View the Live Webinar on the Tech, Safety and Ethics of Zoom for Church Leaders
/Thank you to Jen DeTracey, Reid Bode, Tyler Schmidt and Jonathan White for their contributions to this important webinar supporting church leaders using Zoom.
banner photo by Janet Best
Resources / Film to be launched for the Season of Creation / Questions to encourage Theological Reflection
/The Stewardship of the Environment Committee of the Diocese of Montreal, is launching a short film to articulate a message of urgency about climate change. View the trailer below and find some questions for theological reflection, including resources from the National Church and Green Churches.
Stay tuned for the launch of the Film on October 4th, 2020
Contact Richard Matthews for questions regarding The Seed.
Questions for Theological Reflection
“The Seed” Video
Take a moment to reflect on the feelings you had as you watched the video; there were probably several different ones as the story unfolded.
How do those feelings compare to how you feel when you pray, listen to or read Scripture, share your concerns with God, or listen for God’s call?
Did you hear “calls to action”? Do those calls resonate with what God is saying to you? (Suggestion: This is a question that deserves time; talk about it today, but continue to listen for echoes in your spiritual listening over the next months).
When you watched this video, what Biblical and theological themes came to mind? What other themes could have been used to present the message of this video?
The video is titled “The Seed.” This is an important theme in the Bible. In the Creation story told in the first chapter of Genesis, God talks a lot about seeds (see Genesis 1:11 and 1:29). Jesus also had a lot to say about scattering seeds and letting things grow. Where do you see seeds of new life around you? Where are seeds important to you?
Near the beginning, the narrator says “we took all that we could, more than we should.” This recalls a story told in the Hebrew Scriptures. When the Hebrew people have fled slavery in Egypt and are wandering in the desert, God provides them with bread that they called manna. God said to take only enough for the day but many people took more than that to save for future days, only to find that it spoiled. (This story is told in Exodus 16:13-26.) What does it mean to have enough? Where do you sense that we are taking more than we can? How does this Biblical story challenge other messages we are taught?
How do you react to the mandate given by the old tree to the seed in the video, that “We are a sacrifice for paradise”?
As the narrator says, “We are each to do our part”; what is the part that you as an individual are called to do at this time?
Many Anglicans have structured their thinking about their role in the world around something called the Five Marks of Mission. (You can read them all online.) The fifth mark encourages Christians to “strive to safeguard the integrity of Creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.” Where and how do you hear your Christian community called to respond to this call?
(Thanks to The Rev Dr. Jesse Zink for contributing to this document)
Download / Print the Questions in PDF
Other Resources
Resources from The Anglican Church of Canada: Season of Creation
Join week 2 of the Webinar Series helping Church Leaders to improve using
/A Series of webinars with Tools and Information to Improve Digital Worship for Church Leaders week 2
Week 2. Friday September 25 10-11:30 am EST
Presenters: Jen DeTracey, Tyler Schmidt, Reid Emerson August Bode and Jonathan White
Theme: Safety & Ethics
Webinar with Tools and Information to Improve Digital Worship (week 1)
/“We know that the world is changing and that the new ministry landscape requires innovation. Let’s engage with experts on how to approach digital ministry, ask questions and get answers!”
View week 1 of the Series of Webinars with Tools and Information to Improve Digital Worship for Church Leaders
Presenter: Dr. Jonathan White
In recognition of the Five Year Anniversary of the Death of Alan Kurdi and the Continued Struggle of Refugees Around the World
/Five years ago a photo was published around the world. The image of Alan Kurdi, a small Syrian boy, on a beach, drowned while his family tried to seek safety, spurred a reaction rarely seen. At Action Réfugiés Montréal, journalists contacted us, trying to understand the scope of the Syrian refugee crisis, and, importantly, how people here in Montreal, Hawkesbury, the Laurentians and elsewhere could lend a hand. We shared our expertise on television, radio, and in print. People here in Canada with family members in refugee situations elsewhere also contacted us, trying to find a way to bring their families to Canada. Our phones were overwhelmed with offers to help: furniture, apartments, meals at home, going for coffee, and clothes. Churches and individuals called us, wanting to sponsor Syrian families. Individuals, foundations, and corporations sent us financial donations, often unsolicited. One photo quite unexpectedly created a cavalcade of generosity and caring.
Since then, over 40,000 Syrian refugees have arrived in Canada. They have learned French and/or English. The children are in school. People have found or created jobs. Much has been done, and we are thankful many people are living in safety. But when we talk to some of these folks about this anniversary, it brings tears: reminders of the difficult journey to arrive in Canada, the uncertainty they lived, and the numerous relatives lost due to war or trying to flee. Many here in Canada still have family members living in difficult situations, five years later, and hope that they might be reunited somehow.
Much remains to be done. Many Syrians are still in Syria, many are in neighboring countries. A large cohort live in Lebanon, a country currently in crisis. Children there are lacking nourishment and education. Parents have lost their jobs and means of supporting their families. Many are afraid, lacking money, food, and housing. The Gazette recently reported that the pandemic has increased disparities in Montreal between well-to-do families and newcomers; we know this is also the case for refugeed people in far-away lands. The pandemic caused a temporary halt for over four months, and an extremely harsh, abrupt reduction in the number of arrivals of sponsored refugees this year. People who have already waited years for their files to be processed now are forced to wait even longer, as are those living extended family separation.
And of course, there are not only Syrian people who need protection: organizations like ours have applications for sponsorship from countries like Burundi, Iraq, Eritrea, and Afghanistan, among others. Quebec has greatly reduced the number of sponsorship files accepted. Recently, the allotment for files submitted outside Montreal was not reached. We suggested flexibility to re-apportion the quotas to at least offer sponsorship spaces to the number of people originally planned. Notre gouvernement refused our suggestion, so even fewer people than planned will arrive. A government that can’t seem to acknowledge systemic racism refuses to meet its already miserly low quota for refugee sponsorship. A government that declares thanks to “les anges gardiens” offers permanent residence to some, but sees those who do the cleaning or provide security as not angelic enough.
Five years after the photo was published, our attitude is quite well defined. Gratitude, for the effort put forward by all segments of Canadian society to reach out a hand to refugeed people seeking solutions. Resolve, to continue to advocate for refugee rights, both for refugee claimants and for shorter wait times for sponsorship files. Confidence, in the willingness of our neighbours, including individuals, faith communities, and corporate entities, to continue to support the work of organizations that accompany refugeed people upon their arrival in Canada.
Five years ago a photo of a tragedy inspired so many of us to reach out. We know that compassion and justice for refugeed people will continue to provide hope to people here and far away.
Paul Clarke is Executive Director, and Cathy Nguyen and Emily Woods are Coordinators of the Sponsorship Program at Action Réfugiés Montreal.
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Week 1. Friday September 18 10 -11:30 am EST Presenter Dr. Jonathan White
Theme: Music & Worship
Week 2. Friday September 25 10-11:30 am EST Presenters: Jen DeTracey, Tyler Schmidt, Reid Emerson August Bode and Dr. Jonathan White
Theme: Safety & Ethics
Week 3. Friday October 2nd 10-11:30 am EST Presenters: Rev. Dr. Joanne Mercer and Rev Rob Cooke
Theme: Formation & Community
