Welcome to the Local Global Advocacy Network information site. This site is the gathering spot for the many aspects of the justice work of the Saskatchewan Conference of the United Church of Canada.
You may be interested in visiting the United Network for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel
July 1 marks the 150th anniversary of Confederation. As we reflect on this milestone, there are “thoughts, feelings, and prayers Indigenous friends and relations want our whole church to hear. As we mark Canada 150, we need to contemplate them, share them in our networks, and lift them up in worship on July 2, the Sunday closest to Canada Day. As Henry David Thoreau wrote, “It takes two to speak the truth—one to speak and another to hear. (David Giuliano, Community Capacity Development Coordinator, Aboriginal Ministries, The United Church of Canada).
Reflections on Canada 150 from Indigenous people
All My Relations Network: How Shall We Celebrate Canada 150?
Prayer (By Liz Mackenzie, Saskatchewan Conference Personnel Minister)
One: From the West to the East, the North and to the South;
All: we are your people, O God, and we live in your world.
One: From sea to sea to sea; from mountains to prairies; rock shields to Great Lakes; bountiful fruit orchards to windswept east coast cliffs;
All: we are your people, Creator God, called to celebrate your good creation.
One: From the first peoples to inhabit Turtle Island to the newest visitors to arrive in Canada;
All: your Spirit lives in all your peoples – yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
One: Young and old, in the diversity of our abilities, sexualities, gender identities, ethnicity and race;
All: You gather us as sheaves of wheat and call us to live as one.
One: You call us together, Source of all Love, to be the bearers of your love in this great country of Canada;
All: As we celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, may we work together for a country and a world where all are included in your dream of justice, peace, reconciliation, and grace. May it be so, Gracious God. Amen.
Minister Duclos to Host a Facebook Live Event Discussing the Federal Anti-Poverty Strategy
On June 5, the Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development, will be holding a Facebook live event in order to discuss poverty reduction, and the federal government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. The event will be held on June 5 from 4:30-5:30pm EST, and can be accessed via the following link: https://www.facebook.com/SocialDevelopmentCanada/
Participants will be invited to submit questions and pose comments.
You’re invited to The Call Echoes, SK Conference events June 16, 17, 18 in Saskatoon
Register: www.sk.united-church.ca/register/ or call the Conference office.
In need of some faith revival and community? Come and be fed . . . Saskatchewan Conference does not have an annual general meeting this year, but The Call Echoes, Saskatchewan Conference’s Ministry event, is for you. This is an exciting get together for renewal, justice-seeking, learning, and celebration of our ministry is for everyone. Please help promote these events! (See below for promotion resources and details).
Come join us for a Friday retreat, Saturday singing and workshops, and the celebration of ministries banquet, and Sunday’s celebration of new ministries service. We even have a micro brewery tour and tasting! It all takes place June 16 – 18 in Saskatoon. Please register as soon as possible as registration is only open until June 5th. Some events have limited enrollment.
Scroll down for bios of our amazing facilitators. Please indicate your workshops preferences at www.sk.united-church.ca/register/ or call the Conference office at 306-721-3311. Workshops are free and open to the community. Lunch is $12 and you must register for it in advance. Registration and coffee at 8:30; worship is at 9:15 and workshops will begin by 10:15AM. Lunch: 12:30- 1:30, then afternoon workshops at 2:00PM- 4:15PM. Click here for a workshops flyer. (PDF) Continue reading
Update received from United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP): Emergency Continues.
The national United Church of Canada received the following update from the UCCP this morning, May 27, regarding the emergency situation in Marawi, on the southern Philippines island of Mindanao. (See an earlier post for background.) Please continue to pray for and support the people of Marawi and those related to the UCCP’s Dansalan College:
Patricia Talbot, General Council staff (Team Leader for Church in Partnership, and Northeast Asia Partnerships), wrote to all Conferences with an update on the violence gripping communities in Mindanao, the southernmost island in the Philippines. In addition, please see the UCCCP Bishops’ statement on the violence. (Note that we will post updates in separate posts; please see the home page on the right side for a list of updates.) Continue reading
Trans* people are ministers and leaders in the United Church and across the country. They are members of our families, our loved ones, our friends, colleagues, and neighbours, and they deserve to have their identities protected by the law.
Bill C-16 would amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of gender identity and gender expression. It will also amend the Canadian Criminal Code to include gender identity and gender expression as a recognized group when offences are motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate.
Bill C-16 passed its third reading in the House of Commons in November 2016, and is now in its second reading in the Senate. Some groups are actively campaigning the Senate to block this bill. Please take action by contacting your senator as soon as possible, and urge the Senate to make Bill C-16 law.
Saskatchewan Senators: https://sencanada.ca/en/senators
Raynell Andreychuk raynell.andreychuk@sen.parl.gc.ca
Denise Batters: denise.batters@sen.parl.gc.ca
Lillian Eva Dyck: lillian.dyck@sen.parl.gc.ca
David Tkachuk david.tkachuk@sen.parl.gc.ca
Pamela Wallin: pamela.wallin@sen.parl.gc.ca
