About the PartnershipAbout the Partnership
El Centro Presbytery's Youth Bulletin
Written by John Walter Monday, 29 March 2010 19:02
(scroll down for translation)
Recuerdo a aquel adolescente que comenzó a visitar aquella Iglesia, quizás solo con un poco de
Luego ya al transcurrir del tiempo, ya ese adolescente con pensamientos prematuros,
se había convertido en un joven mucho más maduro en la fe de Dios y convencido
de que había optado por el camino correcto, a pesar de que este exigía cambios de
actitudes y un comportamiento de vida algo exigente para él mismo, lo cual no decía
que no se equivocara o que no cometiera errores con bastante frecuencia.
Pero asumió el reto y no tuvo miedo comenzar a caminar junto a Dios.
Así se convirtió en un líder para su comunidad, participando en todas las actividades
que se anunciaban, comprometiéndose cada vez más y adquiriendo nuevas responsabilidades
que llevaban a grandes compromisos. Tanto llego este joven a sentir por su comunidad
que en nuestros días, después de haber culminado sus estudios; ha decidido seguir al Señor
en sus caminos lanzándose a un reto verdaderamente grande: Ingresar en Seminario Evangélico
de Teología en Matanzas.
Amigos y amigas: nunca temamos al trabajo en nuestras comunidades, a pesar de nuestra juventud
o inexperiencia. Seamos capaces de asumir nuevos retos y propongámonos nuevas metas para Cristo y
para levantar el movimiento juvenil presbiteriano. No tenemos que llegar a pensar en estudiar el
pastorado para sentirnos verdaderos cristianos y cristianas, sino, que seamos jóvenes verdaderamente
comprometidos con la obra de Dios en nuestras Iglesia y no seamos cristianos solo de la secreta como
dice la canción (“Yo soy cristiano de la secreta…”).
Experimentemos una vida realmente entregada no solo
de palabras, sino, de corazón.
Amén
We should not fear working for the Lord.
I remember that one, that adolescent who began to visit the church, perhaps infected a little with
the excitement by those who had encouraged him to frequent it. He was full of doubts and perhaps
even fear for having initiated a life in Christ without knowing how many challenges he would confront;
but something was quite clear: he began to feel something different, and that motivation began to
assert itself stronger as time went by and he became involved in that world where he was fed by a
unique spirituality, one that only that adolescent who was growing physically and spiritually was
capable of experiencing.
Later, after some time had passed, that adolescent still with premature thoughts, had become a young
man much more mature in his faith in God; convinced he had had chosen the right way despite the
fact that this had exacted changes in attitudes and behavior, something he himself had demanded.
Which isn’t to say he might not have been wrong at times, or that he might not have frequently
committed errors; but he assumed the challenge and he was not afraid to walk together with God.
Thus he became a leader in his community, participating in all the activities that were announced,
each time committing more deeply and acquiring new responsibilities which brought great obligations.
So much did this youth come to feel for his community that in recent times, after finishing his studies,
he decided to follow the way of the Lord by choosing a truly great challenge: To enroll in the Evangelical
Theological Seminary in Matanzas.
Friends: We should never be afraid of the work in our communities, despite our youth or inexperience.
We should be capable of assuming new challenges and propose new goals for Christ, and to elevate
the Presbyterian Youth Movement. We don’t have to consider studying for the pastorate to feel ourselves
to be true Christians; rather, we should be youth truly committed to the work of God in our churches,
and we should not be hidden Christians as the song says: I am a secretive Christian...
We experience a truly dedicated life, not just of words, rather one of heart.
Amen
Noticias Shaddai
La Directiva de Jóvenes de nuestro Presbiterio se reunió el pasado mes de diciembre para organizar
nuestro trabajo y planificar una serie de actividades para este año con una perspectiva de integración
y así conocer como se desarrolla el trabajo juvenil en cada una de nuestras iglesias. Algunas de las
propuestas planteadas fueron las siguientes:
1. Establecer un vocero por cada una de nuestras iglesias para mejorar la comunicación de las actividades
planificadas, talleres, reuniones, etc. (Qué perseguimos con esto: que en cada Iglesia del Presbiterio,
donde exista Fraternidad de Jóvenes, automáticamente el presidente de esa fraternidad, será el vocero;
es decir, este será el encargado de promocionar en su Fraternidad, todos las actividades de jóvenes a nivel
presbiteral que le sean transmitidas, ya sea mediante el pastor de la Iglesia local o mediante algún miembro
de la directiva presbiteral. En caso de no tener conformada alguna iglesia su fraternidad local, pues dentro
del grupo de jóvenes que este asistiendo regularmente a todas las actividades de su comunidad, se designará
un vocero. Este vocero debe tener teléfono o un fácil acceso para poderlo contactar)
2. Lanzar un boletín juvenil trimestral a cada una de nuestras iglesias para que así se conozca del trabajo,
noticias, actividades, etc., de nuestros jóvenes. Este Boletín constará de una reflexión, poemas, noticias,
saludos, graffiti, etc.
3. Realizar el 20 de Febrero un taller sobre identidad juvenil en la IPR Santa Clara, donde participarán todas las
iglesias de Villa Clara, excepto Placetas. (2 jóvenes por iglesia).
Recordemos también que en el pasado mes de Febrero comenzamos la cuaresma y en este mes
¡Que el Señor nos bendiga también en este tiempo de Semana Santa!
