Worship Blog
Parallel Journeys of Healing
For Asian Heritage Month, Nobuko Iwai shares her experience of being born in Japan and raised in The United Church of Canada.
No Longer Hidden in Plain Sight
On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Kim Uyede-Kai calls us to disrupt racism wherever it is found.
Hard Lessons of Racism Begin at a Young Age
For International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Adele Halliday shares difficult experiences of racism her child faces even in the playground.
The Black-African Origins of Western Civilization
To wrap up Black History Month for 2022, Isaac Makarios Kamta shares how Western perspectives of African history have been diminished to support White supremacy.
Growing Up Black in the Dominican Republic
For Black History Month, Kermys Bonilla-Pontigo describes the important ways Afro-Latinos contribute to the African diaspora in the Americas.
Divided By War
Rev. Dr. Kyongja (Kay) Cho shares the story of two Korean brothers forced into the military on different sides during the Korean War.
When Hope Meets Indifference
For Black History Month, Albertine Chokoté Naoué asks what each of us can do to deconstruct thoughts and behaviours that are harmful to ourselves and others.
Confusing Pain
For Black History Month, Amelia Brohman writes that “polite racism” in the church is still racism — and it silences Black voices.
My Fault for Having Been Created Black?
For Black History Month, Demanya Kofi Akoussah shares stories of anti-Black racism and prays for a better future.
Get Out of My Face
For Black History Month, Yvonne Wright writes that we need to be ready to challenge racist attitudes and actions.
Welcoming the Next Wave
The Rev. Dr. Greer Anne Wenh-In Ng shares a history of communities of Chinese descent and their involvement in the United Church.
Welcoming New Immigrants from Hong Kong
Rev. Dr. Alan Lai writes that the United Church is perfectly positioned to welcome traumatized immigrants from Hong Kong.
What Do We Call Ourselves?
For Latin American Heritage Month, Néstor Medina contrasts the long history of others naming people of Latin American heritage — to today, when we choose to name ourselves.
Coming to Terms with Emancipation Day
Rev. Dr. Paul Douglas Walfall writes that the history of Emancipation Day may be inconvenient for some Canadians, but it’s essential to for us all to commemorate this day.
Emancipation Day is a Celebration of Our Beauty
Artist Noah Janosch Brown resists the cycle of retraumatization Black people are exposed to on a daily basis, and instead, chooses to celebrate the beauty of the Black community.
Fresh Off the Boat
Ariel Siagan raises awareness about the situation of Filipino migrant workers in Canada and calls on the church to respond.
Celebrating Asian LGBTQI+ Voices
Video interviews with three queer Christians of Asian descent who have found refuge in the affirming congregations of the United Church.
Space for Creation and Discovery
During Pride Month, artist Noah Janosch Brown writes about finding a safe place in a United Church to create art and nurture self-discovery.
God Gives Us Abundant Life
For Asian Heritage Month 2021, Klaus Simon Bondoc shares how his discovery of God’s love and acceptance led him on the path toward ministry.
The Blessings of Community
For Asian Heritage Month 2021, a blog writer tells of her experience navigating the complexities of her Asian and LGBT2Q+ identity.
An Invitation to Listen as We Walk the Path of Reconciliation
Elder Alf Dumont in a conversion about the work of reconciliation and how starting at the beginning again can be a good way to move forward together.
On Racism and White Allies
Rev. Sun-Young "Sunny" Kim writes on the need for progressive White people to show humility when it comes to confronting racism.
A Strategic Approach to Tackling Racism
Moses Kanhai explores ways to develop a strategic plan to end racism.
Forgiveness as a Way of Life
The Rev. Marie-Claude Manga reflects on her ministry and work as an ordained Black woman with The United Church of Canada
Building a "Quilt of Belonging"
For Black History Month, Patricia Watson shares about ways to teach Black history using a variety of artistic expressions.
One Instrument in the Orchestra
Nancy Oliver-MacKenzie writes about the role of Montreal's Union United Church as a force for social justice for the Black community and beyond.
Get Over It? Or Confront It?
Sara Stratton writes that the path to true reconciliation and understanding requires an honest confrontation of the past.
Responding in Hope to the Disruption of Pandemic
Activist and scholar Kofi Hope says Canada’s self-image is being challenged by the pain of the pandemic, bringing new realities to view.
A Call for Social Holiness
Rev. Dr. Paul Douglas Walfall writes that to be prophetic in the face of racial intolerance is to proclaim the extravagant grace of God by the way we live.
Note from Nora: A Time for Listening
General Secretary Nora Sanders writes that, when we fail to recognize that our acceptance of inequality is a form of racism, we fail to live up to our basic Christian commitments.
Note from Nora: Celebrating Church Union in Times of Change
June 10, 2020: Happy anniversary to all of us in The United Church of Canada. Our church is 95 years old today!
