Herald of Hope

Special

Easter

Issue!

A NEWSLETTER OF THE

HOPE UNITED CHURCH

April 2015

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Herald

of Hope A NEWSLETTER OF THE HOPE UNITED CHURCH

April 2015

MISSION STATEMENTMISSION STATEMENTMISSION STATEMENTMISSION STATEMENT OF OF OF OF THE THE THE THE HOPE UNITED CHURCHHOPE UNITED CHURCHHOPE UNITED CHURCHHOPE UNITED CHURCH

As our Loving God, the Head of the Church requires,As our Loving God, the Head of the Church requires,As our Loving God, the Head of the Church requires,As our Loving God, the Head of the Church requires,

We the people of Hope United Church, guided by the We the people of Hope United Church, guided by the We the people of Hope United Church, guided by the We the people of Hope United Church, guided by the

Holy Spirit willHoly Spirit willHoly Spirit willHoly Spirit will::::

Worship him and Worship him and Worship him and Worship him and fellowship together;fellowship together;fellowship together;fellowship together;

Teach and learn more about himTeach and learn more about himTeach and learn more about himTeach and learn more about him;;;;

Love and care for ourselves and others;Love and care for ourselves and others;Love and care for ourselves and others;Love and care for ourselves and others;

Help all to know Christ as their personal Saviour and Help all to know Christ as their personal Saviour and Help all to know Christ as their personal Saviour and Help all to know Christ as their personal Saviour and

LordLordLordLord....

Contact Us

Hope United Church, 221 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6,

Phone 927-2909; Fax 977-6134; Email

hopeunited@cwjamaica.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hope-United-Church/221604841239329?fref=ts

Minister: Rev. Dr. Margaret Fowler

Church Secretary: Mrs Patricia Matheson

Worship Services: Sunday 7:00 am and 8:30 am;

Bible Study : Tuesday 12:30 pm and Wednesday 6:00 pm

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CONTENTS

Message from the Minister 3

Why we need to understand Easter 4

Bible Study: A Reflection of the Cross 6

Interview with Rev. Ashley Smith 8

Ministry Groups - Highlights 13

Auxiliary groups – Highlights 17

Quiz Know your Church 18

SYNOD 19

Ministers / Pastors of the Church 20

Zones at Hope United Church 21

Reading Circle 2013-2015 22

The Story of Hope 24

Answers to Quiz 26

The Editorial Team Editor: Fay Durrant, Members: Timothy

Cawley, Claudia Chambers, Gillian Glean-Walker, Sonia Lynch,

Advisors: Beryl Chevannes and Evelyn Birch

Cover: Cross and Easter LilyCover: Cross and Easter LilyCover: Cross and Easter LilyCover: Cross and Easter Lily

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Message from the Minister

Dear Friends,

Welcome to this ‘New’ version of the

Herald of Hope which is being

published as we celebrate fifty-five

(55) years of ministry at Hope United

Church.

As we reflect on our past ministry we

must also look towards the future,

times are changing and as a church we

must try to meet the needs of a

modern Jamaica. I must take this

opportunity to pay tribute to former

Ministers, Elders and leaders of the

congregation for their vision of what

Hope United should be. Their

commitment to the task of developing

Zones, Ministry Groups work with

Children and Youth and the many

pioneering activities the church has

undertaken during the past fifty five

(55) years.

This is truly a time of celebration as we

also congratulate Mona Preparatory

School on fifty (50) years of excellence

in the field of education. So what of

the next fifty plus (50+) years for Hope

United? Well the hymn writer reminds

us that we must “look forward in

faith” and I would encourage all of us

to rejoice in a wonderful listing of

commitment and service of leadership

and compassion of solidarity in issues

of social justice, it has been done in

the past, it can be done again. Let us

put hearts and our hands together as

we continue to build on this

wonderful legacy that we have been

gifted – the Ministry of our own Hope

United Church.

I thank the editorial team for a job well

done, to Elders, Auxiliaries, Office

Staff, children and young people,

choir, Musical Director, musicians,

members and friends my thanks for

your support and prayers and may we

all give thanks to God for bringing us

thus far.

Yours in Christ,

Margaret Fowler (Rev. Dr.)

Minister

4

Why we need to understand

Easter. by Rev. Dr Margaret Fowler

How many times have you read the

Easter story – once, twice, hundreds

or may be never. Easter is not only the

high point in our Christian calendar

but our faith hinges on our

interpretation of the events of Easter

Sunday or the Resurrection story and

the Apostle Paul, deals with the

Resurrection of Jesus because there

were those who did believe in the

resurrection of the dead.

Paul begins his discourse on the

resurrection of Jesus by stating that

salvation is not possible without Jesus’

resurrection.

So we can begin to see clearly that this

is an important aspect of our faith

many scholars believe that the

Disciples did not understand the

prophecy of the resurrection and

really were ‘taken by surprise’. As we

celebrate Easter we need to ask

ourselves ‘are we taken by surprise’

that God should send His Son to

Calvary, suffer and die on the cross

and rise triumphantly on Easter

Sunday. Do we feel that sense of

surprise or has it become all too

familiar to us? There are indeed many

aspects to the Easter story which

speaks to us in so many ways. The

woman rushing to come back from the

tomb eager to tell the Disciples the

news “He is Risen, He is not there,” or

the disbelief of the Disciples, they

want evidence “Show me” or that

wonderful walk to Emus and the joy

the Disciples experienced when they

realized what was happening “were

our hearts burning within us while He

talked with us and opened the

scriptures to us.”

