Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study
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  Friday, May 30, 2008    
  Gold Divider Rule
  Britain and Ireland  
             
 

This meditation was written by the Rev. Douglas Nicol, secretary of the Mission and Discipleship Council of the Church of Scotland.

We all know the challenge of ensuring that our Christian faith is passed on from generation to generation. We also know how we can all chat over a good cup of coffee. With this in mind the Council has launched Cosycoffeehouse to encourage congregations in their work with young people. Congregations all over Scotland are setting up Cosy (Church of Scotland Youth) Coffee Houses using kits that include publicity materials, fairly traded coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, T-shirts, aprons, and menu cards with controversial quotations to get the conversation flowing. Many kits have been purchased, and where two or more are gathered over a cup of coffee, issues are discussed and faith is shared.

We sometimes share the story of a boy who says to his mother, “Remember the vase that you told me has been in our family for many generations—passed from one to another?” Before his mother can respond, the boy blurts out, with tears in his eyes, “Well, Mother, this generation has just broken it!”

This amusing story has a point to it. The Christian faith in Scotland has been lovingly passed on for many generations, ever since the days of Columba and Ninian. We are often challenged with the thought that our generation risks failing to effectively pass on the gospel. Cosycoffeehouse was developed with that in mind. Please pray with us that God will use it for his purposes.

In 1985 the Rev. Malcolm Scott asked the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) to establish a committee on peacemaking. In spite of nearly twenty years of civil conflict in Northern Ireland, the resolution was voted down. However, Malcolm, believing peacemaking to be both a biblical mandate and a necessity in Ireland, brought a similar resolution the next year. It was narrowly agreed that a temporary group develop a report for discussion. More members began to see a denominational peacemaking focus as a faithful response to the gospel. In 1990 a permanent Assembly committee was set up to educate the denomination and to call the church to constructive action.

PC(USA) mission co-worker Doug Baker was on this committee. As well as writing reports, the committee began organizing conferences and asked each congregation to appoint a peace agent to keep this mandate before them and encourage practical steps for peace at the local level. With others Doug develops conferences and training events, particularly for peace agents. Time and again when he meets them, they are downhearted about the inability to get large numbers from their congregation to become involved in initiatives. His standard reply is “Begin now and do what you can with the few you have. Others will be drawn in.”

In 2005 funding was secured to appoint two full-time peacemaking officers in the PCI, Laura Coulter and Deborah Erwin. In March 2007 a discipleship training course was launched for use in congregations.

 
             
  Gold Divider Rule
  Let us pray for  
 

PC(USA) People in Mission
Rev. Thomas Arthur, pastor, United Reformed Church [United Kingdom] • World Mission (WM), Europe Office: Rev. Doug Baker, regional liaison, Ireland, UK/YAV site coordinator, Elaine Baker, team ministry [United Kingdom] • Young Adult Volunteers, community development interns, Presbyterian Church in Ireland; Sarah Craven, Jessica Samoy, Bethany Therriault, Melissa Wheeler, Maureen Wilson, and Alexander Wirth

PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Theodis Howard, BOP
Robin Howell, PPC
Bryce B. Hudson, GAC
James Hudson, BOP
Rev. Jay Hudson, PILP

Partners/Ministries
Church of Scotland: Very Rev. Finlay MacDonald, principal clerk • Churches Together in Britain and Ireland: Rev. Dr. David Goodbourn, general secretary • Iona Community [Scotland]: Rev. Kathy Galloway, leader • Irish Council of Churches/Irish Inter-Church Meeting: Michael Earle, general secretary • Presbyterian Church in Ireland: Rev. Donald Watts, clerk of the assembly, general secretary • Irish School of Ecumenics: Dr. Linda Hogan, director • Corrymeela Community: Dr. David Stevens, leader • United Reformed Church [England]: Rev. Anthony G. Burnham, general secretary, Rev. Dr. Philip Wood, director, International and Ecumenical Relations • Time for God [Great Britain]: Rev. David Williamson, director • Presbyterian Church in Wales: Rev. Ifan Roberts, clerk

 
             
  Gold Divider Rule
  Prayer      
  May the people of Scotland hear clearly the gospel of Jesus Christ, see the life of his Spirit among his people, and come to know the love of God the Father. Amen.  
             
  Gold Divider Rule
  Lectionary      
  Ps. 130, 148 Ps. 32, 139
Prov. 23:19–21, 29—24:2
1 Tim. 5:17–22 (23–25)
Matt. 13:31–35
 
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