Nominations closed for 44th Moderator of The United Church of Canada on June 17. The United Church of Canada requires an election process for Moderator, so the nominee, the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Kwisa’lakw, attended the election on July 23 ….. and the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Kwisa’lakw, will be installed on August 7, 2022. Learn more about the nominee in this biographical statement.
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed on othe UCC YouTube channel.
Attend a national gathering for peace, justice & human rights in Palestine Israel!
The United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine/Israel (UNJPPI) is a country-wide network of people, many connected with the United Church of Canada, who are concerned about justice and peace in Palestine/Israel. We focus on advocacy, education to uphold human rights and justice in the region.
Every year, UNJPPI organizes a national gathering. Now that pandemic restrictions have eased up we are grateful for the opportunity to gather again for the first time since 2019 and would like to invite you to join!
We meet May 5-8, 2022 in London, Ontario. The gathering theme is “Responding to a Cry for Hope.”
UNJPPI’s May gathering is an opportunity to learn regardless of your previous knowledge or engagement with peace and justice in Israel and Palestine.It is a chance to hear from dynamic and diverse speakers, form connections with like minded advocates from across the country, gather strength and inspiration as we emerge from pandemic shut downs, form community over meals and music, engage in meaningful learning sessions and discussions, and envision how we carry the work for peace and justice forward.
UNJPPI is working to make this gathering a meaningful and memorable learning opportunity!
More information (program outline, speakers, logistics and registration) is available on the event website: www.unjppi.ca
Antler River Watershed Regional Council Members Let Sunflower Seeds of Hope Abound in ARWRC
Sunflowers! The national flower of Ukraine.
When explorers returning home from North America brought sunflower seeds with them, the seeds were planted in the rich dark soil of Ukraine where they flourished. While other fats and oils used for cooking were forbidden by the Orthodox Church during Lent, the oil from sunflower seeds found its way into Ukrainian cooking and culture. Throughout Ukraine’s history the ubiquitous sunflower has been a symbol of peace.
Since late February the sunflower has become a global symbol of resistance and solidarity in support of Ukraine. It is rooted in a news story about a bold, brave and courageous Ukrainian woman who offered sunflower seeds to heavily armed Russian soldiers invading her country. “Take these seeds,” she said, “so that sunflowers grow when you die here.”
Sunflower seeds of hope … hope that good will triumph; hope that through the darkness beauty will grow. Death and resurrection.
On Ash Wednesday, on behalf of the Antler River Watershed Regional Council (ARWRC), I wrote a letter of support to the Ukrainian faith communities located within the region.
Here is an excerpt:
We watch with dismay and disbelief as Russia continues to invade Ukraine. Our hearts ache because of the violence, death, pain, destruction, and the displacement being visited upon Ukraine’s people, many of whom have family members and friends living in Canada.
In a time such as this, we pray that the Spirit of God’s love will provide strength for the people, political leaders and spiritual leaders of Ukraine. We pray for peace.
We are holding and encouraging you as we stand in solidarity with you. support
And now to the Sunflower Challenge!
During Lent, and beyond, I encourage all communities of faith to plant sunflower seeds of hope and to adorn your worship spaces with sunflowers … be they real ones, photographs or made of construction paper. My hope is that the ARWRC will become a field of sunflowers. It will become an expression of our “Voices United” in hope and in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and their loved ones around the world.
Beyond the sunflowers, please also check the UCC website for many more ways to help and show support for Ukraine and its people.
In Faith & Hope,
Rev. Jane Van Patter
President, Antler River Watershed Regional Council
On January 24, 2022, The United Church of Canada launched its Korea Peace Appeal Ten Thousand Signature Campaign declaring, “70 years is enough. It’s time to end the Korean War.”
In 2018, the United Church’s 43rd General Council declared that we believe God is calling us tojoin with partners to work for peace, justice and reunification in the Korean peninsula. The 43rd General Council urged the church to address the suffering of the Korean people, which continues since the Korean War has not ended, some seven decades after it was begun. The Korea Peace Appeal is an opportunity for the United Church to renew our commitment to partnership in God’s mission in Korea.
The UCC has taken up the invitation — and challenge — from Korean partners to add Ten Thousand Signatures to the Korean Peace Appeal by July 2022.
Join the call to begin reaching out and organizing so we can reach that goal
Please promote and share this event:
UCC Korea Peace Appeal 10,000 Signatures Campaign Organizing Session February 24, 2022 at 2 pm ET ( 3:30 NT, 3:00 AT, 1 pm CT, Noon MT, 11 am PT) Led by Moderator Richard Bott and Rev. Dr. Kyongja (Kay) Cho.
Come learn about this Korea Peace Appeal 10,000 Signatures Campaign.
Offer your time, talent and passion for Peace.
Gather resources and ideas to help promote this campaign among family, friends, your community of faith and networks. Strategize on how to recruit and support more Korea Peace Appeal champions.
100 Champions (individuals or communities of faith) collecting 100 signatures will reach a 10,000 signature mark.
Do you wish to engage others in your passion for the environment and take actions for climate change. Here is an invitation to Facilitate Climate Conversations with some helpful training. Check out this opportunity. For more information contact Kdouglas@united-church.ca
For the Love of Creation will be offering a Facilitator Training Session for the Faithful Climate Conversations
The Government of Canada has launched the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) 2021-2022 call for proposals (CFP) for community-based projects across Canada.The online application and applicant guide is available on the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). For information, please consult the ESDC Funding Programs page. The deadline to submit applications will be December 21st, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. EST.
WHAT’S NEW FOR THE 2021-2022 CALL FOR PROPOSALS?
One application stream: Community-based projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding. New applicants and organizations that have not been funded in the past five years are encouraged to apply.
To simplify the application process and provide funds to communities more rapidly, organizations will need to complete and submit their application online. The deadline to submit is December 21st, 2021.
Organizations will be invited to apply for funding that supports the program’s national priorities:
1. Supporting healthy ageing
o Including addressing social isolation, including through supporting seniors’ digital literacy, addressing ageism, mental health and dementia, and by developing and delivering virtual programming for the above.
2. Preventing senior abuse
o Including helping seniors navigate access to government benefits and providing support to file their taxes, supporting financial empowerment of seniors, and measures to reduce crimes and harm against seniors.
3. Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion
o Including promoting intergenerational mentoring and engagement, and serving members of the following vulnerable groups: Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of racialized and newcomer groups, members of LGBTQ2+ communities, low-income seniors and veterans.
4. Helping seniors to age in place
o Including providing practical supports to seniors to help them remain in their homes longer.
Prime Minister’s response to a woman from Grassy Narrows prompts calls for in-person apology, and petition for compensation for mercury poisoning in the Indigenous community.
Rev. K. Virginia Coleman, former General Secretary from 1994–2002, died on April 3. She oversaw several milestones for the church, including the church’s 75th anniversary and addressing the church’s… continue reading
The United Church is excited to partner with Cosmopolitan Affirming Community, who provide spiritual support, mental health care, community, and healing for LGBTQIA+ Africans
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