Tuesday, November 3, 2026

E-ssentials: Cross Country Check-In with GCE, Learning Tour to Kenya, Anti-Racism Stories, and more

Join Us for the Next Cross Country Check-In

Join the General Secretary, members of the General Council Executive, and the Moderator for a Cross Country Check-In on November 25, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. ET. This live conversation is an opportunity to connect with people from across the United Church, ask questions, put faces to names, and share perspectives that can help inform the church’s leadership and decision-making.

40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism: Inzwirashe's Story

[Video Image still: The United Church of Canada]

For our 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism, Inzwirashe Munikwa shares a moving reflection on the power of family, community, and the strength we carry within us. She calls us to lift up voices too often unheard and to work for a future grounded in equity, dignity, and the recognition that every person is created worthy.

Watch Inzwirashe’s story of resilience, and hope—and take a moment to reflect: What inspires us to speak our truth and work toward a more just and compassionate world?

Watch Inzwirashe's reflection

How Village Savings and Loan Associations are Transforming Communities in Kenya

[Image credit: Shauna McIntosh]

United Church participants in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s 2026 Food Security Learning Tour to Kenya reflect on how Village Savings and Loan Associations are empowering women, strengthening communities, and building greater financial independence.

Read their reflections and learn more about the people and locally led projects making a difference in Kenya in the latest blog from Round the table.

Read the full blog

Host a Climate Motivator for 2027

[Image credit: Canva]

The General Council Office invites communities of faith to host a Climate Motivator (ages 18–25) this summer (mid-May to mid-July). This eight-week position supports local climate action and multigenerational engagement. You can find examples from 2026 in the just released Climate Motivator Impact Report.

Host Benefits: We help secure Canada Summer Jobs funding and provide national training and project grant access.

Your Action: Develop a local project and recommend and mentor a young adult (your Climate Motivator).

Deadline: Submit your expression of interest by November 20, 2026.

Learn more about hosting a Climate Motivator

The United Church Bookstore: Get Ready for Advent!

[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]

Get ready for the season of Advent with resources from the United Church Bookstore! Explore Advent candle sets, worship resources, bulletins, music collections, and more to help your congregation prepare for a meaningful Advent and Christmas season.

Explore the Advent and Christmas Collection today!

Mission and Service Stories: A Stable Start

[Image credit: Wesley Youth Housing]

Every young person deserves a safe place to call home. In Hamilton, Ontario, Wesley Youth Housing supports youth experiencing homelessness with safe housing, practical life skills, and encouragement as they work toward independence.

With support from Mission and Service, young people are building stability, confidence, and a brighter future.

Read how Wesley Youth Housing is helping young people get A Stable Start.

Read the Mission and Service story

Worship Resources

See our Worship Resources for upcoming Sundays and special celebrations.

Twenty-Fourth after Pentecost - November 8, 2026
Remembrance Day - November 11, 2026
Children's Sunday - November 15, 2026
Twenty-Fifth after Pentecost - November 15, 2026
Transgender Day of Remembrance - November 20, 2026
Reign of Christ - November 22, 2026
First Sunday of Advent - November 29, 2026

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!

Our gifts bring healing, justice, and hope to life.

Donate today.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

E-ssentials: Take Action for Cuba, Breaking Bread with Canadians, and more!

Watch. Write. Take Action for Cuba.

[Image credit: Cuban Council of Churches]

Cuban partners tell us that families are facing a profound humanitarian crisis, with shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and other essentials.

Send a letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Tell Canada to oppose U.S. military intervention and the ongoing blockade of Cuba, and support urgent humanitarian action.

This is an important opportunity to act. Today, Canada will once again have the opportunity at the United Nations General Assembly to vote on a resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo against Cuba. Between 1993 and 2025, Canada has consistently voted in favour of Cuba’s annual resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo. On July 7 of this year, however, Canada chose to abstain from a vote on Cuba.

