Wednesday, January 3, 2024

E-ssentials: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

 


Happy New Year from The United Church of Canada's General Council Office! We pray for God's abundant blessings as we enter 2024, seeking to live into our calling to be a church and people of deep spirituality, bold discipleship, and daring justice.

God of immeasurable grace,
Bless us with spirituality as deep as the ocean
Call us to a discipleship as bold as the saints’.
Compel us to a justice as daring as the Redeemer’s love,
In the name of our Impossible Hope,
Christ Jesus.
Amen

Prayer by Jennifer Henry. Find more Call and Vision worship resources on our website.

[Photo: Winterseitler from Pixabay]

Moderator Carmen Lansdowne: Act Now on the Middle East Humanitarian Crisis

 


Your advocacy for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war is critically important. Moderator Carmen Lansdowne reminds us that the more constituents write to their elected representatives, the bigger the impact. A letter from the Moderator or the General Secretary is only one letter. Using our online advocacy tool, you can send your own individual emails calling on officials in the Government of Canada to continue to press for a ceasefire in the conflict in Middle East. 

Visit our Pray, Donate, and Advocate page to share your voice on this current crisis:
  • ADVOCATE by sending a letter to your MP, using our new advocacy tool.
  • DONATE to our Mission and Service partners who are currently responding to those impacted by the conflict in West Bank and East Jerusalem.
  • PRAY for peace and justice in the Middle East. 
[Video still: The United Church of Canada]

United in Learning: Lenten Study 2024

 

Act/Fast Lenten Study

During Lent, join us on Tuesdays from February 20 to March 26, 2024, to expand your love for God, deepen your connection to Creation, and strengthen your hope for God’s dream realized. 

The new Lenten devotional Act/Fast: Spiritual Practices for a Climate in Crisis invites us to deepen our love for Creation and take action or fast for a climate in crisis. It also includes a study guide to help you dive deeper as individuals or within a group.

Register today for the 2024 Lenten study! 

[Image credit: The United Church of Canada and © Dzmitryshashko | Dreamstime]

Global Refugee Forum: LGBTQI+ and Allied Civil Society Statement

 
 
The United Church of Canada was one of 75+ civil society organizations at the recent Global Refugee Forum to call on states to create more dedicated pathways and programs to help LGBTQI+ people who are at risk of persecution, including humanitarian and development funding and resettlement pathways. 

With over 110 million displaced people in the world, we are collectively experiencing a global refugee crisis of unprecedented scale. At-risk LGBTQI+ individuals are uniquely vulnerable due to state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia, and often face systemic barriers to accessing safety within the existing global refugee and asylum system.

Read the full statement at RainbowRailroad.org.

[Image credit: Rainbow Railroad]

Your Mission and Service Stories: Learning the Gospel at Camp

 

 
Church camp has been an important part of the faith journey for Dave Jagger, the United Church's Community of Faith Stewardship Lead. 

He writes: "I attended youth camp as a teen with my girlfriend (who would later become my spouse), counselled for a couple of summers, and our kids started as soon as they could and went for many years. It was as a counsellor that I learned many of the important practical skills that impacted my years of congregational ministry.

"United Church camps are one of the longest lived and most successful training grounds for leaders, and for sharing gospel living, that the church has.

"I am happy to know that Mission and Service is part of helping them continue."

Find out more about how your Mission and Service donations support life-changing experiences through United Church camps.

[Photo: Cave Springs Camp]

Worship Resources 


See our Worship Resources for upcoming Sundays and special celebrations.

Epiphany - January 6, 2024
Baptism of Jesus - January 7, 2024
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 18, 2024
Black History Month 1 - February 4, 2024

For more inspiring worship ideas and resources subscribe to GatheringWorship.ca
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Living Lutheran Weekly Email Digest

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January 2, 2024
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Lectionary blog: The water has always been ready!

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Lectionary for Jan. 7, 2023 Baptism of Our Lord Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11 As the story goes, someone once asked the famed 20th-century theologian Karl Barth when he was … continue
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A legacy of Lutheran storytelling

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Compiled by Living Lutheran staff Special thanks to the ELCA Archives Living Lutheran and its predecessors have been telling the stories of God’s people living their faith for nearly two … continue

News from ELCA Advocacy

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We know that facing hunger is more than pre-dinner pangs. The share of children in households with an income of less than half the poverty line doubled between 2021 and 2022 in the United States. … continue
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NCC Newsletter – December 30, 2023



A Call to Prayer…

 

The above message was shared with NCC recently. As 2023 closes and we move beyond the holiday festivities to enter 2024, let us remain vigilant in our prayers for peace on earth.  

NCC Urges Congress to “Let There Be Peace” in Holiday Message 

Washington, D.C.—The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) sent a holiday message to members of the U.S. Congress urging them to honor the spirit of this holiday season by “acting for justice and righteousness on behalf of all of God’s people.”


The holiday card named NCC advocacy priorities and encouraged members of Congress to support legislation that would bring peace on earth, peace in our communities and peace of mind to the most vulnerable.  In particular, the message to Congress called for support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a ban on assault rifles, and a permanent expansion of the child tax credit, among other issues.


“This holiday season, we’re working and praying for peace and we’re asking you, as members of Congress, to do your part to support legislation that will make it a reality,” the card noted. “For Christians, celebrating the birth of Jesus is about more than consumerism and sharing empty words of peace, joy, and love. It is about putting our faith into action for the most vulnerable.”


