25 March 2020
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“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” [Ezekiel 33:6]
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“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” [Ephesians 6:12]
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Presbyterians Week Headlines
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[2] Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) Announces Moderator-Designate for 2020
[4] 13 March 2020 United Church of Christ Letter to Calvin Synod
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NEWS PROVIDED BY
Dr. David A. Newberry
March 23, 2020
WASHINGTON, March 23, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ — On Friday, March 19, 2020, ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon and Paul McCartney was released by CBS as a video by 25 celebrities, remorsefully confessing the existence of heaven and hell in a backhanded manner in which they are only imagining and dreaming that God does not exist.
The dream of a godless world forms their basis for communism, borderless nations, world peace, no property rights, no greed or hunger (a state existing only in a theocracy), and the brotherhood of humankind without the Fatherhood of God. The final kicker to the lyrics are that if we join them in John Lennon’s and Paul McCartney’s atheistic fantasyland, world unity will magically happen.
What gave rise to the ‘Imagine’ video was that their dream was interrupted by the coronavirus with them all on lockdown, videoing their solos of each phrase on their phones and piecing the video clips together, which was broadcast on CBS.
In reply to this delusional tirade, students from Westminster Seminary California, joined by Rev. James F. Linzey who is a television personality, singer, songwriter, recording artist, and Southern Baptist minister, produced a video in answer to CBS and the Hollywood celebrities.
On Sunday, March 22, 2020, these students produced and published a video titled ‘It Is Well with My Soul – Students of Westminster Seminary California.’ The hymn is taken from the Trinity Hymnal Psalter. Each of the participating students sang one phrase just as the celebrities did in Lennon’s and McCartney’s ‘Imagine.’ Some of the students were very polished. Some were just willing to make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
But everyone sounded at least every bit as good as Bob Dylan who at one time, after awakening from his own dream world, asked Christ into his heart and recorded the infamous album ‘Slow Train Coming.’ Perhaps one day these celebrities will, likewise, wake up. Otherwise, their train ride may come for them, too.
Just as the celebrities were on lockdown, these students were unable to attend church since the churches are closed for services during the pandemic. Yet the seminary students spent their time not dreaming, but producing this video from their respective homes.
These students include Phillip Han from South Korea who is a third-year student in the Master of Divinity program. When asked about why he is at Westminster Seminary California, he replied, “I came to this school to be well-equipped for a lifetime of ministry. I have come to love God even deeper through His Word and can’t wait to teach and preach to others about the amazing, soul-satisfying truths of God that I have come to realize.” Phillip is preparing for the ministry. His life is sold out to Jesus Christ and has dedicated his entire future to the Lord’s work–including his possessions–something the celebrities merely dream of doing.
The seminary students’ production includes about 17 students, many who, like Phillip Han and Jim Linzey, have incredible singing voices and are preparing for the ministry–leading lives of self-sacrifice, living in the brotherhood of humankind, but under the Fatherhood of God.
These students are not living in a fantasy land as some of the celebrities are. These Christian students at Westminster Seminary California do indeed practice what they preach, have given all to the God that the celebrities dream did not exist, and produced an amazing response in their video. They are to be commended.
“I am thankful for Westminster Seminary California for training me for the good works God has prepared for me,” said Phillip Han.
Very respectfully,
Dr. David A. Newberry
Author, International Evangelist, Conference Speaker
SOURCE Dr. David A. Newberry
CONTACT: 817-944-4081, david-newberry@sbcglobal.net
+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com
+ Westminster Seminary California, 1725 Bear Valley Parkway, Escondido, California 92027, 760-480-8474, Fax: 760-480-0252, info@wscal.edu
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[2] Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) Announces Moderator-Designate for 2020
The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) announce that the Moderator-designate of their next General Assembly is the Rev. John Macleod, a native of Fearn in Easter Ross and currently minister at Portmahomack on the Tarbat peninsula. Mr MacLeod is expected to take up his duties as Moderator in May.
Mr MacLeod hails from Fearn and after graduating from Aberdeen University worked for two years in the legal documentation department of an Edinburgh Insurance company, before commencing studies for the ministry.
Upon completion of his studies in the Free Church College, Edinburgh in 1974, Mr MacLeod worked among students in Aberdeen, before going on to spend two years preaching in North America. Inducted to his present charge in 1978 he has now been minister of the parish of Tarbat for over forty-one years. There he is widely respected in the community as he continues to bring the truth of God’s word before the people.
His great desire is to set forth in simple language the glorious truths of God’s gracious offer of salvation to sinners.
While in North America he met and married Joy Morrison, a native of Prince Edward Island, whose forebears had left the Island of Handa, in NW Sutherland in the mid-nineteenth century. They have been blessed with nine children and fourteen grandchildren.
A keen singer, Mr. MacLeod has always showed a great enthusiasm for teaching Psalm singing. He has also been involved in Broadcasting both in Canada and in Scotland. He is currently the Church’s Press Officer.
