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.
We Are Pilgrims on a Journey of Love
Reflecting on the young adult pilgrimage to Palestine Israel, Shanna Bernier writes about walking in the footsteps of so many pilgrims before them, all together on a journey of faith and love.
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.
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.
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.
Moderator's Online Worship - Sunday, May 3, 2020
In his online worship service, Moderator Richard Bott shares a reflection about the followers of the risen Christ finding power and joy in the breaking of bread together - even when it's shared virtually during hard times.
Testing the Call: Vocation Sunday 2020
For Vocation Sunday, Rev. Bronwyn Corlett writes about how others helped her develop leadership skills after she was first ordained.
Moderator's Online Worship - Sunday, April 26, 2020
Moderator Richard Bott reflects on the road to Emmaus story, and asks who are you walking with in this time of shock and tragedy?
Moderator's Online Worship - Sunday, April 19, 2020
Moderator Richard Bott shares a worship service for Sunday, April 19, 2020 and reflects on the role of doubt in our faith and how it can lead us to experience the good news for ourselves.
Moderator's Online Worship - Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020
During these difficult days of pandemic, Moderator Richard Bott shares that the Resurrection happens in every moment, and calls us to be people of new life even in when we're locked down in our virtual spaces.
Moderator's Online Worship - April 5, 2020
For Sunday, April 5, 2020, Moderator Richard Bott shares reflection on Matthew 21:1-11, the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and urges us to keep our eyes on hope as we begin Holy Week.
The Great Gathering
At The Great Gathering in November of 2019, 24 people from United Church of Canada camps, joined more than 540 innovative outdoor ministry partners gathered at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The event was hosted by… Read more
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.
Where Were You?
In this excerpt from the new Lenten devotional "Faithfully Yours: Letters for the Wondering," Bri-anne Swan reflects on the perennial question, “God, where were you?”
Merry Christmas!
We have all the tools we need to mend the world and bring about Christ’s Kingdom.
The Final Countdown
Alydia Smith writes, "It’s exciting and scary to imagine what change, God’s will, might actually look like."
Who Is Jesus? A Reflection in Two Voices
Rev. Susan Lukey and Rev. David Robertson reflect on how Jesus is known by many names—but all of them mean love.
A mixtape made with love to help you prepare for Christmas
Alydia Smith shares an Advent mixtape to enjoy together, as we wait for Christ(mas).
Alternative Gift-Giving for a Buy Less Christmas
Kathryn Gray muses on how we can be more mindful with gifts this Advent, and not give in to the pressure to shop/consume/shop some more...
Christmas at Home: Time to Celebrate Together
Create an Advent-Christmas season that embraces the gift of God’s presence in Jesus.
Getting Ready for Christ(mas): Combatting Anti-Semitism in Advent
The Rev. Dr. HyeRan Kim-Cragg reflects on how we can work to fight against antisemitism during Advent.
Christmas at Home: The Gift of Ritual
In this season, many things distract us from nurturing faith within our families.
What I Am Remembering
For Remembrance Day, military chaplain and United Church minister Capt. (Rev.) Linda Tomlinson-Seebach reflects on the cost of war and peace.
Get Ready: Time to Make Your Advent Calendars
My family is not particularly religious. We co-exist quite well, but it can become a bit awkward around November and December when I want to spend more time celebrating and preparing for Christ and my family wants to spend more time celebrating and preparing for the holiday season (think… Read more
A Kin-dom of Peace and Justice
December has a number of special days that call on people of goodwill to work together.
Getting Ready for Christmas: Advent Videos
Reflecting on who we think Christ is as a way to help prepare for Christmas is an ancient tradition.
O Come, Emmanuel
In this Christmas pageant, the sheep deliver the words we all need to hear.
Stories behind Carols
The first Sunday after Christmas is a perfect opportunity to enjoy Christmas carols and stories.
Pull Out the Christmas Music
Adding some different liturgical music during Advent can certainly make everyone take notice that it’s a new season.
Hanging the Greens
During Advent, we prepare our sanctuaries and buildings to be symbols of preparing ourselves for the birth, and rebirth, of Jesus.
What Freedom Really Means
Rev. Stephen Fetter writes that, "Forgiveness is about being set free of whatever binds us, so we can become whom God wants us to be."
On Being Two-Spirit
The Rev. Evan Noodin Smith writes that, "Within the church there have been very few attempts to start acknowledging Two-Spirit people."
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?”
Chaplain among those Lost in Normandy 75 Years Ago
Two Canadian Armed Forces chaplains remember United Church minister, the Rev. William Alfred Seaman, who served as a chaplain during World War II and is among those who lost their lives in Normandy 75 years ago.
The Fight is Far from Over
The Rev. Jeff Rock writes that while progress has been made in the church for LGBTIQ2S+ people, the work of inclusion is just beginning.
Passing the Torch
The Rev. Stephen Fetter writes that the Ascension is about how the disciples, and the church, came to know Jesus differently.
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
Called: Vocation Sunday 2019
Rev. Bronwyn Corlett writes on being called to serve: "There are disciples answering God’s call across this country—and that is what vocation is all about."
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.
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.
Love Sustains when Hopes Crash and Burn
Rev. Stephen Fetter writes that Good Friday is a time when gathering with others to pray brings hope - even in the face of tragedy.
Drawn toward New Life
In this Palm Sunday reflection, Rev. Stephen Fetter writes that, while the road to freedom offered by Jesus is hardly easy, it's worth working for.
Feeling Tempted?
A reflection on the temptation of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13).
