Fulfilling the Mandate - Advance the Kingdom. A Church - Transformed, United, Victorious in Christ

Transcription

1 A COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF PEC - EWI PROVINCE Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2 February, 2015 We live in a dangerous world. Human life seems not to be sacred anymore. People are killed and discarded like flies and other insects. Homes are invaded and broken into at will by gun toting criminals who are bent terrorizing people and driving fear into the hearts of men and women. What could account for a Mechanic and his girl friend gainfully employed in his business being found with so many guns, cell phones, vehicle number plates and other paraphernalia. There is the suspicion that these individuals have been involved in some of the criminal activities in this country. People must be able to live in peace and safety in their own homes. One must not feel like a prisoner in his own home. Rev. Dr. Cortroy Jarvis Chairman of PEC We look around and some people are in desperate situations because some have their have their priorities wrong. The Bible tells us that by the sweat of your brow, you shall eat bread, but some people don t want to work. Yes, some want to work but they are unemployed. On Wednesday morning, January 07, 2015, hooded gunmen stormed the Paris offices of a satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo known for lampooning Islam and other religions killing at least 12 people in the most deadly militant attack on French soil in decades. Police staged a huge manhunt for the attackers who escaped. One of the assailants was captured on video outside the building shouting ALLAHU AKBAR GOD IS GREAT. Another walked over to a police officer lying wounded on the street and shot him point blank before the two calmly climbed into a black car and drove off. Continue on Page 2 A Church - Transformed, United, Victorious in Christ By the grace of God, we seek to be faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ; without distinction, we use all that we possess to call all peoples to the truth of the Gospel through worship, evangelism, discipleship and service. Moravian Church - EWI Province Moravian Provincial Headquarters Cashew Hill, P.O. Box 504 St. John s, Antigua Tel: (268) Fax(268) ADDRESS moravianchewip@gmail.com WEB ADDRESS Moving forward with a Positive Attitude as we Advance the Kingdom Pgs 1-3 Central Choir Tours Antigua Pg 5 PEC & Superintendents Meeting Unity and Theological Sunday Unity Prayer Watch Pg 8 Birthdays and Anniversaries Watchword 2015 Mathematics Enrichment Program Pg 9 Hymn of the Month Pgs 4 & 6 Cloud of Witness Pg 7 600th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of John Hus Pg 8 Rental of Moravian Multipurpose Complex Pg 10

2 MOVING FORWARD WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AS WE ADVANCE THE KINGDOM Cont d from Page 1 Twelve people killed after masked gunmen attacked offices of French satirical newspaper that s published mocking cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Witnesses reported that the attackers yelled We have avenged the prophet. French president declared it an act of terrorism. U.S. President, Barack Obama, strongly condemned the shootings. He said, I strongly condemn the horrific shooting at the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris. How could this have been done in the name of God? Which God? What kind of God could have sanctioned such cruelty? We learnt on Thursday January 8 of the Boko Haram massacre in Nigeria. The attackers sped into a Nigerian town with grenade launchers -- their gunfire and explosions shattering the early morning calm. As terrified residents scattered into bushes in Baga town and surrounding villages, the gunmen unloaded motorcycles from their trucks and followed in hot pursuit. Residents hid under scant brush. Bullets pierced them. Some sought refuge in their homes. They were burned alive. Many who tried to cross into neighboring Chad drowned while trying to swim through Lake Chad. By the time the weapons went quiet, local officials reported death tolls ranging from hundreds to as many as 2,000 people. It was King Short Shirt in His classic hit "Lamentation" penned these words: Lament Oh my soul, Lament Oh my soul O Lord, A crying for this cruel world Mankind can t find no solution A say we reaping the sour fruits of retribution And a not convince we are violent nor vulgar animal And is we who say we intelligent We superior, civilize and we wise Yet we make all kind a bums, blowing up every one Killing one another with guns And who ain t got guns use knives Lord a say that the time has come for us to get on our knees And lift our head to the trees to the very sky above Let there be happiness in our soul let there be love not hate in our world O for the day when he come down in all he glory and say. Let there be peace and all the fighting cease Peace, Peace, Peace Everybody shouting Peace O Lord, Love and happiness is what we need No one, no one, will stretch that loving hand Everybody sitting down on their bottom watching the other man While war and crime and violence gone rampant in evr y land Yes he say he made us above the animal, Destiny to hold the galaxies in our hand But dog and pussy stop fight they living and unite No animal kill for spite Is only we humans wantonly destroy life Lord a say that the time has come for us to get on our two knees And lift our head to the trees to the very sky above you Let there be happiness in our soul O Lord, O Lord let there be love not hate in our world O for the day when he come down in all he glory and say Let there be peace and all the fighting cease It was an indication of the disillusionment which had set in by Short Shirt actually lost the local crown with the song which is as relevant today as it was then. Moving forward with a positive attitude as we advance the Kingdom is very apt for today. We cannot live as pessimists in spite of all of the negative elements around us, for we serve a God of possibilities; a God with whom nothing is impossible; a God who can turn our darkness into light; our crooked places straight; who gives us beauty for ashes; the oil of joy for mourning; the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Moving forward means that in spite of the challenges and the bumps and obstacles ahead, we serve a God who will help us to surmount these problems. I like the words of the song writer Charles Jenkins, when he wrote, MY GOD IS AWESOME. He says, 2 Continue on Page 3

