E-ssentials: Church Leaders Urge Stronger Advocacy in Palestine and Israel, GC Seeks Youth Climate Motivators, and more.

The United Church of Canada E-ssentials - May 2, 2023 View this email in your browser

Church Leaders Urge MPs for Stronger Advocacy in Palestine and Israel Last week, Moderator Carmen Lansdowne met with church leaders and government officials to urge Canada to further advocate for a just and lasting peace in Palestine and Israel. Read the full news story. [Photo Left to right: Dorcas Gordon, Wendy Gichuru (United Church staff), Carmen Lansdowne, Susan Johnson, Linda Nicholls, Paul Gehrs (ELCIC staff), and Ryan Weston (Anglican Church staff). Credit: Leigh Anne Williams, Diocese of Ottawa] Red Dress Day is May 5 This Friday, May 5, is National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S). Red dresses are hung in public spaces and people wear red shirts or dresses to honour those who have gone missing or been murdered. Please join this movement to say that you value Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people, and to seek justice. [Image credit: Honarine Scott / The United Church of Canada] The General Council Office Seeks Youth Climate Motivators  In partnership with The GO Project, the General Council Office is hiring 16 Youth Climate Motivators to join us in raising our spirited voices for climate care and climate justice. The Youth Climate Motivators will be employed from July 3 to August 25 to work with a local community of faith or United Church ministry on a climate care/climate justice initiative. They will meet online and come together in person in August at Camp Pringle in Shawnigan Lake, BC. There, they will meet with Moderator Carmen Lansdowne share their local initiatives and develop an action plan to increase the impact of United Church climate care and climate justice initiatives. Learn more about the Youth Climate Motivator positions on the Job and Volunteer Opportunities webpage. Application deadline is May 14, 2023. [Image: Niklas Pntak on Pixabay] Your Generosity Matters: Protecting Love around the World—Michael Blair’s Work “When we hear these stories, we can see that this is a life and death matter.” Michael Blair, the church’s first openly gay General Secretary, is now helping to advocate for sexual and gender minorities in countries where they are not free. And Mission & Service plays a critical role in Blair’s efforts. [Video still credit: The United Church of Canada] United Church Bookstore: Deepen Your Faith We’re well into the spring season—a time to celebrate baptism and confirmation. Restock your supply of certificates, candles, and other baptismal and confirmation resources today! Plus, check out our new confirmation and faith formation resource, Building God's Beloved Community, edited by Taylor Croissant, as well as My Daily Discoverment: 40 Days of Vocational Discernment for Young Adults, by Andrew Hyde. Both of these books are ideal accompaniments to Christian development and for those seeking to enrich their faith through deeper study and reflection. Plus, we have Mission & Service Offering Envelopes newly arrived for use in special services or events where Mission & Service is featured. Find all of these and more supplies for all occasions at the United Church Bookstore website  [Image credit: The United Church of Canada] Worship Resources  See our Worship Resources for upcoming Sundays and special celebrations. Mental Health Sunday - May 7, 2023 Asian Heritage Month 1 - May 7, 2023 Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 7, 2023 Rural Life Sunday - May 14, 2023 Asian Heritage Month 2 - May 14, 2023 Sixth Sunday of Easter - May 14, 2023 Christian Family Sunday - May 14, 2023 For more inspiring worship ideas and resources subscribe to GatheringWorship.ca 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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