I seldom imagine Jesus as vulnerable to temptation. For me, Jesus is confident, outspoken, insightful, inspiring – even unshakable in his conviction that the world can and must be better, and that love is the way. But… Read more
Praying the Way Jesus Prayed
A reflection on "Transfiguration," (Luke 9:28-43a).
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”
Unwrapping "The 'Huron' Carol"
We have received many comments and questions about whether or not to incorporate the “’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime” into Christmas carol services. Thanks to Dana Lynn Seaborn, of seabornsong.com, who offered us a helpful response to start the conversation… 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
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
How Are You Getting Ready for Christ(mas)?
How are you getting ready for Christ(mas) this year?
If you are celebrating the Advent season as a family—or as an individual or an all-ages group of any kind—Advent Unwrapped offers an alternative to the advertisements, shopping lists, and hype that we are bombarded with at this time of… Read more
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
Let Our True Colours Shine
The old, grey stone steps of my local United Church in Toronto were recently transformed. They are now awash in a cheerful rainbow of hues, almost daring people who bustle by on the busy Toronto street not to stop and smile. I’m sure more than a few pedestrians have wondered, “What’s going on… 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.
Solstice Baby
Indigenous Day of Prayer reminds us that if we are to heal broken relationships, we must talk with one another. Let us begin today and never stop.
Why an Indigenous Day of Prayer?
In 1971, the observance of June 21 as a National Indian Day of Prayer was formally recognized by The United Church of Canada, at the 24th General Council. In 1982 the National Indian Brotherhood (now the Assembly of First Nations) called for the creation of a National Aboriginal Solidary Day.… 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
Why Christian Family Sunday?
Our God is a God of relationship, who seeks us out and longs for us to live in relationship with others and all of creation. (You may be saying to yourself right about now, well duh!) I believe that on Christian Family Sunday we are… 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.
Earth Day: A Call to Care for the Planet
My father was not much of a churchgoer. I still vividly recall him putting dollops of pancake batter onto a sizzling griddle, or devouring the weekend newspaper, on Sunday afternoons when I came home from singing in the local church youth choir. But my father is a deeply spiritual… Read more
Earth Hour: In Seeking Hope, We Are Making a Difference
Earth Hour—Saturday, March 24, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.—marks its 12th edition this March.
I remember that first gathering in a darkened Church of the Holy Trinity next to the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. We lit candles, we read scriptures and other readings, we signed a… Read more
Speaking Outside of Words
During this upcoming year, as major changes to our church structure are under consideration, many of us will be planning worship services for people who are dealing with and working through the complex feelings involved with change: the grief, loss, and sadness in saying goodbye to the courts of… Read more
Allies Need to Show Up
I was wondering if you might be available to write a Bible study for Black History Month?
“There’s no way I can do this,” was my first thought when asked by those at the United Church General Council Office to contribute a Bible study for Black History Month. Me, a White guy,… 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
An Interview with Lent Book Editor Alydia Smith
Alydia Smith is the editor of the new United Church Lenten devotional, Why I Believe. She was interviewed by Tilman Lewis, an Editor/Resource Coordinator at the General Council… Read more
Finding Hope in Disability
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated annually on December 3. This year, the day coincides with the first Sunday of Advent, when we traditionally celebrate a theme of hope.
What Do We Celebrate on Remembrance Day?
Across the United Church, there are many approaches to marking Remembrance Day. In contributing a new selection of prayers for use in a Remembrance Sunday service, my hope was to address the wide variety of needs of different church congregations.
What Makes Us Protestant: Why Just Two Sacraments?
October 31, 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, an important date in the history of the United Church and for Reformed Churches around the world. To commemorate the occasion, we are publishing a series of blog posts by Trisha Elliott on "What Makes Us Protestant… Read more
What Makes Us Protestant: To Sign or Not to Sign?
Most of the reformers left it up to individual Christians to decide whether signing was an appropriate expression of faith, but there were some who condemned it as a form of idolatry. Gradually, it fell out of favour with the majority of Protestants.
What Makes Us Protestant: Lift High the Cross?
Reformers disagreed about whether to reject or use the crucifix, to adopt an unadorned cross, or to discard the symbol altogether. Most Protestant churches today tend to be less ornate—a direct reflection of the Reformation call to integrity.
What Makes Us Protestant: What about Mary?
For the first thousand years of Christianity, and particularly since the Council of Ephesus in 431, Mary has held a special place in Christian faith. But for just as long, there has been debate about how “special” that place ought to be.
What Makes Us Protestant: Teachings That Matter
October 31, 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, an important date in the history of the United Church and for Reformed Churches around the world. To commemorate the occasion, we are publishing a series of blog posts by Trisha Elliott on "What Makes Us Protestant… Read more
Under the Big Top: Thoughts on National Aboriginal Day
I took these pictures last August while visiting my mother’s relatives in the central part of Saskatchewan on the Muskoday First Nation. They capture some of the 825 dancers that participated in the 25th annual traditional Powwow.
Canada 150, through the Lens of Reconciliation
Canada Day is coming. Canada 150 celebrations are intensifying. I wonder how Indigenous people are feeling about it all. I asked a few Indigenous friends and leaders in our church: “If someone from one of our non-Indigenous communities of faith asked you about the 150th year of Confederation,… Read more
Asian Heritage Enriches the Church
May is Asian Heritage Month, and the perfect time to prayerfully reflect on the contributions of Asian Canadians to Canadian society. Liturgies, songs, and other material that can be used in Asian Heritage Month… Read more
Climate Justice - Faithfully Responding
The United Church’s “A New Creed” reminds us that we are called to live with respect in creation. Not respect “for” creation, as a separate entity. But respect “in” the creation that is all around and within us. That is our… 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
