March 6, 2019: A Day of Prayer & Fasting for Bill C-262: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has called Canada to adopt and implement the Declaration as “the framework for reconciliation” (Call to Action #43). Bill C-262 is in the Senate and needs to get to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples soon, or there won’t be enough time for it to achieve royal assent. We need your help. Would you join us in prayer and fasting as we ask the Creator to move hearts and minds? Would you invite your circle to join in?
Please sign up and let friends know that you are fasting on March 6 by posting a picture with the hashtags #fastfor262 #passbillC262 #SenCA
The United Church of Canada People in Partnership Unit invites young adult (18+) applicants to the following Pilgrimage experiences with global partners:
To invite a recently returned participant as a Speaker, view our speaker’s list.
To automatically receive notices of opportunities such as these, please subscribe to the UCC jobs and volunteer opportunities list.
To learn more about People in Partnership and how their support for people-to-people opportunities for you and your faith communities with Global partners, please be in touch, pip@united-church.ca
Editor Alydia studies an advance copy of ‘Everyday Skeptics’
Three Lenten Resources
Welcome to the SCM’s roundup of superb resources for your church, study group, or personal prayer this Lent. Let us know what Lenten practice you’re undertaking this year, and what you hope for, as you enter this wilderness time.
Praying Through the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
We hope that everyone is praying in support of the decades of work that have gone into Bill C-262, (and make sure to let your Senator know how important it is to you!) In any case, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is an important tool in ensuring that Indigenous nations can thrive and survive the historic and ongoing injustices of Settler-Colonialism.
“Pray for understanding, lament what is broken, and ask for wisdom and courage to change the systems that deny Indigenous rights—rights that are still out of reach.”
Read it here, and let us know what you think if you use it.
Everyday Skeptics – Devotions for Spiritual Growth
Full disclosure – this collection of daily reflections to take you through Lent includes a number written by SCMers – so we’re biased! But the focus on the prophets, from Isaiah and Jeremiah, to our Elders, to Jesus, really excites us.
Each day includes a reflection with questions, a prayer, and suggestions for songs. The book is available in print or as an ebook from UCRDstore.ca
Entering the Passion of Jesus – a Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week
Amy-Jill Levine, a Jewish professor of New Testament at Vanderbilt Divinity School, regards the Passion narratives as powerful literature that convey the beauty and wonder of the gospel. “Even though I am not a Christian,” she writes, “I have seen it work, over and over again, in my Christian friends, students, and churches worldwide.”
As well as the book, a DVD study series is available, six sessions each only eight minutes long, perfect for a group study in the lead up to Easter.
More than anything, this study is important because it explores the tumultuous days of Jesus’ time on earth from a learned Jewish perspective. Giving space to the inevitable and grace-filled challenge is an important way to undermine the centuries of anti-Jewish readings of the passion story – which persist in ways large and small across the denominations.
You can buy the book from Indiebound, although the DVD appears to be only available on Amazon.
Members of a previous delegation learn from Anishinabeg Land Defenders who work to protect the land, water, and future of Grassy Narrows First Nation
People of all faiths are welcomed to take part in this short-term learning and solidarity delegation. There will be a specific focus on Christian and Jewish responsibilities to the work of undoing colonialism.
What can our faith traditions teach us about reconciliation, solidarity, and the current struggles of Indigenous peoples? How can we stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities resisting colonial oppression?
For years, Anishinaabe people in Treaty 3 have, and continue to, defend their land, water and way of life. Community members resist imposed colonial crises, such as mercury contamination of the English-Wabigoon river system 50 years ago which continues to poison fish – a traditional food staple. In 2002, Grassy Narrows residents set up a blockade against clear-cut logging on their traditional territory which continues to halt logging on their land today.
This trip will draw specifically on Jewish and Christian histories and perspectives, with two leaders, one from each faith background. With the delegation being open to all faiths and beliefs, as always, all are welcome to participate and contribute from your respective traditions.