I believe it is important on our faith

journey to try to approach the Easter

/ Resurrection story in a fresh way

every year. It is not a jaded story it’s

the hinges that holds our faith

together. Many world religions have

had dynamic leadership but only one

has returned as He promised.

Yes we can look at the Easter story in

so many ways you can try to

theologize it into nothing more than a

story. You can try to analyze it

scientifically or you can simply believe

it – that after 2000 plus years Jesus of

5

Nazareth can enable us not only to

feel but experience a newness of life

not only on Easter Sunday but every

day.

It’s through His death and

Resurrection that we know for sure

that He loves us, it’s because of the

Easter events that we have Hope not

only for today but for tomorrow and

forever. Easter brightens our outlook

– firms up our faith. Sets us on the

road again cancels old scores, creates

new opportunities and I could list so

many things. He lives, He lives Christ

Jesus lives today – Hallelujah He is

Risen. Jesus Christ is Risen today.

So why do we need to understand

Easter - because of who we are,

because of whom we belong to -

because of the promises made – we

are His we belong to Him. At the heart

of the Easter story is Jesus Himself. A

promise made to His people, a story

that is the same yesterday, today and

tomorrow but yet remains new every

morning! Easter matters.

May your life be touched this Easter

by the newness of the Easter story.

Every blessing!

Rev.

6

Bible Study: A Reflection of the

Cross.

by Kent Cameron, Student Minister

In some ways, we have become too

accustomed to the cross. We see

crosses every day of our lives. Many

churches have them atop their

steeples. Now, there is nothing

wrong with seeing or using the cross;

but like any other symbol, it can lose

its power in our lives if we become

too familiar with it. In other words,

we can become desensitized to the

cross.

Think about this: For many, the cross

is nothing more than a piece of

jewellery that is used to adorn the ear

or the neck. For some, the cross is an

icon designed for worship; they kneel

before the cross and pray to it. Some

see the cross as an amulet that

contains supernatural power; they

hang it over their bed or carry it

around to ward off evil.

The cross is offensive to some

people. In 1 Cor. 1:23, Paul calls it a

“stumbling block”. This word comes

from the Greek word “skandalon”

which meant a trap or a snare. It

came to mean something that trips a

person up and causes them to fall.

We get the English word “scandal”

from this word. To the Jews, the cross

was a scandal! They could not

conceive of the Messiah being nailed

to a cross! They literally stumbled

over the cross!

The cross is foolishness to some

people. In 1 Cor. 1:23, Paul tells us

that the Greeks considered the cross

to be “foolishness”. This word comes

from the Greek word “moria”, which

gives us the English word “moron”.

The sophisticated Greeks looked at a

Savior dying on a cross and they

declared it to be “moronic

foolishness”.

But, for a few, the cross is an

object of power and wisdom. In 1

Cor. 1:24, Paul says that those who

have grasped the true message of the

cross understand that it is not weak or

foolish. It is instead, the power of God

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Today, I invite us to declare the

message of the cross. It is not a weak

message; it is not a foolish message. It

is a message filled with the awesome

power and wisdom of Almighty God.

Let the message of the cross speak to

your heart today. If you are saved,

rejoice in what God accomplished at

the cross. If you are not saved, you

really need to hear this message

today. The next time when you see

the cross, it is a symbol of God’s

hatred for sin and God’s love for His

people. “God has commended his love

towards us while we yet sinners Christ

died for us.” Roman. 5:8.

The cross of Jesus was about far more

than death, suffering and blood. The

cross of Jesus was a place of

testimony. It was here that God made

His greatest declaration of love for lost

humanity, 1 John 4:9-10. Christ’s

greatest work was accomplished at

the cross. When He raised Lazarus

from the dead, He helped one man

and his family. When He healed the

lepers; delivered the demoniacs;

opened the blind eyes and healed

diseased, twisted bodies; He was

helping one person and one family at

a time. When He fed the 5,000

thousand, He helped 5,000 men plus

women and children. But, when He

died on the cross, Jesus was making a

difference for every member of

Adam’s family who would look to Him

by faith. It wasn’t just one man; but it

was “whosoever will”, Rom. 10:13;

Rev. 22:17. He could have saved

Himself, v. 31, but He stayed on the

cross to save sinners!

Now, what is the cross of Jesus to you?

It is merely a piece of jewellery? Is it

just a religious symbol? Is it a talisman

you hang over your bed to keep the

devil away? Is it pure foolishness? Or,

is the cross the “power of God unto

salvation”? If you will heed the

message of the cross, you will find that

salvation is still available. You will find

that God can still save souls; change

eternal destinies and transform

sinners into saints of God. Today

would be a good day for you to heed

The Message Cross. The “cross” is our

symbol of Hope.

8

An Interview with Rev. Ashley

Smith: 60 Years of Ministry! by Claudia Chambers

Rev. Ashley Smith, speaking at Valedictory Service (UTCWI), University Chapel, Mona. 1986.

He greets you with a smile and words

of welcome, as he checks to see

whether you are on time, based on

the date and time in his diary. Before

discussing the interview topic, he

contemplates aloud on a section

about “Rastafarianism” in the

Dictionary of Christian Spirituality

which he had just been reading.