3 3 MOVING FORWARD WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AS WE ADVANCE THE KINGDOM Cont d from Page 2 My God is awesome, He can move mountains Keep me in the valley, hide me from the rain My God is awesome, heals me when I'm broken Strength where I've been weakened, forever He will reign My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome My God is awesome, Savior of the whole world Giver of salvation, by His stripes I am healed My God is awesome, today I am forgiven His grace is why I'm living, praise His holy name As we move forward with a positive attitude as we advance the Kingdom, I want to posit five things which will help us amidst the vicissitudes of life: 1. Be Thankful Think of all the good you have in life. Stop focusing on the job you wish you had, or the girl who rejected you, or the car you can t afford. Stop looking at all the can t haves and start thinking about the do haves. In other words, what things do you have in your life to be thankful? Make this a part of your daily ritual be thankful. At the end of each day, think of at least one thing that day you are thankful for. Try to come up with something different and new each day. 2. Don t be plagued by the past One of the biggest pitfalls to positive thinking is the past. We all have things in the past that we aren t proud of and would gladly erase from the history books if we could. Our past mistakes and regrets are one of the greatest obstacles in the way of moving forward and keeping things positive. First things first, we can t change the past. But, we can change how we move into the future. And our past is precisely what will prepare us for this move. If you re plagued by past mistakes, I encourage you not to run away from the past, but to face it head on and learn from it. Instead of seeing past mistakes as a sore spot, see them as learning opportunities. You messed things up in your last relationship? Now you are better prepared to enter into future relationships. Don t let the past hold you back. In fact, it should spring you forward. Mistakes are the best learning tool. 3. Lower your anxiety Some people naturally worry more than others. Maybe this is what s keeping you from that positive outlook you wish you had. Stressing over something doesn t make it go away. Stop with the stressing and get proactive! Use that anxiety and turn it into fuel to make a change. Take charge of things you can change and let the rest come as it may. 4. Be confident in yourself If you can t count on yourself, on whom can you count? See yourself in a positive light and as a positive addition to the world? Too many people are stuck thinking about the person they wish they were. If you can t count on yourself, on whom can you count? See yourself in a positive light and as a positive addition to the world? Too many people are stuck thinking about the person they wish they were. 5. Don t let others get you down This is why being confident in yourself is so important. Take time to remind yourself every day of the things you are proud of, whether it is the way you look, act, think, etc. Then, whenever someone inevitably shares their negative feelings, you won t let it ruin that newfound positive outlook. Don t be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only taste of success some people get, is taking a bite out of you. MOVING FORWARD WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE as we advance the Kingdom in 2015: Be thankful Don t be plagued by the past Lower your anxiety Be confident in yourself Don t let others get you down Be positive as you move forward in spite of the challenges and or obstacles. God Bless.

