The Body of Christ is made of many parts, and people experience their understanding of God in many different ways. On this blog, we'll consider the beliefs and activities of congregations, denominations and different religions.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
E-ssentials: Calling for Immediate Ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, Breaking Ground on the Housing Crisis, and more
The United Church of Canada Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Israel and Palestine
The United Church mourns the deaths and injuries already suffered and calls for an immediate ceasefire to the recent escalation in violence in Israel and Palestine.
The United Church condemns the attacks launched on communities in southern Israel by Hamas, and the ongoing daily violence meted out against Palestinians by Israel's deepening occupation in Palestinian territories.
We pray for a just peace in the Holy Land and urge global leaders to work urgently for an end to the current violence, an end to the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories, and a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis. Read the full statement.
[Image credit: Unsplash]
Kindred Works Breaks Ground on Housing Project
Representatives from General Council and Shining Waters joined with Kindred Works to break ground yesterday on a housing project in Orillia.
This—the first of Kindred Works’ redevelopments—is on the site of the former Regent Park United Church and will add 48 new climate-safe rental homes, a third of which will below market rent to meet the core housing need of the local community. Ground-floor units will be barrier-free. Project design and landscaping will make the most of passive ventilation and daylight, and retain and enhance surrounding trees.
This first groundbreaking is a huge step forward for Kindred Works and The United Church of Canada, both in responding to the housing crisis and in transforming churches and their sites to meet shared or community needs. Twenty other projects are in the works.
[Image credit: Jennifer Henry/The United Church of Canada]
40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism: Week at a Glance!
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada and the contributors]
Tonight! 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism Live Event
The first 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism live event: The Dual Function of Genealogy and Family Lore in Cases of Race Shifting, begins tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET.
In this presentation, Dr. Leroux will explain the growing number of false claims to Indigenous identity in Canada. The session will be moderated by Springwater Hester-Meawassige, who is General Council staff in the Indigenous Ministries and Justice unit.
This will be a bilingual event, with English-French interpretation. Sign up on CHURCHx.
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada and Darryl Leroux]
EDGEy Conversations: Sandie Howell and Crescent Fort Rouge Church
In 2012, artist Sandi Howell started a journey with Crescent Fort Rouge United Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The congregation wanted to go in a new direction; the community, after a series of consultations, had indicated several areas of need for which the church felt it could be of help.
From these community consultations they've examined the needs expressed by community seniors, youth, families, and a burgeoning arts community. Now, after nearly 10 years in the making, the church building is a community hub, providing space for a variety of groups to meet and for community members to connect and to develop personally and artistically—complete with a performance space in the sanctuary.
Watch Sandi’s full EDGEy Conversation with Sarah Levis on EDGE’s YouTube channel.
[Image credit: Crescent Fort Rouge United Church and Sandi Howell]
Mission and Service Updates
If you need more catalogues, we are more than happy to send you some! Just call us at 1-844-715-7969 or send an email to info@giftswithvision.ca, and we’ll send you as many as you need, whether it’s one or 100.
Mission and Service Stories: Ecumenical Church Loan Fund—Anert's Story
Fifty-three-year-old Anert Mwenda is a bubbly and cheerful clothing trader in Syokimau, Kenya. Her path from housewife to entrepreneur has been filled with barriers, but with the help of Mission and Service partner Ecumenical Church Loan Fund (ECLOF), her business is flourishing.
[Image credit: ECLOF Kenya]
United Church Bookstore: This Week's Featured Book!
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