Although he had read the book

before, he was obviously sufficiently

moved by some of the inclusions and

exclusions he noticed this time, to

wonder how comprehensive and

authentic this “authoritative” work

really was. But such certitude would

undoubtedly be expected,

understood and appreciated when

one realizes that on 17th May 2015,

Rev. Ashley Smith will celebrate the

60th anniversary of his 1955-

ordination! He smiles broadly, even

seeming a little astonished at the fact

of this remarkable milestone; then

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prepares himself for my questions and

his answers.

Q: Rev – tell me a little about

yourself … enough to “introduce”

you…

A: Well, I am a retired minister of

the United Church in Jamaica

and the Cayman Islands. I’ve

worked as a Pastor with the

United Church; as Lecturer at

the United Theological College

of the West Indies (UTC); as

President of the UTC, and

Moderator of the United

Church (see expanded list).

Since being ordained, I’ve gone

abroad on study leave: doing

Bachelor’s and Master’s of

Divinity degrees in

Pennsylvania at the Lancaster

Theological Seminary (1960-62;

and in 1968); then a Master’s

degree in Theology (Theology

and Personality) at Princeton

University.

Reviews on his accomplishments also

extend to being recognized for his

service to Jamaica. He was awarded

the Commander of Distinction (CD) in

2002, and conferred with the Order of

Jamaica, in 2013 for his contributions

to Education and Theological

1 Also ref. “An Afternoon with Rev. Ashley Smith” retrieved from:

development. He has written three

small volumes (including1 “Real Roots

and Potted Plants (1984)” which

speaks to the importance of

missionary churches becoming

indigenised and the book

“Pentecostalism in Jamaica: A

Challenge to Mainline Churches

(1992)”. He has also presented several

scholarly papers on Religion and social

and political development in the

Caribbean.

Q: What about family?

A: I married Winifred Crooks

(whom we all know as Winnie)

in February 1963, and we have

3 children: Faith, who (teaches

at Brandeis University,

Massachusetts), Grace, (who

teaches Mathematics

privately), and Bert (Maritime

Law at the Ministry of

Transport). I also have 2

http://www.utcwi.edu.jm/sites/all/themes/utcwi/pdf/intviewasmith.pdf

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grandchildren: Hannah, (12

years) and Johnathon, (10

years), by our son Bert and

daughter-in-law Sharon, who

practices commercial law.

Q: How would you describe the

linkages between “work”, and

“church”, based on what you’ve

done? Where and how did it

begin? What has kept it going?

A: (Unhesitatingly) It was from my

father. He was an ardent

member of the Baptist Church,

and instilled in me: (a) an

appreciation of the teachings of

the Church; and (b) the need to

serve the community to which

one belongs.

I myself have also been

convinced though, by the

appreciation shown for my

service by the people I served.

This was especially when I was

working at St. John’s Church in

what people sometimes call the

inner-city. There, I learned to

appreciate from them, what

they showed as their

commitment to the work of the

Church and their appreciation

of my leadership.

He told a short story he said he never

forgets: once he was on his way to the

airport, about to travel outside of

Jamaica. Some ladies from St. John’s

stopped him after the service to give

him some US dollars which they had

collected amongst themselves “just to

make sure he was not out-of-pocket”.

Q: Say a little about your specific

work and relationship with Hope

United Church?

A: Well, I was the first Jamaican to

be inducted there, serving from

January 1974 until August 1981.

When I went there, there were

very few of the persons who did

not readily welcome Jamaica

pastors, still worshipping there.

The first Caribbean pastor at

Hope was Rev. Dale Bisnauth of

Guyana, and I was succeeded

there by Rev. Michael Miller,

who arrived when I left to go

and teach at the UTCWI.

One of the major changes

taking place during my time

there was the incorporation

into Hope United, of people

who lived in the surrounding

communities e.g. August Town,

Bryce Hill, Hermitage, Hope

Tavern, Kintyre and others.

Before then, some only had a

Sunday school. Unfortunately,

when the teachers went on

holiday, there was no Sunday

school! So, I insisted the

children start coming to Hope

United Church for Sunday

School, and all other activities

of the congregation.

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Q: What would you describe as the

most important and/or

treasured achievement(s)? Not

necessarily involving you, but

that you have seen taking place.

A: That would be the

“Jamaicanisation” of the

consciousness of the people in

the church. Therefore, it is no

longer that the church is

someone else’s mission, but

instead, a part of the people of

God with their own mission and

culturally unique ways of doing

God’s work.

Q: What about regrets? Do you

have any?

A: I don’t think there are any,

really. I have focused though on

the fact that, in us, there are

gifts of God that we don’t yet

understand. This may be about

helping to introduce us to the

contextuality of theology. For

example, my leg was

amputated in 2013, and since

October 2010 I’ve had 4

operations. But the fact of that

(what has happened with my

health) is now part of my

present story. I’m reading a lot

more. And I also write a lot.

Both of which I might not have

been doing if I was moving

around more as I did before the

beginning of my impairment.

In addition, I also focus now on

the extent to which I am a

beneficiary of the Ministry of

laypersons … a receiver of care,

including that from members of

my immediate family, persons

in my neighbourhood and

laypersons of the Hope United

Church, who have all been

marvelous! That presence and

caring have made a difference.

