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UCJCI Update

Page: [1-10] 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 [21-30] [31-35]


International University of the Caribbean - Life and Culture Wednesday Jan 19, 2022
	With flexible timetables and supportive lecturers, the International University of the Caribbean, IUC, has won the hearts of its students. Echoing the gratitude of the student population, Ricardo Todd expressed that the institution has not only afforded him the opportunity to pursue his academic ambitions, but that this experience has propelled his personal growth and development. Todd, who is currently the President of IUC’s Circle-K district, is on the verge of completing his Bachelor of Science Undergraduate degree in Business Administration this year, all while working full-time without conflict. please click here for more information (PDF file)

PRAYER and CONDOLENCE for the family of Rev. Dr. Edmond Folkes Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
	It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the passing of Rev. Dr. Edmond Folkes, J.P., who made his transition earlier today after a brief illness. Rev. Dr. Folkes was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacraments on July 8, 1964, and has exercised his call to ministry in a number of capacities within the United Church. He served as minister in the Askenish, Davyton and New Broughton Charges. He also served as Chairman of the former South Middlesex Area Council (now Southern Regional Mission Council), the Synod’s Mission Witness and Service Committee and Chairman and member of the Board of Management of the Mt. Olivet Boy’s Home. At the community level he served as a Justice of the Peace, chaired and served on numerous school boards, taught at Bellfield High School and founded the Conference Centre of Project Ebenezer with skills training centres at Davyton, Williamsfield and Porus in Manchester. Rev. Dr. Folkes was a model of servanthood as a pastor, leader and community builder. As a pastor he blazed a trail of compassion, care and commitment to the empowerment and evangelization of people. As a leader he demonstrated boundless energy and enterprise while leading congregations in establishing new congregations and in building programmes, Union and New Broughton, are two such among many others. As a community builder his contributions to offering relevant and contextual ministries within the communities he served are worthy of commendation. please click here for more information (PDF file)

School in the Sanctuary Wednesday Jan 05, 2022
	From 2018, the Bushy Park United Church in Jamaica operated as a homework centre for children of varying ages, in and around the community, up until the start of the pandemic, when they started the School Support Initiative. During the week when school is in session, the computer room and the pews of the sanctuary act as classrooms for 18 students on average. Notably, this initiative has helped up to 50 students as they have been rotating in adherence to COVID-19 infection control and prevention measures. Elder Carlos Shepherd shared that the Minister, Rev. Astor Carlyle and the Associate Minister, Rev. Delroy Harris, along with the members of the church, have been very welcoming of this initiative. “The responses from the ministers have been favourable. They supported it, they were excited and they jumped on it from the get-go," he expressed adding that the church was happy that the children could get to go to school. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Synod Centre Wednesday Dec 22, 2021
	Though Covid-19 has placed limitations on our gathering this year, we were still able to celebrate the gift God has given to us. Our annual carol service which was held today via zoom, Wednesday, December 22, 2021, was filled with much laughter, worship and cheer warranted by our contextual re-enactment of the nativity story. Following Act 1 Scene 1 and 2, was a choral Bible reading from Mathew 1: 18-25 done by representatives from North-Eastern Regional Mission Council and Meadowrest Memorial Gardens. please click here for more information (PDF file)

The United Church Senior Citizen’s Home Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
	The Director the united Church senior citizen’s home, Janice Bailey, embarked on a three-step project to repair, replace and renew on October 1. Since the start of the one year 3Rs project, the home has achieved several of its goals through donations of cash and materials, and through service. The most recent of these was the Christmas clean up that was undertaken last weekend, December 10 and 11. The premises of the home, located on Villa Road in Mandeville Manchester, was cleaned up and the outside of the main house painted. please click here for more information (PDF file)

A New Covenant Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
	Jeremiah 31:31-33 With the old covenant we faced imminent destruction because no one or thing could save us from our sin. This changed with the coming of Christ as prophesized by Jeremiah. Now we have a new covenant through Jesus who has come and is coming again. Is there anything about the coming of Christ that makes a difference to us or will change who we are? In this season, where is our focus and for whom do we hope? Are we caught up in the illusion of Goodness without Godliness, Christmas without Christ, Santa Claus mysteriously giving us gifts? Or is our focus on the resurrection and the life? (John 11:25). Many people want something new for Christmas- new furniture, a new car, new gadgets etc., because what we have now could not be all God wanted for us. please click here for more information (PDF file)

MODERATOR’S MESSAGE UNION SUNDAY December 5, 2021 Wednesday Dec 01, 2021
	My Sisters and Brothers in Christ, I greet you warmly on this Union Sunday. We pause each year on the 1st Sunday in December to reconnect with our history as a church; to celebrate our journey and witness, and to hear from God afresh as we live out our faith. We remember today the contributions of the Congregationalists, the Disciples of Christ and the Presbyterians to the Mission of Christ in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. We celebrate the fact that as a result of the movement of God’s Spirit and the obedience of God’s people, all three Denominations, over time, were able to find the will power to make the required changes and adjustments in their polity towards the greater witness of Christian Unity. please click here for more information (PDF file)

IUC honours two outstanding lay-leaders of the United Church Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
	The International University of the Caribbean (IUC), will be presenting its first honorary degrees to two outstanding Jamaicans and Lay leaders of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, who have served the church country well, making significant contributions in education and accounting. The presentations will be made at the university’s annual graduation ceremony that will be held at 1 p.m. on November 25, 2021, at the Hope United Church, 221 Old Hope Road. The nominees are, Mrs Irene L. Walter CD, and Mr Donald Reynolds CD. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Ordination 2021 - No hugs, handshakes nor kisses Wednesday Nov 17, 2021
	For the first time in 56 years the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands ordained three ministers to Word and Sacraments in a way foreign to the practice of our denomination. Our service of ordination, which has for many years occurred at the Ridgemount United Church in Manchester, took place on November 11, 2021, at the Webster Memorial Church in Kingston. Reverend Anna-Kay Henry-McGregor, Reverend Sandra Collins, and Reverend Wendell McKoy, were ordained. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Ordination: Occasion and Opportunity By Rev Henley Bernard, Director of Ministerial Formation Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
	The rite of ordination is one of the most anticipated and celebrated events in the life of the church. The practice has been part of the Christian community from earliest times. It has its origins in Jesus’ call of his disciples during the early days of his ministry, his commission of them on the eve of his ascension (Matt. 16-20), and the act of consecration witnessed in the doing of the leaders of the early church as they set apart, first the deacons, and then Paul and Barnabas to the specific ministry to which they were either appointed or sensed they were being called (Acts6:6; 13:1-3). While ordination is considered a sacrament in some sections of the church, in the reformed community to which the United Church belongs, it is considered an ordinance and is the ritual through which those sensing a call to serve in the office of pastor have that authority conferred upon them by the faith community. The person being ordained is authorized to preach the Word, administer the Sacraments and ordinances and provide leadership, among other things, in the pursuit of the mission entrusted by Jesus Christ. please click here for more information (PDF file)