Worship Blog
Seeking Grace and an End to Occupation
A former Ecumenical Accompanier laments the brutality witnessed in Palestine and Israel, while celebrating brief moments of compassion.
A Mission to Welcome
The Rev. Dr. Alan Lai urges the United Church to prepare for a new wave of immigrants from Hong Kong.
A Guaranteed Livable Income Would Be Better
Lynda Trono writes that, for those struggling in an unjust economy, a Guaranteed Livable Income offers a long-term solution.
Youth Voices Are Crucial in this Election
Thea Sheridan-Jonah calls on us to change the narrative and listen to the voices and unique experience of youth during this federal election.
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.
Fresh Off the Boat
Ariel Siagan raises awareness about the situation of Filipino migrant workers in Canada and calls on the church to respond.
Addressing Racialized Trauma and Mental Health
Patricia Watson’s review of the book "My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies."
The Desert Gives Life
For Mental Health Awareness Week, Rev. David Boyd talks about his personal journey with depression.
Wishing for a Better World
Rev. Cindy Bourgeois considers how a world without transphobia would improve the mental health of trans people.
Life May Not Always Go as Planned
For Mental Health Awareness Week, Keith Simmonds shares his personal journey of resiliency and recovery through a period of depression and anxiety.
Breaking the Silence about Mental Health
By recognizing that mental health affects us all, congregations can decrease stigma and shame and instead offer grace and support.
The Guaranteed Livable Income Is Always a Good Idea
Karlene Cameron writes about how a Guaranteed Livable Income would change the lives of low-income people in Canada.
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.
Twelve Steps toward Ending White Supremacy
The author recommends a 12-step treatment process for White people to end the violence of White supremacy.
In the Eleventh Hour
People of faith share their collective power at the Sacred People, Sacred Earth Global Day of Action.
Journeys of Faith
As Lent approaches, writer and editor Julie McGonegal reflects on the physical and spiritual journeys undertaken during times of change.
Joyful Singing as Nonviolent Resistance
Shanna Bernier shares an Advent reflection on a pilgrimage to Palestine-Israel she took part in with other young adults. The group found that even joyful singing could be a form of nonviolent resistance!
Seeking Peace Instead of Turmoil
In this Advent reflection, Shanna Bernier finds that even in times of great upheaval and change, deep moments of peace exist.
Advent begins with Hope
Shanna Bernier shares the first of a series of Advent reflections, based on a young adult pilgrimage to Palestine and Israel.
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.
Beyond the Ban
Pam Rocker writes about ending the practice of conversion therapy, saying "The way we treat LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit people will not change dramatically until we dismantle the archaic notion that heterosexuality equates to holiness."
Indigenous Circle Stirs Emotion and Action
St. Paul’s Indigenous Circle is an active group in a United Church congregation in Bowmanville, Ontario encouraging all to travel the rocky and difficult road to healing and reconciliation.
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.
Homelessness in a Neighbourhood with “No Homeless People”
Aimee Gavin writes about her volunteer outreach and advocacy work around homelessness in Port Credit, Mississauga, ON - where, as in many suburbs, homelessness can be largely invisible.
Working Myself Out of a Job
Rev. Allan David Smith-Reeve shares insights from the Bridging Teams program, where a core belief is that those who live in poverty are the lead problem-solvers.
Seeking Home
Ekua Asabea Blair writes about the work of the Massey Centre to raise the issues affecting pregnant and parenting teens and the organization's advocacy for supportive housing for young parents.
Checking Your Privilege
Privilege is not only about racism! While we usually associate the phrase “check your privilege” in discussions about racism, the phrase has much wider implications. Ever so often we may need to check our privilege, to do that type of self-examination to see what advantages we may have which… Read more
Working Collaboratively to Eradicate Homelessness
Without question, being in a room with 1,500 other caring individuals is an uplifting phenomenon. The level of energy and optimism is so high that it is easy to see the potential for change, for solutions, for achieving positive responses.
People on the Move: Central America
As the United States sends asylum seekers back to danger, the world is watching.
A Call for Dignity
Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud writes that neighbourhoods should be places where everyone is given a chance at the best life.
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.
Without History, There is No Future
Sandy Hwang, one of four United Church young adults who participated in a young adult Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace organized by the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) and the Ecumenical Youth Council in Korea (EYCK), shares her experience.
Divided By War
Rev. Dr. Kyongja (Kay) Cho shares the story of her two Korean brothers forced into the military on different sides during the Korean War.
A Chain of Hope Across the DMZ
John Egger, a Co-Worker in Mission in Korea, writes about joining 500,00 people to form a human peace chain across the DMZ separating North and South Korea.
A Life in Global Misson Service
Called to serve in global mission, Rob Witmer writes about his lifelong passion to serve in Japan.
Church Is Where I Want to Be
Called to serve on a global mission trip to Nicaragua, Sarah Jane Wetelainen's faith journey and life choices were fundamentally shaped by the experience.
