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, November 25, 2025
E-ssentials Toward 2035, Kairos Action, and more!
Toward 2035 Invites Communities of Faith to a Hope-Filled, Bolder Future
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]
The General Council Executive (GCE) has approved Toward 2035 (T2035), a new 10-year strategic direction guiding The United Church of Canada into its third generation.
This whole-church vision anticipates The United Church of Canada by 2035 as a denomination of inspired, resilient, and diverse communities embodying Christ's presence, connected coast-to-coast-to-coast, rural and urban, and growing increasingly multiracial, multigenerational, and intercultural.
Strategic Objectives (2026–2028) focus on:
Embolden Justice
Invigorate Leadership
Strengthen Invitation (Growth)
As well as national plan and regional strategy, T2035 is an invitation to every community of faith to urgently reflect on its purpose (its "why") and collaborate with nearby churches, especially focusing on outreach to newcomers and young people, as we live into our call to Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship, and Daring Justice.
The United Church General Council Office is Moving
[Image credit: PJ Boyd]
The United Church of Canada General Council Office (GCO) this week celebrates an exciting milestone, as we bid goodbye to our longtime home at 3250 Bloor Street West, in Toronto. In the coming days, we begin our move across the city to a new temporary office at 50 Wynford Drive in North York, where the GCO will share space in the national offices of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
Our office at 3250 Bloor St. West was decommissioned in an all-staff gathering and final chapel service on November 5, celebrating more than 30 years of collaboration and wonderful memories in the space, into which the General Council Office moved in March 1995. The move to Wynford Dr. will be a temporary one, as the ongoing construction of the United Church’s future home at 300 Bloor St. West continues into 2026.
Please note that our central mailing address will not be updated to 50 Wynford Dr., and mail forwarding will be in effect from our 3250 Bloor St. West address for most purposes. For information on where to mail Mission and Service donations, please visit our website.
Giving Tuesday: Strength for Today. Hope for Tomorrow.
[Image credit: Pixabay]
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, has left massive destruction in Cuba, Jamaica, and other places across the Caribbean; devastating homes and vital infrastructure. Our Mission and Service partners are currently providing immediate relief, including food, water, and shelter. This Giving Tuesday, your gift through Mission and Service helps provide both immediate survival aid and critical long-term support needed to rebuild homes, schools, and livelihoods, ensuring communities can move from survival to renewal.
You are invited to hear directly from Rifat Odeh Kassis, General Coordinator of Kairos Palestine, in a webinar organized by Catholics for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land (CJPHL). The session, titled “Kairos Palestine: Challenges and the Way Forward,” will take place on Saturday, November 29 at 12:00–1:30 p.m. ET.
We also invite people across The United Church of Canada to:
Read and engage with Kairos Palestine II; Embrace the path of costly solidarity with partners enduring oppression.
Watch the Kairos Palestine video “The Silent Genocide”, highlighting the current injustices in the occupied West Bank;
Pray with and for the churches and people of Palestine;
Act in solidarity through education, advocacy, and public witness.
NIEC Initiates Process to Re-Establish a National Indigenous Council
[Image credit: Sonyuser/Pixabay]
The National Indigenous Elders Council (NIEC) has initiated the process to establish a new 15-member National Indigenous Council (NIC), which will govern the Indigenous church. Following the direction of the 2024 Spiritual Gathering, the NIEC issued a call for nominations on November 14, 2025, from Indigenous Circles and the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre. Nominations must be submitted by May 1, 2026. The new NIC is slated to be formally established during a National Indigenous Spiritual Gathering in summer 2026.
This year’s Advent Unwrapped resources include a Longest Night service, “Making Things Right.” It invites us, as people seeking reconciliation and a more just world, to reflect on the work of reparations. You can download it (and other Advent materials) on the Advent Unwrapped page of the United Church website.
40 Days Live: A Place at the Table and Anti-Racist Ministries
[Image credit: Dreamstime]
This Wednesday, November 26, at 6:00 pm ET, please join us online for a conversation exploring A Place at the Table!
This photo was revealed on Maundy Thursday in 2025. It reimagines Da Vinci’s Last Supper as a representation of our faith community: one committed to welcoming people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
In this 40 Days Live session, join some of the “disciples” from A Place at the Table to hear more about their journey—and particularly how they are engaging in practical anti-racist ministries in their own communities of faith.
This is the last week of 40 Days Live events in 2025, but you can find recordings of all past events on the United Church YouTube channel.
Each week of the 40 Days has continued to highlight videos of United Church leaders. This week, consider viewing these videos:
In Who I Am, Sophia Chuan shares what it means to grow up racialized in predominantly White spaces, and how healing begins with listening.
In Who Is Missing from the Table?, Matthew Tyhurst reflects on what it means to move from inclusion to equity—and how true reconciliation begins with redistributing power and making space for marginalized voices.
This week marks the end of the 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism in 2025, but you can take part in the 40 Days at any time of year. Access to other videos, congregational resources, ideas for study groups, ways to donate to the work, and more will continue to be available on the 40 Days webpage until at least the spring of 2026.
Please sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with the United Church’s anti-racism work.
The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) and The United Church of Canada (UCC) are excited to announce Collective 2026, a joint national event for youth, young adults, and their leaders!
Building on the shared vision established during their groundbreaking 2024 "Audacious Hope" partnership, The Collective continues the rich traditions of PCC’s Canada Youth and UCC’s Rendez-Vous events.
This spirit-filled gathering is designed to inspire faith growth, foster deep community, and equip leaders for the future. The event is packed with worship, interactive workshops, discipleship groups, recreation, and time for shared reflection.
For more inspiring worship ideas and resources, subscribe to GatheringWorship.ca.
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