For example:

− I had to do an MRI (a medical

test), which was quite scary,

since they put you inside

that dark tunnel... I kept my

eyes open out of fear, but it

was so good to see familiar

faces as I came out of there

– someone from the

Meadowbrook congregation

had come to console me!

− Talk about inspiration -- a

lady doctor asked me to pray

for them (the doctors and

nurses) before surgery on

me – so that they could take

best care of me effectively.

− The urologist who cares for

me is someone I have known

since he was a school boy – I

received him into the church

as a young communicant at

St. Paul’s, Lockett Avenue.

I prepare to take my leave and think

again that there is indeed a felt

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“reverence” to being in Ashley Smith’s

presence; meetings that almost force

deep reflection and contemplation on

any range of topics through which he

moves effortlessly, and for as long as

time available allows.

As we’re ending the interview, he

looks at his diary again – to greet with

a smile and welcome, another

member of Hope who arrived to visit

with him. That circle of goodness

remains. And he continues to accept it

all with humility.

Rev Ashley Smith During Active Service:

− Pastor with the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands

− In his career as an ordained minister, he worked in: Lowe River (Trelawny), Pike (Manchester), and

Cascade (St. Ann)

− He also worked as pastor in Retirement, at Maggotty, Accompong, and Thornton (St. Elizabeth) and as

Interim pastor at the following churches:

o St. Andrew’s Scots Kirk;

o St. Paul’s (later becoming pastor);

o Meadowbrook;

o Castleton;

o The Brown’s Hall charge

− During his career he was minister at:

o St. John’s United Church (Hannah Town): 1962 – 1973; and

o Hope United Church: 1974 – 1981

− Lecturer at United Theological College of the West Indies

− Moderator, United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands: 1969-72; 1979-80

− President, Jamaica Council of Churches

− Holder of Lutheran Lectureship: 1981 – 1985

− President of the United Theological College: 1985 – 1990

− Co-founder and President of the Interfaith Council of Jamaica

− Chaplain of the University of the West Indies; and Mona Preparatory School

− Minister-at-large, Presbyterian Church in Ireland: May – June 1973

− Worked with Presbyterian Church, USA (their Mission to America programme): 1975, 1992

− Visiting Professor of Columbia Theological Seminary at Decatur, Georgia, USA: September – December

1992

− Worked with British Council of Churches (Study of: the Offerings of the Ministerial Training Institutions

of Great Britain)

Since Retirement:

− Minister of Presbyterian congregations in Grenada: 1998 – 99

− Part-time Lecturer and Student Advisor in UTC’s Graduate programme (specializing in Religion and

Society): 1999 – present

13

Ministry Groups – Highlights compiled by Gillian Glean-Walker

Outreach and Care

Sick, shut-ins and needy people

Approximately 50 people are supplied

with basic packages on a monthly

basis. Items are also given to the

Shady Grove Early Childhood

Institution. The Ministry Group also

participated in providing goods and

services to the “Feeding the

Homeless” project . Supplies were

received from Food for the Poor,

Grace Kennedy and financial support

was given by members of the

congregation .

Preparing for “Feeding the Homeless”

Senior Citizens meet on the 3rd

Wednesday of the month for

discussions, games, prayer fellowship,

socials and fun times.

Hope Keep-fitters enjoy 3 one hour

sessions weekly, with qualified

instructors.

Shady Grove Early Childhood

Institution caters to 3 - 6 years old

children. The school follows the

prescribed curriculum from the

Ministry of Education.

Hope Area Churches Organization

(HACO) receives an annual financial

contribution from this Ministry group.

Chair: Elder Ruth Coke

Children, Youth & Young Adults

The Children and Youth ministry has

continued to provide spiritual

guidance, as well as opportunities for

leadership and for full participation in

the life of the church.

The Church School now has a home of

its own in the recently refurbished

containers, the Youth Centre , which

is also being used for teachers’ and

parents’ meetings.

Our children were involved in many

events, such as the Ecumenical

14

Children’s Rally organized by the

Sunday School superintendents in the

Hope Area Churches Organisation

(HACO), the ingathering rally for

Mission Funds, the Lenten Self Denial

project and Harvest Festival.

The annual prize giving was held

during Youth Month in November

2014. Children were awarded prizes

and certificates for their good efforts

throughout the year.

All children took part in this variety

concert and in the staging of the

Christmas Concert – The Drummer

Boy , held in December. Participation

by the Lister Gilby Mair School for the

Deaf, items by Miss Fiona Kerr and the

drummers from Mona Preparatory

School were added features.

A new addition to the Church School

programme is The Children’s Church

which has, been held on three

occasions this year. The last of these

was held on Sunday March 15 in the

sanctuary, and which included a dance

performance and dramatisation of the

story of the Samaritan Woman at the

Well. Children were responsible for all

aspects of the worship service, except

for the sermon and the notices.

The football team which includes boys

from the Youth Fellowship and the

Boys’ Brigade are 2014 champions and

recipients of the Tucker Cup.

Youth Sunday March 15

Vacation Bible School and Summer

Camps are also activities in which the

children participate.

A trip to the Pringle Home for Girls in

Carron Hall, St. Mary is being planned

for April 2015. Parents have already

been informed about this and a good

turnout of children and their parents

is anticipated on that day.

