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, January 13, 2026
E-ssentials: Justice for Venezuela, Collective 2026, and more!
United Church and Latin American Partners Condemn US Actions in Venezuela
[Image credit: Jared Rainbow | Dreamstime]
The United Church of Canada condemns the recent U.S. military attack on Venezuela and the reported kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, calling it a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter. Church partners across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the global ecumenical community have expressed alarm, rejecting military aggression and affirming peace, justice, and national sovereignty as core ethical commitments. The United Church has also criticized the Canadian government for failing to explicitly condemn the attack.
In response, Canadian civil society organizations have sent an open letter urging federal leaders to oppose these actions and uphold international law. Lend your voice by contacting your Member of Parliament, Foreign Affairs Minister, and the Prime Minister. Full statements, partner responses, and supporting documents are available in the downloads section in the latest news story.
Collective 2026 Is Almost Here—Registration Opens in 2 Days!
[Image credit: The Presbyterian Church in Canada]
Only two more days until Collective 2026 registration opens... but who's counting? (we sure are!)
The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC) and The United Church of Canada (UCCan) are coming together once again to offer inspiring workshops, meaningful worship, and plenty of recreation for Christian youth across Canada. Whether you’re a youth participant, young adult, or youth leader, we can’t wait to share what’s in store for Collective 2026.
Applications Open for the Ecumenical School on Governance and Economics in Panama City
[Image credit: Luis Quintero on Pexels]
Applications are now open for the Ecumenical School on Governance, Economics and Management (GEM), to be held in Panama City from August 17–28, 2026. Co-organized by the World Council of Churches, alongside global ecumenical partners, the school will bring together emerging and current church leaders from around the world to explore tools, language, and strategies to effectively advocate for urgent transformations in the global, financial, and economic realm.
The United Church Bookstore: Bless, Break, Share for Lenten Reflection and Study
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]
As we journey toward Lent, the new devotional Bless, Break, Share: Recipes for Faithful Living invites us to reflect prayerfully on food, hunger, and Christ’s call to abundant life for all. Rooted in the image of Christ as the bread of life and the table as a place of gathering, this resource holds together spiritual longing with our shared responsibility to one another. It asks gentle but meaningful questions: What do we hunger for? What feeds our soul? How are we called to feed others?
Designed for individual or group use, the devotional reminds us that every meal and every table can be an opportunity for faith, compassion, and justice. To deepen this reflection, join Rev. Dr. Christine Jerrett for a six-week online Lenten study on CHURCHx, Tuesdays from 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET beginning February 24. The series explores themes of invitation, longing, blessing, brokenness, justice, and solidarity, and includes downloadable readings and a 15% discount on the book through the United Church Bookstore.
If you ever travel to the northern mountains of India and meet a man named Surrender Singh, the first thing he’ll do is invite you on a walk. And as you walk with him, you are walking through the story of a life spent in gratitude and service to others.
Mission and Service partners like the Asian Rural Institute are where leaders like Surrender Singh gain the skills and confidence to transform their communities. When you support Mission and Service, you help grow this kind of leadership and community—the kind that takes root, spreads, and changes lives, one mountain path at a time.
The United Church General Council Office arrives at 50 Wynford Drive
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]
The United Church of Canada General Council Office (GCO) has begun a new era, as it is now moved in and fully operational at 50 Wynford Drive, Toronto, where the GCO church house shares space within the national offices of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
In November, we bid goodbye to our longtime home at 3250 Bloor Street West, Toronto, where the GCO has been based since March 1995. The move to Wynford Dr. is a temporary one, as the construction of the United Church’s future home at 300 Bloor St. West, built at the redeveloped site of Bloor Street United, continues this year.
Please note that our central mailing address will not be updated, 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.
Craddock Lecture: “Seeking Justice in a World Fallen Among Thieves”
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]
Rev. Dr. Chris Ferguson will deliver the Craddock Lecture on Sunday, January 18, at 10:30 a.m. ET, during a joint worship service of Bloor Street United Church and St. Matthew’s United Church. The service will be held at St. Matthew’s United Church, 729 St. Clair Ave. West, Toronto, in person and livestreamed.
Drawing on decades of experience in the Global South, the United Nations, and international ecumenical leadership, Rev. Ferguson will reflect on global injustice and where transformative hope and power may be found today. Learn more.
For more inspiring worship ideas and resources, subscribe to GatheringWorship.ca.
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