This morning our worship service celebrated the United for Peace Campaign of the United Church of Canada. I always feel more engaged in these international programs when there is an opportunity for a face to face encounter with key players.
That happened already not long ago when we heard about Susan’s time of accompaniment in Palestine and Israel at an Emmanuel Cafe evening. The ecumenical accompaniers had some fascinating insight into life on the other side of the Wall in the West Bank.
This morning we were able to hear from Lilia Solano and her perspectives on Canada’s relationship with Columbia. Lilia has serious misgivings about our government’s mantra that Canada’s free trade agreement will be beneficial to her people. she challenged us over these last couple fo weeks to consider the consequences of the business choices we make in our country. Lilia encouraged us to embrace and express the voice of the Church. A letter from a church in Canada can make a huge difference to a Colombian village facing exploitation or violence.
Our connection to United for Peace has one further dimension. We remembered in prayer two young people form our congregation who are travelling to Palestine. Meghan and Jesse are being commissioned in a Toronto church today and will soon be immersed in communities a world away from our experience. Our prayers accompany them and we eagerly await their return and their learnings and challenge to us.
Our engagement with the church around the world deeply enriches our community’s journey of faith. Being involved with such genuinely caring people, how can we be other than grateful.
Peter
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