News

United Church of Canada – Pay It Forward

United Church of Canada – Pay It Forward

For just $25, you can give the gift of a two-shot dose of vaccine in a country still struggling through the worst of the pandemic and support the worldwide effort to protect people from COVID-19.

While people in Canada are receiving COVID-19 vaccines, people in many other parts of the world have no way to get them. Providing vaccines to these countries is only part of the story — the vaccines also have to get to the people who need them most. Support the worldwide effort to protect people from COVID-19, one vaccine at a time.

Your Gift will provide a complete COVID-19 vaccination to one person in a country where vaccines are in short supply.

Visit https://giftswithvision.ca/collections/featured/products/pay-it-forward to make a direct donation or to find out more information about “Gifts with Vision”

St. James Visitor Submissions

Calling all members of St. James, We want to hear from you!

The “St. James Visitor” would like to include more content from our members, so we are putting the call out for submissions, and we would love to hear from you. What stories do you have to tell us? How has your faith helped you through these “unprecedented times”, or anytime for that matter? Have you written a short story? A poem?

You can submit your work/thoughts/ideas to the Administration & Communications Committee, and we will get in touch with you regarding your entry for any future issue of the “St. James Visitor”. Email your submission to St. James Office at info@stjamesuc.org with the subject “Visitor Submission”.

Please note: This is a file of submissions we are building for future issues of the “St. James Visitor,” so please don’t feel discouraged if you don’t see yours in an upcoming issue.

*All entries will be reviewed and edited for grammar and spelling.
*Submit only your own work.
*By submitting, you agree to allow St. James to publish your work. *All copyright
remains with the author.

Sunday Worship Messages from Rev. James Ravenscroft

New Feature Added to Our Website.

St. James United Church website now contains ‘Messages’ (Sermons) from Rev. James Ravenscroft’s Sunday worship services. The ‘Messages’ are available to download and view on our website in the top right-hand banner under the heading called “Sermons”.

Rev. Ravenscroft’s messages will be added weekly. We hope you enjoy reading them !!!

The United Church of Canada Haiti Relief Response

From The United Church of Canada

On the morning of Saturday, August 14, Haiti was struck by a severe earthquake. The extent of the damage is still unclear. Haitians and the international community are working hard to rescue people trapped under the rubble. But the number of deaths is rising. Many homes and community buildings have been destroyed. Hospitals have also been damaged, and acutely injured and traumatized people are struggling to find help. And what’s more, Tropical Storm Grace hit Haiti on August 16, making an already bad situation worse.

The United Church of Canada is in contact with Mission & Service partners in Haiti to find out how we can support their communities. Today, people in Haiti need emergency shelter, clean water, and food. Make a gift right now to support the people of Haiti.

Thank you for your generosity.

Donate Now
Online via our secure donation page:
https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=1955&AID=2274&PID=6332

Phone: 416-231-5931 OR toll-free: 1-800-268-3781 ext. 2738 and use your Visa or MasterCard.

Send a cheque or money order to:

The United Church of Canada
Philanthropy Unit – Emergency Response
3250 Bloor Street West, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4
*Please be sure to note “Emergency Response—Haiti” on the face of your cheque.

The United Church of Canada Supporting Indigenous Communities

The United Church of Canada is making funds available to support the work of Indigenous communities for the identification of unmarked graves, knowledge gathering, and ceremony to honor the children who did not return home from its fifteen residential schools. This is an act of reparation and responds to Calls to Action 73–76 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

“The United Church of Canada was an active participant in a system that ripped Indigenous families apart by forcibly removing the children from their homes,” says the church’s Moderator, Richard Bott. “We have written to Indigenous leaders of the communities where thirteen United Church-run residential schools were located, and in the case of the other two, communities whose children were taken there. We have let them know we have made funds available so the work of bringing home the children does not solely rest on their shoulders. We played a critical role in this and we as a church need to be more action focused in our commitment to reconciliation.”

The Moderator also released a wider statement to the residential school survivors, their families, and communities. A special meeting of the General Council Executive on July 20th, 2021 approved three million dollars to fund this work, which also includes archival research and providing communities access to documents. The United Church turned over all its existing records to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Commission and continues to send records that come to light. The General Secretary, Rev. Michael Blair, notes, “Our history as settlers is a ‘we can fix this’ attitude. Clearly, we have been very wrong. We need to listen before we act, and support communities as they define their needs.

Diversity 2020: Getting the Words Out

As part of our Diversity Fair we would like to share with you this video which discusses stuttering and the stigma that goes along with it.

Katelyn Mayo, a member of our congregation, helped with the production of the video!

Diversity 2020

Diversity goes Digital!

This year diversity goes virtual!

St. James United Church presents its annual Diversity Fair in a virtual environment. Join us online from Wednesday, September 27th (Orange Shirt Day) to Sunday, October 11th (Thanksgiving).

Solve puzzles to learn more about the groups making a difference in our community. Hear diverse music with our international hymn sing. Listen to interviews which present real-life stories of local people who face challenges regarding their ability to be included in our society, and hear them speak about what has changed, and what still needs to change. Get involved!!

Diversity Word Search

Diversity Crossword Puzzle

Diversity Matching Game

Answers:
Diversity Word Search ANSWERS

Diversity Crossword ANSWERS

Matching Game Answers

Greetings from Minister for Justice and Mission, Laura Hunter

Greetings from Minister for Justice and Mission, Laura Hunter.

Please select the button below to review her letter.

Extreme Weather Information

During periods of extreme weather, a committee consisting of Council Chair, Property Chair and the Clerk of Session (or their designates) in consultation with
the Ministerial staff will determine if it is not reasonable to open for Sunday worship. Notification to the Congregation will be via VOWR, other radio stations, the website and the recorded telephone message by 8:30 am on the Sunday in question.

A telephone contact sheet consisting of other key people to receive early notification will be maintained. This list includes, but is not restricted to the chief usher, musicians, and choir.