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June 30, 2022 — Christian Left Conference. Join us for the third edition of the Christian Left Conference (August 5-6). It’s ONLINE and FREE, as always! Our conference co-sponsors are Emmanuel College’s Centre for Religion and Its Contexts, Trinity-St Paul’s United Church and Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts, the Centre for Philosophy, Religion and Social Ethics of The Institute for Christian Studies and Broadview Magazine.

This year’s theme is “Creation, Land, and Indigeneity: Resistance on Turtle Island and Beyond.” Our featured keynote speakers are Dan Longboat (August 5, 6 p.m. EDT); & Carmen Lansdowneand Jenny Te Paa-Daniel (August 6, 6 p.m. EDT). Another highlight of the conference is our Broadview Magazine Session: Guest-Edited Edition Conversation featuring Jocelyn Bell(editor) and the Rev. Murray Pruden (guest editor), and moderated by Jonathan Hamilton-Diabo (August 5, 4:15 p.m. EDT). Visit the conference page for details, schedule and registration: uoft.me/christianleftconference

June 28, 2022 — Greening Sacred Spaces (GSS) Ottawa is an environmental, interfaith, nonprofit organization that provides inspiration and practical tools for faith communities to become more environmentally sustainable in order to reduce their environmental footprint and deepen their spiritual connection to nature. GSS Ottawa recently released results from the 2019-2022 Energy Benchmarking Program Case Studies, in which some United Churches in Ottawa are included. 2019-22 Energy Benchmarking Case Studies

June 15, 2022 — Woodroffe United Church votes to sign on to the Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign. Will your Pastoral Charge do the same? Read about Woodroffe’s vote: Climate Emergency-one pager_final2

June 7, 2022 — Indigenous Day of Prayer is on Sunday June 19th, the Sunday before National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21). This is an opportunity to celebrate First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples’ values, customs, languages, and culture. Rev. Nancy Best, Navan-Vars Pastoral Charge, has written a service and a sermon for any minister’s use. More information and Rev. Best’s sermon, entitled “All My Relations” can be found HERE.

May 27, 2022 — UCCan POC Support Circles — June 1 / June 29 / July 27 (every fourth Wednesday 4:00-5:30pm ET (1:00-2:30 PT / 5:00-6:30 AT) Have you experienced racism in the United Church of Canada? Are you looking for supportive community with other people of colour? If so, please join us for our monthly POC Support Circles. These are confidential, non-judgmental spaces for people of colour in the Church to share experiences, find support, build community, and be in solidarity with one another. To prioritize the safety of those who share their experiences of racism, this space is reserved for persons of colour—people who identify racially as non-white (including Indigenous, Black, Asian, Pacific Islander, non-white Arab or Latino/x, mixed-race, and/or “visible minority” people). Please complete this form to register: https://forms.office.com/r/0RDh6GGJ7q If you have any questions, please contact Ren Ito, Network Coordinator at the General Council Office (rito@united-church.ca).

May 11, 2022 — Ottawa Area United Church and Affiliated Refugee Sponsors Request for Action. The Refugee Sponsorship Network of EOORC brings together communities of faith who have been involved in work with refugees. Many congregations with applications in process have been frustrated with the delays and lack of service for these applications, some of which have been in process for 4 years.  The network took a look at how many applications our congregations have sponsored and who are still waiting for arrivals (there are 77 at time of writing.) The network has written a letter of concern to the Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship: Refugee Letter ask for action

Please consider writing your own letter, or contacting your local MP to talk about these concerns. If you are interested in joining the network, be in touch with Janet Nield at janetnield@bell.net

May 11, 2022 — Nominations needed! We are looking for nominations to a variety of Leadership Teams and to the GCO. Read about the openings and why you should consider joining in the important work of the EOORC. EOORC Nominations 2022

More information about Nominations and Opportunities to Serve HERE.

May 6, 2022 — Affirming? Why Not? Event to be held on Monday, May 16. More information

May 5, 2022 — NEW information on the Help Ukraine page about an initiative in the Brockville-Prescott area HERE.

May 5, 2022 — NEW TRAVEL RATES:  May 1 – September 30, 2022   $.46/km Due to the increase in the cost of fuel, the General Council has temporarily increased travel rates.   This applies to ministry personnel in pastoral relationships, volunteers, elected and appointment positions with the General Council, and staff of the General Council Office.

May 3, 2022  Pat Mayberry has just released a new album of 12 original songs, which include hymns, songs of social justice, and our relationship with nature. Listen to the title song, Listening Now HERE. The album is available both digitally and as a physical CD. Order the album HERE.

March 29, 2022 Ukraine Response – How Can We Help? A letter from Rev. Cindy Casey. EOORC Ukraine Response – How Can We Help? Please visit the Help Ukraine for more information.