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Dear Friend,
Greetings of warming sun, greening buds and ringing birdsong to you. As we experience the quickening of non-human creation around us, we are reminded that amidst struggle and strife, there is new life. We are an Easter people, and in order to live as such, we must live and work knowing that we are called to be present at each birthing moment.
Earlier this month, I was in Vancouver, at Epiphany Chapel at UBC, for the First Third Ministries Anti-Racism Conference. This was a monumental weekend in learning and work, creating anti-racism work plans for ministries of all kinds, all across the nation; folks attended from BC to Nova Scotia, with all sorts in between. PMR Justice is proud to have partnered in this initiative, and we are so excited to see the good work and enthusiastic dedication moving forward. Many of us who do no live in Vancouver, marveled at the beauty of the fiddlehead ferns, the cherry blossoms and the tulips already greeting the new season and encouraging others to do the same. Upon my return north to unceded ancestral Lheidli T’enneh Territory (currently known as Prince George), I am welcomed home by tiny buds on trees, some fuzzy pussy willows in a neighbor’s back yard, and the shiny red heads of my peony gently pushing up through the soil.
Creation moves at its own pace, that which is right for its own context. Creation moves in relation to all of its moving parts, disparate elements of life collaborating to sustain living cycles of beauty, wonder, mystery, rest and hope. I am reminded that justice ministry and the sacred work of peace-building and justice-making look different depending on where you are, when you are, and who else is in community with you. Justice ministry calls us to connect with the elements of life around us, to have hearts to hear the crying out, and to have souls that sense clearly the injustice in our midst.
Isaiah 1:17 also reminds us that we are to grown and learn in our justice ministry. We are to grow with one another and learn from one another, and to grow and learn with God.
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the orphan; plead the case of the widow.”
Let us take up the cause of solidarity and action with those who call out for support. Let us amplify the voices of those who are relegated by oppression to a whisper. Let us celebrate that God is with us in our striving, visioning and work. Let us join together in Gaza Pilgrimage, Earth Week and Anti-Racism ministry, and feel the warmth of creation shine upon us.
Blessings to you and your beloveds as you journey on your path, held by the love and grace of God.
Kendra Mitchell-Foster
Regional Minister: Justice, and University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) Campus Minister KMitchellFoster@united-church.ca
Becoming an Anti-Racist Church
United in Learning: Wait—Is This Racist?
Starting April 22, join a community of people from across the church who are exploring anti-racist practices! Together, and with themes from the book Wait—Is This Racist? A Guide to Becoming an Anti-Racist Church, we will explore practical ways of co-creating anti-racist congregations. As part of the first session, Kerry Connelly, the author of the book will join us.
Come as a community of faith team:
- Receive two copies of the book
- Work together as a group on action plans
- Create change in your congregation
Register today, and find out more!
Earth Week 2024
Earth Week & For The Love of Creation
April 21-28, 2024
Earth Week is just around the corner! Coming together for the love of creation is a way to connect, grow, listen, inspire hope and affect change.
For The Love of Creation’s website has ideas for your Earth Week activity, and a place where you can register your event and join the wider movement across Turtle Island. Your activity could be visibly joining a community-wide event or creating something new. This is a chance to reach out to other faith communities and neighbors in your climate justice initiatives, and grow your circle! You can find the registration tool here.
Earth Week Webinar
Webinar: Climate Change, Eco-anxiety and Habits of Hope
Thursday, April 25 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Forest fires, floods, droughts, severe storms, deforestation, pollution. Across Canada, people face the terrible impacts of ecological destruction and climate crises. No matter how different people are impacted by environmental destruction or the climate crisis, these experiences can cause high levels of anxiety for everyone. What are faithful responses to eco-anxiety?
Join the Rev. Dr. Pamela McCarroll on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 1:00-2:30PM as we consider how we can intentionally cultivate habits of hope while facing the climate crisis. You can find the registration link here.
Guaranteed Livable Income: Zoom Forum
Our GLI group has been working tirelessly to continue moving toward realizing a Guaranteed Livable Income for all. The upcoming GLI Zoom Forum zoom on Tuesday April 30, 7 p.m. ET, is an endeavor to help communities combine education and advocacy in their organizing and action. The central questions for this forum are: “What has prevented an acceptance of a GLI for the nation? And, what now is involved in our task to tackle or redress such resistances and to renew our efforts to stay the course?” Stay tuned to our GLI Justice Ministry page for the link to the upcoming event
Senate Bill S-233 which seeks to provide a framework for a National Guaranteed Livable Income has completed the second reading, and currently, the bill is in consideration by the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance. Support is crucial at this time, so call and email the Senators, write letters and sign petitions!
UBI Works (universal basic income) has a Senator email tool to help, and some information and research on what the Guaranteed Livable Income or Universal Basic Income is. You can find their info here.
LeadNow.ca has a letter writing tool to support Letters to the Editor writing campaigns to bring as much awareness and support to this issue. Would you congregation like to host a letter writing event?
You can find the text of the bill here.
Solidarity with Gaza
Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage: Canadian Churches for a Just Peace
A GLOBAL MOVEMENT IS WALKING IN PRAYERFUL SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF GAZA.
THE CRY FOR PEACE CONTINUES. THE PILGRIMAGE CONTINUES.
THIS MAY, COME, WALK WITH US.
This invitation is for everyone, church leaders, people of faith, companions who yearn for peace! Walk or roll together in your own community before May 13. Pray for a ceasefire; pray for more than a ceasefire, for a just peace for all in Palestine and Israel. Then, if you can, join national church leaders for the final leg of their pilgrimage, converging on Parliament Hill on May 22.
Plan your own pilgrimage, or plan to join one. More information and a registration link can be found here.
Pacific Mountain Region United Church Women AGM 2024
“”Here I am, Lord”
Pacific Mountain Region United Church Women AGM 2024
Presenters: The Rt. Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, 44th Moderator of The United Church of Canada and  Barbara Davison, National United Church Women President
Friday April 26- Saturday April 27, 2024
In-Person at Trinity United Church, Port Coquitlam
2211 Prairie Avenue, Port Coquitlam BC
Registration & Refreshments 1pm, Friday April 26
Adjourning 1:30pm, Saturday April 27
You are invited to join us for our 2024 AGM as we come together to do the business of UCW and to enjoy fellowship through singing, praying and learning.
Click here to download the Word Doc Registration Form.
For more information, please go to the UCW webpage:Â PacificMountain.ca/ucw-pm
Remit 1
REMIT 1: Establishing an Autonomous National Indigenous Organization
The Remit has passed! As you may already be aware, the United Church of Canada has made the intentional choice to live into this invitation to justice-centered relationship with our Indigenous siblings. Thank you to all who worked tirelessly in the effort to support communities of faith to engage with the remit, and to submit their votes. As we move forward on this path, we are encouraging everyone to stay interested and to follow the development of the Autonomous National Indigenous Organization moving forward.
Affirming Ministries
We want to hear about your PIE day events!
As we near the end of March and many of your PIE Day events have been hosted, we are collecting pictures and stories about the thriving Affirming Ministries around the region. Please send us your events, even if you don’t have images, we would love to showcase all our collective Affirming Celebrations at the PMR Annual General Meeting 2024. Submit your events here.