4 4 Hymn of the Month for February 2015 Rev. Dr. Mikie Roberts Director, Provincial Hymnal Committee. With the arrival of February, the liturgical calendar of the Christian Church shifts to the season of Lent. This forty day journey begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. Throughout this Lenten season our attention is drawn to the image of Christ as the Suffering Servant. However, we do not just recall Christ s temptation, suffering and death. We are also invited to embrace that as followers of Christ we too must share in his suffering and struggles if we are to share in the glory of his resurrection. Lent calls us to once again realize that each day the call to discipleship involves bearing a cross. Yet we are not mournful for the cross is not just a symbol of shame and death. For us as believers, it also represents hope and victory. Most importantly, it points to the highest expression of God s love for humanity. John 3: 16 is a fitting reminder of the extent of God s love. It is with that in mind that the hymn of the month for February brings us to once again meditate on the nature of God s love for the whole world. The hymn is Love who in the first beginning and was written by Frances E. Cox in In our current hymnal it is #144 and the tune that has been designated is the German LIEBE DIE DU MICH. The text of this hymn provides us with a panoramic view of the love of God from the beginning of time to that moment when we are reunited with God in heaven. It was God s love that was first ignited in his creation of humanity. That same love continued to be manifested even after sin entered the world and corrupted us. To underscore the tenacity of God s love and to highlight that God s love is inescapable, the hymn reveals the ways in which God s supernatural and eternal love has been shown: through the life of Jesus on earth; the work of the Holy Spirit; the submission of our will; and finally by our receiving the blessings of eternal life in the presence of God. Beyond the celebration of Valentine s Day and the joys of human love, as we sing this hymn during the month of February and begin our Lenten journey let us also celebrate God s love for us. Below are the words and music for the hymn of the month for February: Love, who in the first beginning Man in thine own likeness made; Love, who when we fell by sinning Raised us up no more afraid; Henceforth I myself resign, Love, to be forever thine. Love, who here on earth endurèd Human sorrow, toil, and pain; Love, who by thy death procurèd Joy to me and endless gain; Henceforth I myself resign, Love, to be forever thine. Love, who by thy word and spirit Life and light to me revealed; Love, who gainst the wrath I merit Art my soul s protecting shield; Henceforth I myself resign, Love, to be forever thine. Love, to whom my will submitted When I took thine easy yoke; Love, to whom my heart was knitted When thy love its love awoke; Henceforth I myself resign, Love, to be forever thine. Love, who wilt to heaven s bright story Raise me from my sleep profound; Love, who with the crown of glory Wilt at length my head surround; Henceforth I myself resign, Love, to be forever thine Frances E. Cox The Music sheet can be found on Page 6 Cont on Page 6

5 5 Sunday, December 28, was the first of two concerts presented by Central Moravian Church Choir during their 8- day tour of Antigua. The celebration of Christmas music started at 6:00 p.m. at Gracehill Moravian Church. This programme featured classical pieces by Beethoven and Mozart, and contemporary pieces by composers such as Alice Parker and André J. Thomas. Items were rendered by the Antigua Conference s Moravian Mass Choir and the Gracehill Moravian Steel Orchestra. It was wonderful concert, performed to a packed and appreciative congregation. Central Moravian Church Choir, under the direction of Rebecca Kleintop Owens for the past 12 years, has toured Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Jamaica, New York and North Carolina. Over the years, the choir has produced four CDs. Central is the oldest and largest congregation in the Northern Province of the Moravian Church in America, dating back to December 1741 when Count Zinzendorf gave the small mission community in Pennsylvania the name Bethlehem. Bishop Hopeton Clennon currently serves as Senior Pastor. Central Moravian Church Choir Moravian Mass Choir The second concert was held at Spring Gardens Moravian Church on Friday, January 2, at 6:00 p.m. This second performance by Central Choir included compositions by Bach and Handel, along with several organ solo performance by Rebecca Kleintop Owens as well as her own arrangement of a Moravian Music Medley. The concerts included items by the Antigua Conference s Moravian Mass Choir and The Hellsgate Steel Orchestra. We are truly thankful that the Central Moravian Choir which has graced us with their presence and wonderful music. Gracehill Moravian Steel Orchestra Hellsgate Steel Orchestra

