The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands

FamilyTHE

George Town Charge Volume 149, November 2017

NEWS

Mission Statement: The George Town Charge exists to love God, love others and make disciples.

Minister:Rt. Rev. L. Christopher Mason

Music & WorshipDirector:

Antonio Sanchez

Office & Mailing Address:48 Harbour Drive

George TownP.O. Box 494

Grand Cayman KY1-1106

Elmslie Website:www.elmsliechurch.org.ky

Elmslie E-mail: elmslie@candw.ky

Office Staff:Janet Macmillan, AdministratorDiana Bodden, Office Assistant

Office Hours:Mondays - Fridays9:00am - 5:00pm

Phone: 345-949-7923Fax: 345-949-1723

Council Website:www.unitedchurch.org.ky

Council e-mail cicucjci@candw.ky

Bethesda Counselling Website:www.bethesdacounselling.ky

Service Times:Sundays

Elmslie Memorial United48 Harbour Drive, George Town

10:30am and 6:30pm

South Sound United44 South Sound Road

9:00am

From the Pastor's Desk

“Follow Me!” These two words together form a command found thirteen times in the Gospels. Jesus used these simple words when He called Peter, Andrew, James and John to be His disciples (Matthew 4:19). “And immediately they left their nets, and followed Him” (v. 20). Jesus called the tax collector Matthew in a similar manner. Jesus said to him, “Follow Me!” “And he arose, and followed Him” (9:9).The words mean immediate detachment from personal interests and attachment to Christ. Implied in the call of Jesus was a turning from sin to Him in order to be saved. Even after Jesus had risen from the dead, while the disciples were on a fishing trip, Jesus told Peter, “Follow Me!” (John 21:19). There are many references to individuals following Jesus. But these words were not just for the twelve disciples; they are also for us today. Discipleship means following Jesus in a personal way. “Follow Me!” is a call to obedience. It is no mere invitation but an imperative command. Those who heard the words of Jesus immediately left everything to follow Him. It was a costly decision for James and John because “they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed Him” (Matthew 4:22). Matthew left his lucrative tax business. There is no genuine Christianity without obedience to Christ. The rich young ruler heard the call and realized that Jesus was his rightful Lord and Master, but he refused to follow Him. The true believer enters into a life of obedience to Christ. On another occasion, Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). They are in the habit of listening to His voice and following Him. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus used the illustration of the Palestinian shepherd who calls his sheep and they hear his voice, and they go out following him because they know his voice (vv. 3-4). However, they will not follow a stranger because they do not know the voice of the stranger (v. 5). Jesus gives “eternal life to them” that follow Him, “and they shall never perish (double negative—not perish, never); and no one shall snatch them out of My hand” (v. 28). If you have a tendency to doubt such great spiritual truth, Jesus went on to say in the next verse, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (v. 29). Who are you following? Are you following Jesus or some other religious teacher? Are you following Jesus in obedience to His teaching? Jesus calls sinners to follow Him. He does not come to call the self-righteous but sinners to follow (Matthew 9:13). He treated all men as spiritual in essence, sinning in experience, with the possibility of being saved by grace. He knew human nature, and He knows us individually. The physician is never with the healthy but with the pathological. His call is a call to repentance. He comes and He finds people living in sin and He bids them come and follow Him. A sinner cannot follow Jesus without a radical change in the direction of his life. To repent means a change of mind that effects a change in one’s life. It is impossible to follow Christ without repentance. We must turn our back on sin and set our face toward the righteousness of God in Christ. No one can follow Christ without repenting. Charles Spurgeon once said, “They come straightway; they come at all cost; they come without a question; they come to quit old haunts; they come to follow their leader without stipulation or reserve.”

FOLLOW THE LEADER

Continued on Page 4

Remember To Pray For Our Students Studying Overseas

Congratulations to Judy and John Henry Ebanks on the marriage of their daughter, Lauren, to Colin Brooks on 22nd September.

Wedding Bells

Rt. Rev. L. Christopher Mason was formally inducted as the new minister to the George Town Charge by Ms. Angela Martins, the Chair of Council, at a service in the Elmslie Memorial sanctuary on Sunday afternoon, October 15th. The guest preacher for the occasion was the church’s General Secretary, Rev. Norbert Stephens. The service was led by Rev. Donovan Myers of the John Gray Memorial Church. Rev. Chris’ wife, Annmarie, and daughter, Chrysannae, came from Jamaica and joined Rev. Chris at the front as he responded to the questions asked him by the Chair of Council. The family was presented with various gifts, including a copy of the Bible from Council, and the service was followed by a fellowship dinner. It was pointed out that the occasion was unique in that no standing Moderator had ever before been inducted as minister into a Cayman Islands charge.

