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.
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
E-ssentials: Take Bold Action for Earth Week, Extend an Invitation this Easter, and more!
Together for the Love of Creation Earth Week 2025
Moderator Carmen Lansdowne invites you to take bold action for climate justice! Join The United Church of Canada and faith partners for "Together for the Love of Creation Earth Week 2025" being held April 20 - 27.
Coming together for the love of creation is a way to connect, grow, listen, inspire hope, and affect change. Your activity could be visibly joining a community-wide event or creating something new. This is a chance to reach out to other faith communities and neighbours in your climate justice initiatives. These times when we are having to respond to multiple crises at once and powers are seeking to divide and polarize us, we are called to hopeful action that will bring people together. Engage in powerful cross-country events focused on prayer, education, and advocacy.
Explore these initiatives and many more, including making climate justice a federal election priority—read the full news story.
[Image still credit: The United Church of Canada]
Make This Easter a Time of Invitation in Your Community of Faith
There is still time to create a plan to strengthen your congregation’s invitation this Easter. Learn to develop your culture of invitation and invite friends and neighbours to join you this Easter Sunday.
The Growth Department has created a resource to help prepare congregations to speak more confidently and faithfully about their church and their experience of Jesus. Maybe this is something your congregation does regularly and with great joy and comfort, or maybe this a growing area for you. The Plan to Strengthen Invitation This Easter can be found on the Easter Sunday worship page, under Related Material.
If you would like to work with a Growth Animator to implement the suggestions in this guide in your congregation, or if you already have a practice of invitation through which the Holy Spirit is moving in your midst, get in touch with growth@united-church.caand let’s set up a conversation.
Join the Conversation: Live Cross Country Check-in with Rev. Michael Blair
Join us for another Cross-Country Check in on April 2 at 6:00 p.m. ET, for a live, insightful conversation with General Secretary, Rev. Michael Blair, and General Council Executive guests. Following their final meeting, we'll dive into the key decisions and dialogues. Our previous Cross-Country Check In drew over 330 participants, and we're eager to connect with you again! This is your chance to directly engage with leadership, whether you're listening or participating actively. The General Secretary and GCE members are ready to hear from you, live and in real time. All are welcome. Register now on CHURCHx. The discussion will be facilitated by Treena Duncan, Regional Executive Minister, Pacific Mountain Regional Council.
Mission and Service Stories: Building Climate Resiliency
In areas where historically there has been little rain, now there are floods, and where there were floods, now there are droughts. That’s how Women for Change—an organization in Zambia that strives to improve conditions in rural communities by empowering women and girls—describes the changing climate in Zambia. Women bear the brunt.
Your gifts through Mission and Service support long-term, life-changing work through committed partners like Women for Change. Thank you.
[Image credit: Women for Change, Zambia]
The United Church Bookstore: Centennial Merchandise!
Spring is almost here, and with it, the urgent call for climate justice! Celebrate the United Church's Centennial and support climate justice throughout Earth Week (April 20-27) and beyond with our For the Love of Creation unisex t-shirt. Part of our Centennial Merchandise collection, available now at The United Church Bookstore.
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]
Call for Nominations!
Are you someone who can assist people in discerning their call to ministry? There are many ways you can support the candidacy pathway and the important work of ministry formation. Check out the current opportunities to serve with a candidacy board or other candidacy pathway volunteers opportunities. Deadline: Thursday March 27.
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