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.
Thursday, November 6, 2025
E-ssentials: Budget Justice Call, Cross Country Check-In, and more!
Bold Investment Needed to Advance Equity, Human Rights, and Climate Justice
[Image credit: Saffron Blaze/Wikimedia]
The United Church of Canada has issued a statement urging the federal government to ensure the 2025 budget reflects a moral commitment to justice, equity, and the planet, rather than prioritizing increased military spending. Rooted in faith, the church's core demands include fully funding Indigenous reconciliation commitments, raising climate justice targets to 60 percent, investing in racial equity and public health care (including pharmacare), and championing global peace through debt cancellation and increased international assistance. The church emphasizes that the budget must demonstrate compassion and commitment to human dignity. Read the full news story and statement.
40 Days Live: Exploring Indigenous Justice and Healing—Nov. 5 at 6:00 p.m. ET
[Image credit: Dreamstime]
This week, please join us online for a session exploring the Healing Fund and work of the United Church Women (UCW).
The United Church Women (UCW) have been actively engaged in projects and work on Indigenous justice. They have raised funds, worked on reconciliation initiatives, and been intentional about learning about Indigenous healing strategies, culture, and justice. The women have been exploring both education and action! This session will share more about what they have been doing—and what you can also do in your local context.
Every week of the 40 Days features 1-minute and 3-minute videos, each with an accompanying prayer. This week, consider exploring these videos:
In Subtle and Not-So-Subtle Anti-Asian Racism, HyeRan Kim-Cragg shares two personal stories that reveal how even affirming, diverse communities can unintentionally cause harm.
In Now I Know I Am Black, Whitton Daley shares how his move to Canada brought a new awareness of race, identity, and the subtle ways racism shows up in everyday life.
Free congregational resources for the 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism—worship prompts, ideas for study groups, and more—are available as a download from CHURCHx. Find links to all the resources on the 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism webpage. You can also donate to the church’s anti-racism work.
Use the United Church Advocacy Hub for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel
[Image credit: Paul Jeffrey / Act Alliance]
Rooted in Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed” - this United Church resource outlines beliefs and concrete steps for action that are still needed today.
The Advocacy Hub includes downloadable templates for letters and clear calls for:
A long-term ceasefire
Unhindered humanitarian access
An Arms Embargo between Canada and Israel
An end to the occupation
It also includes prayers, worship materials, ways to donate, and information on Global Mission & Service Partners in Israel/Palestine.
Since 2018, the United Church of Canada’s Faithful Footprints program has supported over 560 communities of faith in taking bold climate action. Through building retrofits and energy efficiency upgrades, the program has encouraged communities of faith to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, while strengthening sustainability and renewing mission work across the country.
As of March 2025, the Faithful Footprints grants were temporarily placed on hold due to a program review and restructuring process. Only applications submitted prior to this date continued to move forward. A new application form is being developed and will be available in January 2026 when the program reopens. Several changes will be introduced to the financial grant offering including updated eligibility requirements, additional documentation, and new approval steps required to receive funding.
Connect with church leaders! The Moderator, The Right Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath, and General Secretary, Rev. Michael Blair, invite you to a live online Cross Country Check-in with the General Council Executive (GCE) on November 18, 6:00–7:30 p.m. ET. This is an opportunity to put faces to names and engage directly with the GCE soon after their meeting, enriching preparations for GC45 and other key leadership meetings. Register today!
From November 10–21, The United Church of Canada will be part of the KAIROS delegation at the COP30 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil. As world leaders gather, we invite your community to host a candlelight vigil on the weekend of November 14–16. Join us to pray, witness, and demand that Canada stop subsidizing fossil fuels and provide fair climate financing for the Global South. Find resources, vigil locations, and the Jubilee 2025 petition. Learn more, and host a vigil.
Mission and Service Stories: Partnering for Climate Responsibility
[Image credit: Canadian Foodgrains Bank]
When members of the Diakonia of The United Church of Canada prepared to travel to Tanzania for the World Diakonia Conference, they knew their flights would carry a heavy carbon cost. Together, they decided to take collective responsibility for that footprint.
What began as one group’s effort to travel responsibly grew into an ongoing movement of faithful action. Today, your gifts for Mission and Service continue to support this carbon offset program, caring for creation and planting seeds of hope around the world.
The United Church Bookstore: Get Your 2026 Canadian Church Calendar!
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]
Celebrate United Churches across Canada! Focusing on the theme of "A New Heaven and a New Earth" this bilingual 2026 Canadian Church calendar features colourful photos from communities of faith across the country plus all the special days, church seasons, and lectionary dates.
For more inspiring worship ideas and resources, subscribe to GatheringWorship.ca.
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