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 31, 2023
E-ssentials: Matching Donations for Gaza and West Bank, Moderator's Flourishing Project, Mohawk Bible, and more!
Canadian Government Matching Donations for Gaza and West Bank
Donate
As a member of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, the United Church is participating in the Humanitarian Coalition appeal to provide tangible support to people in the Middle East. Gifts raised through the generosity of Canadians for the United Church appeal between October 7 and November 12, 2023, will be matched by the Government of Canada. Double the impact of your gift—give today.
Advocate
Also, your advocacy can make a difference! Write to Foreign Affairs Minister, The Hon. Mélanie Joly, and your local MP and call on the Canadian government to respond to the escalating violence in Palestine and Israel by calling for an immediate ceasefire and ensuring humanitarian assistance. Use our online letter-writing template to send your email directly to your government officials. Please send your email today!
The United Church has also been part of two press conferences in Ottawa advocating for peace this past week with a pan-Canadian coalition (watch the recording Pan-Canadian Coalition Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza) and a multifaith coalition including Muslim and Jewish organizations.
Keep up to date on the response of the United Church and our partners to the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East on our website and on social media accounts.
Attention: Kingston, Ontario folks! On November 10, 2023, Moderator Carmen Lansdowne invites United Church members and community members to engage with the topic of "flourishing."
Is your church flourishing? And perhaps even more importantly—is your church contributing to the flourishing of your community?
40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism: Week at a Glance!
It's week four! Continue the journey towards becoming an anti-racist church with this 40-day time of learning, reflection, and action.
The written reflections offer a range of perspectives and analyses. You can find all of them on the 40 Days webpage.
This week no live event is scheduled. The next live event will take place on Tuesday, November 7, when Ingrid Waldron explores environmental racism. In the meantime, check out all the past recordings of live events online and also available by logging onto to CHURCHx and navigating to the 40 Days Live course page.
Explore the full schedule for 40 Days online and continue to explore!
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada and the contributors]
2022 Pension Annual Report
The 2022 Pension Annual Report of The United Church of Canada is now online. All United Church communities of faith with ministry personnel or lay staff employed 14 hours a week or more invest 9 percent of their payroll into the pension plan for the retirement benefit of their staff, with pension plan members contributing 6 percent of their payroll. The Annual Report accounts for how these funds are faithfully and responsibly invested for the long-term benefit of the church and its staff.
Ohiatonhseratokénti: The Holy Bible in Mohawk is a complete translation of the Bible into the Mohawk language made possible by the devotion, knowledge, and artistry of Harvey Satewas Gabriel. Fostered by generations of women in the Gabriel family and the communities of Kanesatake and Kahnawake, this translation was also made possible through the support of the Kanesatake United Church, the Kanesatake Mohawk Council, The United Church of Canada Foundation, and the Canadian Bible Society.
It is now available at the United Church Bookstore for $45.00. All profits from the sale of the Bible will go to Indigenous language projects, through the Indigenous Church and The United Church of Canada Foundation.
The Rev. Russell Mitchell-Walker, who arrived at Eastside United Church in Regina, Saskatchewan, 11 years ago, aimed to explore new ideas of what is and can be in the 21st century. This led to the creation of Eastside's More than Church program, which aims to engage the Eastside community with neighbourhood residents and potential partner organizations, regardless of their beliefs or attendance.
The church runs various initiatives, such as monthly community dinners, film and faith groups, meditation groups, and Messy Church, which are slowly building numbers to what they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. Mitchell-Walker hopes to see more people from the neighbourhood participate in these events, a sign of a return to community life. Learn more about the More than Church program in Russell Mitchell-Walker’s full EDGEy conversation with Sarah Levis.
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada and Russel Mitchell-Walker]
Mission and Service Stories: Anti-Racism Learning, Reflection, and Action
The United Church of Canada has committed to becoming an anti-racist denomination, and this work is an ongoing journey for everyone. The 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism program offers daily and weekly opportunities for learning, reflection, and action.
[Photo credit:The United Church of Canada and Rick Short | Lightstock.com]
Worship Resources
See our Worship Resources for upcoming Sundays and special celebrations.
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