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, May 5, 2026
E-ssentials: 2025 Strategic Plan Report, Asian Heritage Month, and more!
2025 Strategic Plan Report Now Available
[Image credit: Courtesy of Alan Lai]
The 2025 Strategic Plan Report is now live online on The United Church of Canada website, and in French on EgliseUnie.ca. The report shares financial information and stories of progress tied to the church’s strategic objectives, shedding a light on some of the many new and exciting things emerging amongst us.
As the final annual report of the General Council Office’s 2023‒2025 Strategic Plan, it complements more detailed quarterly reports prepared for the General Council Executive and available on the General Council website, as well as the high-level current-time reporting accessible at Our Call and Vision.
In addition to uplifting inspiring work, the report continues our efforts to deliver on our goals with accountability and transparency. We hope it will contribute to understanding the priorities of the General Council Office, and the work that continues to be supported through both assessment and Mission and Service contributions.
We encourage you to share the report with others. The report webpage includes a PowerPoint and talking points for presenting the information with ease at church gatherings.
As we conclude this three-year Strategic Plan, key elements will become pillars of our whole-church transformation Toward 2035. We are grateful to continue the spirit-filled work of becoming the church we are called to be together.
[Image credit: Courtesy of Trinity United Church, Newmarket, Ontario]
Last year, more than 115 communities of faith across the country brought 100 Tables to life—placing picnic tables outside their churches as spaces of welcome, conversation, and service. From coast to coast, these tables became sites of connection, where neighbours gathered to share food, stories, and reflections on justice, inclusion, and community.
As our centennial year comes to a close, communities of faith are once again invited to take part. Whether you joined in 2025 or are participating for the first time, new and returning ideas are encouraged. Eligible communities can still receive a $225 RONA gift card to purchase a picnic table. Explore last year’s stories and find inspiration on the 100 Tables map—and reach out to the 100 Tables team to get started. Learn more and get involved.
May marks Asian Heritage Month—a time to honour the breadth and diversity of Asian-descendant communities in Canada, including ones within The United Church of Canada. Communities of faith are invited to uplift diverse Asian voices through worship, music, food, and prayer, and to explore available Asian Heritage Month resources on the United Church website. Several videos from the 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism series also highlight Asian voices within the church and can be shared in worship or newsletters. Communities of faith are additionally invited to reflect and challenge anti-Asian racism wherever it is found.
This year, leaders of Asian ethnocultural networks are focusing on honouring heritage within their own communities throughout the year—such as Chinese, Filipino, and Korean Heritage Months—rather than creating new national resources. They encourage communities to move beyond performative gestures, to listen to diverse Asian voices, challenge anti-Asian racism, and recognize the rich diversity of cultures, languages, and experiences across Asian communities.
The United Church of Canada is deeply concerned by reports that operations by the Philippine military’s 79th Infantry Battalion on Negros Island on April 19, 2026, killed 19 people and displaced more than 650 residents. We join the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines in calling for an immediate, independent investigation into these alleged human rights violations. We mourn those who were killed, including a farmer, a journalist, and a university student engaged in community-based research and solidarity work.
We call on the Government of Canada to suspend its Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines, review its support to ensure it does not contribute to harm, and encourage renewed peace negotiations. People of the United Church are invited to sign an e-petition calling for action and to share it widely. Pray for peace and justice, and learn more about the Global Partnership Team’s work through the link below.
Join in Local Action for Moose Hide Campaign Day (May 14)
[Image credit: Moose Hide Campaign Day]
Violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2S and LGBTQIA+ people in Canada is not just a "social issue"—it is a human rights crisis rooted in systemic racism.
The United Church of Canada is proud to support the Moose Hide Campaign on May 14. We are calling on leaders and communities to take a stance for justice.
How can you participate? Wear and share a moosehide pin. Sign up for a series of virtual workshops and educational events. Fast for the day, if you are able. Join in the many local marches taking place across the land. Join us in person for the national rally at Queen’s Park in Toronto on May 14 at noon.
Join us at Queen’s Park. If you are in Southern Ontario, we encourage your community of faith to join us on the grounds of the Ontario Legislature from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for the national rally. The United Church of Canada contingent will be meeting at the southeast corner of the park, near Queen’s Park Crescent East and Wellesley Street West at 11:45 a.m. If you are elsewhere across the country, join in local marches or organize your own!
The United Church Bookstore: 150 NEW Pieces of Music from Then Let Us Sing!
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]
Curated by a dedicated team of volunteers from across the church, Then Let Us Sing!includes 150 new pieces of music from diverse voices around the world.
For more inspiring worship ideas and resources, subscribe to GatheringWorship.ca.
Important Note: The images included in this newsletter are protected by copyright. While we encourage you to share the newsletter itself, please don't copy or use the images independently. Thanks for your understanding!
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