Starting in Winnipeg, MB (Treaty 1), delegates will meet with community organizers, Indigenous rights advocates, and leaders in Grassy Narrows and Kenora, ON (Treaty 3). Delegates will undertake an analysis of colonialism, participate in anti-racism exercises, and critically reflect on how to live in right relations with the Earth and their Indigenous neighbours.
Provided meals will be kosher-style. Dietary needs and spiritual practices will be accommodated as much as possible. For specific questions, please email ips@cpt.org.
This trip is jointly organized with Student Christian Movement and the Christian Peacemaker Teams Indigenous Solidarity Project.
“The delegation brought me face to face with racism and oppression. This face to face experience is only the beginning in helping me to undo the past and I am now even more aware. I will work harder to be an ally.”
“If I had to highlight one thing I would say it would be the experience of the Women’s Gathering at Grassy Narrows. Being immersed in the culture, witnessing the different ceremonies and spending time in conversation with the Indigenous peoples gave me a deeper understanding of the beauty of their culture but also gave me a deeper understanding of the effects of colonization.”
SCM Canada is pleased to introduce Kelsey Enns, who will coordinate a study group in Winnipeg, Manitoba, exploring Biblical Experiments in Decolonization, thanks to a grant from the St Stephens-Broadway Foundation.
Kelsey is a theology student nearing the end of his Master of Arts degree from Canadian Mennonite University. He has also worked in Winnipeg’s downtown and North End which left a big impact on how he reads Scripture. He is keenly interested in how we communicate the Gospel to different people in different contexts while engaging in good faith dialogue.
We’re very excited that ticket sales are now open for the 2019 Cahoots festival, May 23-26, at Pearce Williams Christian Camp, close to St Thomas, Ontario.
We have 150 tickets available and we’re looking for students and young adults, families with kids and teens, babies, elders and everyone in between! Our tickets are remarkably affordable thanks to the hard work and generosity of our many volunteers:
Early bird prices are in effect until April 1st… Festival pass – Adult $135 (12 years or older), Child $75 (3-11 years old), Family $400 Day ticket – Adult $75, Child $45
Tickets include all your meals, cabin accommodation, all the sessions and workshops, and support to carpool to and from the site. Book your tickets through this link. If cost is a concern, contact cahoots@scmcanada.org to find out about subsidized tickets.
Contact us to get a copy of the poster or some postcard invites for your church, school, youth group, or parenting circle!
Learn more about Cahoots at our website: cahootsfest.ca Follow the conversation on the Facebook, and watch as details of session become available… Sign up for the mailing list to get info and reminders of ticket sales.
Student Christian Movement Canada is seeking a Winnipeg Coordinator to prepare and promote a weekly ‘Experiments in Decolonization’ study group, using the SCM Study Guide for ‘Unsettling the Word‘ (Mennonite Church Canada, 2018).
See below for details
Are you:
Committed to decolonization and anti-oppressive practice?
Excited by spiritual, cultural and religious diversity?
Connected to a campus community?
Able to make a weekly time commitment?
The coordinator position will receive an honourarium and project support from SCM Canada. This project is made possible through the support of the St Stephen’s-Broadway Foundation.
To apply, send your CV plus a brief letter of interest addressing the question ‘what does decolonization mean for my life?’ to hiring@scmcanada.org, noting where you saw the position advertised.
Join us as we de-stress and jam to Janelle Monae’s afro-futuristic
visual album, Dirty Computer.
– Hungry for More? –
Reflect with us on the film’s take on race, gender, sexuality, faith, and decolonization. The Multi-Faith Centre has generously offered us pizza, salad, and fizzy drinks for this event. Vegan and gluten-free options will be available.
TIME: 6 – 8 PM
LOCATION: WI 2008, Wilson Hall | New College
Accessible entrances to Wilson Hall include the West courtyard, South, Main, Southeast entrances.