Co-Chair: Elders Arlene Campbell and

Arlene Edwards

Worship & Fellowship

This committee works to ensure for all

members, adherents and visitors, a

vital worship experience that will

facilitate belief in the Lordship of Jesus

15

Christ and to create a welcoming and

caring environment in the church.

Focus this year , will be on the

development of the music ministry as

we attempt to enhance the vibrancy

of worship services and to include

more participation from children and

youth during the Sunday morning

service.

Chair: Elder Elizabeth Sherman

Discipleship/ Membership

The church has acquired an electronic

Church Management System,

Excellerate, and is in the process of

putting in place a networked version

of the system. At the same time, and

in conjunction with this activity, the

Discipleship and Membership

Committee is reorganizing the church

office to expand the effectiveness of

the church’s administrative functions.

Chair: Elder Winsome Johns-Gayle

Stewardship

The Committee has analysed the

"Time, Talent and Treasure" Pledge

Forms for 2015, and the results of the

analysis have been circulated to all

Elders, to assist Ministry Groups in

determining where members

indicated a willingness to assist in the

various Church activities. This

information will be entered in the

newly acquired Church management

software system, Excellerate.

With respect to monetary pledges and

tithes, quarterly statements of Pledge

balances will be circulated to

members who have pledged.

Under consideration will be the

holding of at least two Forums during

2015 to highlight Tithing and the

importance of giving for the work of

the Church. The congregation should

note that over 80% of Hope United

Church’s income comes from

members’ and adherents’

contribution.

Chair: Elder Noel Osbourne

Mission & Evangelism

This Ministry Group has defined its

goals , objectives and strategies to

meet perceived needs.

The Goal of Mission is to minister to

the spiritual and other needs of

specific target/age groups of the

church & local community, with

emphasis on young persons, seniors

and reaching out to the needy within

our immediate church community.

The Goal of Evangelism is to further

strengthen evangelism and outreach

programmes by targeting specific

groups and/or establish programmes

within our church in order to reach

others for Christ and grow the church

Chair: Elder Pauline Beaumont

16

Property

The Property Committee continues to

care and maintain all Hope United

Church property.

Renovation work on the four metal

containers, now named “The Youth

Centre”, commenced in 2013. At

present work on the ground floor of

the building has been completed and

plans are in place to complete the

upper floor in the near future.

Renovation work on the resident

caretaker's accommodation is

completed. Furniture and household

appliances were provided by

members of the congregation. The

new caretaker started work in March,

2015.

.

Co-Chairs: Mr. David Copeland and

Mr. Delroy Hill

Communication

Over the past year the Committee has

extended use of electronic media. We

have therefore begun to make greater

use of the Church’s presence on

Facebook to share information about

church activities and areas of interest.

To facilitate this we need to have

current emails of all church members

through updating of the List of

Members.

Plans for the launch of the Church’s

website are being implemented. The

draft of the website contents has been

prepared and work is ongoing to

incorporate the contents including the

“Herald of Hope” into the website.

The Reading Circle which meets on the

Third Sunday of each month, has

focused on talks and films related to

local issues. Sessions have covered

poetry readings, and interactive

presentations by authors on their

works. Church members are invited to

suggest publications for discussion.

Chair: Prof. Fay Durrant

17

Auxiliary Groups – Highlights compiled by Gillian Glean-Walker

Men’s Fellowship

The Men of Hope continue to host

worship services throughout the year;

the highlight being the Annual

Synodical Service in October . In May

2014 the Fellowship organized for the

well-known tenor, De Mario

McDowell to serenade all the ladies at

the 8:30 a.m. Service on Mothers’

Day. On the Fifth Sunday in August

we also had , as our Guest Preacher,

Dr. Michael Coombs, Founder and

President of the National Association

of the Family.

The Men of Hope continues to

participate in the activities of the

North Eastern Regional Mission

Council (NERMC) Men’s Fellowship,

give support to the Boys’ Brigade and

assist in teaching Church School

during the summer. A special fund

raising Pre-Easter Fish Fry was held at

the Church in March, to assist the Boys

in purchasing gears for sporting

activities, training young officers and

acquiring items for a Drum Corps.

President: Elder Winston Wright

Women’s Fellowship

We live by our Motto “ By Love, Serve

“ We host two annual fund raising

efforts to help our outreach projects

such as Pringle Home, Shady Grove

Basic School , Sunday School, Girls’

Brigade. On our Women’s Fellowship

Sunday each January, we also give

funds to be used toward the

Emergency Health Fund.

President: Mrs. Ceta Ebanks

Young Adults Action Movement

Our purpose and mission is simple: to

create a space for young adults to feel

comfortable in their journey to Christ

so that they may participate in

Christian service for their Church and

throughout their daily lives.

We lead by declaring the Good News:

Despite our challenges, God is

continuously relevant and working in

our everyday lives. We spread this

idea by participating in activities in

and outside the church. These include:

outreach through planned visits to

sick and shut ins of the church;

conducting Bible Studies; participating

in weekly 7:00 am and 8:30 am

services church services through

Praise and Worship, ushering,

Scripture Readings and Children and

Youth sessions .

18

As the Jamaican phrase affirms: “Wi

little but wi tallawah”

President: Ms. Danielle Gordon

Youth Fellowship

1 Timothy 4:12 : "Don't let anyone

look down on you because you are

young, but set an example for the

believers in speech, in life, in love, in

faith, and in purity."

