E-ssentials: Faithful Footprints, Highlights from General Council, New Lenten Study, and more!

Faithful Footprints: Net Zero with Zero Dollars Faith communities across the country are stepping up to take action against climate change. Inspired by a solar panel retrofit of Faithful Footprints Program Alumni Woodlawn United Church (Dartmouth, NS), Old Barns United Church took a leap of faith and retrofitted its own building, without spending a penny! To find out more, read "Inspired by Respect for Creation: Old Barns United has gone Net Zero with Zero Dollars." Sign up for the Faithful Footprints newsletter, and read the latest blogs published the second Wednesday of every month. [Image credit: Faithful Footprints] Highlights from General Council Executive The General Council Executive (GCE) met virtually on February 10–11, 2023. Find out about the meeting and decisions made around the 2023 operating budget, the Indigenous Church, the work of Mission & Service, the United Church Property Resource Corporation (Kindred Works), the Moderator's upcoming plans, and more. Read the full news story. [Image credit: The United Church of Canada] The United Church Bookstore: Join the Lenten Study! Ash Wednesday is next week! Starting February 28, join the Rev. Stephen Fetter and people from across the country as they explore Good Courage: Daily Reflections on Hope, the new Lenten devotional from the United Church Publishing House. Listen to each devotion’s author read a passage aloud, and hear nuances that can only be communicated by the spoken voice. This Lent, push deeper than the words on the page—both with the author, and with each other—and explore how each devotion invites us into deeper spirituality and more daring discipleship.  Register for the Lenten study and you'll also receive 20% off your purchase of the book. [Image credit: The United Church of Canada] Black History Month Featured Blog: I Got A Lot to Say   In the latest blog I Got a Lot to Say: Jonisha Lewinson reflects on Black History Month and the diversity of Blackness. "It's not enough to have Black History Month. People use Black History Month as a way to avoid the real problems that affect Black people. While Black History Month is a great tool for amplifying the voices of Black people, it is not enough to change the way the world views Black people. Western society has conditioned us to believe that White is the default. And when we truly believe that, everything that people of colour contribute to the world is either taken for granted, stolen, or eradicated. "As much as I wish there wasn’t a need for Black History Month, I appreciate the fact that it allows Black people to speak freely about their story, their history, unapologetically. I’m tired of hearing my truth being told through someone else’s eyes." Read the full blog post.  [Image credit: Courtesy of Jonisha Lewinson] United in Learning: Explore the Catalog on CHURCHx United in Learning offers convenient education opportunities for church leaders, brought to you by The United Church of Canada. Whether you're clergy or lay, have years of experience under your belt, or have just joined your first committee, we have ways to connect you with like-minded people across the country to help make your church more vibrant, exciting, and alive.  Explore the programs we offer on CHURCHx, and sign up for our United in Learning newsletter to stay up to date! [Image credit: The United Church of Canada] Your Generosity Matters: Update on 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism The United Church of Canada has made a commitment to becoming an anti-racist denomination, and this is an ongoing journey for the church as a whole. 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism is an opportunity for participants within the United Church and beyond to engage in learning, faith reflections, and action. Your Mission & Service gifts support expanding this crucial initiative each year, amplifying voices and encouraging deep reflection.   We would love to hear your feedback on the program as we begin our 2023 planning. Please complete this short feedback survey and let us know what you think!  [Photo credit: The United Church of Canada] Call for Nominations We are seeking lay and ministry personnel leaders for roles on the General Council Executive, the General Council Planning Committee, a special task group, and a new interfaith opportunity. Please visit the United Church website for more information. Deadline for nominations is Thursday, March 23, 2023. [Image credit: The United Church of Canada] The Annual Declaration Is Now Open! We’d like to advise ministry personnel that the 2023 Annual Declaration is now open until May 19, 2023. It’s free and only takes a few minutes. Log into ChurchHub.ca to make your Annual Declaration about whether you’ve had criminal charges in the last year or not. If you make your Annual Declaration each year, you do not need to get a new police records check! (Remember that Chrome or Edge are the preferred browsers for ChurchHub; Safari is not optimal.) Need help accessing ChurchHub? Please contact ministry@united-church.ca. [Image credit: The United Church of Canada] Worship Resources  See our Worship Resources for upcoming Sundays and special celebrations. Black History Month 3 - February 19, 2023 Transfiguration Sunday - February 19, 2023 Ash Wednesday - February 22, 2023 Black History Month 4 - February 26, 2023 First Sunday in Lent - February 26, 2023 World Day of Prayer - March 3, 2023 Second Sunday in Lent - March 5, 2023 International Women's Day - March 8, 2023 Third Sunday in Lent - March 12, 2023 National Affirming/PIE Day - March 14, 2023 Facebook Twitter Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Our gifts for Mission & Service bring healing, justice, and hope to life. Donate today.

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