St Andrew's Christian Church, Rockland

Office of Vocation: Job One

I just got a mailing from the Newly established Office of Vocation in the Untied Corp of Canada (AKA The “United” “Church” of Canada, or “the organisation formerly known as Church”) describing its formation, structure and responsibilities. Even before reading it, I knew that it has one duty that must come before all others. It’s got to find a better name.

We can’t keep calling it the Office of Vocation, because Vocation means ‘calling’ and requires that the persons under their supervision are called by God

Spiritual Disobedience

An Important message from the persecuted church.

From China Partnership Blog: "Over 100 members of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China, were arrested beginning Sunday, December 9. At the time of publication of this translation, arrests are still being made. Among those taken away were Pastor Wang Yi, senior pastor of Early Rain, and his wife, Jiang Rong, who have not been heard from since Sunday.

Foreseeing this circumstance, Pastor Wang Yi wrote the declaration below to be published by his church should he be detained for more than 48 hours. In it he explains the meaning and necessity of faithful disobedience, how it is distinct from political activism or civil disobedience, and how Christians should carry it out."

Read His courageous and insightful statement on the China Partnership Blog: Spiritual Disobedience and PRAY!

Sleepers Awake!

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:11–16)

You will hear, over and over again, from United Church sources that the decision to allow Gretta Vosper, an avowed atheist, to continue in ministry as an ordained United Church Minister is nothing to worry about. They will tell you that this decision, though troubling, is an isolated incident, which does not change the United Church in any substantial way. Do not drink the Kool-Aid.

Feeling Guilty?

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (2 Co 5:17–21). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

A friend and colleague asked a question about forgiving himself. His question came at a moment when I was thinking through the same issue. Responding to him helped me to find, for him, some thoughts that I needed to hear, and perhaps you will find these thoughts helpful:

Renewing Love

I was performing a wedding recently, and I realized that many of the guests had a second reason for being there. Of course they were there to celebrate, encourage and support the young couple in their marriage, but they were also there to be renewed in their own relationships. You could see couples holding hands and glancing at each other with that “Remember when?” look.

Access VideoPsalm from this Website

We are now acting as a mirror for VideoPsalm, the missionware worship presentation software. This should give North American users better access to the installation file.