We are committed to leading all youth

to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

Youth Fellowship is open to youth

ages 13 - 25. We meet on Sunday

mornings after church, 11:00 am

12:30 pm, and our activities include

Bible Study , led by the youth leaders,

and discussions. Along with Bible

Study there are normally games,

further discussions, small outings and

refreshment after meetings. Youth

Fellowship also has our own small

choir and we often perform in church.

President: Ms. Shallene Oliver

Youth Fellowship members

Quiz: How well do you know your Church?Quiz: How well do you know your Church?Quiz: How well do you know your Church?Quiz: How well do you know your Church?

1. On what date was Hope United Church formally established?

2. Which were the originating churches?

3. Name four previous ministers of the Hope United Church.

4. Where is the “Youth Centre” of Hope United Church located?

5. Name four Ministry Groups of the Hope United Church.

6. Name the schools for which Hope United Church is responsible.

7. Give the first line of the Mission Statement of the Hope United Church.

8. What is the name of the Church Secretary?

9. Who is the Moderator Elect of the United Church?

10. Name the author of “The Cross and the Machete”

11. Estimate the number of members of the Hope United Church to the nearest fifty.

19

SYNOD by Patricia Matheson

Synod, headed by The Moderator, is

the biennial gathering of the

leadership and decision making body

of the Church. It is divided into four

Regional Mission Councils, and each

Regional Mission Council is headed by

a Regional Deputy General Secretary

(RDGS). The Regional Mission Councils

are:

Cayman Islands Regional Mission

Council (CIRMC)

North Eastern Regional Mission

Council (NERMC)

Southern Regional Mission Council

(SRMC)

Western Regional Mission Council

(WRMC)

Synod 39 will be held during the

period April 20 – 23, 2015 at the

Kendal Camp and Conference Centre.

The theme is “Renewal and

Transformation: Discipleship for

LIFE” the acronym LIFE represents

Liberty, Integrity, Faith and

Environment.

During the Opening Ceremony,

Moderator elect, Rev. L. Christopher .

Mason will be installed as the

Moderator for an initial period of two

years. Another highlight of this year’s

Synod will be the recognition, in the

form of a public lecture, of our Dr.

Norma Smellie, for her forty-eight

years of outstanding and dedicated

service to the United Church in

Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

This public lecture will be held on

Wednesday, April 22 at 2:30 p.m. at

Kendal Camp and Conference Centre.

The delegates to this year’s Synod

from Hope United Church will be the

following members of the

Congregational Board: Rev. Dr.

Margaret Fowler, Minister, and Elders

Noel Osbourne, (Deputy Chair),

Janyce Robinson, (Church Treasurer)

and Patricia Matheson, (Church

Secretary).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

20

Ministers / Pastors of the Church

The congregation has been blessed with the service of the following leaders:

Rev. Mungo Carrick April 1960 – March 1961

Rev. John Perry April 1961 – March 1962

Rev. Douglas Miller March 1962 – September 1963

Rev. William Mayberry October 1963 – June 1969

Rev. Dale Bisnauth October 1969 – March 1973

Rev. Ashley Smith January 1974 – August 1981

Rev. Michael Miller 1983 – 1989

Rev. Dr. Roderick Hewitt 1996 – 2010

Rev Dr. Margaret Fowler January 2011 - Present

There was also valuable leadership from the following Interim Ministers:

Rev. Raymond Schember 1967

Rev. A.H. Taylor 1969

Rev. Gladstone Donalds 1973-1974

Rev. Samuel Smellie 1989-1996

Rev. Raymond Coke 2010

Extracted from: A History of Hope United Church by Elizabeth Sherman

21

The Zones at Hope United .

The purpose of Zones is to build

authentic fellowship so that every

member may have a deep sense of

belonging. The Zone offers the space

and opportunity for members to learn

to learn to relate to others in the

Church.

When a Zone is functioning well four

things are visible:

Members genuinely care for each

other;

Members participate and share from

the heart;

Members learn from and love the

study of the Scriptures;

Members regularly show up for Zone

meetings.

Everyone in the group is vital to its

proper functioning. Therefore when

one member is absent it impacts

significantly on the dynamics of the

group.

At Hope there is no official structure

for the functioning of each Zone. It

has been left open for the Elders and

members to choose a structure that

best meets their needs.

In addition to engendering a warm

and inviting fellowship, the Zone must

give focused attention to outreach.

Without outreach the group becomes

insular and stultified. “Reaching out”

should be at the heart of the purpose

and agenda of the Zones.

Adapted from ‘ Strengthening the Zone Ministry’ in the publication ‘Elders of Hope’

ZONES GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS

01 Papine Road, United Theological College, easterly off Papine Road to Elleston Flats

and environs, southerly to Gibraltar Camp Road, along Hermitage Road to

Goldsmith Villa Road to include Hermitage, August Town and environs, Hope

Tavern, Kintyre. Leaders: Venice Walters and Ruth Coke.

2A Mona Heights: East on Garden Blvd leading into Violet Avenue , crossing Gardenia

Avenue and Mona Road, UWI and environs. Leaders: Sonia Lynch and W. Johns-

Gayle

2B Mona Heights: West of Garden Blvd leading into Violet Avenue to Gardenia and

Mona Road, Karachi Avenue, Long Mountain, and environs, , along Mona Road to

Matilda ‘s Corner including Blue Castle Drive. Leaders: Carol Davis and Gillian

Glean-Walker.

