Interesting video. Click the link below to check it out.
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dimshie
Why is it that it takes catastrophes like these for privileged nations to take up their social responsibility to care for others? Could we have been the cause of this catastrophe? God, did you allow this to happen so that we would start caring for a forgotten nation? Are the concerns and love that we pour over Haiti right now what You want us to feel and act upon even when an unprivileged nation is not experiencing a catastrophe?
For that, I confess. May I not forget this lesson. May I commit to Love. May You continue to lead us in this movement of love.
It broke my heart today to read about what’s happened in Haiti. I want to share their pain and sorrow. A part of me asks why God would allow this to happen. All I hope and pray is that God will perform a miracle to turn this tragedy around. It was really touching to see all the relief work that countries pour into Haiti. And that these acts of kindness and compassion will continue until the country is rebuilt.
Dear God,
You are the almighty and loving God. I know You feel the grief my brothers and sisters are experiencing. May You lead the relief work. May you give everyone a heart to care for each other. May You empower all of us to give and pray. May You bring healing to the country. May you also burden my heart with the suffering of this country so that I would devote myself in prayer and fasting for them. I pray that You will comfort those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for physical healing. I pray for psychological and spiritual healing. I pray for hope. Pray for the orphans who have lost their parents, may they know that the Heavenly Father is there for them, provide for them, and love them. Pray for the relief workers. Thank You for sending them. May Your angels protect them as do Your work.
Lord, may I be of service to You in this catastrophe. Tell me what I can do for these brothers and sisters. And may You give me the conviction to send money I get for my birthday over to my brothers and sisters in Haiti. Let me not stop any support I can give to my brothers and sisters in Haiti until their country is rebuilt. May You lead this movement of love.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
On behalf of the residents at Aurora Resthaven I would like to thank the volunteer from the Mosaic Baptist Church for their on-going gift of time spent at our home. The monthly Beauty Parlour certainly boosts spirits and well-being. A special thanks for the wonderful lunch is also to be included. The residents had a great time and were made to feel very special by the extra attention paid to them at Christmas time. We all look forward to a continued relationship with the volunteers and wish you all a very happy new year.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Fletcher (Recreation Director)
I was reflecting on the incarnation of our Lord and so I took a look at the book of Matthew. The angel of God said that Jesus is Emmanuel “God with us”. Yes, it is through the incarnation of Christ that God can be with us, among us, connect to us in a way that God can’t because we are such sinful finite beings. That we could connect through our suffering. That humans could touch God. Wow, a hug from Jesus would melt me. (To be continued..on Sunday)
On the other hand, I am also wondering about how Joseph connected with Jesus. I can totally understand how Mary could because Jesus was physically in her for 9 months. And their connection deepens even after she gives birth to him. Mary connected with Jesus as if he was her son. Perhaps she became aware of Jesus as Christ when he began his ministry. But how did Joseph connect with Jesus? What was their connection? How did he feel when Jesus was born?…
Hello Mosaic,
It has been such a blessing to spend time with the children of Mosaic that it has become dangerously addictive for me. Many brothers and sisters have told me that I need to be in the adult gathering more. My response to them would always be “but being with the children is so much more fun”. I have long struggled with the notion that I might be hogging the kids and their parents on Sundays, so I asked if anyone else would be interested. Many have shied away from “taking charge” of children’s time…maybe I didn’t extend the invitation to the right people? Part of me (being a teacher) wants to make a program for the kids…the big theme based learning. But I know and have learned from teacher’s college that all learning should be child(ren) driven. Plus, at Mosaic, we are organic…or at least learning to be. So right now, all I do with the kids and their parents include things like telling bible stories, eating snack, playing outside, watch a dvd, play, make birthday cards, and/or pray.
Lately, I’ve also felt a disconnectedness when I lead praise and children’s time on the same Sunday. The two things don’t seem to quite flow for me. This is weird because I don’t believe that gathering and worship can be interrupted by a transition between the “adult gathering” and the “children gathering”. Please pray for me as the Holy Spirit teaches me how my act of worship can flow between two gatherings. After all, we are one church…one gathering…children and adults.