Induction of the Minister

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Rev. Chris responds to questions by the Chair of CouncilNicky Godfrey presents a gift

Elmslie Dance Ministry performs Elders and Council members congratulate the Mason family

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Jim and Karla, with their grand twins, Jamie and Joanna, were on-island for nearly six weeks and took the opportunity to visit family and friends and to speak at the various churches which have been supporting them in their work in Southeast Asia, currently East Timor. They visited the SSU and Elmslie congregations on October 15th and returned the following Wednesday evening for a combined home group evening in the hall, joined by their daughter Katherine, at which they expanded on what God is doing through them. Their essential task is in literacy and so seek to create early educational material in the mother tongue of several people groups in East Timor in order to teach them to read. The eventual goal is that these will be able to read the Word of God in their heart language. They asked for continuing prayer by the George Town Charge, especially that the Government of the country will support their work and for various obstacles to be removed. They also requested strength and safety for living and travel in far from easy situations – and they are not as young as they were! Their current prayer letter is available by contacting the church office which would also be able to direct those who would like to help the Smith’s work financially. In a card addressed to “Elmslie Saints…called to be his light in this world,” Jim and Karla wrote, “We deeply appreciate your continued partnership with us in our Father’s work. Thank you for supporting us and praying for us over these many years! Blessings and love.”

Wycliffe Missionaries, Jim and Karla Smith

Congratulations to Peter and Valerie Anderson on the birth of their granddaughter, Elizabeth Cait ('Ellie') on 10th October. The baby's parents are Michael and Karen Jane (KJ) Anderson.

Baby JoyA Sunday Morning PrayerGood Morning, God, I’m sorry I’m late for church – again! I know there is a starting time but being Sunday, and because it is only that I’m going to church, I haven’t really made the effort to be there on time. Yes, Lord, I realise that the starting time at my place of work is much earlier and unless something unusual happens I do generally arrive there on time. Actually, my boss wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t. I must admit it’s nice that no one tells me off for my habitual lateness at church! Oh, are you telling me you notice, God? Did you say that you were already there waiting for me and I’ve kept you waiting? I suppose I have to admit that I haven’t really thought through what an important time in the week the Sunday service is in that I am meeting with you, along with my Christian brothers and sister. If I had, I would make a greater effort to ensure I was there in good time if, for no other reason, I could spend a few minutes before the start to prepare myself. As I am now thinking about it, Lord, by being late I am stating in effect that the first part of the service is less important than the rest, especially that “call to worship” in which the leader is helping us to focus on you as we come to worship. I know, too, rushing as I do I don’t usually appreciate all that happens during worship time. Did you say that my lateness disturbs those already there? Well, I do try to come in quietly but I suppose inevitably it is distracting to some trying to focus on you. I know I have excuses: it’s the only day I get an opportunity to sleep a bit later, the kids are often slow on a Sunday morning and so on, but really I have to admit that these aren’t good reasons but a combination of laziness and a lack of ordering my priorities. Meeting with you is one of them, right? Forgive me, Lord, for being so casual and indifferent by forgetting that my gathering with others in your house is to offer you what you want more than anything from me, the worship of my heart. I am now recognizing that this, among other things, requires the discipline of good time-keeping. I am coming to realise, God, that I need to have more respect for you and, for that matter, the worship leader and my other brothers and sisters. Father, I realise that I have been wrong and I ask you to forgive me. But I am also asking for your help to break this bad habit. I want to, going forward, do my part to ensure that service time is one where we all bring you the glory and honour which you are due. Amen

SEPT.MonthGiving

YTDGiving

Elmslie OfferingMonthBudget

General $23,526.92 $29,166.66 $241,631.80 $262,500.00

Missions $ 3,859.80 $ 3,583.33 $ 26,205.43 $ 32,250.00

YTDBudget

Special November BirthdaysHappy Birthday to

Elmslie Church has recently started a drive to develop a benevolent fund. The purpose of this fund is to allow the church to be more responsive to sudden emergency needs in the community. Presently our resources tend to restrict the response to only the provision of food for a meal or two. While this has mostly worked in the past, there have been situations where the need is greater and has been outside of the resources immediately available. A fund in hand would allow us to better touch lives at their point of need. The fund is to be raised entirely from our church congregation without soliciting funds from outside sources. This is being achieved by a second offering at communions service; the service on the first Sunday of each month. A policy on the use of the funds is currently being drafted to ensure that whatever we raise is wisely and prudently utilised.