03 Matilda’s Corner, easterly to Mona Road and Wellington Drive, Beverly Hills, and

Beverley Glades to Old Hope Road , along Old Hope Road to Lady Musgrave Road

and Seymour Lands. Intersection of Old Hope Road and Mountain View Ave.

22

ZONES GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS

southerly along Mt. View to include Nannyville, Mountain Terrace. Mt. View

Gardens, Windward Road, to Harbour View. Leaders: Patricia Matheson, Lascelles

Lewis and Noel Osborne

O4 Intersection of Hope Road and Lady Musgrave to Trafalgar Road, Waterloo

Road(including New Kingston and Trafalgar Park to intersection of Upper Waterloo

and Grants Pen Roads, Drumblair, West Kings House Road, Mayfair, to Hope Road,

Lady Musgrave to Waterloo Road. Leaders: Patricia Durrant and Janyce Robinson

05 Intersection Constant Spring and Dunrobin Avenue, Washington Blvd, Molynes

Road, Meadowbrook, Havendale, Mannings Hill, Mary Brown’s Corner, Pembrooke

Hall, Duhaney Park, Portmore and environs, Smokey Hill and environs, Constant

Spring, Stony Hill. Leaders: Pauline Beaumont and Janet Irwin

06 Intersection of Shortwood and Grants Pen Roads, Barbican Road, Acadia , Alysham,

Norbrook, Cherry Gardens, Manor Park to Shortwood Road Leaders : Junie

Goulbourne and Winston Wright.

07 Intersection of Acadia Drive and Barbican Road, to east Kings House Road, Jacks

Hill, Graham Heights, Russell Heights Leaders: Arlene Campbell and Arlene

Edwards

08 Intersection of Barbican and Widcome Roads to Mountain Spring to include Armon

Jones and environs, part of Hope Pastures area bounded by Charlemont Drive,

Monterey Drive and Widcombe Leaders: Lois Morgan and Winston Wright

09 Part Hope Pastures: Hope Blvd. to Charlemont Drive, including College Green,

Glendon Circle, Hart Blvd., and environs including National Chest Hospital and

Lister Mair Gilby school and School for the Deaf Leaders: Elizabeth Sherman and

Earl Sammuels.

10 Intersection of Hope Blvd. and Old Hope Road, easterly along Old Hope Road to

Papine (including U.Tech), Papine to Gordon Town, Guava Ridge, Irish Town

(including educational institutions in the area) Leaders: Marlene Uter and Evan

Oniss

20/05/2014

23

The Reading Circle 2013-2015

by Fay Durrant

The Reading Circle began in July 2013,

with the objective of encouraging

reading and discussion of local

publications and issues among church

members. Our first session was led by

Dr Velma Pollard, poet and educator,

who read extracts from her poetry,

made comments, and answered

questions from the audience. She

made reference to her published

anthology: “And Caret Bay Again: New

and Selected Poems” 2013.

In September 2013 we began viewing

the trilogy HUSH – a film in three parts

– set in Barbados. It was aimed at

exploring the difficulties experienced

by young people in a family impacted

by drugs, violence, incest and abuse.

The three films, HUSH, HUSH TWO

End the Silence, and HUSH THREE

Twisted Innocence were shown in

September and October 2013, and

February 2014. Rev Fowler introduced

each film.

In November 2013, Prof Veront

Satchell’s book “Hope Transformed: A

Historical Sketch of the Hope

Landscape, St Andrew, Jamaica, 1660–

1960. ” provided a view of the Hope

Estate area through various stages of

its development. In his presentation

he traced the changes in the Hope

Estate and the ways in which the use

of the properties were converted

from plantations to educational

institutions, commercial interests and

residential communities.

We started 2014 with Dr Barry Wade’s

presentation of his book “Ministry at

the Margins: Stories of Struggle,

Survival, and Transformation at the

Margins of Society.” This book covers

the Mona Baptist Church’s HELP

Ministry (Healing and Empowerment

with Love and Prayer) and “tells the

story of people whose lives were

transformed through this programme

for helping marginalized people in the

Hope area”.

In May and June of 2014, the sessions

covered the environment and

particularly the issues related to the

planned “Jamaican Logistics Hub.”

The presentations were made by Dr

Fritz Pinnock, on The Jamaica Logistics

Hub – Logistics 101 and by Prof Dale

Webber on Coastal Zone

Management. Dr Pinnock’s

presentation was reflected in the

publication“ Piracy to Transhipment :

24

Jamaica’s Journey to Becoming a

Global Logistics Hub”

www.gracekennedy.com/images/lect

ure/grace_lec-2014final_ebook.pdf

Prof Webber’s presentation “ Current

Issues on Jamaica’s Coastal Zone

Management Particularly in Relation

to the Development of the Logistics

Hub” brought out the scientific

implications of some of the options

under discussion .

In September 2014, “They Call Me

Teacher: The Life and Times of Sir

Howard Cooke, Governor-General of

Jamaica”, was presented by the

author Jackie Ranston. The

presentation reflected the areas to

which Sir Howard dedicated his life,

and the impact of his teaching, local

and regional political endeavours, his

work in the insurance industry, and as

Governor General.

In February 2015 Rev. Earl Thames’

former Moderator of the United

Church, presented his work “The Book

of Revelation: A commentary for

Laypersons” in the form of a bible

study which was followed by

discussion.

