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UCJCI Update

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COVID-19: The Economic Fallout and Recovery Thursday May 28, 2020
	As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Church and Society SubCommittee of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (UCJCI) hosted an online public economic forum on May 17, 2020, under the theme, “COVID-19: The Economic Fallout and Recovery”. LEADERSHIP CORNER A man was enjoying an afternoon in a small fishing boat on a peaceful lake. He fished as he munched on a chocolate bar. The weather was perfect, his cell phone was turned off, and all he could think about was how happy he was. Just then, he spotted a snake in the water with a frog in its mouth. He felt sorry for the frog, so he scooped up the snake with his landing net, took the frog out of its mouth, and tossed it to safety. Then he felt sorry for the snake. He broke off a piece of his chocolate bar, gave it to the snake, and placed it back in the water, where it swam away.There, he thought. The frog is happy, the snake is happy, and now I’m happy again. This is great. He cast his line back into the water and then settled back again. please click here for more information (PDF file)

The Value of Unrelenting Faith Wednesday May 20, 2020
	“ In this most difficult time of living with, and surviving the impact of the coronavirus, we are left to wonder and to ponder: “How do we give of our best in this time?” “How do I serve God, and in serving God, serve my fellow human beings?” “What is the most precious thing that I can offer to God and my fellow human beings at this time?” LEADERSHIP CORNER - Avoid Office Politics A politician arrived late for a speaking engagement where he was scheduled as the keynote speaker. Usually he did his homework on the area and the organization, but because of his busy schedule, he had not been able to do it. He was rushed in as the attendees were finishing their dessert and taken immediately to the podium without having the chance to speak to anyone. When he was introduced to the crowd, there was nothing he could do but dive in. With the bright lights shining in his eyes, he immediately launched into one of the main issues of the campaign and spoke at length. When he paused for a moment, the gentleman who had introduced him whispered that the group to whom he was speaking was on the opposite side of the issue. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Synodical Family Service Wednesday May 13, 2020
	As a response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands will host an online Synodical Family Service on Sunday, May 17, 2020, at 9 a.m., under the theme, “Building Strong Families for a Post COVID19 Society”! To be streamed from Webster Memorial United Church in Grand Cayman, the service, being held in Child Month, will offer inspiring praise and worship, children’s time, prayers and a sermon that will be helpful for building and re-building family life in both nations. LEADERSHIP CORNER : Place People in their Strength Zones The number one reason people don’t like their jobs is that they are not working in the area of their strengths. When team members are continually asked to perform in an area of weakness, they become demoralized, they are less productive, and they eventually burn out. Successful people find their own strength zones. Successful leaders find the strength zones of the people they lead. Individuals may seek a job with a particular organization, but they generally don’t place themselves in their positions at work. For the most part, their leaders are the ones who do that. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Navigating the Storms of Life Wednesday May 06, 2020
	In our text this morning, we learn much about the storms of life. We learn that: a) There will be storms b) Reaction is everything c) Realization is key. Matthew 8:23-27 reads, “Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marvelled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” LEADERSHIP CORNER- Leadershift from Career to Calling (PART 3) Our calling is the gift we give to the world while we are still alive. Our legacy is our gift to the world after we die. We discussed in the previous two (2) weeks some characteristics of a calling. Here we recap them and share more. Your calling matches who you are. Your calling taps into your passion. Your calling is important to you, but it’s not about you. Your calling is bigger than you. Your calling changes your perspective. please click here for more information (PDF file)

LIFE Has the Last Word! (Part 2) Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
	In his Easter Sunday message, the Moderator of the UCJCI, Rt.Rev. Dr. Gordon Cowans,zeroed in on the impact of the Resurrection news brought by the disciples, broken and cloistered in fear and despondency. It is news powerful enough to challenge us in a time of unprecedented pandemic. His conclusion follows: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ cannot and must not be taken lightly. It is no light matter. It is the news of Resurrection that energized the disciples to leave that cold, dreary narrow room to confront life again with vigour. LEADERSHIP CORNER -Leadershift from Career to Calling (PART 2) A calling lifts our hearts and expands our options. It can make even the mundane meaningful. Here is how to understand your calling so that you can find yours, if you haven’t already done so. YOUR CALLING MATCHES WHO YOU ARE. No one has ever been called to do something that he or she wasn’t suited for. Calling always matches who you are. For that reason, it’s important for you to be self-aware as you stay attentive to finding your calling. please click here for more information (PDF file)

