United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands

UCJCI Update

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

 

An Excerpt from The HOLY WEEK of DRAMA’ by Rev. Paul DaCosta-Pinto

Wednesday Apr 13, 2022
 
Dem tek im way. From Annas, to Caiaphas to Herod to
Pilate. An a so dem a run up an down. An Jesus calm, like
Him in charge, as if everything wa happen a him set it
so. You can imagine me after all my big talk. Me fraid an
pride a kill me. I was following. I stay far. Everything
keeps turning over in my head.
(Voices)
“Father if it is possible, let this cup pass from
me. Nevertheless, not my will…”
Pilate: Are you a King Jesus: You say so
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and as lamb…he
opened not his mouth”
“You have no power over me… know this, if I wanted I
could have called ten thousand angels”
“They parted my garments among them, and for my
vesture did they gambled.” (Matthew 27:35)
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do.” (Luke 23:34)
“Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
“Woman, behold thy Son.” (John 19:26)
“My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” (Mark
15:34)
“I thirst.” (John 19:28)
“It is finished.” (John 19:30)
“Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke
23:46)

please click here for more information (PDF file)


“Obedience, Discipline and Trust” -A testimony of Yashi Williams of Davyton United Church

Wednesday Apr 06, 2022
 
I received the call to change my life in May
2020 in a way in which I could not ignore! God
reached down from heaven and pulled me out
of the enemy’s camp and set me in His courts. He
spoke, I heard and I HAD to respond.
When the Lord said to me that He would have me
resign, I heard also it will be when He provided the
financial resources to do so. As a result, I started
checking my bank account every day, sometimes 3 times per
day waiting. So, imagine my surprise when I
received the command to resign and I had two
hundred and mash dollars in my account... That did
not sit well with me at all. However, that word
discipline, which I got to understand really meant
doing what needs to be done, how it is supposed
to be done, EVEN when I do not want to do it.

please click here for more information (PDF file)


The Girls’ Brigade in the UCJCI A vehicle for children’s ministry-By Vanessa Blissett, President of UCYPF

Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
 
I can recall myself at age three, hiding during
drills. Today, in those and other moments, I can humbly
say a sense of pride has been instilled in me. This is a long
term effect of the Girls’ Brigade (GB).
In the UCJCI the GG companies have served as a vehicle
for Children's Ministry. However, GB is one of our
Ministries that offer a life-long enrolment starting mostly
from the age of three. The aim of the Girls’ Brigade is “to
help girls become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ
through self-control, reverence, and a sense of
responsibility, to find true enrichment of life” as Christ
wants us to be in control, reverent, and responsible.

please click here for more information (PDF file)


Working Together- News from the Southern Regional Mission Council

Wednesday Mar 23, 2022
 
For this 2022-2023 period, it has been agreed on by our ordained and lay pastors that the Southern Regional Mission Council will be
focused on growth. We will deliberately engage contextually relevant evangelism and discipleship
strategies in our strategic plans to grow the church spiritually, numerically, and financially to support
ministry and mission.

please click here for more information (PDF file)


TIME MARCHES ON

Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
 
Worry is a waste of time. To worry and to harbour illusions are
of the same value. They produce nothing. Illusions can be
pleasant and may be called fantasy, a fantastic flight of
fancy.

please click here for more information (PDF file)


International Women’s Day March 8 “Break the Bias”

