August 18, 2020
Gratitude Is in the Air
From signs and social media posts to homemade thank you cards, United Churches across the country have been finding inspiring ways to express appreciation to frontline workers during the pandemic. Uniting people around gratitude—a key component of stewardship—is one way congregations are living out their call to be the church. Read the full story.
Find out more about how people and churches are united around gratitude through Mission & Service by reading the many inspiring Stories of Our Mission.
[Photo credit: St. Andrew's United Church]
United Church Appeal for the Devastation in Lebanon
Please continue to pray for the people of Beirut. The tragic explosion on August 4 caused immense destruction, huge loss of life, and a staggering number of injuries. You can help those affected by donating to our appeal. Your donations will be matched by the Canadian government until August 24, 2020 (up to $5 million).
Our Mission & Service partner in the region, the Middle East Council of Churches, offers an update about the recovery effort in Beirut and the longer-term concerns for Lebanon as a whole in the aftermath of the explosion.
Find out more and donate.
[Photo credit: World Vision/Reuters]
Considering Opening Church for In-Person Worship?
What precautions are you taking? What best practices are you learning that you might share with others in the church?
Each council makes decisions on reopening for its areas of responsibility. The governing board of each community of faith should consult with its local public health unit, provincial health ministry, and regional council. The guiding principle is the safety of all who enter the building. See our guidelines on reopening churches for more information.
[Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash]
The Other Side of the River: From Church Pew to Sweat Lodge
Summer is in full swing, and if you're coming to the end of your reading list, why not pick up a copy of the latest offering from United Church Publishing House, The Other Side of the River by Alf Dumont? Through stories, humour, poetry, and insight, Dumont shares tales of building bridges between the two worlds of Indigenous and settler, traditional spirituality and Christianity.
Available now in paperback and as an e-book.
Canadian Corporate Accountability Petition
Sign a petition calling for the House of Commons to hold accountable Canadian mining, energy, and garment companies operating abroad. We need 4000 online signatures by September 1. Use the hashtags #UCCan, #Power2investigate, and #CAN4mHRDD in your social media posts!
[Image credit: Canadian Network for Corporate Accountability]
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