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Biking for Bibles

Bruce Kemp

As part of the centennial celebrations of the Canadian Bible Society, I led a team of more than 80 cyclists for nine weeks on a cross-Canada journey. It took us 64 days to cover more than 7,500 kilometres. The team gathered at Mile Zero in Victoria on July 2nd and ended with a climb up Signal Hill in Saint John’s on September 3rd. The ride passed through every province in Canada. We had participants from all parts of Canada and even some from Australia and Ireland.

Quebec minister leaves

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Marc-Henri Vidal, who has been pastoring Saint-Luc, Quebec's largest French Presbyterian church, as well as leading several other key ministries in the province, will be assuming a new pastorate in Washington, D.C. at the beginning of July.

New youth resource

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The Presbyterian Church has a new resource for kids. Pathways to Leadership teaches nine basic leadership skills including teaching a song, building a group, telling a story, negotiating with people in authority and reading scripture in worship. The intended age group is nine to 12, but can be adapted for use with teens or even adults. Written by Dorothy Henderson, associate secretary for children and youth, and June Holohan, an elder at Unionville Presbyterian Church, Pathways is designed for use at a weekend camp setting, where each child comes with an adult who made a commitment to help them with leadership tasks when they return home. Read more about it in the August PCPak, or it can be purchased through the Book Room for $12.95. Call 1-800-619-7301 ext. 239 to order. – AM

Summer book club, Presbyterian style : The Power and the Glory: Studies in Discipleship

Rev. R. Sheldon MacKenzie

I have personally accused Rev. MacKenzie of keeping me in the church with these lectures, so, let me share it with others: It was 1979, Pre-Assembly Congress; I was in my late teens, just about to start university. A secular world of liberal free-thought awaited me. But, no! Sheldon's lectures spoke to me, particularly the second on power. I recognize it now as the Spirit once more interfering with my life, messing with my plans. Rereading the lectures I learn anew their power to teach, to guide. They are a boot to the backside, a meditation on our vanities; a special reminder of our role as disciples in the world Christ left us in His name. The book itself, however, is unnecessarily humble: amateurishly produced, with no publisher named and in need of both a copy editor and designer. Write me and I'll forward your book orders to the author.– Andrew Faiz, afaiz@presbyterian.ca

Hold mining companies accountable

Amy Maclachlan

The Canadian government is being taken to task concerning its support of several Canadian mining companies operating abroad, which are allegedly abusing international human rights law and endangering the political, social and physical environments of the areas in which they are operating. Government representatives met with people from the affected communities and with human rights advocates in April, who are calling on the government to monitor and correct the behaviour of Canadian companies working abroad.

Canadian-led European choir tours in the fall

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The Choir of the Hungarian Reformed Seminary in Romania will be heading to Canada for a concert tour from Sept. 20th to Oct. 10th. Presented by The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the choir will visit all four Atlantic provinces as well as southern Ontario. The seminary students glorify God through joyful music, bearing witness to how God has worked to restore the church in Romania after years of persecution.

132nd General Assembly : Breaking through the glass ceiling

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There were more standing ovations at the 132nd General Assembly, held at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont. in June, than assembly regulars remember from previous years. A discussion on sanctuary gained a little heat; there were admonitions to remember the Sabbath, concerns about declining givings to Presbyterians Sharing and questions about why seven commissioners from the Eastern Han-Ca Presbytery did not show. Still, and despite the usual battles over money and history, this was a genial gathering.

All in good time

Gwyneth Whilsmith

All in good time!” my husband used to say. “All in good time.” In our younger years this drove me crazy because I'm one of those impetuous people who make snap decisions, wondering why in the world anyone would waste time mulling over something that you already knew was the right thing to do.