The holiday message was a part of NCC’s “Let There Be Peace” campaign launched for the Advent season. Daily prayers by Christian leaders focused on peace were posted to NCC’s social media accounts. A litany about peace was made available to local congregations and individuals were invited to take an “I’m a Peacemaker” Pledge.


While the “Let There Be Peace” campaign focused on the Advent season, NCC plans to elevate its focus on peace in the New Year as well. Click here to view a larger image of the card sent to Congress. 


For more information, visit the National Council of Churches website. 

Save the Date

Look for information in future issues of NCC's newsletter about the following events sponsored by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for the Health Opportunities for Policy Equity (HOPE) Challenge, in cooperation with The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and other partners.


February 2024 — The Heart of the Matter: Closing Disparities in Hypertension, Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke


March 2024 — Holding Mommy Dear: A National Action Strategy to Eliminate Maternal Mortality

June 2024 — A Fair Shot for Health: Collaborating to Close Race, Gender, and Age Disparities in Gun Violence

 

Faiths United to Save Democracy Hosts MLK Voter Registration Event

Faiths United to Save Democracy is hosting a virtual Call to Action Voter Registration Launch on January 15, 2024, 4:00 - 5:15 pm/EST. Please help them get the word out about the launch and the powerful January 15 messengers addressing the 2024 election question, "Why Vote?"

 

Feel free to post the above flyer to your social media accounts and encourage attendance by clergy and voting rights advocates in your network before Christmas.


Click here for more information.

Employment Opportunities

NCC Position Openings

Marketing and Communication Officer

The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) seeks a talented professional to drive the external and internal engagement of our ecumenical, advocacy, and activist agenda. This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead and implement strategic communications initiatives, from concept to reality, aimed at promoting NCC's vision, mission, and values. The Marketing and Communication Officer will manage the organization's overall communication and marketing strategy, including written and verbal communications, media relations, social media presence, and relationship building with key contacts in Washington D.C.


Joining NCC's team as a Marketing and Communication Officer offers a unique opportunity for a motivated and passionate individual to drive impactful external and internal communications strategies that advance our organization’s goals. If you are dedicated to utilizing your skills and experience to make a difference toward positive social change, NCC would love to hear from you.


Job Classification

Full-time exempt. Work is generally conducted Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. This is a hybrid position with at least one to two days in the office each week. Occasional evening and weekend availability may be required. Eligible for paid time off and retirement benefits. Salary range: $65,000 – $75,000.


To apply, click here.


Receptionist (Part Time)

The National Council of Churches is seeking a part-time Secretary/Receptionist to join our office team. This position requires working at least two in office, and up to three days a week, providing essential support in various administrative tasks. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and possess excellent communication skills.  


Executive Asst. to the President/General Secretary 

The NCC is seeking a highly organized, multifaceted, and motivated individual for the position of Executive Assistant to the President/General Secretary with human resourcing responsibilities. This role will provide essential administrative support and act as a trusted liaison for the President/General Secretary. This position requires the ability to handle sensitive information and maintain confidentiality, as well as exceptional organizational and communication skills. 


The Executive Assistant will have the flexibility to work remotely with only 1-2 days per week in the office, though living in the Washington, DC metropolitan area is preferred. The ideal candidate will also possess knowledge of the Washington, DC area and be capable of assisting with human resourcing responsibilities, communications, and marketing strategies. 


Office Location 

The Methodist Building, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Washington, D. C. 20002 


Application Process: 

To apply for this position, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a list of three professional references. In your cover letter, please highlight your relevant experience, interest in ecumenical/ advocacy work, and knowledge of the DMV area. 


How to Apply: Submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@nationalcouncilofchurches.us 

• • • • • •

Faith in Public Life Position Openings

Faith in Public Life is hiring for a few positions and is looking for candidates who would be a good fit. Click on the links below for more information:

RNS Morning Report: How Philadelphia’s faith communities held together as Oct. 7 attack tested ties

RNS Morning Report

Top Stories

How Philadelphia’s faith communities held together as Oct. 7 attack tested ties

(RNS) — Interfaith bonds fostered by Jewish, Christian and Muslim groups before the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas have allowed the groups to pull together despite a spike in hate incidents.
 

In a secular age, some young Americans still choose religious life

(RNS) — While the numbers of priests and nuns have declined in recent decades, many millennials and Gen Zers still find a calling to religious life in the Catholic Church, even if the path to discernment has changed.
 

How Dominican women fight child marriage and teen pregnancy while facing total abortion bans

AZUA, Dominican Republic (AP) — With a Bible on its flag, the Caribbean country has a powerful lobby of Catholics and evangelicals who are united against decriminalizing abortion.
 

Pope recalls Benedict XVI’s love and wisdom on anniversary of death, as secretary reflects on legacy

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Speaking at the end of his weekly noon blessing, Francis said the faithful feel “so much love, so much gratitude, so much admiration” for Benedict.

RNS Opinion

Rabbi David Wolpe’s pagans aren’t the ones I know

(RNS) — The distinguished rabbi characterizes a broad collection of small faiths as idolators of nature or money.
 

ICYMI

RNS reporters look ahead to the big religion stories they expect in 2024

(RNS) — From papal reforms to psychedelics to presidential elections, here are the big religion stories RNS reporters anticipate this coming year.
 

Pope says ‘our hearts are in Bethlehem’ as he presides over the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Francis, draped in white robes, led the Mass standing at the foot of one of St. Peter’s grand columns.

In Other News

 

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