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.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
E-ssentials: Queer Youth of Faith Day, Support Earthquake Relief in the Philippines, and more!
Queer Youth of Faith Day Calls the Church from Welcome to Witness
[Video still credit: The United Church of Canada]
Today is Queer Youth of Faith Day. Across The United Church of Canada and beyond, queer youth are sharing powerful stories of resilience, belonging, and hope, inviting the church into deeper welcome and bolder action. Hear this compilation of reflections from six queer youth of faith and explore resources—including the Faithful Futures Commitment Card—to help your community move from affirmation to meaningful action in support of 2S and LGBTQIA+ youth.
[Image credit: National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP)]
Please continue to keep the people of the Philippines in your prayers following a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Mindanao on June 8. At least 45 people have died, more than 450 have been injured, and over 40,000 people have been displaced as hundreds of aftershocks continue to hamper relief efforts.
Through our Mission and Service partnerships with ACT Alliance, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), we are supporting communities as they respond to this disaster.
Please consider making a gift to support emergency relief efforts.
We also hold in prayer all those affected by more recent earthquakes, including in Venezuela, as communities face loss, uncertainty, and the long road to recovery.
Feast of Creation Adopted for Trial Use by the Consultation on Common Texts
[Image credit: Photo by Carrie Harris of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship]
In a historic ecumenical milestone, the Consultation on Common Texts—an ecumenical body that oversees the Revised Common Lectionary in North America—has approved a new Festival of Creation in Christ (or Feast of Creation) for trial use in the Revised Common Lectionary—the first new feast added to the church calendar since 1983.
Celebrated annually on September 1 (or the following Sunday), the festival invites churches to deepen their worship, theology, and care for God's Creation. The proposal is the result of years of collaboration among the World Council of Churches, the Middle East Council of Churches, and Christian communions around the world.
The Rev. Dr. Alydia Smith, Identity and Mission Network Coordinator and secretary of the Consultation on Common Texts, called the new festival "an encouraging sign of ecumenism" and a reflection of the global church's shared commitment to Creation care.
Read more about this historic addition to the church calendar.
Concerns continue to grow over the implementation of Bill C-12, with refugee claimants—including families with young children—reportedly being denied hearings and placed at risk of deportation without adequate protection.
Through partnerships with migrant justice and refugee advocacy organizations, we continue to hear troubling reports about the impacts of the legislation on vulnerable people seeking safety in Canada.
We are calling for the repeal of Bill C-12, or immediate amendments to ensure all current applicants have access to a fair hearing and protection from removal while their cases remain unresolved.
Every morning, five-year-old Mohammad watched other children walk to kindergarten from the doorway of his home in the Sabra/Shatila refugee camp in Beirut. Living with partial paralysis, he wasn't able to attend school—until staff at Mission and Service partner, the Joint Christian Committee for Social Service in Lebanon (JCC) of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees, welcomed him into the classroom.
Today, Mohammad learns and plays alongside his peers in a place where every child is valued. Through Mission and Service, our gifts help support partners like JCC, creating opportunities for children to learn, belong, and thrive.
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 bulk purchases: receive 15% off Full Music Edition of Then Let Us Sing! when you order 24 or more copies. Discount will be automatically applied to qualifying carts.
For more inspiring worship ideas and resources, subscribe to GatheringWorship.ca.
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