Links for February 2, 2025
As we mark African Heritage Month (Black History Month) in Canada, let us take time to celebrate the many contributions of people of African descent to Canadian society and to the United Church
Within the United Church of Canada, we celebrate this history by sharing the story of Union United Church (A great video of the congregation’s history) in Montreal, Quebec. This church was created in 1907 and was known as Union Congregational Church. From the start Union led the way in reaching out to the Black railway porters and their families who were segregated from the rest of Montreal, offering them a place of worship and a place to call their own.
We thank God for the faith and witness of African Canadians who have led the way for The United Church of Canada becoming an intercultural church, a church where all God’s people are welcome and celebrated.
1 > 8 World Interfaith Harmony Week calls for faith leaders to engage in a dialogue based on two common fundamental religious Commandments; Love of God, and Love of the Neighbour – without compromising any of their own religious tenets. These two commandments are the heart of the three Monotheistic religions and therefore provide the most solid theological ground possible. Jews reading the Torah in synagogues, Muslims learning from the Koran in mosques and Christians hearing the Bible in churches all hold very similar beliefs. Also please note that 6 February is the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). If the rates of FGM continue at current levels, 68 million girls will suffer it between 2015 and 2030 in the 25 countries where FGM is routinely practiced. FGM increases the risks of immediate and long-term psychological, obstetric, genitourinary, sexual and reproductive health complications. There is no health benefit from female genital mutilation.
Canada Helps – Looking for a tax receipt for a donation you made to St. James through Canada Helps in 2024? We don’t issue those but you can get a duplicate at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/tax-receipts/
they will email you a duplicate.