The United Church of Canada is in contact with Mission & Service partners in Haiti to find out how we can support their communities. Make a gift to support immediate needs including emergency shelter, clean water, and food.
We are also asking for prayers for our partners and the Haitian United Church community in Canada, who are trying to contact family and friends in the devastation. Read more about the situation here.
On July 23rd, the Israeli military shot 17-year old Mohammad Munir Mohammad Tamimi(opens in a new tab) in the back. He died after hours of surgery. On July 28th, Israeli soldiers shot and killed 11-year old Mohammad Mo’ayyad Bahjat Abu Sara(opens in a new tab) while he was sitting in his father’s car.
In the morning of July 29, the main offices of Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP), a United Church of Canada partner based in Ramallah, was raided by Israeli forces. Computers and records were confiscated, including documents pertaining to legal services DCIP provides to Palestinian children.
“This is part of growing attacks against human rights defenders in Palestine and Israel by Israeli authorities,” says DCIP.
DCIP investigates and documents witness testimonies, and issues reports of human rights violations against children. Under international law, intentional lethal force is justified only where a direct threat to life or of serious injury is present. Evidence collected by DCIP suggests Israeli forces use lethal force against Palestinian children in circumstances that amount to extrajudicial or willful killings.
The United Church of Canada has written to Minister of Foreign Affairs The Hon. Marc Garneau calling on him to take action to protect Palestinian children and human rights defenders in Palestine and Israel.
The letter calls on Canada to:
Support Palestinian children, and Palestinian and Israeli human rights defenders.
Take Action
For More Information
https://united-church.ca/social-action/act-now/say-no-extrajudicial-killing-palestinian-children#downloads
Photo credit: Latrach Med Jamil via Unsplash
A special worship service was created with ecumenical and interfaith leadership for August 1, 2021, the first federally recognized Emancipation Day throughout Canada. Emancipation Day we remember that on August 1, 1834 when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect, putting an end to legalized enslavement of people of African and Indigenous ancestry in the territory now known as Canada. This ecumenical service can be used in February (African Heritage Month/Black History Month), or any week to celebrate African heritage, human rights and anti-racism.
The service was created by an interfaith group with financial support from member churches of the Canadian Council of Churches. United Church of Canada support included financial support from the regional councils of Antler River Watershed, Horseshoe Falls and Western Ontario Waterways.
The Kaleidoscope Institute’s founder, Eric Law, is the author of Holy Currencies, and many churches have found this a helpful resource and will find the Summer Institute programs invaluable.
The Kaleidoscope Institute is offering a Summer Institute intercultural experience on:
Liberating Hope: Truth, Connection & Wellness / Esperanza Liberadora: Verdad, Conexión y Bienestar
Saturday, August 28 from 12 PM to 3:00 PM (EDT)
Registration is now open!
For more information and registration: https://www.kscopeinstitute.org/summer-institute-2021
A certificate of participation is available for those seeking continuing education hours.
The Right Rev. Dr. Richard Bott, the Moderator of the United Church responds to Residential School burial sites:
Photo credit: Sonya Romanovska via Unsplash
Rev. Kim Shantz led the service with 70+ people and four ministers of different denominations in attendance.
This is the beginning of a new ecumenical ministry in Jarvis, Ontario, (Horseshoe Falls Regional Council) between Wesley United Church and Knox Presbyterian Church.
Photos provided by: Ross Gowan
Doug McBride of Knox Presbyterian says “We’re looking for a future for our congregation, not our building.”
