What comes first; children in church or a space to welcome them in church? How do we create appropriate spaces in our sanctuaries, in our worship, in congregational life in general? What makes a space truly welcoming for children? These are some of the questions that the First Third Ministries Leadership Team is actively exploring. The goal is to provide communities of faith with ideas and resources to create and maintain family friendly spaces. Shanna Bernier (Regional Council), Martha Randy...
Author: judycoffin
(shared by Natacha Sanson, St. Lambert United Church) A crew of gardeners started off in the spring by transplanting a huge “old growth” peony from the Mercille side of the church to a flower bed near the entrance on the Notre Dame side. The sheer joy of noticing, seeing then touching earthworms was our reward, a sign of how nature is present in the soil. In May, we found several smart pots in our shed and filled them with annuals purchased in La Prairie and many geraniums that had been cared...
As shared at Lennoxville United Church – June 18, 2023 May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to thee, Lord. Amen. Today’s reading from the 18th chapter of Genesis is both strange and powerful. Strange – because it is one of those places in the Hebrew Scriptures that bears witness to the presence of other pre-monotheistic religious traditions in the stories that constitute the foundation of our Judeo-Christian narrative. I had a colleague in the Religion...
As a Christian church with biblical roots and a liberative theology, we speak out against the growth of intolerance and hatred that is being expressed in Québec, in Canada and internationally. We will not be silent. We are deeply troubled by extremist laws that were adopted this week in Uganda that punish the LGBTQ population and their allies with long jail terms and the death penalty. Uganda is now the twelfth country in the world to create death penalties for the LGBTQ population. We’ve also...
June 3, 2023 (Sherbrooke, QC) - Popular opinion says that churches of all denominations are declining; the governing body representing United Church communities of faith across Quebec respectfully disagrees and will meet in Sherbrooke on June 3, 2023 to discuss strategic growth instead. With a theme based on the biblical story of Jesus feeding the multitude with five loaves and two fishes, ministers and lay people of Conseil régional Nakonha:ka Regional Council will assemble at...
United Church of Canada
- Climate Crisis Is Also a Spiritual Crisis November 30, 2023The United Church’s virtual COP28 delegation is making important connections between spirituality, faith communities, and climate change.
- Calling for end to support for Philippines counter-terrorism campaign November 22, 2023Hundreds of citizens have expressed deep concern that the Canadian government may be inadvertently enabling continued attacks on human rights and human rights defenders by the Government of the… continue reading
- Dear Prime Minister November 20, 2023The General Council Executive, its corresponding members, and the members of the National Indigenous Council issued a plea to Prime Minister Trudeau to advocate for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas… continue reading
- Youth Delegation to Attend United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) November 20, 2023The United Church of Canada COP 28 young adult delegation will virtually attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
- Human Rights Report Presented to the UN Includes Ecumenical Contribution November 17, 2023Canadian churches who are members of the World Council of Churches prepared a shadow report to Canada’s Universal Periodic Review.