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December, 2013 A COMMUNICATION FROM THE ACTING CHAIRMAN OF PEC, THE REV. DR. ERROL L. CONNOR - EWI PROVINCE VISION STATEMENT A Church - Transformed, "Never in my life" is an expression of surprise or wonder in the face of the United, Victorious in Christ unusual or unexpected. Such a moment of exclamation may result from both positive and negative experiences or events that overtake us on the journey of life. For exam- MISSION STATEMENT ple, one may have been surprised by changes in one's employment, family, marriage, friendships or fortunes in life, and all one can say in review is "never in my life did I By the grace of God, we seek think, believe or imagine such and such would happen to me." The unusual and the to be faithful to our Lord Je- unexpected come rushing into our lives in such a way that we are plunged into the rip sus Christ; without distinc- -tide of wonder and amazement, whether it is to our joy or chagrin. tion, we use all that we pos- sess to call all peoples to the The Season of Advent reminds us of an eternal moment of wonder and truth of the Gospel through amazement: the arrival of Christ, the Savoir of the world. We have only to think of worship, evangelism, disci- the various passages of Scripture that speak of God's activity in preparing the world pleship and service. for the Christ Event. Such revelations filled the persons confronted with wonder and awe. Think of Zechariah, the Priest who was dumbfounded at the promise of a child MAILING ADDRESS: (Luke 1:5ff). He was serving in the temple when he was told of the birth of John the Baptist. He was filled with such disbelief that he could be a father in his old age that I imagine him saying "never in my life." Then, there is the Virgin Mary - a young Moravian Church - EWI Province woman engaged to be married. The angel announced that she will become pregnant Moravian Provincial Headquarters Cashew Hill, P.O. Box 504 and give birth to "the Son of the Most High." Imagine her perplexity. Yet through the St. John’s, Antigua mist of her own thoughts and wonderings - (How could this be?) she yields: "Behold, Tel: (268)560-0185 Fax(268)462-0643 the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to your word.” Then, there is Jo- seph who could not understand why and how his wife to be could be pregnant. In a dream, God reveals the truth of the unusual as part of the divine redemptive plan. Ris- EMAIL ADDRESS ing from sleep, Joseph obediently commits to caring for Mary as his betrothed. The [email protected] wonder continues as we think about Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth. WEB ADDRESS Continue on Page 2 http://www.moravians.net Inside This Issue God of life, lead us to Justice and Book of Order 2012 “Always In our Life” 1- 2 Peace, Message of the WCC 10th 5 - 6 PEC Meetings 2014 7 Birthdays/Anniversaries 13 Assembly/ We intend to move Cana 150th Anniversary Banquet Hymn of the month 3 First woman and African moderator 6 Report from Representatives at 8 - 11 elected to the WCC Central Committee Unity Youth Heritage Tour 2013 Report on the 10th Gen- Scintillating performances at Rental of Moravian Multi- eral Assembly of the 3- 4 Gospel on Steel III 7 Excerpts from the Moravian 12 purpose Complex 14 WCC Monthly Newsletter Fulfilling the Mandate - Submit to God’s Rule 2 Cont’d’ from Page 1 Hymn of the Month for December, 2013 Can you sense the wonder and awe in the salutation of Mikie Roberts (Rev.) Chair, Mary and the baby's kicking? Elizabeth exclaimed, "When Provincial Hymnal Committee. I heard your greetings the babe (John the Baptist) leaped in my womb!” What a story! And yet, it gets better. Mary, nearing the time of delivery, is compelled to take a long For the past three months the hymns have focused on journey with Joseph, her husband. three separate seasons within the Church. In October we focussed on the mission of the Mary arrives in Bethlehem where she gives birth Church as we observed missions in a cattle shed because there was no room in the inn. throughout the Province. For the Wonder of wonder! Then, who can forget the glory dis- month of November we brought played in the heavens as sleepy shepherds were astounded into the spotlight the theme of by the choir of angels singing. Oh, and let's not forget the Thanksgiving as many congrega- wise men who had been tracking and