperdown and Westwood High Schools and Clarendon and Knox Colleges were present. please click here for more information (PDF file)

International Women’s Day 2023 Wednesday Mar 08, 2023
	According to the International Women’s Day website (2023), the aim of this year’s #EmbraceEquality theme is “to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren't enough.” So many conversations have been had about the need for equity versus equality yet, we often struggle to understand the difference. Here is a simple breakdown: “Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances, and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.” -Equality versus Equity: What's the difference as we #EmbraceEquity for IWD 2023 and beyond? (2023) please click here for more information (PDF file)

Day of Fellowship 2023 Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
	On February 22, 2023, the Southern Regional Mission Council made the grand return to Clarendon College for the annual Ash Wednesday Convention under the theme Re-igniting the call: From a spark to a blaze! The Clarendon College auditorium was full with over 1000 people in attendance, 157 of which were children and youth. The Girls’ and Boys’ Brigades along with Cadets from Clarendon College participated in the procession, which also featured a literal flaming torch. An Olympic motif was utilized to symbolize the need for partnership and succession in ministry. Speakers blazed a trail with the word in a relay with the passing of a real baton: please click here for more information (PDF file)

Ash Wednesday– Lent Wednesday Feb 22, 2023
	The period of lent starts with a celebration and ends with a celebration. It is a time to celebrate the lord but it is also a time to reflect, fast, pray, and prepare for easter. Jesus himself went into the wilderness to fast for these 40 days in preparation for the fulfillment of the promise. During this time, He was tempted by the devil. This holy season is one of self-denial. Jesus taught us to rid ourselves of evil to prepare and share in the fulfillment of the promise on the horizon. Lent is a journey that is supposed to involve pr aying and fasting- sacrifice. A time of mourning and penitence, and we start with ashes. please click here for more information (PDF file)

THE HERMENEUTICAL HISTORY OF SKIN FOR SKIN -An Excerpt from Stephen Russell's book Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
	In a publicly circulated letter dated October 17, 1865, six days after the burning of the courthouse, Bogle and three co-signatories called on fellow residents of St. Thomas-in-the-East to join their ranks: “It is time now for us to help ourselves; skin for skin; the iron bars is now broken in the parish; the white people send a proclamation to the governor to make war against us... war is at us, my black skin, war is at us, from to-day to to-morrow” (RJRC 1866 2.929–30).10 The letter invoked the phrase skin for skin in support of its call for us to help ourselves. A few sentences later it glossed us with my black skin, whom it opposed to the white people. Bogle used skin for skin, then, to call on every Black resident of St. Thomas-in-the-East to join with every other Black resident in a war against the white plantocracy who were supported by the government and the military. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Rise above Wednesday Feb 08, 2023
	Live richly for the sake of doing it. Experience for yourself the highs and lows, the pains and pleasures, the wonders, joys, disappointments and satisfactions. Embrace every opportunity to go, to learn, to see and hear and know and connect. Give courage and action to your curiosity and let it push you to new levels of participation. Refuse to enslave yourself to what other people think. Set forth to fulfill the robust potential that lives within you, not to impress but to magnify life’s richness. Respect your fears, listen to what they have to say, but don’t let them prevent you from living fully. Treasure all you already know and always be eager to experience more. Consider, evaluate, plan, and prepare, but don’t stop there. Put your ideas, your intentions, your dreams into living action. Your life is a real and beautiful miracle, not just a concept. Feel the immense, unique value of you, and take an active role in fully bringing the richness to life. — Ralph Marston please click here for more information (PDF file)

LAY LEADERS’ TRAINING – TAKING IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL Wednesday Jan 25, 2023
	The 2022 Lay Leaders Certificate Course Module 1 featured new dimensions of training. Mrs Karen Francis, Coordinator of Training for Lay Leaders introduced the new elements at the recent graduation of a 2nd cohort of Module 1 on Sunday, November 13, 2022. Reduced Programme Intensity “We have built on last year’s programme –shortening the weekend training day, by adding a short Thursday evening session. In this way, the time for learning is not compromised but the intensity of the training is reduced.” Building the Archives “In many places, the documentation of the rich history of UCJCI congregations is lacking. A practical part of the teaching of the topic: History, Ethos and Polity of UCJCI, was elevated with the addition of fieldwork to research and document the history of the learners’ congregations. This endeavour has added to the archives of the United Church.” Strengthening ‘Learning by Doing’ “This time around, we strengthened the Action-Reflection component. Learners had the opportunity to test what they had learned in areas such as planning and leading a bible study, planning a worship service and leading a small group. This element included the accompaniment of their minister/lay pastor who undertook the roles of observer, guide and assessor.” Improving the Practical Skill of Strategic Planning “The development of a strategic plan was upgraded to a final project. Recognising the necessity of this important skill for leaders, it was felt that adequate time should be committed to the various steps involved in creating a plan as well as applying the taught concepts to the context of the learners – their local congregation. This feature included the benefit of coaching from ministers/lay pastors. This approach not only increased the minister/lay pastor’s awareness of their learners’ capacities, and resource potential for the congregation but also enabled immediate application to the congregation’s planning.

“It’s More Than A Home, It’s a Ministry “ Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
	THE YULETIDE Ministry to the United Church Senior Citizens’ Home (UCSCH) brought many hands together on the Mandeville premises last December two days before Christmas. For the second consecutive year, Ms. Janice Bailey, Director of the UCSCH, with much help, executed a successful luncheon for the joy of residents and staff. The event commenced with hearty meals which made way for the singing of carols with family members who joined on zoom and a performance from Yashi Williams, Evangelism and Discipleship Coordinator of the United Church Young Adults’ Action Movement, for the Southern Regional Mission Council. Rev. Chung was also present at the Luncheon. Ms. Bailey shared that all 18 residents welcomed the Christmas event. “They especially enjoyed the all-you-can-eat menu as they enjoyed foods they do not eat throughout the year,” she said. The family members were very appreciative of the consideration and expressed that they enjoyed the caroling. The Board, chaired by the recently appointed Dorothy Miller, held a potluck and lyme for the staff. Majority of the board members were present. Rev. J. Oliver Daley was also presen please click here for more information (PDF file)

UCJCI Women’s Fellowship 3Oth Anniversary by President General, Mrs. Cheryl Shaw Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
	On December 13, 2022, the UCJCI Women’s Fellowship celebrated 30 years of union between the former United Church of Jamaica and Grand Cayman Women’s Guild and the Disciples of Christ Christian Women’s Fellowship. We give thanks to God for His help and faithfulness: “The Lord has certainly helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12). God has indeed been very good to us over these last 30 years that we have been established as a Union. Thirty years signify a pearl anniversary which speaks to wisdom, love and purity. This is the very essence of our 30 years of existence as a united group of women embracing the wisdom, love and purity of God in every aspect of our ministry and this is reflected in our motto: ‘By Love Serve’. We have experienced challenges but, the Lord was with us and we were able to weather the storm and kept united throughout these 30 years. please click here for more information (PDF file)

“UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls” by Rev Jane Kaluba Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
	The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence against women and girls is an international civil society-led campaign that takes place each year. It commences on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day, indicating that violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide. It was originated by activists at the inaugural Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL). It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls (VAWG). As a female theologian who preaches every Sunday and reads and hears stories about women who are battered and murdered almost every week, 16 days of activism is a time when I reflect on the suffering of women, girls and their families and what each one of us needs to do in our own spaces to address this ‘pandemic’. please click here for more information (PDF file)