This event is co-sponsored and in collaboration by:
||The Student Christian Movement||
||The Muslim Justice Collective||
||The Multi-Faith Centre||
||Victoria College Equity Commission||
||Queerying Religion||
||ROARS||
A group of Climate Justice activists stage a ‘die in’ with Extinction Rebellion, during lunch at the People’s Assembly on Climate Justice. Photo credit: Rodrigo Castro
Lucky Obasuyi – My Take Home from the People’s Assembly on Climate Justice Saturday, November 17, 2018, at the University of Toronto, Multi Faith Center
Genesis 2:15 (ESV) – “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it”
This scripture is a great starting point to share my reflections from the People’s Assembly on Climate Justice. It is my hope that this scripture, gleaned from the book of beginnings, lends credence to the criticalness of caring for our environment: a sacred responsibility bequeathed to humankind by the creator of all. It’s unequivocally true that manufacturers best know the optimal use of the products they create, as well as the due diligence that consumers must show in order for them to derive optimal benefits. Let us then listen with ears to hear.
Note-taking during a breakout group. Photo credit – Rodrigo Castro
Attending the People’s Assembly was truly a heart stirring event for me, because it challenged me to deliberately reflect on how well humankind has fared in the responsibility handed us by the creator; “to work and keep the garden of earth”.
As a participant in the group considering Labor and Economics as it relates to Climate Justice, it was rather more instructive for me to listen to the various contributors as they shared passionately about their concerns on current positions being taken by decision makers in government vis-a-vis the Canadian environment, and how that impacts the fight for Climate Justice. For a relative newcomer to Canada, the succinctly articulated expositions by the guest speakers and very informed contributions from other group participants quickly metamorphosed into a valuable education for me.
Some Labor and Economics group members had the opportunity to share about their individual activities in the fight for Climate Justice within the Ontario community. That of ‘$15 and Fairness’ particularly got me riveted, as it afforded me a basic knowledge of the issues that advocates of ‘$15 and Fairness’ seek to address e.g. $15/hr. minimum wage and climate justice; equal pay, fair scheduling and job security for all; the right to organize/unionize sustainable workplaces.
Panels included: Indigenous Sovereignty and Self-Determination; Migrant Justice; Violence Against People and the Land; Food, Medicine and Sustainable Alternatives; and the Far-Right and Climate Change. Photo credit – Rodrigo Castro
Other members in the group were part of the Toronto District School Board, and shared about how they are maximizing that platform to drive their passion for climate justice, especially via their classroom opportunities as school teachers.
Another salient fact that was revelatory to me, was the functioning of a conservative ideology towards maximizing economic gains, generating inevitable decisions that adversely affect climate stability, and thus constitute a bane in the fight for Climate Justice.
Overall, my take-home from the Climate Justice Assembly and from participating in the Labor and Economics group discussion, was the challenge to take sides with those seeking to proffer panaceas, rather than accentuate the problem. It was indeed, a clarion call to re-awakening the responsibility “to work and to keep the garden of earth” as the LORD God originally commanded humankind in the beginning!
I close with scripture to reflect on the consequences of abdicating our sacred responsibility to the creation:
Isaiah 24:5-6 (ESV) – “The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left”
Lucky Obasuyi joined the global Student Christian Movement (SCM) in 2009 via the SCM of Nigeria. He has held several positions with the SCM of Nigeria, including Director of International and Interfaith Relations. He is currently the Secretary of the SCM of Nigeria, North America Chapter, and a Ministry Intern with SCM Canada.
This September’s Back to School Newsletteris now available online! You’ll find the answers to such burning questions as:
Why are we so obsessed with buttons?
What’s up with the Cloud of Unknowing?
Who’s going to Mexico City to discuss Migrant Theology?
[Note that answers may prompt additional questions]
Find out some of what SCM Canada has been doing this summer, check out our eight page newsletter. If you like what you read – Make A Donation!
And why not sign up to get our newsletters sent direct to your door? Send your address to info@scmcanada.org and we’ll add you to the distribution list.
If email is more your thing, we send out a monthly newsletter. Sign up here
Whatever you’re doing this September, study, work, rest, play – we pray for God’s blessing on it. Thanks for being part of the Movement of God’s liberating Spirit, here on earth.
