World Day of Prayer, AKA “WDP” International Body: The World Day of Prayer International Committee, headquartered in New York. Granting Body: In Canada, the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada. (Each country has its own structure.) The World Day of Prayer program is inspired by its motto, “Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action.” Through informed prayer we seek… Read more »
All God’s Creation is Very Good: Water
How we care for Creation is the central theme of World Day of Prayer 2018 Suriname. Water is of great concern for this nation so rich in biodiversity and resources. Most of the population of Suriname lives along its coast, also where birds and sea turtles nest. Floods and rising sea levels due to climate… Read more »
Bible Study: Inspiration from an Old Testament Prophet
What does WICC have in common with an Old Testament prophet? More than you would expect! A miracle performed by the prophet Elisha is recorded in 2 Kings 4:1-7 providing us with a model for responding to injustice today. A Family in Crisis This passage centers around a widow whose life was falling apart. Her… Read more »
Understanding Our Call to Stewardship
The environment has always held a special place in my heart. It is where my soul is healed from the stresses of reality and it is where I find God, fully present and fully visible, reaching to me in ecological stillness. Often I feel God draw close when I am immersed in nature, particularly around… Read more »
Network News Winter 2017: Indigenous Mayan Midwives
Sharing a World Day of Prayer Story: Leonora Obara, Cofounder, Kijiji Cha Upendo On February 6, a group of sixteen women gathered to hear Leonora Obara describe the Kijiji Cha Upendo project, which received support from a World Day of Prayer grant. “Kijiji Cha Upendo” means “Village of Love” in Swahili. As Leonora put it,… Read more »
A Port in the Storm
In order to be easily recognized in a busy Toronto coffee shop, Reverend Judith Alltree is wearing her clerical collar. It is not something she wears when she is on a ship because it can be a barrier between her and non-Christian seamen or Christians whose tradition does not include female clergy and inhibits her… Read more »
Sanctuary for the Stranger, Renewed Life for the Church
A voice says, “Please help me.” You could say No. I am too busy. I am too tired. It is too late. There are other places to go. I do not know what to do. You used to know before you learned how the system can file people away… forever. You know you are, here… Read more »
Book Review: Ascent of Women
Sally Armstrong Vintage Canada Edition 2014 Division of Random House 255 pages By the cover, with the photos of three strong and articulate women: Malala Yousafzai, Hillary Clinton and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, you assume this was a feel-good book about the progress of women around the world. But turn to the first page which is… Read more »
Bible Study: Faith & Family
Bible Study – Eunice Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:2-7 You have all seen this elderly couple. The man standing proud and tall with his pitchfork in his hand, the woman standing beside him, hair pulled severely back in a bun, wearing her apron. For years they graced the box of Kellogg’s corn flakes. I can picture… Read more »
Book Review: The Right to Be Cold
The Right to be Cold: One Woman’s Story of Protecting her Culture, the Arctic and the Whole Planet Sheila Watt-Cloutier Hardcover, 326 pages Allen Lane, an imprint of Penguin Canada, 2015 Inuktitut (English) quimutiik (dog sled) qajaqs (kayaks) silatuniq (wisdom) anaanatsiaq (grandmother) saimuuq (handshake) Kuujjuaq (Great River) qimutsiit (dog team) Qaniujaaqpait (system for writing Inuktitut syllabics) qallunaat (plural term for White people) amautiit (baby carrier for… Read more »