In February, we celebrate the rich Black history in The United Church of Canada. Union United in Montreal has been the home of a vibrant Black congregation for more than a century; Wilbur Howard became the church’s first Black Moderator in 1974. The leadership and participation of Black peoples and congregations continues today. Find additional resources at the United Church Bookstore.
Worship Ideas
- 2022 Black History Month Service: Fishing So Others Can Have a Meal (38.02 KB) (Word): What would it be like to live in Beloved Community? By Charmain Bailey. Includes a link to video sermon on YouTube.
- 2022 Black History Month Worship Liturgy: Stories of Black Experiences in Canadian Churches (43.32 KB) (Word): Includes links to videos and a podcast by the Young Black Scholars.
- 2024 Black History Month: Jesus in the Village (68.16 KB) (Word): A worship service celebrating and honouring those who have contributed to our world, and our villages, in the past and today.
Related Material
- Anti-Racism at Bedford United: How one United Church community of faith is responding to Black Lives Matter.
- Black History Month 2021 - Patricia Watson, Bedford United Church, Nova Scotia: For Black History Month, Patricia Watson share ways the wider church can learn from the Black communities of faith in Canada's Atlantic region.
- Black History Month Nancy Oliver-MacKenzie: Nancy Oliver-MacKenzie shares the history of Montreal's Union United Church and its long-time role in the work for social justice for the Black community and beyond.
- International Decade for People of African Descent: 2021 Prayer Cycle (84.59 KB) (Word): We invite people to pray for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of peopl
- UN Decade for African Descent: Join The United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ USA in promoting recognition, justice, for people of African descent.
- Voices United: Intercultural Index (24.42 KB) (Word): A listing of hymns from Voice United identified by their country of origin.
Worship Blog
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”
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
Rev. Dr. Paul Douglas Walfall on the West African concept of “Sankofa," which teaches us that it’s not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten.
For more inspiring worship ideas and resources subscribe to GatheringWorship.ca!