6 6 Music for Love Who In The First Beginning By Frances E. Cox Cont d from Page 4 Mrs. Adrianne Henry Moravian Mass Choir Director, Antigua Something to Ponder No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities. Always see them, for they are always there. ~Norman Vincent Peale

7 Cloud of Witnesses By Rev. Dr. Winelle Kirton-Roberts This monthly feature is to re-tell the stories of ordained Pastors who served in the Eastern West Indies Province in recent past. It is intended to inform us of the life and witness of these ministers and their spouses so that we can better appreciate the sacrifices they have made. Moreover, it is hoped that both the ordained and un-ordained will be inspired to continue our ministry diligently knowing that our labour will never be in vain in the Lord. The following biography of The Rev. Rudolph Ignatius Clarence Holder was submitted by his Son Roland Holder. Rudolph Ignatius Clarence Holder was born on December 31, 1929 in Georgetown Guyana the second son of Ronald and Vivian Holder. His parents had five sons and one daughter. Rudolph married Violet, on November 11, 1961 and she pre deceased him in That Union produced three children in Father Ronald 48, Richard 45 and Roland 43. From his children he has three grandchildren in Shandora, Romi and Kristian. The RICH tradition started with his father. The initials of all his children spelled RICH. Rudolph was a pharmacist until he received the call to enter the Ministry being ordained on August 13, 1959 at Calvary Moravian Church here in Barbados. He served in five of the six Eastern West Indies Provinces of the Moravian Church namely Antigua, Tobago, Trinidad, St. Kitts and Barbados. He returned to Barbados in October 1993 when he was posted at Mount Tabor Moravian Church in St John where he served until he retired on December 31, During his initial period in Barbados he was Chairman of the Board of the Louis Lynch Secondary School, was an invigilator for CXC exams, was Superintendent of the Moravian Church and did some teaching/lecturing at some institutions when the need arose. Upon his retirement in 2000, he faithfully, on Wednesday mornings from 9 12 manned the MESA offices in Barbarees Hill until he was no longer able to do so. As is the norm with the Moravian Church, he continued to serve when there was a need. He studied for a Master s Degree in Theology in Chicago while his wife Violet worked as a nurse nearby. Several times he told the story of Violet after being paid bringing the pay to him for him to take out whatever he needed to survive on. Of the balance she would use some and save the rest for a rainy day. I am not sure that many couples could exist in like manner today. He enjoyed going to cricket at Kensington Oval to join Bishop Rufus Broome and John Blackman among others to watch the various matches being played there. He was not much of a sports man himself but several years ago he was 12 man of the Minister s side at a cricket match organised after a Synod in Barbados. He turned up in black dress shoes to be the12th man a fact that apparently did not go unnoticed since he was never asked to be 12 th man again. Rudolph was an organised almost meticulous person and a very astute record keeper. He kept detailed diaries dating back to the 1980 s and would go back and research what happened on a particular day. In almost every aspect of his life the evidence of a structured lifestyle stood out. When Violet was alive they would go to the supermarket on Tuesday s and once she passed away, that structure remained so every Tuesday he would go to the supermarket to shop regardless of if he needed to or not. Letters written several years ago can be found to this day filed away in case they were needed. If Monday was therapy whenever therapy occurred, it had to be on a Monday. There was a determination about Rudolph which in some ways worked for him. Those who saw him in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital in the early part of 2007 can probably attest to that determination. He left the hospital weighing 87 pounds, had a feeding tube attached to his stomach so that he could eat, was unable to walk literally unable to do anything for himself. He learned to walk again, learned to eat and began to gain some independence. He moved from needing 24 hour care to being able to be left on his own without supervision. While he learnt to do all this he never let on to most what the full extent of his mobility was and only those who went to physiotherapy with him knew how much mobility he had regained. That determination was such that if he did not wish to do something he simply would not do it. One day he said I don t want to go to physiotherapy today. Since he had missed a few of the preceding sessions, his care givers decided he should go and made all the arrangements and took him to the physiotherapy session. Once he got there he simply refused to do anything the physiotherapist asked him to do and when asked why he simply stated, I said I didn t want to come. In local parlance the word most people would use is stubborn. He found great joy in going to Mount Tabor to worship when he could, especially on Old Years Night which was also his birthday. Since he looked forward to being among the congregation there it was no great surprise when he chose Mount Tabor to worship on his 80 th birthday in He was totally relaxed and at home among the congregation that he last served at and heartfelt thanks must be said to the Mount Tabor Men s fellowship in particular who always welcomed him amongst them. 7

