Worship Blog
The Creator's Abundant Gifts
Rev. John Snow offers an Indigenous perspective on Epiphany season and the sharing of God's sacred gifts.
Speaking of Darkness in Advent
Our ingrained notions of black/white and darkness/light as inherently good and evil can guide how we treat each other.
Letter of Prayer for Michael Blair from the Black Clergy Network
The Black Clergy Network in The United Church of Canada has offered a prayer of support for the Rev. Michael Blair, as he begins his new role as the General Secretary, General Council.
Food, Food, Local Wonderful Food
Jennifer Janzen-Ball and Julie Graham share their experience of celebrating love of the soil, of God, and of humanity with Mission & Service partners in Japan.
Mind-Boggling Intercultural Change and Potential
During Asian Heritage Month, Noel A. Suministrado, a United Church minister from the Philippines, sees great opportunities for the church as it opens itself to Canada’s changing demographic realities.
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.
Expanding the Circle of Understanding
Rev. Dr. Alan Lai writes about how Asian Heritage Month challenges us to grow deeper into intercultural awareness and understanding.
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.
Sharing Cultures, Working for Peace
At the Minority Youth Forum in Japan, Jacob Burns and Jacqueline Warner-Smith were exposed to a struggle for justice that had similarities to the Canadian experience.
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.
Celebrating Love, Community, and Restoration
An LGBTQ member of the United Church writes that they came to Canada with their partner to be free, yet are still not fully accepted in the church. So they never imagined their wedding would be so beautiful and noble, made so by friends and God.
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Kelsi James shares her video poem "[REDacted]," as a reflection on her experience serving as United Church oversea personnel in China.
Sharing Our Stories, Claiming Our Names
Kim Uyede-Kai writes from the Asian Ecumenical Women’s Assembly, a “herstorical” assembly where women could hear one another’s stories be given voice, some for the first time.
To Bloom for More than a Day
Rev. Ruth Lumax reflects on how learning to become an intercultural church can help us develop into lush and vibrant communities of faith.
A Hot Pot of Humanity
Kelsi James, United Church of Canada Overseas Personnel in China, writes on her experience of finding authentic community so far from home.
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.
A Conversation toward Inclusion
Sharon Ballantyne shares about a conversation on inclusion, in which participants sought brave and safe space to engage with each other with all their hearts.
Good News Refreshes the Body
Working with deaf children, author Susan Lukey discovers that we lost something important in worship when the focus became words, spoken and written.
Being Together
Tom Reynolds writes that the experience of being with people with disabilities can reawaken an awareness of the deeply human condition of vulnerable interdependence.
Considering Accessibility
I have a new perspective on life.
While I am waiting for two hip replacements, my mobility is decreasing – in direct proportion to the increase in chronic pain I am managing. These two factors, along with the long wait for joint replacement in the Ontario health care system, have come… Read more
Creating Autism-friendly Worship
The Rev. Norm Seli writes about creating worship that speaks to people on the autism spectrum.
“Allow Me to Softly Touch Your Heart”
Participants in the Minority Youth Forum in Japan are amazed by the similarities and differences between Indigenous cultures around the world.
On Vanier, Voice, and Disability
Mandate magazine consulted people with disabilities across the church and invited them to share their experiences in The United Church of Canada.
Centring my Life
Following personal challenges and global tragedies, Japhet Ndhlovu finds fortitude and centring in God and colleagues through United Church clergy gatherings.
Welcome the Children… in their Own Languages
For Asian Heritage Month, Yoonjoo Shin, an early childhood educator, writes about the importance of having racialized educators who can embody inclusiveness for children from immigrant families.
Imagine the Lake as an Ocean
With the start of the King Street transit pilot project in Toronto, I discovered a new way to get to work. Even if it took an additional 15 minutes more than taking the tube, it was worth it to see a glimpse of Lake Ontario. Memories of Luneta Park at Manila Bay flood in as I watch the waters of… Read more
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.
Inclusion Solutions
Cameron Watts responds to the question, "How do we measure whether inclusion has been achieved?" which was raised at the 9th Annual Federal Policy Forum on Inclusion.
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”
Our Congregation Visits a Mosque!
The United Church of Canada has long been involved in interfaith dialogue and action to build respectful, mutual relationships. The church has recognized Islam as a religion of peace, mercy, justice, and compassion and has affirmed that we want to journey towards reconciliation,… Read more
Waiting in South Korea
During this past Advent, we put ourselves in the shoes of God’s people in biblical times as they wait for God to act. But the difference is that for us, we know what we’re waiting for (or we think we know), whereas for God’s people at the time, I don’t think they were quite sure what God had in… Read more
God Isn’t Done with Us
My earliest church memories are tethered to St. James-Bond United Church in Toronto. (Of course, we called it “Bond…St. James Bond, United Church,” with a Sean Connery burr.) I won’t elaborate with tales of basketball courts and bowling alleys, wonderful ministers, witty musicians, finger… Read more
Disability, Who Me?
People sometimes share that they forget I am a person who is totally blind. I experience this as a good thing, an acknowledgment that they feel acceptance, and embrace me for who I am, my abilities and disabilities.
When I or others are not focusing on my disability and “forget” it, so… Read more
Meet Wilson and Sharon
I am a person who is totally blind. I use a dog guide. Wilson is a 7½ year old black lab. He can be correctly described as a seeing eye dog, as he is a graduate of that school. “Seeing eye dog” is actually not a generic term, though it is often used erroneously that way.
Service animals… Read more
Accessible Canada Act Is Long Overdue
Almost 3.8 million Canadians (about 14 percent of the population) identify as having a disability. The United Church is committed to becoming an open, welcoming, and accessible church, and to affirming… Read more
A Proud Heritage
I am a third-generation Japanese Canadian living in southern Alberta among the third-largest concentration of Japanese in Canada; the other two concentrations of population are in Vancouver and Toronto. In my city of Lethbridge, no one questions our presence here, because people have grown up… Read more
What Is at Stake in Celebrating Asian Heritage Month?
To be candid, when I received an invitation to create a worship service and Bible study for Asian Heritage Month 2018, I hesitated at first. I am grateful for this opportunity to share why I accepted.
At the Intersection of Gospel and Culture
Kenji Marui travelled to Australia as part of the Moderator’s Dialogue on Reconciliation to consult and build relationship with the Uniting Church in Australia, the Uniting Aboriginal Islander Christian… Read more
Coming to Terms with Darkness
I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Ke’dar, like the curtains of Solomon. Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has gazed on me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!… Read more
Zambia Consultation Brings United Church Partners Together
It was a rare privilege to travel to Zambia in February 2018 for a Mission & Service–sponsored partners’ meeting dubbed “the Indaba” (Zulu for consultation or gathering). For the first time, the Indaba brought together 15 African partners and one Asian partner who have each related to The… Read more
Why Did I Write a Worship Service for Black History Month?
Why did I write a worship service and sermon for Black History Month? It’s a difficult question to answer. I was filled with excitement and dread at the prospect. I was excited because the topic of race and identity is volatile at the moment (well, really, when hasn’t it been?) and the… Read more
What Black History Offers Us in Times of Change
Sankofa is a symbol which comes to us from West Africa. The symbol is usually seen in the form a bird with its head turned backwards carrying an egg in its mouth. The symbol speaks about the need to reach back into the past to get that which is important for life today. It has also been… Read more
These Are my Blessings
These are my blessings: seven adopted First Nations children that have chosen me as their mom. Our family has included many children, including White, Asian, transgender, Two Spirit, and more. As a family we choose to celebrate our differences and learn from each other. Sadly, we have… Read more