Thus, for now, I propose that I will be in charge of children’s time every other Sunday. Children’s time for this Sunday is still ON. I will tell the children about this on Sunday.
hi all,
i dropped off all the food we gathered from today. may God use it to feed many. as was evident in the post about the food shortage, we need to continue giving to the food banks. what do you guys think about another food drive next month? As per the financial donations, we will donate a collective amount to DAILY BREAD FOOD BANK. i will update you guys on that when i get the total. feel free to also continue the financial donations through mosaic. that’s all for now. God bless!
Hi Mosaic,
I haven’t posted for a long time. Remember what I shared on Sunday about the food shortage in the food banks (Daily Bread & Second Harvest) of Yonge Street Mission. Inspired by the Holy Spirit and His Word found in 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (New Living Translation), I have initiated a food drive and will welcome non-perishable items and financial donations towards supporting these food banks. It is also important to note that God expects us to give in proportion to what we have.
11Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. (2 Corinthians 8:11-14, NLT)
I will be collecting them this Sunday, July 5th, 2009 and will deliver them Sunday (I’m still waiting for them to call me back to see if that is feasible, if not I will deliver them on Monday). If you would like to help me deliver the food on Sunday, you are welcome to contact me before Sunday via email: dimshie@gmail.com
Here is some information about Yonge Street Mission:
Yonge Street Mission’s Community Services Branch serves the Regent Park, Moss Park and lower St. Jamestown communities. In the last year, about 15,000 people have participated in our programs with about 88,000 visits.
Community Services provides programs from daycare, after-school children’s homework and arts programs, breakfast clubs, youth leadership programs, drop-ins for socially isolated adults, ESL assistance, employment and housing support, women and family programs, computer education for children and adults, seniors programs and a food bank.
The demand on our Food Bank has increased significantly this year, at the same time that food prices have increased and donations to Daily Bread Food Bank have dwindled. As we approach the summer season, we invite you to conduct a food drive. Yonge Street Mission will arrange collection of the food.
The Regent Park/Moss Park community is one of the most economically disadvantaged regions in Canada. Here is a snapshot of the community:
High number of children and youth: There is a higher percentage of children and youth in the community than in the rest of Toronto (27.9.3% of the population is youth aged 14 and under. There are 1045 children between the ages of 5 and 9 and another 1020 between the ages of 10-14. 16.4% of the population is youth aged 15-24. There are 925 teens between the age of 15 to 19.) Almost 45% of the population is 24 years or under. In the City of Toronto, 16.4% of the population is under age 14.
Lowest income census tract in Ontario: 73.2% of residents in North Regent Park live below the low income cut-off before tax. In the City of Toronto, 18.4% of the population is considered low income before taxes
Regent Park North remains in the lowest-income census tract in Ontario. The second lowest-income census tract in Ontario contains Regent Park South. The median family income in Regent Park is $22,902.. The median individual income before tax for persons 15+ in North Regent Park is $12,078. The median individual income before tax for persons 15+ in South Regent Park is $14,696. For a family of one, the before tax low-income cut-off is $20,778; for a family of four, it is $38,610,
Working poor and Recipients of Social Assistance: Over 40% of households derive their income from employment. Around 40% of households receive social assistance. Thus, despite stereotypes, the same number of families receive income from working as receive social assistance.
Large Population of Newcomers: New residents are increasingly recent immigrants, with 25% of the population arriving in Canada during the past five years. More than half of the newest immigrants in the Regent Park area arrived from mainland China and Bangladesh. Immigrants from Vietnam, Somalia, Jamaica and Sri Lanka compose the majority of the remainder. Today, 63% of residents speak a language other than English as a first language. Almost 2000 new immigrants arrived in and around Regent Park in the last five years, with over 2000 arriving in the five years previous to that.
Hugely Diverse Population: Approximately 60% of Regent Park residents are immigrants. 78% of Regent Park residents are members of a visible minority. Over 70 languages are spoken in Regent Park. The region has twice the number of single-parent families as the rest of Toronto.
Here is what they need:
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Kraft Dinner
- Canned fish (tuna, salmon, sardines)
- Chunky stew
- Cereal
- Juice
- Pasta
- Kidney beans or red beans
- Dairy (milk and eggs) – cash donations or ability to deliver
Also very much appreciated would be financial donations for purchasing
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Fresh eggs
- Meat
See you Sunday everyone =)