In this video message, the Moderator of The United Church of Canada is calling on us to raise our voices and stand in solidarity with our partners and the people of Cuba:

Breaking Bread With Canadians, Palestinian-Style

[Video still credit: The United Church of Canada]

Over the past several months, Palestinian chef and storyteller Izzeldin Bukhari has travelled across Canada, sharing Palestinian food, culture, and family stories with more than 2,000 people in United Churches and other communities. From British Columbia to Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto, these gatherings have offered Canadians a chance to discover Palestinian traditions and the people behind the dishes.

This past Thanksgiving, Izzeldin Bukhari joined Moderator Kimberly Heath for a special edition of "Kitchen Conversations with the Moderator." Watch all the episodes.

In a new blog post, Bukhari reflects on the power of breaking bread together—and how sharing food can open doors to understanding, challenge stereotypes, and bring people closer across cultures and experiences. Each meal offers an opportunity to learn about Palestine through its hospitality, its heritage, and the stories passed down through generations.

Read "Breaking Bread With Canadians, Palestinian-Style."

Read the full blog

Candles for COP

[Image credit: Canva]

This year, the UN Climate Change Conference, COP31, will be held in Antalya, Turkey from November 9–20, 2026.

You're invited, alongside For the Love of Creation (FLC) members, to hold Candles for COP vigils during the UN Climate Change Conference.

Last year, more than 20 vigils were held across the country, drawing attention to the crucial global action and coordination needed to face and mitigate climate change. You can collaborate locally and post your event on this map.

Contact Lori at justice@united-church.ca for COP prayer resources.

Find a Candles for COP event near you!

40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism: Madison's Story

[Video Image still: The United Church of Canada]

As part of our 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism series, Madison Tyndale, an Afro-Indigenous woman, reflects on growing up as the only Black girl in the room and discovering her Indigenous heritage as she began to explore her identity.

Growing up in a predominantly White community, Madison experienced racism from an early age, without fully understanding what was happening to her. It wasn’t until university that she began to name those experiences and explore her Indigenous heritage. But reconnecting with her roots has brought its own challenges, shaped by family history, closed adoption, and the difficulty of finding connection with communities she longs to belong to.

What does it mean to search for belonging when you feel caught between worlds?

Madison's story is one of confronting racism, navigating a complex identity, and taking the first steps toward reclaiming her roots. She also reminds us that Afro-Indigenous people have unique stories to tell that deserve to be heard.

Watch her video and take a moment to reflect and pray with the accompanying prayer.

Watch Madison's video

The United Church Bookstore: Selling Fast! 2027 Canadian Church Calendars

[Image credit: Robert Lesser | Almonte United Church]

Bring the church year to life with the 2027 Canadian Church Calendar: Draw the Circle Wide! Featuring colourful photos from United Church communities across Canada, this beautiful bilingual calendar celebrates the people and places that make up our wider church.

With church seasons, special days, and lectionary dates all in one place, it’s a practical and meaningful companion for the year ahead—and a thoughtful gift for your home, office, church, or someone special in your faith community.

Ordering for your church or community? Save more when you order in bulk!

10% off orders of 10 or more
15% off orders of 25 or more
20% off orders of 50 or more

Don’t wait until they’re gone! Order the 2027 Canadian Church Calendar today, and bring a little bit of the wider church into your space for the year ahead.

Get your calendar today!

Mission and Service Stories: Youth Leadership Animators

[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]

What does it mean to be a leader in the church? For eight young people from across The United Church of Canada, this summer was an opportunity to explore that question through the Leadership Animator program.

Leadership Animators gained confidence, explored their passions, and discovered the many ways they can be involved in the life of the church. They also brought fresh perspectives and voices to a wider church where youth leadership continues to grow in importance.

Thank you for supporting programs like the Leadership Animators through Mission and Service. Let’s give generously. Together, we’re helping young people grow in faith, discover their gifts, and shape the future of our church.

Read the Mission and Service story