Do you wonder, like me, what those founders from 1925 would make of our church – and our world – today?
So much that we take for… Read more
Dear White People
Rev. Dr. Paul Douglas Walfall calls on White people in the church to put their love into action to counteract racism.
Working toward Wholeness
As a recent immigrant from Asia, Rev. SunDo Hyun finds that opening oneself to intercultural opportunities — despite the challenges — can be transforming and life-giving.
Kendrick Lamar as Prophet
Wendy Gichuru reflects on how the negotiation of sacred and profane in Kendrick Lamar’s music contributes to the making of Black meaning.
Learning to Be Black
Rev. Andrew Kinoti Lairenge writes that growing up in post-colonial Kenya, he did not know what it was to be a person of colour or visible minority. It is in Canada that he is learning to be Black.
My History is African Centred and It’s Beautiful
Dr. Velda Love of the United Church of Christ writes that her history is African centred and it’s beautiful.
My Civil Rights Excursion
Rev. Dr. Bentley de Bardelaben-Phillips of the United Church of Christ, writes about the recent powerful tour he took with colleagues to the Alabama cities of Birmingham and Montgomery, where much civil rights history took place.
February Isn’t Enough for Black History
Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson writes about the UN International Decade for People of African Descent and how it extends the opportunity to focus on Black history beyond February.
Responding in Repentance and Hope
For the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, Peter Cruchley writes about the Council for World Mission’s efforts to seek truth and make reparations for its historic role in support of slavery.
Living Our Diversity
In the wake of Don Cherry’s divisive and hurtful statements, Rev. Dr. Paul Douglas Walfall asks, “Why is it that immigrants and people of colour have become the punching bag for some in our society?”
Challenging Our Assumptions
Paul Douglas Walfall writes that if we are to claim diversity, we need to challenge our assumptions about who and what is normative in Canada and in the church.
Queer? Absolutely. Black? Not So Sure.
Basil Coward asks, Can you be both queer and Black, and enjoy a celebrated and visible presence in the United Church?
Privilege in the LGBTIQ2S+ Community
Jordan Sullivan asks, “What measure of privilege are we willing to give up to create equity for others?”
Our Diverse Heritages Are Gifts to Give and Receive
For Asian Heritage Month, YoonOK Shin writes that our diverse heritages are gifts to give and receive, transforming bleak cultural boundaries.
As Purple to Lavender
Row on row we stood… in the brand new courtyard… row on row of young girls in navy tunics or navy skirts, white starched shirts, ties, and polished oxfords. I wore my new navy blazer with its red school crest, because it was a special occasion. The Honourable Lieutenant Governor… Read more
Facing the Past, Transforming the Future
“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” —Maya Angelou, “On the Pulse of Morning”
Got Privilege?
I had the amazing privilege (no pun intended) of attending the White Privilege Conference Global in May, held for the first time in Canada. (It has been held in the U.S. for the past 19 years). It was an amazing event, and I was delighted that other than school boards, The United Church of… Read more
Acknowledging My Privilege
I was invited to the May 9–12 White Privilege Conference at Ryerson University, Toronto, by Springwater Hester-Meawassige, Youth Leadership Coordinator for the Aboriginal Ministry Circle of the United Church. She invited me because… Read more
A Call to Repent and Act to End Racism
It was one of those mornings where I had 30 minutes of stuff to do before I left home, but only five minutes to get into the car and get to the office. I stopped to look at my phone and there it was an email from the General Secretary. My first thoughts were, “What have I done now?” The email… Read more
Practicing the Inclusion We Preach
Full disclosure. I am a Black man. I was born in Jamaica and I am an immigrant to Canada. Having served as an ordained minister of The Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, I am now an ordained minister of The United Church of Canada. I wanted to say this upfront so that you can… Read more
What is at Stake in Battleford?
This reflection is offered by the All My Relations Network of Saskatchewan Conference on… Read more
Tracking Testimony
Canada became my home at the age of five. I entered the Canadian education system as a kindergarten student. Although I felt some racial tension throughout elementary school, it was not until I reached high school that racism became bluntly obvious. Upon my acceptance into high school I was… Read more
The Corridor of Privilege
We stood in the hallway of a retreat centre and listened to our instructions. The animator would read us a question. If our answer was yes, we were to take a step forward. If our answer was no, we were to stay where we were.
The animator told us to move forward if this statement was true… Read more
Who Is My Neighbour?
He was beautiful to me. We exchanged knowing glances and I thought “he could be my son.” Then a subway authority officer stopped him, the twinkle left his eye, and my heart sank.
Cherishing & Celebrating Racial Differences
Canada is often ranked as “the best place to live.” We often perceive Canada to be a friendly and accepting place. But for some it is a place where they experience racism.
Racism is a system of oppression. It is fed by individual and collective attitudes, and by actions that discriminate… Read more
