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, April 22, 2025
E-ssentials: A Last Supper Like You've Never Seen Before, Remembering Pope Francis, and more!
Reimagining of The Last Supper: A Place at the Table
Last week, on Holy Thursday (April 17), The United Church of Canada unveiled a bold photographic reimagining of The Last Supper, marking a significant moment for its centennial celebrations this year. Revealed for the first time at Metropolitan United Church in Toronto, the reinterpretation challenges traditional depictions of the iconic scene and affirms the United Church’s belief in an all-encompassing love that embraces each person as their authentic self.
Pope Francis, Ecumenical Prophet of Mercy, Dies at Age 88
We join with the church worldwide to mourn the passing of Pope Francis, the leader since 2013 of the world’s nearly 1.4 billion Catholics. Pope Francis's last public appearance was for an Easter Sunday blessing at the Vatican's St Peter's Square. After suffering from kidney issues and bronchitis that worsened into pneumonia, the Pope passed away at the age of 88, on Monday, April 21.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was a pope of firsts: the first from South America, the first pope from the Western Hemisphere, and the first Jesuit to serve as pope.
Pope Francis introduced a new vision to the Catholic Church, and dedicated himself to humility and to reforming the church, allowing blessings of same-sex couples; permitting divorced and remarried Catholics to receive holy communion and restricting the traditional Latin mass. He faced fierce criticism for what was seen by more conservative adherents as compromising the institution.
His Laudato si’ (2015) encyclical addressed the climate crisis and championed environmental stewardship:
“The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22).
We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.
Nothing in this world is indifferent to us.”
Details about the funeral of Pope Francis are as yet unavailable. Read more about Pope Francis and his legacy on the World Council of Churches website.
[Image by Annett_Klinger, Pixabay]
Support Local Camps and Discover New Resources for Camping Sunday
It is time to celebrate Camping Sunday and Camping Ministries! Sunday, April 27 is Camping Sunday. You can help to celebrate by connecting with your local United Church Camp to see how you might support them and develop a relationship with them as they prepare for the upcoming camping season.
Two new resources have been developed to help United Church camps deepen spirituality and embolden discipleship:
Faith Formation at Camp (under the Administration section) has been updated to accompany camps into the summer and the next century of leadership development and faith formation.
Alive: Dive Deep into God’s Love is a summer camp ministry program built around the life-giving theme of Living Water. Join us on April 24th for a celebration and launch of this new First Third Ministry camping curriculum, filled with new ideas and resources that can be applied to a variety of camp and congregational settings! Register today!
[Image credit: Courtesy of Lindsay Vautour]
Mission and Service: Changing the Narrative—Young Voices for Climate Justice
Over four days in 2024, 50 passionate students from various regions of Bangladesh came together to address the critical issue of climate change. Equipped with knowledge and tools, these young leaders are now poised to advocate for climate justice and inspire their communities.
Your generous support of Mission and Service helps make empowering work like this possible.
[Image credit: Yowanda Yonggara]
100 Words of Hope: Stillness in a Loud World
When we wake up each day we enter into the din Our home, our places, our nation. It deafens us at every turn, on every platform, exponentially by the din of other’s imposed upon us. It is overwhelming. What are we to do? Will covering our ears allow escape? Nay, the answer lies in the sitting and the listening. Listening for that which cannot, at first, be heard. Sitting until the din is hushed When all we can hear is the still small voice Which whispers words of love and hope and reassurance That “I AM” is with us always.
—John Neff, Westminster United Church, Orangeville, ON
We invite you to share your own 100-word reflection, poem, or prayer that conveys hope and faith in these times. Together, we can inspire each other to live out the call of the church to deep spirituality, bold discipleship, and daring justice. We are not alone.
Join a vital conversation with inspiring ecumenical leaders—the Rev. Phyllis Byrd (OAIC), Patricia Mari T. Mungcal (NCCP), and the Rev. Dr. Jessica Hetherington (The United Church of Canada)—as they share critical perspectives on climate realities from their communities: Kenya, the Philippines, and Canada.
During this important Earth Week event, we will delve into the root causes of the climate crisis and explore the transformative action of love that our shared faith inspires.
Join us tomorrow for this essential Earth Week discussion—Register now!
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]
The United Church Bookstore: The Mod's Book Squad
This Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. ET, join The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Moderator of The United Church of Canada, and her guest, Lori Ransom as they discuss Jodi Wilson Raybould's book, True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force of Change.
There is one question Canadians have asked Jody Wilson-Raybould more than any other: What can I do to help advance reconciliation? It is clear that people from all over the country want to take concrete and tangible action that will make real change. We just need to know how to get started. This book provides that next step.
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