Page 7 - Presbyterian Connection

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WINTER 2021
Connection
LEADERSHIP
Science and Faith: Old Enemies?
PRESBYTERIAN
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• Time of worship and how to take part. For example, online via live stream or video recording, or in person, and if in person, whether advance registration is required.
• Opportunities for fellowship. While COVID-19 may have dis- rupted this temporarily, one of the things I rarely see online is any information about coffee hour af- ter service. Why not take a line or two and encourage visitors to join the congregation after service for a time of fellowship? What a won- derful way to visit with someone who may be new.
• Important details that you would want new visitors to know, such as accessibility accommodations, front entrance, parking, activities for children, etc.
•Contact details and leadership names and information.
Think about your strengths and
what makes your congregation unique and what you can do to highlight these features prominently online. Are you particularly mission focused? Do you have a strong com- munity presence? Is your children’s programming top-notch? Think about these things and make sure your site represents who you are as a congregation.
Now that you’ve created a strong website, consider how your congre- gation can best use social media, such as Facebook, Twitter or Insta- gram, to bolster that website. The work you’ve done to improve your website will serve you well by provid- ing fodder for your activities on social media. Social media can become a very useful tool that will help share your congregation’s mission and ministry with others. But is social media a replacement for a website?
Definitely not.
If your congregation needs a reliable platform for hosting your website, consider PCCWeb, a free website hosting service for congre- gations and groups of The Presbyte- rian Church in Canada. Learn more at presbyterian.ca/pccweb.
By Amy Dunn Moscoso, Communications Coordinator, Grace Presbyterian Church in Calgary, Alta.
“[The] conversation between sci- ence and the big questions of exist- ence is a far cry from popular pic- tures of science and faith in conflict. Simplistic presentations of Galileo and Darwin attacking the Bible or be- ing attacked by the church may be widespread but do no justice to the complexity of the long history of the way science and faith have both en- riched and questioned each other.” —The Rev Dr. David Wilkinson
Most of us are familiar with depic- tions of faith and science as antago- nistic. Although we may not hold that view ourselves, many of us often choose to see the two as discon- nected from one another.
The coming year’s Preaching Grace speaker will invite us to consider a dif-
ferent approach. The Rev. Dr. David Wilkinson—a scientist and a Chris- tian—wants us, instead, to see how faith and science push up against one another. Often this is done with ques- tions that question and challenge, but in ways that enrich and expand our understanding of both.
During the Preaching Grace week- end, David Wilkinson will bring sci- ence and faith together and discuss our questions about where it all began and whether there’s anyone out there.
Preaching Grace 2022 will be a hybrid event. Participants may join online or take part in person at Grace Presbyterian Church. The event will be held May 27–29, 2022.
Since 2016, Preaching Grace has celebrated excellence in preaching and homiletics. Each year, the event welcomes a world-class preacher and theologian to explore impor tant ques- tions about Christianity and faith.
The weekend will include three separate events. The Friday evening public lecture, Saturday workshop and Sunday Worship Service will of- fer different approaches to discovery and engagement. Join one, two or all three events to listen to and learn from a highly regarded preacher of the Christian community.
The Rev. Dr. David Wilkinson
Dr. Wilkinson holds two PhDs. His first is in theoretical astrophysics, which he earned while studying star formation, the chemical evo- lution of galaxies, and terrestrial mass extinctions. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He also holds a PhD in Systematic Theology and Explored Christian Eschatology and has trained as a Methodist Minister.
In addition to these accomplish- ments, Dr. Wilkinson is a regular
The Rev. Dr. David Wilkinson, guest speaker for the Preaching Grace series that will take place in May 2022 at Grace Presbyterian Church in Calgary, Alta.
contributor to Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4, and is the author of numerous books and articles. His published works explore the re- lationship of Christian Theology to contemporary culture. From science to pop culture, he has written about the dialogue of science and religion, especially as it impacts the physi- cal sciences, and has even explored spirituality in contemporary cinema.
Learn more and register at PreachingGrace.ca.
May 27 – 29, 2022 | 1 Weekend; 3 Separate Events
FAITH IN
A SCIENCE DOMINATED
WORLD
WITH
David Wilkinson
Astrophysicist, Theologian, Professor, and Methodist Minister
Friday, May 27
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Saturday, May 28
9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Sunday, May 29
10:30 am
God, the Big Bang, and Stephen Hawking: The Search for God in Cosmology
Public Lecture
When I Pray, What Does God Do?
Workshop and Lunch
The Cosmic Christ: The Revelations and the Universe, Christ for the World.
Worship Service | Everyone welcome!
Early registration opens October 1, 2021.
Find more information at www.PreachingGrace.ca. Event hosted by
Advent & Christmas Resources Now Available
For worship service planning ideas, liturgies, prayers, crafts and activities, visit: presbyterian.ca/worship