Wednesday Mar 09, 2022
 
International Women’s Day, reminds us as Christians
to actively choose to encourage and enable our
women, without allowing our men to feel
insignificant. This year, the Council for World
Mission (CWM) hosted a virtual Worship, Table
Talk and Poetry surrounding Gender Justice via
Zoom, themed, “Women – Breaking Chains,
Nurturing Communities, Planting Seeds of Hope”. In
this challenging Covid-19 time we struggle with
injustices due to disabilities, race, socioeconomic
status, climate and gender but we have been gifted
with opportunities for education and avenues to
speak up and out on these issues.
As a young Christian, I agree that women are the
“backbone” of our ‘churches and societies’. Women
are “agents of healing - providing food, shelter,
hospitality, health care, comfort and avenues for
peace and reconciliation. Despite the arduous work
of women in contributing to the essentials to life,
including building up the community of believers,
they are often denied full humanity in church and
society.” On the one hand, we are cultured to
perceive women and girls as weaker, subordinate,
and incapable of matching up with men whilst, on
the other, we encourage women to be themselves,
affirm they are loved and should express challenges,
but, do we really consider the conditions being
experienced and the ways we ourselves hinder this
goal?

please click here for more information (PDF file)


Welcome to Lent 2022

Wednesday Mar 02, 2022
 
The Lenten period of forty days has its basis in
Jesus’ forty days and nights in the wilderness (or
desert). Three accounts of the wilderness experience
are found in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and
Luke 4:1-13. The Lenten journey is symbolic of the
The Christian journey, fraught with challenges to our
identity, the demand to prove self-worth, and
pressure to compromise values in order to acquire
the temporal and superficial even at a painful cost.
But the Christian journey has a formula for joyful
fulfilment. This formula for joyful fulfilment is in
resisting the world’s value system through (1)
knowledge of, (2) deep and constant reflection upon,
and, (3) ready application of the Word of
God. This engagement with the scriptures is what
leads us to answer by word and witness “What does
the Lord require of you?” 

please click here for more information (PDF file)


REPARATIONS TASK FORCE

Wednesday Feb 23, 2022
 
The Reparations Task Force of the UCJCI has been very
interested in the discussions and debates surrounding
whether the Maroons can truly be categorized as an
indigenous group of people. The Maroons are credited for
having paved the path for the emancipation of Jamaican
Black people. However, some people reminded us that
there were Maroons that helped to keep other black people
in slavery. Arguments have been raging on all sides. The
debate continues.
Constitution Corner
This month’s edition of Constitution Corner will look at
the Officers of the Church, namely:
The Deputy Chairman of the Congregational
Board;
The Secretary of the Church;
The Treasurer of the Church; and Auditors.
The establishment of these Offices and their duties are
found in the By-Laws of the Constitution, Chapter 1,
paragraphs 3(b)-(c) and paragraph 4.
Who qualifies for election as these officers?
The Deputy Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer are
elected from among the Elders of the congregation. In
the case of the Auditors, the persons who qualify for
such election are persons who are independent of any
control of the church’s accounts and must be
appointed in accordance with such other terms and
conditions as shall be issued by the Synod and Council
from time to time.

please click here for more information (PDF file)


Time Marches On -God is the Master and the Measure

Wednesday Feb 16, 2022
 
I was two years old but it is still fresh in mind.
We lived at Marigold Avenue. The milk was
delivered in bottles which we had to return in
order to get fresh milk. The bread and buns and
other delights were delivered by a horse-drawn
cart. That was my favourite. I seemed always to
know when the cart was approaching. Maybe it
was the shoed hooves of the big, dark, brown
horse striking the asphalt in steady rhythm. The
cart itself exuded an irresistible aroma of
choice wood, cured and fermenting by sugars
and spices. The cart itself had a visor broad
enough to protect the driver from the heat and
glare of the sun. But if it rained, well, that was a
different matter.

please click here for more information (PDF file)


80 Years of Existence Clarendon College

Wednesday Feb 09, 2022
 
On Wednesday, February 02, 2022, Clarendon College commemorated
80 years of existence in its Founders Day Celebration.
In this 2022 celebration, Rev. Hyacinth Edwards, minister of the Salem
Charge was recognized for 24 years of service to the institution. The
UCJCI salutes Clarendon College for its contribution to nation-building
through education and applauds, Rev. Hyacinth Edwards for consistency
in providing Christian nurture and inspiration for students and staff over
these many years. 

please click here for more information (PDF file)


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

United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands