Wednesday, April 21, 2021

E-ssentials: Mental Health Week, Earth Day Resources, Bookstore Clearance, and more.



Mental Health Week

Collage style image depicting a countryside landscape underneath a blue layer that has been partially scraped away.


May 3-9 is Mental Health Awareness Week in Canada, and this year, the United Church will mark Mental Health Sunday (May 2) for the first time. Worship resources will be coming soon, and during the week itself there will be live sessions with chaplains and ministers on the church's Facebook page. General Council Office staff person Amy Crawford has also written a blog post entitled "Breaking the Silence about Mental Health".

[Image credit: Mary Beth Wallace]
 


For the Love of Creation


For the Love of Creation's logo, featuring trees, water, birds, and a hand inside a circle.

Earth Day is this Thursday, April 22! On the first anniversary of the launch of For the Love of Creation, we invite you to share with others this ecumenical national effort with resources for faithful climate conversations, faith-in-action advocacy efforts, and theological reflection.[Image credit: For the Love of Creation]
 


Asian Canadian Women: Support, Strength, and Solidarity


Close up photo of drums.

If you are of Asian descent in The United Church of Canada and self-identify as woman, genderqueer, and/or nonbinary, you are invited to gather together in Asian Heritage Month this May. There will be time to get to know one another, talk about our places in the church, and explore the intersections of our racial identities and gender identities. Asian women are particularly visible and vulnerable during this pandemic time. Please be welcome to a safe meeting space to connect, lament, and honour one another.

The gatherings will begin with a brief welcome by Adele Halliday (Anti-Racism and Equity Lead, General Council Office) and be facilitated by Kim Uyede-Kai (Minister, Communities of Faith Support, Anti-Racism, and Right Relations, Shining Waters Regional Council). 

Gathering times:
  • Sunday, May 2 (6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT)
  • Wednesday, May 5 (6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT) 
You are welcome to come to one session or both! 

To register, please send an email to anti-racism@united-church.ca. In your email, please include your full name, email address, and Asian ancestry. A Zoom link will be sent after registration.
 


Stories of Our Mission: When Being Born with Light Skin Is Dangerous


Close up picture of a light-skinned baby's feet, surrounded by blankets in a basket.

Being born with light skin is particularly dangerous in Tanzania, where 1 in 1,400 people have albinism. Few people in Tanzania with albinism live beyond the age of 40, and not just because of high rates of skin cancer. Because some Tanzanian belief systems portray people with albinism as magical, there is a lucrative trade in their body parts, which are believed to hold special power—and the pandemic has made this situation even worse. That’s why your generosity through Mission & Service is helping the Morogoro Women’s Training Centre provide support to young Tanzanian women with albinism. Learn about the plight of those with albinism and how your Mission & Service gifts are helping them.

[Photo credit: esudroff from Pixabay]
 


United Church Bookstore: Spring Cleaning!

Cosy photo of a pile of books with a coffee cup on top.


UCRD store is clearing out its inventory and making room for fresh titles! This means huge markdowns on a wide range of titles, so shop while quantities last. Some titles are down to just $0.99, like Curating Church and Discovering the Other: Asset-Based Approaches for Building Community Together.

New titles will continue to be added over the next few weeks, so check back often for incredible deals!
 


Worship Resources 


See our Worship Resources for upcoming Sundays and special celebrations.

April 25 - Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 25 - Camping Sunday
May 2 - Asian Heritage Month 1
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