Moderator Wilma Welsh, on request of the General Assembly, has written to Peter Mackay, the minister of foreign affairs, to “adopt global transfer principles or criteria that would prevent the shipment of small arms to countries where there are serious human rights violations or to countries in which small arms are likely to undermine human security and development efforts.”
St. Columba Presbyterian Church in Marion Bridge, Nova Scotia, is missing between $30,000 and $60,000. Cape Breton police were investigating its disappearance back in May, although money was first reported missing on February 21. Rev. Kevin Richardson did confirm the money is yet to be found and said he was not aware of any new information pertaining to the case. Frank magazine reported the congregation’s lawyer, Blair Mitchell, of Mitchell & Ferguson Associates, as saying, “Members of the congregation have become aware of the possibility that funds are missing, and are taking appropriate steps to investigate that, and are looking to recover potential loss.” The congregation draws about 30 people on a Sunday, in a community of about 400. – AM/p>
ENI – Religious leaders in Asia are hoping a “School of Peace” will help young activists from different religions spread a message of harmony and tolerance.
Paris is a peculiar presbytery. Situated in south-western Ontario, its demographics, in many ways, reflect presbyteries across the country: several larger churches working alongside a greater number of rural and small-town congregations. But in other ways, the presbytery is quite different. While its attendance and members both dropped between 2003 and 2004, its number of adherents increased. It also has several congregations whose numbers reflect a growing trend in many denominations; that of more adherents than members. Paris Presbyterian and Calvin, Delhi, are examples of this, and Innerkip actually has more in attendance each week than is listed on the constituent roll.
Talk about a lesson in contrasts. In early July, more than 600 youth, young adults and youth leaders descended on Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., ready for some singing, playing, dancing and worshipping (amidst flashing lights, electric guitars and giant projection screens), and yes, for some learning too. Exactly one month prior, Brock was home to the 132nd General Assembly, where playing and dancing were farther from the ho-hum agenda than thoughts of snow to a cottager lounging by the lake.
Personally, while I like to commute on my bicycle, I don’t think that I would have entered the Bike for Bibles Centennial Ride if I hadn’t felt a strong nudge from God to do so. Since God does things for me all the time, I felt good about tangibly doing something for Him. In a way, for me, doing this ride parallels the story of the talents. God has given me the ability to ride my bike and called me to use it for his purpose of spreading the Word by helping the Canadian Bible Society raise funds. I felt a bit like the reluctant prophet Jonah, being anxious about undertaking the tasks of fundraising and going on such a long ride. But, I figured I might as well follow the call instead of being swallowed by a whale, and so I remind myself whenever I get overwhelmed, that I’m doing this for God and that God only asks those who are worthy. I am excited because this is the first time I am doing something that I don’t really want to do for myself but feel called upon to do for God. Actually, it scares me sometimes, because I don’t want to fail God in this effort. I guess you could say it has become a bit of a faith journey now.
A new web exhibit from the Association for Manitoba Archives highlights the Red River Settlement Churches from 1818-1870. The churches were central to the lives of settlers in the remote fur trading community on the banks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Archival documents left by the congregations reveal what life was like in the now-vanished society.
ENI – The World Summit of Religious Leaders, the largest interfaith gathering to meet in Russia since the time of the Cold War, closed its July meeting by passing a resolution condemning terrorism, economic inequality, environmental abuses and the denigration of moral values in the modern world.
When ministers are on holiday or maternity leave, at home sick in bed, or when the pulpit is simply vacant, congregations are missing a main ingredient for Sunday service. Not content to leave congregations without worship each week, the Presbytery of Cape Breton, currently faced with six vacant charges, found a solution in lay worship teams — groups of trained, educated and commissioned lay persons who conduct worship services for congregations in need. “Equipped, enabled, empowered,” is their mantra.
You know better than I do that being a teenager these days is far from easy. There is a lot of pressure from your parents and teachers. Life moves faster now than in any other generation and that brings with it more demands on your time. There is increasing violence in society and even in schools, you have readier access to drugs than ever before and diseases like AIDS make the world a scary place. Add to that the pain of heartache and the need to fit in that every young person has to cope with, and life can totally suck sometimes.
Those logging trucks are going to choke me to death,” Linda said. “It has been so hot for so long that I don’t think there is a drop of moisture anywhere. And the dust, not to mention the non-stop roar of trucks from 4:30 in the morning till dark. We need to move out of this campsite right now!”
The Presbyterian Church (USA) made some controversial decisions at its General Assembly in June, and is beginning to hear criticism from conservative members and partners. Meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, the assembly voted to allow flexibility in deciding whether to ordain non-celibate homosexuals as clergy, something that was previously banned outright by the denomination.
After 120 years of service, Victoria-Royce, Toronto, has closed its doors. The final service was held on June 25th, with about 300 people in attendance. “There was a tremendous response,” said Rev. George French, a former minister of Victoria-Royce for 15 years. “They came from far and wide to say goodbye.”
This year my church’s progressive dinner was scheduled during the 24-hour famine my youth group organized to combat world hunger. The nerve! So while nine youth and five adults were starving, the rest of the congregation was indulging in a five-course meal. And we had to sleep on a hard floor that night, and our youth band had to play in the service the next morning, when all of its members were hungry and light-headed. Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to complain. For one thing, our congregation helped us to surpass our $2,000 fundraising goal by more than $400. For another, I just don’t deserve to whine. I live in North America, where all youth are rich, spoiled and lazy. That, according to the World Vision Famine website (www.famine.ca), is the judgment pronounced on us by youth of other continents. Ouch. Sadly, though, I agree. We have no idea what hardship is.
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
What are you going to do with your life?” The question seems innocuous enough. When I was very young, maybe about six or seven or possibly younger, I was certain that I was going to be an Olympic speed skater. My father had taught me to skate when I was very young and we would always go to the rink on Saturdays. I would race against the big boys, and I would always win. Looking back, I am quite sure that they probably let me win. But I decided, at age five, that I would one day be an Olympic speed skater.
Worship at Canada Youth 2006 featured a lot more than a stately organ and a gowned choir. Each two-hour service was packed with lively music, compelling sermons, dance and drama. Organized by Rev. Bob Geddes of South Gate Church, Hamilton, and Rev. Susan Kerr, the worship times featured participants and collaborators from across the country.
“I submit that since 1925 our church has wandered somewhat haphazardly, goaded by the memory of certain heroic events in our past, feeding on the manna of our own history…. I want to see our church set free from preoccupation with her own past and her own future, free to emerge from that wilderness of her own choosing and enter the modern city, the terrible and wonderful new world where one thing above all is required from Christians — a celebration of the Christ who is already there, waiting for His followers to come out into the tempest of living.”
Two years ago, I attended a similar conference called Triennium, held at Purdue University in Indiana, so I had some idea of what CY06 would include. I looked forward to a week filled with energetic participants and staff, ready to share the love of God with everyone they met. I was not disappointed. From the moment I stepped on campus at Brock University, I found myself surrounded by leaders eager to help me feel comfortable. I was blown away by the enthusiasm of all attending the conference. Throughout the week at CY06, I had the opportunity to meet new friends, enjoy new styles of worship and learn new ways in which to praise God.
An interfaith coalition has asked Prime Minister Stephen Harper to continue applying diplomatic pressure on the Sudanese government to ease the tension in Darfur. Moderator Wilma Welsh joined the heads of major churches and faith groups in Canada to request the Canadian government “work with others in engaging all diplomatic means available to address the legitimate concerns of groups which either do not yet form part of the Darfur Peace Agreement or that have a direct stake in a resolution of the conflict including rebel groups, civil society organizations, and victims.”