Member Church News: In Action and Prayer

Ministry at Emmanuel United Church in Ottawa (Canada) doesn’t just stay inside the church walls — it regularly extends to Africa, Central America, and beyond. “Pilgrimages are really embraced at Emmanuel,” says Jeannie Page, a licensed lay worship leader and Chair of the church’s Global Partners Committee. “The congregation has a long history of being the hands and feet of Christ in the world, by supporting programs and projects both locally and globally.”

Following the ICE raids of immigrants, the pastor of the Reformed Church in America based in New Jersey is offering his church to undocumented immigrants who face possible deportations during U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, as is a United Church of Christ congregation in Buffalo, New York.

AIPRAL, our regional council in Latin America, has shared material for the World Day of Prayer, to take place on 3 March. The theme for this year’s day of prayer is “Am I Being Unfair to You?” and was made by the women of the Philippines.

Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace
The World Council of Churches gives an ecumenical calling to commitment and engagement where peace and justice are threatened or destroyed.

The Joint Committee of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) in Paris, to reflect on 45 years of ecumenical cooperation. The current socio-political climate – marked by instability and a lack of hope – informed many of the discussions. Representatives expressed a diversity of perspectives on the current context, including the future of Europe, social and political challenges, economic uncertainty and the myriad questions associated with widespread migration.