Embodying Relationship with the Church in Korea
Called to serve in global mission service in Korea, John Egger is discovering firsthand the exciting new things God is calling us to.
A Visit to "HELP"
John Durfey writes about a visit to a centre which offers emergency shelter for women in Japan escaping from violence and abuse.
A Celebration of Salvadoran Hospitality
Rev. Jean Stairs looks forward to a pilgrimage to El Salvador with a group of pilgrims from East Central Ontario / Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Councils.
Crowned with Thorns
John Durfey tells us about a visit to the Buraku Liberation Centre in Japan, a United Church partner which works to eradicate systemic prejudice against the marginalized buraku people.
“I Yearn for Peace”
Rev. Dr. Kyongja (Kay) Cho offers reflections at the Canadian launch of Korea Peace Now! Women Mobilizing to End the War.
Note from Nora: Black History Month Is about the History of All of Us
Black History Month is about the history of all of us.
That was brought home to me loud and clear when I read Paul Douglas Walfall’s blog about the role of United Church ministers in supporting the… Read more
That was brought home to me loud and clear when I read Paul Douglas Walfall’s blog about the role of United Church ministers in supporting the… Read more
Love in Times of Occupation
To describe Sarah (name is changed to protect her identity) in a few words is a difficult task, as she is a complex woman. She's a strong, dynamic woman of conscience who lives in several worlds. This sounds complicated, and it is.
Climate Change is Taking a Toll
Rigoberto Monge, a fisherman in El Salvador, has been to the United States and back. Now he sits in the yard of his home near the Guatemalan border with his wife and… Read more
The Long-term Humanitarian Response in Iraq
“We are six people in our tent,” Sory Rasno says. “At night, the wind keeps us awake. There is no privacy, no space. The children start school this year, but they have no place to study. … Read more
Acts of Radical Solidarity
For the last decade, I have been teaching at Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines. Part of the curriculum is a field education program, which requires… 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
Sowing Sanctuary
This blog post marks International Migrants Day, December 18, 2018.
Beekeeping under Occupation
Ahmed (name is changed to protect his identity) is a 29-year-old university accounting graduate. He is married and works on his family's organic farm inside the Seam Zone in Tulkarm. Recently, to make ends meet, he found a part-time job in roofing. He told me that he cried some tears when… Read more
Her Eyes: A Rohingya Child in Bangladesh
They say a picture is worth more than 1,000 words, and I agree.
To try to understand the Rohingya crisis, I had read much about who the Rohingya Muslims are and why they are being persecuted. It has been pretty much an exercise of thinking—a head exercise. That changed when I saw the… Read more
The End of AIDS by 2030?
When I acquired HIV in 1987, it was “a death sentence”. One of the first comments made by my GP in 1990 in Regina, when he gave me the HIV+ test result, was that I would need more tests to find out “when the clock started ticking.” Not very comforting words. My work in the community-based AIDS… Read more
A Peninsula Divided
In 2009, at the age of 19, my mother passed away from breast cancer.
I think, when we’re faced with profound injustice that we can’t comprehend fully, we are often brought back to experiences of our own where the piercing sensation of unfairness has touched us. That’s what I was thinking… Read more
Poverty Is Made
As a child living in my First Nation community, I used to walk to the freshwater stream with my great grandmother to bring water home because we did not have running water. In the wintertime, it was harder to get water because the stream and the community water pipe were frozen. Instead, we… Read more
We Need Youth at the Table
At the ACT Alliance General Assembly, the possibilities created by including youth in decision making are too great to pass up.
The Struggle for Inclusion Continues
At the ACT Alliance General Assembly, the church continues to twist itself in knots about sex and sexuality.
Speak Up and Be Heard
Amina Mohammed of the U.N. recognized the work of ACT Alliance and other faith-based organizations, placing them firmly in the centre of the public square as essential and effective players in civil society and as prophetic agents of change.
Making Space for Gender Justice
A reflection on the speaker selection for a gender justice panel at the ACT Alliance General Assembly in Uppsala, Sweden, which consisted of a majority of men.
The Smallest Flicker of Light Prevails
A dispatch from the ACT Alliance meeting in Uppsala, Sweden, where ecumenical justice activists highlight the power of change of local faith communities around the world.
The Call for Justice is Not an Option
Ignoring the call for justice is simply not an option for followers of Christ. On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17, I celebrate the release of Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy with my fellow advocates and the … Read more
The Power of Reciprocity
Values of solidarity and justice shape United Church connections with the people of El Salvador.
Walking through Jerusalem
After two years of pondering and waiting, hoping and praying, training and studying to serve as an ecumenical accompanier (EA), my flight from Toronto to Tel Aviv arrived.
Sanctions Are Not a Tool of Diplomacy
It was an historic moment and new day for world peace and for peace on the Korean peninsula when U.S. President Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un met in Singapore on June 12, 2018. Unfortunately, Canada’s reaction to the summit is lining us up to be the wrong side of history.
Turning toward Refugees
Today, June 20, is World Refugee Day, and there are events scheduled in many different locations in Canada.
