In our common Presbyterian understanding Calvin is a dominant but not a really sympathetic figure. We think of a lawyer-like preacher, a clear but rigid theologian, and an imposing but isolated man. We'd rather have coffee with Martin Luther.
Margaret Henderson, administrator, teacher and preacher's kid, has spent her life serving the Presbyterian Church, and retired last month from her position as senior administrator of Ministry and Church Vocations. She had worked at national offices for 33 years.
Dear Erin,
After having watched 32 international movies over 10 days during the Montreal Film Festival, where I was a member of the Ecumenical Jury, I came away with only the most banal observation: People are people, everywhere on the planet.
ENI – A special Bible published in India that seeks to place the Christian Scriptures within a local context has drawn mixed reactions, with some critics objecting to quotations from the sacred texts of other faiths in commentaries included in the Holy Book.
ENI – African churches and international faith-based organizations meeting in Accra have urged governments to end "the scandal of poverty" by delivering aid that advances development and not placing unacceptable obligations on poor countries. "Aid must be judged by what it delivers on development," Rev. Mvume Dandala said during the September High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in the Ghanaian capital, which brought together more than 800 representatives of developing country governments and civil society organizations.
This past summer my wife's family had a reunion.
I wasn't going to attend this year. I had other plans. Plans to go fishing. Plans for peace, tranquility and bass. When I shared my feelings with Ramona, she had some feelings of her own. "I grew up with these people," she said. "You go fishing and you might as well just take your parka and stay the winter." I decided to take her advice.
Sometimes – and we've all been there – it's very hard to want to work.
July 8th was my 30th wedding anniversary. On reflection, there are a lot of joys and laughter shared, sorrows endured and lessons learned. Three important lessons I've learned about a successful relationship in our marriage were all found in the Bible; but the experience of life makes the text come alive in a new way when life experience says, "That is so true!"
The Vine Helpline, the PCC's information and education network, has released a series of new resources for this fall.
Laura Roberts (Rosedale, Toronto), Raquel Ramos (St. Columba, Montreal), Cecilia Lu and Jenny So (Chinese, Mississauga) were among nine young people who participated in this year's Youth in Mission trip. They visited the Bhil Fields and met Pauline Brown, as well as village health workers supported by PWS&D.
ENI – Faith-based organizations can play an important role in the response to HIV and AIDS if they abide by the best public health practices, says Dr. Julio Montaner, the new president of the International AIDS Society during the 17th International AIDS Conference held in Mexico City in August.
Rev. Dr. Richard Fee, General Secretary of the Life and Mission Agency, will be returning to his office this month after he was diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis with pulmonary edema in April and had to undergo operations on his heart which he describes in a notice of thanks in this issue of the Record (page 14) as "awe-inspiring and amazingly dedicated medical care."
INDIA. Those who have been there understand – they know the arduous task of conveying the tangible experiences of India. The overwhelming number of people, the colours, the sounds (the constant car horn honking, animal noises and religious services broadcast on loud-speakers in the larger cities), the smells, and especially the warmth of the people, stretched my senses to places non-existent in North America.
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.
JESUS' INSTRUCTIONS: Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
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
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.
The young cowboy looked like death warmed over. His face was pale, his eyes sunken into black holes, his walk revealing constant pain and his facial expression locked somewhere between terror and dread. That's not what made him stand out though. Lots of rodeo cowboys look just like that, particularly before getting on their ride. What made this guy stand out were his superstitious incantations, which made him a bull rider.
ENI – Two global Protestant bodies, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council, say they are looking to establish a closer relationship.