Hobbies listed in Who’s Who in Scotland include squeezing quarts into pint pots and getting blood out of stones. As well as a general interest in traditional and folk music, Mr MacLeod has also in the past pursed electronics and woodwork as pastimes with a measure of success – a cradle he made for his first Scottish-born child being sturdy enough to have been now been passed on to the next generation!
During his studies for the ministry, Mr MacLeod displayed a special interest in Church History and Church Principles and in Church law and practice. This has been recognised in the Church, by his appointment to various Clerkships including Clerk to the Training of the Ministry & Admissions Committee, Clerk to the Free Presbytery of Ross and Principal Clerk of Assembly. His skills in precision for fine detail and the correct use of language, honed during his years drafting legal documentation for an insurance company, have been of great use in the administrative affairs of the Church; although he often covers draft documents with much red ink, it is not done out of pride or awkwardness, but out of a desire to ensure that what is done is right and for the good of Christ’s Church.
Mr. MacLeod has served as Moderator of General Assembly on a previous occasion and will come to the Chair with a proven ability to guide the 2020 General Assembly in their discussions.
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+ Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), Rev. John MacLeod, Free Church Manse, Portmahomack, Ross-shire, Scotland, principalclerk@fccontinuing.org
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A 13 March 2020 LifeSiteNews article by Jeanne Smits titled Court Rejects Appeal of Argentinian Doctor Found Guilty for Refusing To Abort Twenty-Three-Week-Old Baby reports that Dr. Leandro Rodriguez Lastra’s appeal of his conviction for refusing to perform an abortion on a twenty-three-week-old unborn child was rejected Wednesday by a court in Rio Negro, and his fourteen-month suspended prison sentence has been confirmed and he will also be suspended from all public appointments for twenty-eight months.
The court decision included language about a women’s personal right to “autonomy,” the need to judge the case according to “gender perspective,” and one judge describing Dr. Rodrigez’s refusal to abort as “obstetrical violence.”
The then-unborn child is now a two-year-old boy.
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+ LifeSiteNews.com, Incorporated, 4 Family Life Lane, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, 888-678-6008, Contact Page
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[4] 13 March 2020 United Church of Christ Letter to Calvin Synod
Dear Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai,
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14:27
With the rest of the world, we are watching with concern as the developments of COVID-19 continue to garner attention globally. We are actively gathering information daily from respected global health organizations and communicating with Conferences, churches, and ecumenical partners, to support the decision making of UCC leadership in their varied settings. We are also taking steps to ensure the health and safety of the staff of the National Setting is maintained by reducing risk and putting new protocols in place for staff safety.
In the last 24 hours, COVID-19 cases prompted mandatory school closings,
event cancellations and workforce disruptions. When the elected Officers of the UCC recommitted ourselves earlier this year to praying for you daily, we could not envision that we would be facing a global pandemic today. Even as our congregations and conferences prepare to work with our communities in new ways and employ agreed upon practices for addressing COVID-19, the Spirit leads us to believe there is no better time to be the church.
In times of crisis and social disruption, people look to the Church for spiritual guidance and assurance that God is with us, and indeed: God is with us! Even as churches are cancelling worship and moving to online services, the time to be present in our communities is upon us. Recommended practices of social distancing offer new opportunities for us to be the church that is needed in this time. We believe in facts over fear and promote safety and precautions for all including members of the UCC and the staff across our settings. Travel plans continue to be halted and events are being cancelled, postponed and reimagined, so be ready.
We know that this developing situation is on the minds of our Conference Ministers and we pray for them as they provide leadership in their settings, making recommendations for churches in their contexts and providing pastoral care. Determining when and if to cancel or postpone gatherings is to be undertaken with care and consideration of the unfolding facts, as concerns continue to be heightened in communities where emergency declarations have been made and social distancing has become mandatory.
Our Conferences are providing and updating resources for UCC congregations, work that is ongoing as we continue to minister one with the other during this time.
One of the challenges of social distancing is isolation. How do we exercise more care for one another? This is a time to consider the ways we can show love for our neighbors within the context of this current health crisis. Let’s pray for each other. Let’s look out for one another, demonstrate care for one another, and simply check in on one another. A phone call has great meaning and provides a lifeline for those who are alone.
In closing, please join us in prayer.
Holy God, ever present with us, we are mindful of these times in which we live. Uncertainty, anxiety, and fear are present among us as we listen to and care for one another in these days. We ask that your peace and healing presence be with us, as we pray for and hold each other in love. We ask your guidance and direction as we live out your command to love one another as we are called to love you. In the name of the one who has called us and prepared us for these challenging days, we pray. Amen.
The National Officers of the United Church of Christ
The Rev. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President
The Rev. Traci Blackmon, Associate General Minister, Justice and Local
Church Ministries
The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, Associate General Minister, Wider Church
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+ Calvin Synod, C/O Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, General Secretary, 7319 Tapper Avenue, Hammond, Indiana 46324, 219-931-4321, kkludwig@aol.com
+ United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, 216-736-2100, ogm@ucc.org
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