interpreting the signs tions celebrated their harvests in- in the movement of the stars; then to follow that lone star gathering. For this month of De- which led them to the Christ child. They brought him gifts, cember, our hymn of the month most suited to his life and work as the one mediator be- addresses the Advent/Christmas tween God and man. What wonder and awe in the details seasons. of the beautiful story of the Incarnation - The arrival of The hymn of the month for Decem- God in flesh for the sake of fallen humanity. ber is Love came down at Christ- mas. This hymn first appeared as a So, here we are! It is the Season of Advent, and 19th century poem written by Chris- we are again summoned by the details of the Story of tina Rossetti. In our current hymnal it is #63 and is sung Christ's coming into the world. Summoned to reflect, to to the traditional Irish melody GARTAN. The hymn is repent, to prepare, and to advance in service and grow in very simple and direct in declaring the message of the grace. To be sure, we are challenged to open ourselves to Advent/Christmas season. It is its simplicity that makes it the leading of the Holy Spirit as He discloses the deep very attractive as the hymn reminds us of the essence of things of God as we study and journey with the Christ who the Christian Gospel – God so loved the world that He comes afresh to us each day. gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). The message of this hymn points us to the truth that the Advent/ Advent fills us with joyful wonder and amazing Christmas seasons calls us to give attention to the won- hope because God came to us in the vulnerability of hu- der of God’s love being made manifest in the person of man life. God's arrival in Jesus Christ is the assurance that Jesus Christ. Below is the text for this hymn that has all of life is gift: that life is a gift from God and life is the been appointed for the month of December: gift of God. As such, we are privileged to share this most precious gift. Most importantly, we are led to more than a perplexing wonder or amazement. Yes, we are led to won- Love came down at Christmas, derful daily experiences of faith, demonstrating concrete Love all lovely, Love divine; confidence in Jesus, the Christ, as Immanuel - God with Love was born at Christmas, us. This truth of God's personal presence with us moves Star and angels gave the sign. us beyond the exclamation "never in my life" to the daily affirmation of the wonder that because he lives and shall Worship we the Godhead, come again, "He is always in our life". So then it is alright Love incarnate, Love divine; to exclaim and proclaim in this Advent Season that Christ Worship we our Jesus: is the only true God and the one who is "always in our But wherewith for sacred sign? life." If we do, then at his Second Advent, we will have no need to say, "never in my life did I think, believe or imag- Love shall be our token, ine that Christ would forsake me or disown me. Rather as Love be yours and love be mine, we have received Him, He shall receive us. But for Love to God and all men, grace...! A Blessed Advent Season to all! Love for plea and gift and sign. Fulfilling the Mandate - Submit to God’s Rule 3 A REPORT on the 10th Assembly of the WORLD New Dehli ( India) in 1961, Uppsala, (Sweden) inContinue COUNCIL of CHURCHES (WCC) 1968, Nairobi (Kenya) in 1975, Vancouver (Canada) in by Rev. Dr. Errol Connor 1983, Canberra (Australia ) in 1991, Harare ( Zimbabwe) in 1998, Porto Alegre (Brazil) in 2006, and Busan in 2013. In this report, I want to give information that provide a basic understanding and appreciation of the journey, It is of historic significance that The Rev. Dr. Philip Potter, place and the work of the World Council of Churches a Methodist minister, an ecumenical giant, and a Carib- (WCC). I am working with the assumption that there are bean scholar (born in Dominica) was unable to at- few persons who have little knowledge of the work and tend the 10th Assembly due to health reasons. According witness of the WCC. So, even as I report on the 10th to a contribution made by Theodore Gill, "Dr. Potter is 92 Assembly, I hope the reader will come way better in- years old. He was a youth delegate to the inaugural assem- formed. bly in1948. He has attended every assembly since then. He served as the third WCC General Secretary, 1974- MY JOURNEY 1984.