Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church, Toronto, has had protestors walking its front lawn thanks to a 20-year lease agreement with Bell Mobility that will see a 10-storey relay signal tower erected on the church's property. Residents are worried about electromagnetic signals emitted from the tower, which will be in the middle of a residential neighbourhood.
Worship materials from 190 congregations from every province in Canada will now be sealed in the Presbyterian Church's national archives for 50 years, preserving a “moment in time” for the future church.
Though I am only 46, my hair has begun to vanish. I do not have trouble growing hair. But location is everything with hair. I am like a struggling oil company. I have great production, but poor distribution.
If you're one of those guys who still has his original hair, go ahead and laugh. But if you're experiencing a recession yourself, if you've been cluttering pillows and clogging drains, if you've stopped combing and started rearranging, you'll be happy to know that there is hope. I can't think of anything hopeful at the moment, but give me some time and I'll think of something. While I do, let's look at some ways in which the scientific community, working hand-in-hand with laboratory rats, has shown us just how bleak the picture really is.
ENI – Church leaders in Nigeria say urgent government action is needed to tackle poverty in the West African nation that was ranked 158th out of 177 countries in the human development index of the United Nations Development Programme.
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. John 21:25
February is a time when we think about love and part of that is the Lenten emphasis on repentence for not loving enough. As I thought about that I reflected on my experiences with our Muslim neighbours.
The term “church growth” makes me queasy, or at least, uneasy, in the same way that the term tilt-a-whirl makes me queasy at the fall fair or the announcement of turbulence makes me uneasy at 33,000 feet. I think the queasiness generates from the same place – I wonder who or what is driving this thing.
It started, like so many things, with a personal connection: A member at Knox, Agincourt, Toronto, has a brother-in-law serving in Afghanistan. The congregation decided to adopt him – they took this photo, the kids made the “Hi Bob” sign. With cards at Christmas and his birthday and, little notes of encouragement, Soldier Bob will always know somebody is thinking of him. Knox, Agincourt, would love to see other churches Adopt-A-Soldier. Click here for an enlargement of this photo.
ENI – International organizations representing young people from all main Christian traditions say they are anguished at not being able to share in the Lord's Supper together.
Just read your article Jesus Good in the Record. I'm not an expert on the Meeting House or Bruxy Cavey but I have been attending for about 8 months with my 14-year-old son. This church is denominational. They belong to the Brethren in Christ – Mennonite in heritage I believe. They meet every Sunday to praise God and listen to a talk from Bruxy. They encourage the people attending to belong to a home church and actually say The Meeting House is a group of Home Churches getting together on Sunday. Bruxy's teaching focuses on living a Christ focused life. Study and searching is encouraged. Love, other centred living, radical generousity, looking at each person as an individual with a story, walking with God all the time…these are the themes that I hear each week. You can be anywhere on your journey and be welcome here but they do encourage you to become involved. He bravely talks about every topic. He is not afraid to talk about the dark side of the church or religion. One of my favourite moments was Bruxy passionately talking about why he felt baptism was so important and then at the end he paused and said or I could be wrong… Anyway I feel I am learning a great deal and am understanding the bible more than at any other point in my life. Well I guess you can draw your own conclusions. Thanks for your article.
With managing editors like Andrew Faiz, who needs enemies? I'm not entirely clear about the point, if any, of Faiz's article. It does seem clear that Faiz is as enamored of the word “zeitgeist” as he is of the parenthesis keys on his computer. If his point is that the traditional denominations in North America representing “religion” face a prevailing culture that is skeptical of their compassion and sincerity, then that is worth discussing. If his point is also that this perception is created exclusively by influential writers, then that also is worth discussing.
Re Jesus Good, January
Today memories of my camping days at Gen Mohr in the mid 1950's floated back into my mind as clean and sweet as the days they were made. They came attached to the words of an old camping song. I realize that they were the sweetest times in an otherwise somewhat troubled childhood. My church, Zephyr and Udora Presbyterian, paid the fee for a child who was chosen to attend. For 3 years, I was that child.
In my experience, at the best of times it seems very difficult to keep a sense of liturgy before Presbyterians and actually live and experience the riches of catholicity. However, this Advent it has been particularly difficult.
Promised Land, a Christmas pageant written and composed by David Buckley
Re Mark Tremblay letter, December
As a new member of St. Andrew's, Penticton, B.C., I applaud Rev. Colin Cross for his boldness and courage. The Walk to Bethlehem (December 2007) was a way to connect with people from all walks even in our own church. People worked side by side for Christ's sake not their own. They spent an evening in the cold to bring warmth into hearts of all who came. It was uplifting and exciting to be a part of. I look forward to see what God has next for our St. Andrew's in the heart of Penticton.
I wonder if the practice of offering critiques of the ministry and motives of particular ministers in our denomination, through the pages of the Record, is going to become a regular feature of the magazine? I will supply the editor with names and contact information of parishioners who could offer their criticisms of my ministry, if more material is being sought and the focus broadening beyond Mr. Nieuwhof. With some fine articles of late – such as the pieces by Chuck Congram and Alex McLeod in the last issue – it seems a pity to spend more ink, space and time pointing fingers and tearing down individual congregations and/or clergy. But if this is the newest pursuit for the Record, I would find it difficult to sit back and watch others under the exposing searchlight while I hide in the shadows.
Re November editorial and related articles and letters
Re Full Time Cheerleader, January