Member Church News: Nesting

Several immigrant families from East Africa have found a “nest” in which they can gather for worship on Sunday afternoons at Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reflecting a church-planting trend called “nesting,” which is showing up in other CRC congregations as well, they have found a place for themselves in an already established church that has opened its doors and provided a space to meet.

One of the real characters at this year’s General Assembly of the Church of Scotland was happy to claim he was born in the same year as the Queen. But age is no barrier to Rev Dr Francis Chisholm who claims he is “well looked after” by his three daughters, one of whom is a minister and was a delegate to the General Assembly five years ago.

Peace cranes have taken flight once again to another United Church of Christ congregation in need of healing. After the June nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., that left 49 people dead and another 50 injured, the colorful symbols of peace made their way to First Congregational Church of Winter Park UCC in Winter Park, Fla., located just a few miles from where the tragedy took place.

The Rev. Gladys Lariba Mahama has a big job. She’s a minister with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana serving five congregations spread across the upper east region. She is also the women’s coordinator for the Northern Presbytery and a social worker. Her work keeps her busy but the impact is rewarding. Mahama is one of nearly a dozen international peacemakers that will be speaking across the United States this fall, giving Presbyterians and others an opportunity to learn about the church’s work in a part of the world they may not be familiar with.