Know your apostle from epistle

posted on November 1, 2008 in News

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ENI – "Whether you are covering Creationism or Zionism, or want to know your apostle from your epistle, The Bible Style Guide is here to help journalists get started," said David Ashford, the interdenominational Bible Society's media development officer, who has written a guide to help journalists and broadcasters get up to speed on biblical matters.

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Vacant offices filled

Carmichael to lead church communications.

posted on November 1, 2008 in News

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Web guru Colin Carmichael joined the Life and Mission Agency this October as Associate Secretary, Communication and Resource Production, a position which has been vacant for almost a year.

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Intimations of Transcendence

Karen Armstrong pleads for a compassionate interpretation of the Bible.

posted on November 1, 2008 in Books

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The Bible: A Biography

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How Poverty Wounds the Soul

From our man in Malawi.

posted on November 1, 2008 in Features

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Twenty five years ago when I walked through the Blantyre Mission, the school children would run toward me shouting, "How are you?" They were practicing their English, trying to get that pesky 'r' right, and they would giggle with delight when they got a response from me. Today, the children of those students look me in the eye and say, "Give me money!"

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Loon Lesson

illustrated by Barry Falls

posted on November 1, 2008 in For the Journey

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"That loony chick ain't going to make it!" I said to Linda. It was a cold November day and I was watching a particularly small teenage loon out of our front room window. It had been born late in the spring; hence its diminished size and my concern.

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Remember the poor

posted on November 1, 2008 in News

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ENI – The global financial crisis should not derail progress that has been made on fighting poverty worldwide, religious leaders request. "When the powers that be declare there is an emergency, there is mobilization," Rev. David Beckmann, president of the Washington-based anti-hunger group Bread for the World, urged the United Nations Millennium Development Goals should not be forgotten.

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Celebrating Young Lives

Two prominent funerals add challenges.

posted on November 1, 2008 in News

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This summer, Rosedale and Bonar-Parkdale, both in Toronto, conducted widely publicized funerals for murdered youth. Oliver Martin, 25, one of two young men who were shot outside a friend's condominium, was buried from Rosedale while Katelynn Sampson, 7, was found in the home of her caregivers, just a few blocks from Bonar-Parkdale, where she was remembered.

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A Call for Community

Charles Fensham's book is richly informed and insightful.

posted on November 1, 2008 in Books

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Emerging from the Dark Age Ahead: The Future of the North American Church

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Mary Fontaine and Hummingbird Ministries

Walking with British Columbia's Aboriginal Community.

posted on November 1, 2008 in One Life

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Mary Fontaine founded Hummingbird Ministries in 2004 as a Presbyterian ministry of healing for the Aboriginal people of British Columbia's West Coast. And she was ordained this past spring – see the July/August Record – in Mistawasis, Sask., where she is from. Her ordination gives her new opportunities in her ministry. Many have asked her to baptize them, their children or their grandchildren. Now she can – the first person she baptised was her own grandson. For those already baptized as children, Fontaine will plan rededication services. (The Presbyterian Church in Canada doesn't advocate re-baptism.) Fontaine is excited about introducing the sacrament of communion to her Aboriginal circles. Feasting is an important part of First Nations communities, so communion is likely to become an important part of worship.

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Breadbasket to basket case

Zimbabwe is one more example of the West's abandonment of Africa

posted on November 1, 2008 in For the Record

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I look at a piece of Zimbabwe almost every day. The slightly abstract mother and child carved in black springstone radiate extraordinary love and tenderness and is probably my most cherished piece of art gathered from foreign reporting.

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A Colonial Life

Growing up in Zimbabwe

posted on November 1, 2008 in Features

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You can take an African out of the village but you cannot take the village out of an African.

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When He Cometh…

Listen to words of hope.

posted on November 1, 2008 in Progressive Lectionary

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Advent 1, November 30Isaiah 64:1-9 / Mark 13:(1-23) 24-37

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Gandhi remembered with violence

posted on November 1, 2008 in News

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ENI – Violence against Christians continued in India, as the nation celebrated the 139th anniversary of Mahatama Gandhi's birth in October. The All India Christian Council said in early October that 57 Christians had been killed in the violence in the Kandhamal district, and that 4,300 Christian houses, as well as 142 churches and many Christian institutions had been looted and torched. Often described as a prophet of non-violence, Gandhi led the Indian independence movement against the British empire through peaceful protest.

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Presbyterian Gifting

posted on November 1, 2008 in News

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The Gifts of Change catalogue provides a number of unique opportunities to support ministry and development in Canada and around the world. The recipient of your gift will be sent a card in your name, and your donation will be used by PWS&D's partners to attain program goals. The catalogue can be ordered individually or collectively from the Book Room, and is also available online.

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Don't Wait to Apologize

Relationships trump anxieties of life.

posted on November 1, 2008 in From the Moderator

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"Dad, why does this year feel like it's going faster than last year?" This was the question that my youngest son, Ted asked me one day. He was nine years old.
Does anyone have the answer to this question? Time really flies. Every morning, we are kindly reminded that the mighty Canadian winter is expanding its territory and we are moving closer to the end of year once again. Recently we have been flooded with news about the election, the crumbling economy and the fluctuating market. They make us worry or at least concerned. But I believe it is a good time for us to look back and reflect on the journey we have made throughout the year.

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Calvin, Consistory, Company

The roots of Presbytery.

posted on November 1, 2008 in Calvin

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Presbytery.

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Tales of Taiwanese churches

Shifting demographics in Vancouver and Toronto.

posted on November 1, 2008 in News

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BURNABY – The Presbytery of Westminster recognized Burnaby Taiwanese, which began as a mission and preaching point of Vancouver Taiwanese, as a stand-alone congregation in January.

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A Shared Humanity

A news story is at best only a metaphor.

posted on November 1, 2008 in Pop Christianity

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I was speaking at a church about my experiences in Afghanistan, showing some of the hundreds of photos I took on that trip. Near the end of my talk I had a photo of a little girl holding on to her father. A typical photo – one that could be taken of my daughter as she suddenly becomes shy in the company of her parent's strange friends. With that image on the screen I said one thing I had learned from Afghanistan was that despite all the differences in culture, locale, history, economics and much else, at the heart of us, we share a common humanity. That children cling to their parents when strangers come to the door, partially curious about the big world out there, while holding on to the safety of the domestic circle.

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Bloggers' 10 commandments

posted on November 1, 2008 in News

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ENI – Christian Internet bloggers have received 10 commandments from Britain's Evangelical Alliance to help them avoid the danger of writing in haste what they might later regret at leisure.

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Tutu's birthday challenge

posted on November 1, 2008 in News

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ENI – On the occasion of his 77th birthday in October Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu expressed his continuing vision for "culture that espouses listening, of fellowship, dialogue, mutual respect and of working together across generations.

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