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AN INVITATION FROM EMILY

This summer, I was a commissioner to General Council, the national body of the United Church of Canada. During the week long meeting, many interesting things happened, decisions were made and it was an opportunity to talk to people who are a part of our church from all over the country. Then, on Friday afternoon, the Spirit moved.

Our scriptures describe the movement of the spirit as like the wind – you cannot see it, or hold it, but you can feel its movement. The times when the spirit moves are the times when plans and agendas are disrupted, when new things or important conversations break into what is happening. The Spirit’s movement can be comforting, like a gentle breeze, but more often it challenges us – just like the wind catching fall leaves and blowing them into unexpected places. When the spirit moved at General Council this summer, it moved us all into a conversation about racism in our church, and the larger question of what we are trying to do and accomplish as a welcoming church. Most importantly, we spent a long time listening to voices that we do not always take the time to hear.

I’d like to invite you to listen with me to some of these voices, and then to talk about our experience. We’ll have two opportunities in October to watch and listen to this experience at General Council, and I invite you to consider attending and reflecting together. If you are not able to meet for one of these times, I can also set up another time when several interested people are able to attend, or send you the link to view this online on your own.

Please tell me if you are able to attend one of these times, so that we can book a large enough room, and ensure there are enough refreshments: