Author
Karen Latimer

Finding God in our lives

Karen Latimer

I am not a retreat kind of a person. At least, that is what I thought before my recent experience at the Presbyterian Women's Weekend Retreat at Camp Kannawin. Located on Sylvan Lake in central Alberta this retreat gave me a safe and beautiful environment to explore my own spirituality. I learned how to express my faith and it helped me find ways to incorporate worship into my daily life. The theme was taken from Psalm 103:1: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” By looking at my gifts and then exploring new avenues for personal and congregational worship, I finally understood that by engaging in active worship on a daily basis, I can inspire others.

God has a plan

Marly Cail

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.

Ending violence against children

communications

A declaration calling for “action by all African governments and other stakeholders to take immediate steps to end all forms of violence against children” was signed by the delegates of an international children's rights conference in Ethiopia in May.

The mission of today

Wilma Welsh

I have just returned from attending the Ecumenical and Interfaith pre-conference meeting held prior to the International Aids Conference in Toronto. It was an incredible experience to have the opportunity to talk to individuals from all around the world who are committed to “Keeping the Promise” to do everything possible to help stamp out HIV/AIDS; to work together Towards A World Without Aids including encouraging governments to take up this challenge. We as a denomination have responded exceptionally well to the financial campaign in raising over $750,000 – our goal was $500,000. Congregations are to be commended for the creative initiatives they have taken in having special events to raise funds and awareness of this serious HIV/AIDS pandemic. This is the mission of today by people of all faiths, to stamp out this dreaded virus. Many of the participants at the conference are living with the HIV virus and shared their stories. Many have lost their loved ones to AIDS. Grandmothers, some with as many as 30 grandchildren, are bearing the responsibility of raising young children. It is so hard to comprehend the vastness of this problem. In the developed world most have the privilege of getting the drugs needed to sustain a quality of life. In the developing world the drugs are not available to everyone, so an affected person's only expectation is death, a suffering death. We need to help make it possible for everyone to have the opportunity to receive the needed drugs.

Honouring a memory by helping Kenyan kids

communications

A Toronto congregation is doing three good turns with one simple project. Don's Schoolhouse Project, created by Morningside High Park Presbyterian Church, is raising money to build a school in Kenya, helping farmers in developing countries earn a fair wage by promoting fair trade coffee, and honoring the memory of church regular Don Jennison, a former school principal and supporter of social justice who died in 2005. His famous question for people who had learned of an injustice was, “Well? What'cha gonna do about it?”

The alethiometer of adolescence

Blair Bertrand

Philip Pullman in his young adult fantasy series His Dark Materials introduces the protagonist Lyra Belacqua to the alethiometer, a golden compass-like object that takes its name from the Greek for truth. The alethiometer can allow its user to discern the truth, but only if the user is skilled in its use. As a girl on the cusp of puberty, Lyra displays an extraordinary gift for using the alethiometer. This intuitive ability disappears with a kiss; when Lyra becomes a sexual being, she can no longer see the truth through the alethiometer. She must relearn the discernment, spending countless hours studying and practicing something that once came so easily to her.

The connected church

Keith Knight

For perhaps the first time in our denomination's history, we are able to use technology effectively to bridge gaps of isolationism. We use e-mail to connect instantly with people across the country. We access the Internet to discover the latest news about our church's disaster response. We search the denomination's website for the location of a church in an area that we intend to visit.

Cutting to the core of identity

J. Dorcas Gordon

The facts of the decision to ordain women to ministry, both to the eldership and to word and sacrament are before me as I write. The timeline for decision-making is so easily set out. In 1953, the Synod of Manitoba sent an overture to the General Assembly on the place of women in the church, and in the following year clarified that “yes” the overture included the ordination of women. In 1955, the dialogue began and continued with a committee and then a new committee — more overtures, a “no” decision. More committees at work, another vote and in 1966 the decision is made. It all seems very Presbyterian!

Day of rejoicing (not!)

Phil Callaway

My son Stephen has enrolled in Prairie Bible College, a decision that has his mother and me rejoicing and sniffling and clutching our wallets all at once. The price for Bible college has not decreased since I attended in the latter half of the last century, but I assured him it would not be a problem. We would sell his little brother into slavery to pay for the first semester.*

Overseas partner lauds faith pre-conference

communications

The Presbyterian Church in Canada sent eight international partner delegates, three national committee members and three staff to the ecumenical AIDS pre-conference. PWS&D committee members Dianne Ollerenshaw and Kate Ballagh-Steeper and international affairs committee member Ian McDonald joined staff Guy Smagghe, Karen Plater and Bella Lam as part of the 500 delegates from faith-based organizations around the world.

Beatings, hugs, shunning

Calvin Brown

The media has made much of the Conservative government's promise to crack down on violent crime and impose mandatory sentencing on perpetrators. The arguments in the press usually focus on whether the proposal is just a bunch of smoke and mirrors or whether it will be effective in stopping violent crime.