***
News Shaddai
The Youth Leadership Committee of our presbytery met last December to organize our work and to
Some of the proposals set out were:
1. To establish a spokesperson for each of our churches to improve communication of planned activities, workshops,
meetings, etc. (What are we seeking by this?: That in each church of the presbytery, where a Youth Group may exist, the president of the group would automatically become the spokesperson; that is: this person will be charged to promote in his group all the youth activities at the presbytery level which he may have come to hear of either through the pastor of the local church or through some member of the presbytery board. In case the local church has not formed a fraternal group, then someone will be designated from among the group of young people attending all the activities of his community with regularity. The spokesperson should have a telephone or easy access to be able to contact him.
2. Distribute a youth bulletin every quarter to each of our churches so that they may be aware of the work, news, activities, etc. of our youth. This bulletin will consist of reflections, poems, news, greetings, graffiti, etc.
3. Hold a workshop about youth identity in the Presbyterian Church in Santa Clara on February 20 where all the churches of Villa Clara will participate except Placetas. Wo youth from each church.
4. Hold a workshop on March 12 and 13 in Cabaiguan where all the churches from Sancti Spiritus Province
will participate, including Placetas.
We remember also that in Februrary we began Lent and that in March we begin Holy Week, time to reflect, time to reconcile ourselves with those with whom we have fallen out. That we might think on each of our attitudes What would Jesus do? That we might reconsider and take up a different way, one in which we may be inclusive, not exclusive; where we may not judge others, and the most important: Where we we may accept ourselves and be capable of accepting. That we may prepare something special in each of our communities so that others may know the importance of our work to strengthen the evangelical work
wherever we may be.
May God also bless us in this time of Holy Week!
Historical Highlights of the Cuban Presbyterian Church
Written by John Walter Monday, 11 August 2008 19:39
The following summary was made by Rev. Dean Lewis of Santa Fe Presbytrery, PCUSA for the Cuba Partners Network. It sequentially presents all the major events of Presbyterianism in Cuba.
The Mission in Camaguey
Written by John Walter Tuesday, 15 July 2008 20:29
Some of Baltimore Presbytery's first visitors to Cuba had the opportunity to make the trip from Sancti Spiritus Province to Camaguey Province, whose capitol bears the same name.
History of the Presbyterian Church in Cuba
Written by Administrator Thursday, 19 June 2008 19:12
A Cuban experience of Mission in unity by: Carlos Emilio Ham
The Presbyterian Church was founded in Cuba by Evaristo Collazo, a Cuban
lay patriot who fought against Spanish colonial rule in the 19th century.
Creating the Cuba Partnership
Written by John Walter Friday, 28 March 2008 20:41
Creating the Cuba Partnership
The Cuba Partnership is a formal relationship between the Baltimore Presbytery, PCUSA, and the El Centro Presbytery, IRPC (Iglesia Reformada Presbiteriana en Cuba). While this association began under the aegis of the Presbyterian Churches in both Cuba and the United States, neither partner seeks to limit participation solely to the Presbyterian denomination; therefore, all are welcome to join with us in the important work which these pages will describe.
Mission Statement
In recognition of God's call, we dedicate the efforts of this partnership to uniting our communities with prayer, worship, and fellowship while compassionately sharing our burdens and joys in acts of mutual assistance.
Bienvenidos a la Compartida entre Los Presbiterios de Baltimore y El Centro
Esta hermandad es una relacion formal entre el Presbiterio de Baltimore, PCUSA y el Presbiterio del Centro de la Iglesia Reformada Presbiteriana en Cuba, IRPC. Mientras esta asociacion comenzo bajo la deteminacion de las iglesias en los dos paises, no quiere la IRPC ni la PCUSA limitar la participacion solamente a esta denominacion especificamente, entonces todos son bienvenidos compartir en este trabajo que se halla descrito en las páginas que siguen.
Declaracion de Mision
En reconocimiento de la llamada de Dios, dedicamos los esfuerzos de esta hermandad por unir nuestras comunidades en oracion, cultos, y companerismo mientras compartiendo compasivamente los cargos y las alegrias en hechos de ayuda mutua.
Our Agreement
  The Reformed Presbyterian
|
  The Presbyterian Church USA
|
Declare |
A partnership between the Presbytery of Baltimore, U.S.A., and the Central Presbytery of the Synod of the Cuban Presbyterian Church.
That we:
Are united in one mission proclaiming the Gospel, maintaining love, hope, and mutual respect. We are organizing for the purpose of initiating a partnership between the two Presbyteries, suggesting that the partnership include:
That we:
Will constantly pray for each other.
Will name a Partnership Committee that will promote the work and the relationship.
Will establish close ties of information about projects, life, mission of the churches, Bible studies, and special activities with regard to the liturgical calendar we both celebrate.
Will, whenever possible, visit each other for the purpose of getting to know one another and to dialogue about current topics within and without the church: international tensions, violence, and difficulties in our communities.
And That we:
Will affirm each other as partners despite our cultural differences and will support the work of the Presbyterian camp as a vital spiritual center of recreation, training and spiritual growth for all age groups.
Will be collaborators in doing the work entrusted to us, sharing and interacting with each other in areas related to leadership development, resources, and worship with clergy and lay participation, always with the approval of both Presbyteries and in consultation with both Partnership Committees.
Will maintain a social vision sharing ideas and offering mutual help in specific cases that may occur in our communities.
Will share our life experiences mutually and with others.
And that:
For now our relations will be between both Presbyteries; promoting in the future the interchurch partnership always through local Sessions and approval of the Presbytery.
Our partnership will be in effect for five years beginning at the time when both Presbyters affix their signatures. One of either ofthe Presbyteries may elect to end the partnership after informative discussion. At the end of the five years we will evaluate the partnership to determine if it should continue.
We ask God to guide us in this partnership that we are about to begin.
The Partnership agreement was executed June 9, 2004.
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