Presbyterian Record

Of Mice and Moving

Patricia Schneider — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:01:16 +0000

“No, I don’t want to move,” I argued. It was an ongoing dispute. How I loved my little house with its pale blue siding, bright blue doors and wide white deck.

What Would Marshall McLuhan Say?

keithrandall — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:01:45 +0000

In my youth I became a fan of Marshall McLuhan, cryptic sage of "the medium is the message." His thesis, as I understood it, is a useful prism through which to deconstruct the present-day plight of the churches our age calls mainstream. You know, the ones with all the puzzled faces in the few pews the are occupied. Even Presbyterian ministers are writing revolutionary essays and letters in the pages of the Record.

The Versus Problem

Andrew Donaldson — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:01:43 +0000

Shouldn't churches avoid the new and trendy, and keep Mr. and Mrs. Stalwart comfortable until it's time to shut the doors for good?

Best Blessings

Patricia Schneider — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:01:01 +0000

It’s astonishing what you become in the eyes of a younger person. I guess she doesn’t understand that as friends we can no longer toss balls back and forth to each other. Now we toss words.

Record Support Strong

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:58 +0000

The Presbyterian Record received a huge boost at the end of 2009 as readers donated over $132,000 to the church magazine, topping 2008’s total of $111,000 by 16 per cent.

“I’m humbled and overwhelmed by the extraordinary support from Record readers,” said David Harris, editor. He noted the campaign’s success would allow the magazine to unfurl some long overdue marketing strategies; these are designed to appeal to Presbyterians who are not currently subscribers and to make the Every Home Plan more attractive for congregations.

A few thoughts

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:56 +0000

I have belatedly written a few thoughts in response to Zander Dunn’s December letter.

Universalism is the theological doctrine that all people will eventually be saved.

To disown means: To refuse to acknowledge or accept as one’s own.

News – March 2010

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:55 +0000

Record Support Strong, by Connie Purvis

PWS&D Support ‘Overwhelming’, by Connie Purvis

The Story Behind … a Christmas Picture, by Amy Maclachlan

A Mother Helps Mothers, by Denise Van Wissen

Presbyterian-Penned Hymn Receives Wide Acclaim, by Connie Purvis

Israelis Balk at Minaret Ban, by Connie Purvis

Letter from El Salvador : Mining and Me, by Alexander Macdonald

Presbyterians Sharing Totals $8.47 million, by Connie Purvis

Colleges Urge Assembly Council to Reverse Decision, by J. Dorcas Gordon

St. James Town Coalition Steps Up, by Connie Purvis

Caribbean Churches Call for Co-Operation in Haiti, by Connie Purvis

Finding God in the Media, by Bradley Childs

Presbyterian Chaplain Appointed ‘Commander’, by Connie Purvis

Tens of Thousands Formally Endorse the ‘Golden Rule’, by Connie Purvis

Wrapped in God’s Love, by Kate Watson

Life and Mission Agency Staff Shifts

In the Spirit

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:55 +0000

Felix Möckel / istockphoto

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day — Revelation 1:10

It is not possible to be “in the Spirit” without recognizing the cross and sacrifice of Christ in an act of surrender and contrition. I know that I fall short of God’s glory. No one other than Christ has lived a day without sin. I meditate on these matters every day and review in my mind’s eye how I see Christ on the cross. As I draw close to him with a humble and contrite heart, I thank him. I am shoulder to shoulder with him as if wanting to share his burden and yoke but I know it is not possible because it is something he must do by himself. It is because of me that he is there and I can do nothing except assure him that he is not alone and that I care.

Living with Living Faith

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:55 +0000

illustration by Barry Falls / Heart Agency

Living Faith and I are about the same age. That is, if I count the years from my ordination. Throughout my ministry, the little green book has never been far out of sight. In the first couple of congregations I served, I led studies on the draft and then on the final edition. Folks agreed then that Living Faith was indeed “useful,” and more than “acceptable.” Those who remembered their Shorter Catechism were pleased to find a summing-up of the faith in contemporary language. The few who knew about the Westminster Confession breathed heavy sighs of relief.

Read more on Living with Living Faith…

A great travesty of justice

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:55 +0000

To add further comment to the residential school issue, I feel it has been a great travesty of justice in which politics and greed play a major part.

At any given time one has to make decisions based on options available. This would be true when the residential schools were founded. I believe they were founded for best reasons, not to punish.

Knox, Burlington, Ont.