8 8 PEC and Superintendents Meeting The PEC will convene its first meeting for 2015 during the period February in Antigua. In addition, the Superintendents Conference for 2015 will take place in Antigua from February 05 February 06, Please bear up the members of the PEC and Superintendents in prayer. Unity Sunday Sunday March 01, 2015 is Unity Sunday. It was on this day 1457 that the Moravian Church was born. We ask for your continued prayers for the work and witness of this Church that will never die. A special offering will be taken in all Moravian Churches worldwide to go towards a project for youth and Sunday school in South Africa. Theological Education Sunday. Sunday March 22nd 2015, is Theological Education Sunday. On this day annually we remember in prayer our Warden/Tutor and all of our ministers in training. At present, there are three (3) Ministers in training: They are: Elva Richards-Huggins Pastoral Ministry Year 03 Daniel Mark Pastoral Ministry Year 02 Kevin St. Hill Pastoral Ministry Year 02 Our Warden/Tutor is the Rev. Neilson Waithe. Let us remember them especially in our prayers. A special offering will be taken on March 22, 2015 to go towards the continuing Education of our Ministers in Training. On this Sunday a special offering will be taken to go towards continuing Education. Let us pray that our Warden/ Tutor and our Ministers in Training remain faithful to God and fulfill His purpose for their lives. Unity Prayer Watch 2015 The Eastern West Indies Province will participate in the Unity Prayer Watch from Midnight March 31 Midnight April 14, The Schedule is as follows: Grenada - Midnight March a.m April 02, 2015 St. Kitts - 12:00a.m. April 02-11:00a.m. April 03, 2015 Trinidad - 11:00a.m. April 03- Midday April 04, 2015 Barbados - Midday April 04 - Midnight April 06, 2015 Virgin Islands - Midnight April am April 10, 2015 Tobago a.m. April p.m April 11, Antigua p.m. April 11 - Midnight April 14, 2015 Conferences are asked to observe the time allotted for our members to engage in the unbroken prayer chain. This prayer meeting began on August 13, 1727 when the Moravian Church had its Pentecostal experience. The Church was so much on fire that the Prayer meeting lasted for 100 unbroken years. Let us therefore encourage our members to be in prayer, as we continue to seek God s guidance and direction for our Church and indeed our lives. 600 th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of John Hus July 06, 2015 will mark the 600 th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of John Hus. In keeping with the historical significance of this celebration which will be observed throughout the Moravian Unity, the PEC proposes that the EWI Province participate in celebrating the legacy and memory of John Hus. The PEC proposes the following: Date of celebration... Sunday July 05, 2015 Proposed theme... Courage to Stand Celebration format Conference Combined Worship Service Worship and Music Resources: 600 th Anniversary Hymn Introit and anthem Special Anniversary Litany and suggested hymns A short (10 minutes) dramatic presentation by the youth It is hoped that these resources will be provided by April 01, 2015 or before. Information will be forwarded to you from time to time. The PEC proposes that the celebrations in Antigua be varied due to the 31 st Provincial Synod. The Opening Service of Synod will be held on the morning of Sunday July 12, 2015, and emphasis will be placed on the John Hus Anniversary during the service. On July 05, 2015, the congregations in the Antigua conference, as they celebrate Holy Communion, should place some emphasis on the John Hus Anniversary.