Benevolent Fund That is the only way we can respond to His call for us to “Come and follow!” It is an act of simple trust in Christ. It is impossible to follow Him without trusting Him. If we do not follow we are not committed to Him. We are following our own goals or someone else’s. The call to “follow Me!” means we will submit to His lordship. Indeed, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated, “When Jesus bids a man come and follow, He bids him come and die.” You cannot follow Jesus without dying to self. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny self, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:24-25). “Come, follow Me!” Will you follow Jesus in a life of obedient faith?

From the Pastor's Desk (Cont'd. from Pg. 1)

There is always something that needs doing in church. There is much work but, sadly, few seemingly prepared to do it. Maybe you can help. Here are four areas of particular need:1. All areas of the youth programme but particularly church (Sunday) school. We also have a nursery which could use some more adult caregivers! Speak to Sharon Walmsley (949-0326 or 925-8671) if you are willing to help. 2. With the present need to ensure the proper care and safety of all our church children, there is a need for people to act as ‘monitors’ during church services. This requires people on a rota basis to be present in the hall and wider facilities to keep a watch on children who are not, for some reason, in the sanctuary. There is some basic training required for those who interact in any way with our children. Suzanne Livingston (938-4123 or 244-3871) can tell you more of what is required.3. The heavier tourist season is round the corner and the Living Water Ministry is in great need of help. This requires people to spend about three hours in the sanctuary on days when there are cruise ships in port so as to welcome visitors, hand out some literature and, if felt appropriate, to chat or pray with people. Sue Trull (945-6067 or 939-0654) oversees this and can be contacted for more information.4. In His Steps which visits some of our senior citizens on Tuesday mornings has been depleted by some members becoming ill and thus being unable to continue to help. It is in need of others who have a few hours free on Tuesday mornings to join the team which usually visits two homes, holding a very simple service. Please contact Selma Eden (949-4865) if you want further information.If you are not able to get hold of the persons listed above, call Janet or Diana in the church office (949-7923).

Workers NeededThe regular meeting of the Regional Mission Council was held the last day of September and the following dates and matters might be of interest to our George Town congregations. (The usual Popular Report has been available in the sanctuaries for those who wish for more details.)• October 29th is Reformation Sunday (celebrating the 500thAnniversary of the start of the Reformation). It is also pulpit exchange Sunday. Rev. Rohan Forrester will be at South Sound United and Rev. Euthman Wray at Elmslie, and Rev. Chris will be visiting Webster Memorial in Bodden Town.• November12thisRemembranceSunday• Mary Bowerman has been appointed recording secretary for Council• RepresentativesofSamaritan’sPursegaveapresentationontheChildren Heart Project whereby Health City performs free heart surgery on children from developing country. The churches were encouraged to partner with them by offering hospitality in their homes during the time of surgery• Council is sending financial support to assist a seminary inMatanzas, Cuba, following the recent hurricane. The deadline for contributions is the end of October• Areportofthesummercampswaspresented,acopyofwhichcan be obtained from the Council office• Specialserviceswerebeingplanned:aCouncilPrayerretreatforthe whole Council on October 7th, a service of appreciation for the Cayman Prep and High School staff at John Gray Memorial on the 15th and, on the afternoon of the same day, the induction of Rev. Chris as Minister of the George Town Charge• The school was congratulated on its excellent externalexamination results once again• The Gun Bay United Church is being refurbished, and thework has almost been completed• Allchurches,asnon-profitorganizations,arenowrequiredtocomply with the Non-Profit Organization Law which came into effect on August 1st. Each therefore needs to be registered and certified. This law has to do with the distribution of cash

Church Dates and Council News

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Betty Ann Mobley - 55 on the 6thOlive Miller - 96 on the 9th

Susy McField - 40 on the 21stAaliyah McLean - 16 on the 22nd

Grace Hayes - 93 on the 24th