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, September 23, 2025
E-ssentials: Orange Shirt Day, A Call for Action and Learning, and more!
Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
[Image credit: Trenton United Church]
September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. By wearing an orange shirt on September 30, you are saying that Every Child Matters and that you want to be part of a future that values all Indigenous peoples.
Please take time to observe Orange Shirt Sunday on September 28. Events are taking place across the land on September 30 to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Please find one and join in.
In Ottawa, Moderator Kimberly Heath will be participating in the Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event on Parliament Hill. This 90-minute program is a united effort of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, the Algonquin Nation, APTN, and CBC/Radio-Canada. It begins at 3:00 p.m. ET and all are welcome. Not near Ottawa? It will also be broadcast live on APTN and on YouTube.
Some other significant events include the official unveiling of the former Mohawk Institute (Brantford, ON) as an Interpretive Historic Site, and the dedication of a memorial totem (Gitwangak, BC) created by Survivors to honour the Gitxsan children who were taken against their will to residential institutions. The United Church of Canada is honoured to have supported the creation of this totem through the Bringing the Children Home initiative.
Statement on Canada’s Conditional Recognition of a Palestinian State
[Image credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe]
The United Church of Canada has issued a statement in response to Prime Minister Carney's announcement of Canada's conditional recognition of a Palestinian state. While it's a step in the right direction, more urgent action is still needed. The statement calls on Canada to secure an immediate ceasefire, ensure unhindered humanitarian aid, and uphold its obligations under international law. Church leaders have repeatedly requested to meet with the Prime Minister to discuss these priorities, but have not yet received a response. Read the full news story and statement.
Find out what you do to help amplify the voices of partners, raise our spirited voices in outrage and solidarity, and advocate for Canada to do everything in its power to help end the violence.
25 Years of Interfaith Action in Creating Sustainable Communities Across Canada
[Image credit: Courtesy of Shannon Neufeld]
In the late 1990s, The Very Rev. Bill Phipps and Rev. Ted Reeve started a national conversation on faith and the economy. They noticed that people from various faith backgrounds were interested in working together on social justice issues. This inspired them to found Faith & the Common Good (FCG) in 2000. FCG is an interfaith network that helps religious and spiritual groups create more sustainable communities, notably through its "Faithful Footprints" program, which provides grants for energy conservation and renewable energy projects.
At the organization's 25th-anniversary celebration, the General Secretary of The United Church of Canada, Rev. Michael Blair, was presented with a certificate in honour of the church's long-standing partnership with FCG. The event also marked the launch of a new, comprehensive green audit program for faith spaces. Over its 25-year history, FCG has collaborated with 700 faith communities from 25 different traditions and 100 partners.
The Inuinnaqtun language is the cultural foundation of the Inuinnait people, who live in the central Canadian Arctic. Today, fewer than 600 people can speak Inuinnaqtun fluently. Mission and Service partner Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq/Kitikmeot Heritage Society in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, is dedicated to keeping Inuinnaqtun alive.
Your compassionate gifts through Mission and Service are supporting programs that help preserve language and culture.
Starting October 14: A New 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism
[Video still credit: The United Church of Canada]
Have you explored the 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism before? This year is all about short video stories—14 in total, ready to use in worship, as a Mission and Service Story, or in a study group. There are also prayers, prompts, and other resources for your community of faith, youth group, study group, or individual use. Explore this short promo video to give you a sense of what’s coming—the full resource package will be available very soon.
The United Church Bookstore: A New Book from Former Moderator Carmen Lansdowne
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]
In her new, groundbreaking book, former Moderator, Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, asks a challenging and essential question for today: If Indigenous hearts are broken by Christianity, what in Christian theology is life-giving at all?
World Council of Churches Webinar: AI and Our Information Society—The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
[Image credit: Canva]
Join the World Council of Churches Faith and Science Working GrouponOctober 15, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. ET, for a crucial discussion on the impact of artificial intelligence on communication, ministry, and advocacy. This timely webinar, “AI and Our Information Society: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” will explore the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, from its potential to democratize technology and boost creativity to its risks, including the spread of disinformation and the perpetuation of bias.
The event will feature expert speakers who will address key questions, such as how to effectively use AI in faith communities, when to exercise caution, and how to advocate against its most harmful aspects. This is a must-attend for faith leaders, communicators, NGO professionals, theologians, and anyone interested in the ethical use of technology.
This season’s calls for nominations have just launched! Do you have the expertise the church is seeking for these national committees? Do you know someone who does?
The Pension Plan and the Benefits Plan are vital ways the church supports its ministry leaders and other paid staff. We are seeking ministers and lay people with a deep understanding of the church to serve on the committees that oversee these plans, alongside professionals with relevant expertise.
Express your interest or nominate someone else for these or other current opportunities to serve. Deadline: Thursday, October 16.
[Video still credit: The United Church of Canada Foundation]
Legacy giving has long been a tradition and foundation for The United Church of Canada. Consider watching this video to hear from donors and church ministers about how legacy gifts have made incredible change possible in their local congregations.
For further information or to get your congregation involved in the Centennial Legacy Campaign, please visit CentennialCampaign.ca.
For more inspiring worship ideas and resources, subscribe to GatheringWorship.ca.
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