9 9 Birthday Greetings for the month of February is extended to: Bro. Dufferin Culpepper 01 Sis. Adelyn Mgonela 03 Bro. Cortroy Jarvis 07 Sis. Shirley Joseph 08 Bro. Sean Roberts 10 Bro. Willard Prout 10 Sis. June McMillan 17 Bro. Errol Connor 21 Bro. Adrian Smith 21 Sis. Billie Sterling-Lewis 22 Sis. Esther Moore-Roberts 24 Anniversary Greetings for the month of February is extended to: Bro. Ray & Sis. Shirley Joseph 07 Sis. Georgette John-Cotton & Bro. Vondell Cotton 15 Bro. Kingsley and Sis. Maureen Lewis 19 Watchword 2015 The Provincial Board of the European Continental Province has been honored to facilitate the drawing of the individual watchwords for the Unity Board, for the Unity Provinces, the Mission Provinces of the Moravian Church and for the Unity Undertakings. The Watchword assigned to the Eastern West Indies Province for 2015, is the one drawn for March 31, 2015: Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, who sees us? Who will know? Isaiah 29: 15 NIV Quote of the Day Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Are you a student of a Secondary School and need to sharpen your skills in mathematics? The Moravian Church will once again be conducting its Mathematics Enrichment Program which is geared primarily towards Fourth Formers, and has greatly benefited those students who have attended. It will run from: The Facilitators will include Antiguan born Dr. Vanere Goodwin and the Rev. Dr. Conrad Spencer, Mathematics Professors at the University of the Virgin Islands. The topics will be chosen as they are needed to strengthen preparation for General Proficiency and Additional Mathematics Examinations. The course fee is only $120 which includes a non-refundable registration fee of $20. There will be an additional $10 for persons registering after 16th February, Space is limited, so register early at any of the Moravian Church offices or at the Moravian Provincial Headquarters at Cashew Hill between the hours of 8:30a.m 4.00p.m.on weekdays. Fun Corner A Rasta man and his friend went to the beach. The friend went for a swim and started to drown. He came up the 1st time, he shouted "Jah help I". He came up the 2nd time an shouted "Selassi save I". He came up the 3rd time and shouted "Jesus my Lord have mercy on your son". He drowned. The police came to investigate and they asked the Rasta man "Wah happen why yuh neva save him? He replied "Offisa, him call Jah, him call Selassi and him call Jesus Christ. And me sitting rite ya suh and him neva call mi!" Martin Luther King, Jr.

10 10 Moravian Multipurpose Complex Conferences Meetings Seminars Weddings Banquet Dinner Only ten minutes away from the stores, shops and banks in St. John's. Our International airport is also just ten minutes away. Conference Center & Apartments Our balcony provides a refreshing view of undulating hills and valleys. The conference center has a seating capacity for 200 persons. We are situated on a hill over -looking the picturesque outskirts of the city of St. John's, Antigua. There are EIGHT LARGE APARTMENTS which are available for rental. Each room is self contained with kitchenette. The rooms are air-conditioned with Available internet and cable TV. All utilities are included with the exception of telephone. Contact us Tel: (268) Fax: (268)