Faith

Youth 2008 : Sharing their Gifts

Mavis Currie

THERE HAVE BEEN ceilidh's and sub lunches, pampered chef fundraisers and congregational games nights at three churches in the Presbytery of London this year – all events to raise money for an exciting mission trip adventure for youth within our presbytery. At the end of July, 20 young people and eight adult leaders from four churches will be travelling to beautiful North Sydney, N.S., to lead a Vacation Bible School program. In the afternoons, we hope to serve the North Sydney community in other ways, by engaging in meaningful community mission projects. In the evenings, we plan on "singing for our supper" at local Presbyterian churches – a wonderful way to build bridges with our east coast brothers and sisters in Christ.

Youth 2008 : Commitment and Joy

Dianne Ollerenshaw

IN THE FIRST chapter of Jeremiah, the prophet declares: "Do not say, 'I am only a youth;' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." Jer. 1:7-8

Youth 2008 : A Connection To God

Elena Gritzan

This summer, I had an experience that really changed me and how I see the world. I was a part of the Cape Breton Mission trip that was organized by the Presbytery of London. A year or more of planning went into the 10-day trip that took place from July 25 to August 3. We took 29 people – youth and adults – from three different London-area churches and got on a bus to go and make a difference in Cape Breton.

Subscriber Privacy Protected

davidharris

To all those readers who were surprised and offended in any way to receive a recent mailing from an insurance company in a Presbyterian Record envelope, my profound apology for not having adequately explained the circumstances.

Youth 2008 : Learn, Do, Go

Reuben St. Louis

MY HEART started to beat a little faster as I sat in the meeting listening to the presenter. I could feel beads of sweat forming on my brow and flashes of me updating my resume and cleaning out my desk at national offices crossed my mind. The topic of discussion: Why short team mission trips don't matter. Being the Youth in Mission Co-ordinator for the Presbyterian Church in Canada and a person whose livelihood is based around sending short-term mission teams, you can forgive my nervousness and desire to yell "heresy" at the presenter. Even though I had always had nagging suspicions in the back of my mind whether what I was doing was really having a lasting impact, I could always point to a few success stories to ease my conscience.

Youth 2008 : Hope from Chaos

Jen Clark

THE MISSION to Gautier, Mississippi was the most amazing experience. Those 10 days were the most challenging, yet rewarding of my life. I cannot even begin to describe the overwhelming emotion I felt when visiting the coast or talking with the homeowners of the house we were working in. For them everyday is a constant reminder of what they lost and the pain they endured. Sometimes living in a trailer in your backyard for two years can cause you to lose hope.

Youth 2008 : Gifts and Talents

Laura Blaikie

I REMEMBER watching my sister pack for camp: bathing suit, sleeping bag and flashlight all disappearing inside her suitcase. I was too shy to attend camp and was not fond of the dark or anything creepy crawly, but I always regretted not going. So imagine my surprise when at 25 I found myself packing my own suitcase for camp! While my artistic abilities are limited to googly eyes and glitter and my nature abilities include a keen knack for getting lost, the new Missions Animator position at Camp Geddie was an exciting prospect because a Youth in Mission trip to Nicaragua in 1999 had begun a lifelong passion for travel and volunteering.

A Long Process

Rev. Cheol Soon Park

Throughout my Moderator year, I'd like to encourage and challenge you with two topics – to change, and to heal and reconcile. I talked about the first one in last month issue and now I'd like to share with you about the second topic – to heal and reconcile.

People of the book

davidharris

Here's the scenario: New neighbours move in next to you in southern Alberta. Their car sports a Pittsburgh Penguins decal. You are a Calgary Flames fan. How do you welcome them?

Seeking Gospel Engagement

Arthur Van Seters

When someone admits to a conversion experience in a CBC interview, my ears suddenly listen a bit more attentively. When that person is the vice-president for government policy with the National Association of Evangelicals in the United States, admitting to a major shift in his thinking about the environment, I become really curious! Richard Cizik did precisely that in late March after witnessing first-hand the extensive environmental degradation in Alaska. He said he could no longer bracket environmental issues, as so many evangelical Christians had tended to do. He had to make a connection between his deepest spiritual convictions and the world around him. His understanding of God as Creator and the creation as God's gift compelled a new perspective – and also gospel engagement.

A Challenge to the Church

Rev. Cheol Soon Park

As I write this it has been a month since my induction as the Moderator of the Church and I may be more familiar with new title but it was like getting a new name. Sometimes you really have to force yourself and others to accept that you are 'it', not 'that'.

Grasping Theology

davidharris

Let's be honest, this issue does not have a light summer reading list! There are two things one say can about that. One is that if we don't highlight some of these books for you, we're pretty sure no one else will. The other is that there is increasing evidence that mainline Christians are looking to go deeper in their faith – and that ultimately means exploring theology.

It's a Calling, Not Career

Rev. Dr. J. H. Hans Kouwenberg

It's been a good, yet busy year. I continued as the pastor of my congregation, overseeing its continuing worship, witness and work, while engaging local, regional and national duties. True, my workload doubled and my emails tripled as I tried to fulfill my goal to lift up the local church by preaching and teaching in as many places as I could, but I also had fun. I avoided as many meetings as possible, except for the Assembly Council. Regretfully, there were a few invitations I couldn't fulfill, but for the most part it was an enriching and encouraging year.