Postings on our website related to Right Relations with our Aboriginal neighbours appear below.
To the right is a Twitter feed from @KUCtalks. You are invited to follow and join in the discussions.
For background, visit the Aboriginal Relations page.
All are welcome. Reserve your free ticket at a convenient time slot which will allow for plenty of space to physical distance. Reserve your ticket for the artist reception here.
In addition to the Artist Reception illumiNATIVE will be on display at 7 Seymour Street West from October 2 – 31, 2020.
The exhibition will also be available online if people are uncomfortable or unable to attend physically, or in the case of another COVID-19 shut-down.
Also don’t miss your chance to be part of a silent auction for a painting of a jingle dress dancer.
On September 30, people all across Canada will wear orange shirts to remember and honour Indigenous children who attended Residential Schools. Indigenous Ministries and Justice at The United Church of Canada asks you to participate in Orange Shirt Day!
Why orange? Because of Phyllis Jack Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, who went to St. Joseph Mission Residential School. On her first day of school, Phyllis wore an orange shirt that her grandmother had given her. It was immediately taken away, and that marked the beginning of Phyllis’s long separation from her family and community, a separation caused by actions of the church and the federal government.
Orange Shirt Day is a time for us all to remember those events, their ongoing impact, and just as importantly, the continuing strength and resilience of Indigenous peoples. Former Healing Programs Coordinator Honarine Scott has written a powerful reflection on this.
Gary Paterson, former moderator of the United Church speaks on Black Lives Matter.
Image Credit: https://www.netclipart.com/isee/mxoJJT_black-lives-matter-png-black-lives-matter-graphic/
The United Church’s Pacific Mountain Regional Council Office invites you to:
Meet Jean Zaru, a Quaker who has lived in Ramallah most of her life. In 2008 she wrote “Occupied with Non-Violence”. We are about to begin a 4 week discussion of her book using Zoom.
Consider comments from some of those who have just finished the book study.
“In this book Jean Zaru brings sixty years of living in occupied Palestine together with her deep Christian faith. No wonder I read it three times.”
“This book has allowed me to really understand the daily struggles of the occupation and how the Christian message is a powerful source of hope. Being able to discuss the book with a group adds further insights beyond my own.”
“I learned so much about how the lives of Palestinian people (and in particular Palestinian Christians) are impacted on a daily basis by the Israeli occupation. Jean Zaru is an inspiring example of resiliency, hope and positive activism despite living most of her life under these stifling conditions”.
And from Jean herself: “The goal of those who use violence is to fill our mental and emotional space with rage, fear, powerlessness and despair and cut us off from sources of life and hope”. At this particular time perhaps we identify with such feelings although we are continually reassured that this situation will pass.
This is your invitation to be part of the next group which will spend 4 weeks reading and discussing this book. Email Marianna at holymom1@shaw.ca to indicate your interest. Once we know who is interested we will set a time that works for all. Look on-line for where you can order the book.
Consider how you can be “occupied with non-violence”.
UCC Pacific Mountain Region https://pacificmountain.ca/category/covid19/
KUC ~ a Centre for Community and Spiritual Discovery
invites you to
a two day (two Saturdays) Cedar Basket Weaving workshop
September 21st and 28th
from 9 am until noon, with an optional potluck lunch after the second class
at KUC.
Materials & instruction $70, .
Please register for the basket weaving workshop at the KUC office.
Space is limited. All are welcome. (Everyone. This is open to the public.)
One Who is with Us in Hard Times & Orange shirt Sunday
Lead by Rev. Dr. Michael Caveney
Please wear orange at church, as you are able, to show our support of for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year. We remember how young Phyllis had her beautiful, new, orange shirt taken when she came to the residential school and never saw it again. More info?, click> Orange Shirt Monday on 30th
What a spectacular weekend at KUC with a fashion show on Friday night and an art exhibition on Saturday. Shay Paul curated both events. Fashion designers Alicia Stephens Alicias Designs from Burnaby and Ashely Nicole Michel 4 Generations Creations from Kamloops exhibited their beautiful, stunning and amazing designs on the runway. Thank you to the designers, the models and the many volunteers for a great event.
Saturday, in addition to several artists who shared their amazing art, jewelry and fabric designs, a collection of works by local highschool students was displayed. Students were asked two questions to begin: “How do you define reconciliation?” and “How do you define colonialism?”. They were then engaged in informative educational and experiential activities and asked to portray their thoughts and feelings with drawings. Enjoy a few of the images that they shared. Thank you to the students and their teachers for sharing their work with us.
How could an event like this not also include Bannock by Bill! Awesome. Thanks to Shay, and her parents Bill and Maria for sharing a weekend of many highlights with us.
Thank you also to the Reconciliation Exploration Committee (REC) and other KUC volunteers who gave such generous support and energy to this very special weekend.
Images: D. Strong, M. Strong, Fliss Klassen
Kamloops United Church ~ a Centre for Community and Spiritual Discovery, invites you to:
ANOTHER “LIVING THE QUESTIONS” VIDEO SERIES:
Brought to you by the same group that produced “Painting the Stars” and “Jesus Fatwa”, the “ProFuture Faith” 8-video series features Rev. Michael Dowd speaking about why science and religion are both essential for human endeavours.
Dowd says that ecology is at the heart of theology, and calls his approach “ecotheism”. He stresses a “pro-future” faith (as as opposed to an “anti-future” faith), and emphasizes faithful accountability to the future on this blue planet of our ours. Combining evolutionary history, modern science, today’s ecological and life-threatening issues with a call to stewardship and a cultural re-orientation, Dowd reminds Christians that we have a responsibility to lead in these troubling times.
Each weekly session will include a 20-minute video along with discussion questions and hand-outs to prompt our own transformation, reflection and action. Facilitated by Rev. Dawne Taylor (and perhaps others), the series runs each Wednesday, 7 to 9 pm, September 25 to November 13.
Please pre-register for the series through the KUC office. ProFuture Faith workshop poster
