The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands

Volume 170, August 2019

NEWS FamilyTHE

George Town Charge

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

From the Pastor's DeskMinister:Rev. L. Christopher Mason

Music & Worship Director:Antonio Sanchez

Youth Minister:Roy McGregor

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: 345-949-7923

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

“The LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:10,11) God controls and allows every detail of our lives. Nothing happens without His knowledge and approval. Every day, little changes in schedule or small irritations occur. Everyday, we can choose to let these obstacles upset us, or we can rest in the knowledge that God lovingly ordained them as small irritants to help us look to and rely on Him. For example, we can grumble about the frustrating traffic jam that is keeping us from getting somewhere on time, or we can remember that God knows about our deadlines and view the time sitting in traffic as an opportunity to pray. We can complain, or we can rejoice. May we allow the knowledge that we are continually surrounded by God’s unfailing love to permeate our lives and chase away our complaints and fears.

On Sunday, 30th June, in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Cayman's Constitution, Elmslie hosted dignitaries from various countries. Pictured above left are The Hon. Alden McLaughlin (Premier of the Cayman Islands), The Most Hon. Andrew Holness (Prime Minister of Jamaica) and Mr. Martyn Roper (Governor of the Cayman Islands). Other special guests included Sir Graham Brady of the UK as well as a large group of Jamaican athletes. Pictured above right are Amelia Sanchez and her children, Daniel and Aaron, following the service. More photos on Page 4

Thanksgiving Service - Constitution Weekend

Rev. Chris Mason

On Sunday, 5th May, baby Maddison Grey Heaney was blessed at South Sound United Church. Pictured with the baby are her parents, Meghan and Gavin Heaney, as well as Rev. Chris and Rev. Yvette.

Baby Blessing at SSU

Harvest Sunday at Elmslie

Harvest Festival was held on the second Sunday of July this year and it coincided with the visit of the Children’s Camp. Guest speaker for the occasion was lay pastor, Ormond Williams. Seen in the photos above are several campers bringing their contributions to the front and campers singing their theme song.

General $30,375.11 $29,166.66 $159,237.51 $174,999.96

Missions $ 4,366.60 $ 3,750.00 $ 19,776.19 $ 22,500.00

June MonthGiving

Jan-JuneGiving

Elmslie OfferingMonthBudget

Jan-JuneBudget

Vacation Bible School5th - 9th August 2019 ~ 5:30 - 8:30 nightlyAges: 4-17 (Call the church office for more info)

Special Wedding AnniversariesHappy Anniversary to

Barbara & Tony Bodden - 35 years on the 5thMike & Mary Bowerman - 50 years on the 21st

Julie & Scott Hughes - 20 years on the 28th

Special August BirthdaysHappy Birthday to

Harriet Vassel - 65 on the 2nd Angelique Thompson - 21 on the 3rd

Joshua Forbes - 21 on the 8thMichelle Daykin - 50 on the 8th Wilson Do Vale - 55 on the 17th

Phillip Vassel - 70 on the 19thMcNee McLaughlin - 93 on the 20th

Evin Johnson - 16 on the 27thElizabeth Hurlston - 105 on the 31st

CorrectionsIn the July edition of the Family News, Susan Craig's name was inadvertently omitted as a member of the Living Water Ministry. The editors apologise for this error.

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Over 50 children participated in the July Music Camp held the first week of July. Youth Director, Antonio, led a team of musicians who taught instruments ranging from violin to trumpets, from guitars to xylophones. During the following Sunday service, several children showed what they had learned by performing, and the whole group sang a choir item. The camp has been formed in memory of Ann James and is sponsored by her sister, Evelyn Rockett.

Music CampMovin Wid de Mission Camps

Campers Attend SSU

On Sunday, 7th July, the congregation at South Sound United Church welcomed a group of about 15 young people who attended Teen Camp, together with their leader Ms. Annika Conolly and Youth Minister Roy McGregor who came well prepared with their message, song and reading.

Twenty-four teens and thirty-three children attended camp at Prospect this year. The older group was engaged in Bible studies, sports, music, craft and media, and both conducted Meals on Wheels’ visits as a special project. Placed in three ‘families’, the Children’s Camp worked, played, fellowshipped and served in mission together. Many of them reported that serving Meals on Wheels was a particularly enjoyable experience as was the visit to the Turtle Centre. Particularly encouraging were the eight from the Teens’ Camp, pictured above with chaplain, Rev. Euthman Wray, who asked to be baptized at the end of camp. Special thanks to the many across Council who worked hard to make the camping experiences a success – to those who organized them, the camp directors, house parents, cooks, the chaplain and more. All were volunteers!

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Joan Page BainJoan recently wrote, “Haiti has been going through some very dark and troubling days. The political situation has deteriorated to the extent that the country was actually ‘locked-down’ for two weeks. Schools, banks, businesses, roads and markets were closed. Private planes were permitted to evacuate foreigners if they wanted to leave and some missions withdrew some of their missionaries temporarily. Resolving of the situation will be slow as they are insisting that the president must go.” The new nutrition centre started last year has been delayed as four work teams were cancelled as a result of the turmoil. She continues, “The clinic continues to do well serving an average of 20 clients per day. The Ministry of Health has embarked on a new approach to malnutrition and our staff had an exposure to this study using a peanut butter-base treatment in the 0-5 year-old age group. We were given a trial supplement of this, so we have now engaged in this treatment. Our clinic is ahead in our vaccination programme and data collection in our parish. The gospel is preached daily and each client is given an opportunity to make a personal response.” However, she has formally retired from running the clinic although will continue to be involved with it but at a much reduced level. She continues to run a Friday afternoon children’s club at their Laborde Church to which about 50 come, and she and Allemand are involved with a nearby deaf school. Al is always busy, still running a school but involved in many areas of ministry as well. He prays for strength and wisdom. Jirene has completed her second year in college. As a Spanish major, she will be going to Panama for six weeks in September. Joan’s special prayers are for the political dilemma of Haiti, for the protection of work teams and for the nutrition centre to make progress. A copy of Joan’s recent newsletter is available from the church office.

Nyoman Sumaryana in BaliNyoman and his wife Eka are seeing many in their community coming to Christ and being baptised. These are predominately Hindus but some are Muslims, and include adults and young people. There is a focus on children’s ministry and through it to reach their parents, which is proving to be an effective strategy. The work is growing so quickly that the room in their house which they use for church is proving inadequate. They are praying about demolishing the house and building a new one, but two-storey, with – in his words – “the ground floor for ministry and the second floor to live in. The budget estimate is US$60,00. Now we have just $1500.” He is asking for our prayers. The ‘Pillar House of Prayer’ he built over his father’s former Hindu temple is quite a distance away, too far for the people of his town to travel, and they conduct mid-week adult and children’s ministry there as well. They would also like to start a formal kindergarten class and have applied to the Government for a permit. Please pray for this couple whom God has raised up and using to bring many to a knowledge of Christ.

Mission Update

Carol and Mitzi singing at the Constitution Service Rev. Chris with his Prime Minister

Constitution Thanksgiving Service

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The Sumaryana family - from left: Nico, Nyoman, Eka and Rico, with Joseph (front)