LIFE Has the Last Word!! Wednesday Apr 22, 2020
	The Gospel of Mark’s account of that first Easter Morning tells us that it was to Mary Magdalene whom our Lord first appeared, when she and others had attended at His tomb to anoint a dead body. As far as she and those other faithful women were concerned, the horrible experience of the preceding Friday which had ended in Jesus’ death was the end of the matter. They could only now honor Him by ensuring that all the appropriate death rites were observed. He was dead, and death had had the last word. LEADERSHIP CORNER -Leadershift from Career to Calling (PART 1) “Some wake up to an alarm. Some wake up to a calling.” (Unknown) How do you currently think about what you do for a living? Think about which best describes you. YOU DO A JOB. When you have a job, your main goal is often to earn a living and support your family. You may not think beyond the time you spend on the clock. You may do your work with excellence or you may simply mark time, but either way, when you finish your day or your shift, you walk away and don’t think about it. Satisfaction and fulfilment for people who may have a job-only mind-set comes from activities outside of work. And while people in this group may hope to advance, they don’t think in terms of a strategy of career building. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Children’s House Worship Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
	The COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic has created a new normal for all persons and institutions, including the Church. Included in the new normal is the heroism of some parents who create a balancing act between the difficult combined tasks of working from home, home schooling and engaging their children in activities geared towards their spiritual development. LEADERSHIP CORNER -Develop Each Team Member as a Person How do you give your team an edge, helping the B players to perform at their highest level and helping the A players to elevate their game even further? You develop them. There’s a lot more to good leadership than just getting the job done. Getting the job done makes you a success. Getting the job done through others makes you a leader. But developing the people while helping them get the job done at the highest level makes you an exceptional leader. There is a difference between equipping people and developing them. When you equip people, you teach them how to do a job. If you show someone how to use a machine or some other device, that’s equipping. If you teach someone how to make a sale, that’s equipping. If you train them in departmental procedures, that’s equipping. You should already be providing training to your people so that they know how to do their jobs. Equipping should be a given (although not all leaders do this well please click here for more information (PDF file)

Synodical Easter Sunday Service Thursday Apr 09, 2020
	Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures, indeed. As such, the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, in further response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, will host an online Synodical Easter Sunday Service on April 12, 2020 for all of our congregations, under the theme, “ Life Has the Last Word! God Specializes in Rescue Missions Hear is the message that we are able to glean from Isaiah 50:4-9 to the captives and indeed to us who are held captive by COVID-19, God specializes in rescue missions. Remember the rescue missions of the Israelites in the wilderness? On one occasion they were at the Red Sea, at a standstill; for there was the sea in front of them, the mountains on both sides and Pharaoh’s army behind. But God said to Moses, “Stretch out your rod over the sea.” Moses obeyed and the waters rolled back and provided a way. And what seemed impossible was made possible when Moses obeyed God. LEADERSHIP CORNER -Leadershift from Trained Leader to Transformational Leader There is a huge difference between trained leaders and leaders who are transformational. The impact shift from trained leaders to transformational leaders will bring the greatest change to your life and the lives of those around you. If your actions inspire people to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, then you are a transformational leader. You influence people to think, speak, and act in ways that make a positive difference in their lives and the lives of others. That kind of leadership can change the world! please click here for more information (PDF file)

The Church Outside the Walls Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
	On March 28, 2020, approximately forty-five (45) persons from across all four (4) regions of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands engaged in an online social media training programme, hosted by the United Church Young Adults Action M o v e m e n t (UCYAAM)! An initiative for the times, it was, even as the doors of our sanctuaries have temporarily closed, but the people have been scattered to minister in their homes, online communities and by telephone. LEADERSHIP CORNER-Leadershift from Positional Authority to Moral Authority Moral authority is truly the highest level of leadership influence. It comes from possessing good values. It adds value to others. It inspires people. It helps the leader to make the right decisions for the right reasons. It marks a life of words and actions that line up. We know when we are in the presence of someone who has moral authority, and we want to follow them! Chuck Olson said, “People follow people, not positions. Your business card may say you’re a leader and in-charge, but if your bank account of moral authority is overdrawn, you will be forced to rely on extrinsic factors to rally your followers. No amount of skill, wealth, personality, education, or accomplishment can compensate for the absence of moral authority. Perks and pay checks are the currency required to enlist people in a project, but moral authority is the currency required to enlist people in a movement. Andy Stanley in his book, ‘Next Generation Leader’, observes, ‘Your position will prompt people in your organization to lend you their hands...But your moral authority will inspire them to lend you their hearts’”. please click here for more information (PDF file)

Being the House Church Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
	The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, along with other Christian churches in the two islands, has had to face up to the changing medical landscape in being the church, because of the impact of the global Coronavirus pandemic known as COVID-19. The past two weeks have seen churches going virtual and increasingly offering online worship services. However appealing this model of being church may be, I wish to argue that the church has not done sufficient reflections on being church during a time of global and national pandemic. LEADERSHIP CORNER -Don’t Pretend You’re Perfect One of the worst things leaders can do is to expend energy trying to make others think they’re perfect. Since nobody is perfect—not you, not your peers, not your boss—we need to quit pretending. People who are real, who are genuine concerning their weaknesses as well as their strengths, draw others to them. They engender trust. They are approachable. And they are a breath of fresh air in an environment where others are scrambling to reach the top by trying to look good. Here’s how I recommend you approach “getting real” to become a more effective leader: please click here for more information (PDF file)