I wonder if those who began World Refugee Day could have imagined the state of… Read more
My Passion for Refugees
World Refugee Day on June 20 is a call for communities around the world to work toward peace and security for all, remembering especially the millions of people who are displaced or forcibility uprooted from their homes.
“Era of Peace” Coming to Korea
“It is time to shout: The era of peace is coming."
80 Million Hearts Broken as Korea Summit Talks Cancelled
“Today, 80 million hearts across the peninsula are broken.”
That was the reaction of Korean partners, representing Women’s Peace Walk, a coalition of more than 30 South Korean women’s peace organizations to the… Read more
Maximum Engagement for Peace in Korea
Maximum engagement for peace in Korea.
Election Observation in Venezuela: “A Sacred Responsibility”
On Sunday (May 20), Venezuelans will elect a president and other local officials. It will be the fifth presidential election and 25th election of any type to take place in Venezuela since 1998, when Hugo Chávez was elected. His successor, Nicolás Maduro, is the front-runner in the current… Read more
Solidarity and Action Are Essential for Change
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
—Margaret Mead
I have heard this quote often. So often that when I hear someone starting to say it I begin to think, “Oh no, isn’t this a bit… Read more
A Microcosm of Conflict
The silence of the streets is eerie. Everywhere that we have gone in Palestine has been busy with people, traffic, and commerce as well as the ubiquitous military presence. Not so in the old city of Hebron. Hebron reflects a microcosm of the conflict in this ancient land. Generations of peoples… Read more
Carrying Stories of the West Bank to Ottawa
From April 25 to 27, I and other United Church and Mennonite Central Committee colleagues are going to Ottawa to meet with members of Parliament, senators, and government officials. We are privileged to have as part of this delegation Michael Lynk, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human… Read more
Three Hours in Prison
Last summer, I spent three memorable hours in prison. I had not been arrested.
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
The World Wants Words not War
I read this week that the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday Clock has been moved up, to two minutes before midnight. The clock, first used in 1947, is to show how close we are to destroying the… Read more
Toward a Canada without Poverty
In the dark hours before sunrise, United Church minister Rev. Al drives through downtown Victoria greeting the city’s street community. He welcomes them with hot coffee, breakfast, and other necessities. The morning run lets Rev. Al and his team at the… Read more
Health & Wholeness for All
The gospel calls us to seek health and wholeness for all God’s people. In 2014 the church signed the Canadian Health Coalition (CHC) statement, … Read more
Peace in a Bottle
For centuries an olive branch has symbolized peace.
Greek and Roman cultures used the symbol as early as 2,500 years ago. The dual image of a dove with an olive branch has been a Christian symbol of peace since the end of the first century CE. This comes (in part) from Genesis 8:11,… Read more
Another World Is Needed. Together, It Is Possible!
Another world is necessary, urgent, and already in the making.
These are the core beliefs of those who attended the 12th World Social Forum (WSF) - a convergence of solutions, energies, and goodwill for the building of another world.
Bread not Stones: Taking Action to End Child Poverty
United Church Women have been very busy this past year, working to keep the issue of child poverty in Canada front and centre among all levels of government. Their Bread not Stones website at www.endchildpoverty.ca… Read more
Rushed into Adulthood: Hamoudi, A Child of Susiya, Palestine
It’s the children of Palestine I think about the most!
In the summer of 2015 I spent two months in Susiya, a small village in the South Hebron Hills of Palestine on a UN assignment. The homes of Susiya were once again being threatened with demolition by the Israeli government. The people… Read more
Ensure Equal Access to Health Care
At the Heart of Justice blog continues the focus on Health Care in Canada with a series by Bill Blaikie, The United Church of Canada’s representative to the Canadian… Read more
A Call for Renewed Federal Leadership on Health Care
At the Heart of Justice blog continues the focus on health care in Canada with a series by Bill Blaikie, The United Church of Canada’s representative to the Canadian Health Coalition. We offer this personal reflection by Bill as an invitation… Read more
Health Care in Canada is Threatened
When you can’t find a family doctor in your community, or if you’re a hospital patient waiting for care from a desperately overworked nurse – then you understand the importance of finding solutions to Canada’s shortage of doctors and nurses. But allowing more private health care facilities won’t… Read more
Going Deeper: Poverty & Human Rights
This month’s At the Heart of Justice blog focuses on the work of eradicating poverty. We offer this personal reflection by Bonnie Morton (Regina Anti-… Read more
Working to Eradicate Poverty
Scripture tells us that we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), and throughout the Bible we are reminded to act justly and to care for those on the margins (Isaiah 58:5-10, Mark 10:21). The United Church of Canada believes that as we lead lives of compassion and justice, “the poor… Read more
Seeing the Face of God in Refugees
The United Church of Canada cares for refugees because we believe that sharing God’s love is our prime purpose. We believe that justice is the public face of God’s love, and work to share God’s love on a personal, local and global level.
I see the face of God in refugees’ faces:… Read more
