June 26, 2024 Announcements

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Sunday, June 30, 2024 – Mission Moment

After participating in the New Beginnings program that guides congregations through a renewal process to discern God’s call for their future, St. James (North Yarmouth, ON) began a ministry to help address the social isolation of seniors and older adults, both within the congregation and the surrounding community. St. James adapted its service to become an interactive, conference-call worship model that allows people at home or in care facilities to participate more fully through prayer, reading scripture or singing. Community programming for seniors is also centred around encouraging greater social inclusion, through delivering hot meals and care packages, a weekly home visit program with the minister and elders, and even chartering a bus to sing carols and bring Christmas cheer to doorsteps during Advent. St. James receives support from Presbyterians Sharing.

Prayer Partnership

Wednesday, June 26 We give thanks for church communities that are caring for creation and taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint. We pray that we will reflect God’s love of creation every day.

Thursday, June 27 We pray for courage to be a voice of change in our congregations and communities.

Friday, June 28 We praise God for the volunteers who have served in our congregations all year. Pray that they may rest and recharge over the summer, ready to return again in the fall, to find more ways they can use their gifts to serve God’s mission.

Saturday, June 29 Thank God for the hope brought to adults and youth receiving education, skills training and small business opportunities through PWS&D livelihoods programs.

Sunday, June 30 We pray for Knox College and its new students who will be invited to register for program studies in early July. We pray for continued discernment of God’s call to equip and prepare for service.

We pray for the youth and leadership at the uplift 2024 national gathering at Brock University in St. Catharines, who are spending today learning about the role of transformative justice in building a more peaceful and just world.

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Social Action Spotlight – July – September 2024

Anti-2SLGBTQI+ Rhetoric and Violence

Recently, there has been an alarming rise in harmful language and violence targeting LGBTQI people—especially those who are transgender, non-binary, or gender non-conforming—both here in Canada and across the globe. The PCC’s Confession to God and LGBTQI People acknowledges that: “The church has often perpetuated harmful lies that LGBTQI people are dangerous and abusive… The church’s prejudice contributes to hatred and neglect of LGBTQI people making them targets for physical, spiritual and emotional violence. For these unloving and unjust actions, we ask forgiveness.” Since doing justice and acting with love are important marks of Christian discipleship, the church chose to confess and repent, a process which involves repairing the harm we have caused and working to prevent future harm.

One impact of the recent increase in rhetoric demonizing and dehumanizing 2SLGBTQI+ people is that many transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming youth and adults feel that there is no place for them in society. They feel unsafe in public. While the emotional and spiritual wounds this causes are significant on their own, such rhetoric has also led to instances of physical violence. For example, in June 2023, a former student of the University of Waterloo entered a Gender Studies classroom and stabbed a professor and two students; an attack that appears to have been motivated by transphobic rhetoric.

One doesn’t have to actually call for violence to contribute to its likelihood. Rhetoric that scapegoats marginalized people can also cause harm, inciting hatred that some people will use as justification for violence. In a very real sense, attacks on any marginalized group can create situations where violence is tolerated; even normalized or seen as desirable. This doesn’t just make the targeted group less safe, it makes everyone less safe; violence spills over.

But safety and peace can spill over too. The church is called to be peacemakers. Intentionally working to support safety and healing and prevent harm are faithful ways to respond to anti-2SLGBTQI+ rhetoric and violence.

Questions for Reflection

We are called to love our neighbour. What are some ways you see people in your community acting with love? What are some things that could be done better?

It’s easy to think of violence spilling over. What do you think it would look like if safety or peace “spilled over?”

What can you do?

The 2023 General Assembly approved a recommendation “That congregations be encouraged to consider responses in their local communities to acts of hate and harm towards the LGBTQI+ community and sponsorship support of LGBTQI+ refugees.” Programs supporting LGBTQI people facing difficulties exist in many communities.

• Find programs in your area and see if there are ways you can support them.
• Consider sponsoring or otherwise supporting LGBTQI+ refugees.

Learn more

Resources are available on the Gender, Sexuality and Inclusion page of the Social Action Hub: presbyterian.ca/justice/social-action/gender-sexuality-inclusion

 

Knox is a caring and inclusive community of faith.  All are welcome here!