The most recent session of the

Reading Circle held in March 2015 was

led by the Rev. Dr Devon Dick author

of “The Cross and the Machete: Native

Baptists of Jamaica – Identity, Ministry

and Legacy”. He congratulated the

Hope United Church for having

implemented the concept of the

Reading Circle and indicated that he

was very pleased to have been invited

to present his work.

Rev Dick introduced The Morant Bay

Rebellion, otherwise known as the

Native Baptist War which he said

represents an important watershed in

Jamaican history. He identified several

writers of traditional historiography

who have often represented the

actions of Paul Bogle, hero/villain

Baptist Deacon and his followers

when they marched on the Morant

Bay Court House in 1865, as being

motivated by mere murderous intent.

He stressed the importance of

thorough research as evidenced by his

findings in original documents

attributed to Bogle and other Native

Baptists.

‘The Cross and the Machete provides

an alternative interpretation of Bogle

s actions and introduces a new

paradigm for understanding the

struggle for equality, justice and

liberation.”

Rev Dick concluded that Paul Bogle

was inspired to act because of the

injustices meted out to his group and

others in the colonial court system,

and could be described as a martyr.

25

The Story of Hope by Neville Gibbs

(Reproduced from the 25th Anniversary issue of “Herald of Hope,” April 1985)

It is a great joy and privilege for me to

convey these greetings on the

occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the

founding of the Hope Church.

Most of you would have read

something of our history in the

Souvenir Brochure which was

circulated on the occasion of our 21st

Anniversary and so I simply wish to

bring to you some of the highlights of

our achievements during past 25

years.

As you know, the Church was formally

established and congregated on

Easter Sunday, 17 April, 1960, by the

late Rev Alfred Henry, (husband of our

own Myrtle Henry), Moderator of the

South-East Presbytery of the

Presbyterian Church of Jamaica and

Grand Cayman.

Rev. Mungo Carrick, Minister of St

Andrew’s Scots Kirk was named the

first Minister and he served until

March 1961. He was followed by Rev.

John Perry, (Theological Tutor of the

Union Seminary) and the Rev. Douglas

Miller, Minister of Lincoln Kirk, who

both served for short periods of one

year or more until October 1963,

when Rev. William Mayberry, Minister

of the United Church of Canada was

inducted as our first full time Minister.

Rev. Mayberry served with great zeal

and assiduity until 3rd June 1969

before returning to Canada with his

family.

It was during the Ministry of the Rev.

Mayberry that our new and beautiful

church was built and furnished at a

cost of £19,000.00.. Also, it was

during this Ministry that we acquired

the Manse at 19 Margaret Drive at a

cost of £8,500.00.

Rev. Mayberry was succeeded by the

Rev. Dale Bisnauth who served from

October 1969 until 3rd March, 1973

before he returned to Guyana.

Following Rev. Bisnauth’s resignation

in November 1973, the congregation

was pleased to call the Rev. Ashley

Smith, Minister of St. John’s Church to

be our sixth Minister and he too

served with great distinction and

dedication from 27th January 27, 1974

until the 31st August, 1981, before

resigning to take up a teaching

appointment at the U.T.C.W.I.

Following his resignation, the vacancy

was temporarily filled by the Rev.

26

Samuel Smellie, General Secretary of

the United Church of Jamaica and

Grand Cayman, who served as Acting

Minister for a period of two years until

the recent appointment of the Rev.

Michael Miller in August 1983. We

congratulate our new pastor most

heartily on his leadership and his

accomplishments over the past two

years and wish for him every success

in the years that lie ahead.

During the past 25 years, we have

seen the Church grow in grace and in

numbers. Our several organisations

have grown from strength to strength

and while only 11 of the original 36

members are still worshipping with

us, our membership now stands at

300, while our Annual Budget has

grown from 000.00 to $120,000.00. In

fact, our budget has doubled in the

last 4 years from $60,000.00 to

$120,000.00.

.

With sacrifice, we have built what

many may have come to regard as a

beautiful landmark in the Mona area

and since that time we have added a

new Church Complex at a cost of some

$80,000.00.

We thank God for the progress that

we have made during the past 25

years of the existence of this Church,

and acknowledge with gratitude the

work of our past Ministers and Office-

Bearers, who without thought or

reward, have gladly given themselves

wholeheartedly to the work of the

Church.

We have had our ups and downs and

our exciting periods of growth,

especially during the formative years

and although our growth pattern has

been somewhat irregular, we are

strengthened in the fact that we now

have a number of new, young

members who are willing to take part

in Church work, and are doing it most

acceptably.

We, the founders, are therefore

pleased to hand over to our

Successors, a Church in good heart,

sound financially and with many

young and keen members who, we

feel sure will seek to build on the

example and strong foundation laid

by the founders. May God richly bless

us all.

NOTE: The late Neville Gibbs was a

founding member and Life Elder of

the Church.

27

BLOOPERSBLOOPERSBLOOPERSBLOOPERS!!!!!!!! FROM BULLETINS AND NOTICE BOARDSFROM BULLETINS AND NOTICE BOARDSFROM BULLETINS AND NOTICE BOARDSFROM BULLETINS AND NOTICE BOARDS

The Fasting and Prayer Conference includes meals.

--------------------------

The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for

Jesus,'

--------------------------

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth

keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

--------------------------

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is

hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.