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:54 +0000

It begins with the personal: In 1984, while visiting her mother, Marjorie Moore became aware of the need long term care facility patients have for visitors. She took a course on pastoral care and worked on her own for four years. Today, a quarter century later, Marjorie has converted a personal mission into a network. She works along with nine volunteers to visit people in hospitals, nursing and retirement homes in the Burlington and Oakville, Ont., areas. She was honoured last November by her congregation of Knox. Later there was fellowship and, of course, cake.

The Light of our Life

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:52 +0000

Click here for this month’s Called To Wonder.

Burns, Erin, Ont.

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:52 +0000

The Huron Carol is a Canadian classic, telling of the birth of Jesus from an aboriginal perspective. The children of Burns used a new narration written by Canadian author David Bouchard and pantomimed the story. The children learned about the culture of the Huron people from the early 1600s and created a set and costumes to depict that era — note the creative use of canoe paddles.

Letters – March 2010

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:51 +0000

A few thoughts, by Gina Sikkema, West Huntingdon Presbyterian Church

A great travesty of justice, by Fay Strang, Marmura, Ont.

Verb Takes an Object, by Diana Allan, Toronto

Christmas Art, by Georgina Bone

WWJRead?, by Adrian C. van Draanen, Richmond, Ont.

Thank You for Submitting, by Leighton A. Peach, Simcoe, Ont.

Surprise and elation, by Alan Wybrow, Stratford, Ont.

No Politics in Record, Please, by Nancy Lease, Quebec

Served With Dedication, Compassion And Love, by N. L. Lewis, Richmond, B.C.

Knox Centred, by Clark Wiseman, Dutch Settlement, N.S.

Confused Online, by Wanda Thompson, Guelph, Ont.

Stratford Amalgamation, by Eleanor Waldie, Embro, Ont.

Let’s Have An Agape, by Joseph C. McLelland, Pointe-Claire, Que.

What About The Rest Of Us?, by J. Gordon Neal, Whitby, Ont.

Wrong Directions, by George Smith, Victoria

Two Extremes, by J. Gordon Neal, Whitby

Tears Are Not Enough, by Kenn and Jeanne Stright, Halifax

PWS&D Support ‘Overwhelming’

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:51 +0000

The church’s relief and development agency was “drowning in generosity” by the end of 2009, reporting a total of $2.67 million despite fears that it could fall short of its budget by almost half a million dollars.

Verb Takes an Object

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:49 +0000

Re For the Journey, January

This article was of particular interest to me as I too experienced the July cold when I visited my son in Dunedin, New Zealand, several years ago. However, I was startled by the serious grammar error. It is wrong to write, “left Linda and I feeling.” A verb takes an object; therefore “me” is correct. Try taking away the word “Linda” and the mistake becomes obvious.

Christmas Art

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:49 +0000

We were absolutely thrilled to have Austin Bear’s art work displayed in the Presbyterian Record and on the website. Austin will benefit immensely from this positive experience. I am devastated and angry with myself that I forgot to say that we all go to Calvin-Goforth Church. Our congregation needs a little positive publicity, especially for our children’s program.

Where in the World is God?!

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:48 +0000

Ian McDonnell / istockphoto

I made my way onto the subway one cold December morning. I found myself squished amidst the crowds, tense about the fellow who was yelling out at the world words I couldn’t understand but I could feel with a jagged intensity; irritated by the teenager who played her music loud and sang along unaware of all of us around her; judgmental of the woman who was desperately trying to keep her child from leaping out of her hands. It was going to be one of those days, I thought, when all I can see is everything that’s wrong with the world. O, how I wish I could teleport myself straight from my home to the college where I work without having to be intertwined with all these stripes of humanity! How on earth can I possibly see God’s presence in my neighbours — the mass of people squished together in the mess of the subway car?

WWJRead?

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:48 +0000

After considerable thought, and with trepidation, I am writing my first letter ever to the editor of the Record. I feel somewhat out of place in this company as I am not as learned or eloquent as the other letter writers are.

Thank You for Submitting

web admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:46 +0000

On behalf of myself and St. Paul’s, Simcoe, Ont., we wish to thank you so kindly for including the picture of one of our members receiving a cheque from the Sunday school kids in January. Also, to our surprise, was the article I wrote for the Most Beautiful Church Contest appearing in full colour on the inside back cover. I received a number of favourable comments not only on the article but on the placement of the article and pictures. I explained I had nothing to do with the location and therefore again want to thank you for your efforts on behalf of St. Paul’s.

Read more on Thank You for Submitting…