To: Commissioners of the 40th General Council
Dear friends in Christ,
Celebratory 85th anniversary greetings are pouring in this week. I type this from the General Synod of The Anglican Church of Canada where they have just prayed for The United Church of Canada on our anniversary. We bring Christian hope to one another.
Following is another of the hope-filled messages I've received, including an invitation to consider an expression of care for God's world.
"How's this for a way to celebrate our church's 85th anniversary?" - wrote Rev. Doug Moore from Laidlaw United in Hamilton, ON, going on to say, "The Solar installation came on line today--the meter is telling us we've saved about 20 pounds of carbon today, and the panels only came online late this afternoon. Please help our whole church celebrate a piece of our future together living with respect in God's creation--I think we need to modify that creed--living with respect as God's creation! My older son, Nicholas' classmate (a newly minted engineer, and not a person inclined toward religion) upon touring the installation, I think put it best. He told us "You guys are really walking the walk, not just talking the talk." Happy Anniversary!"
Yesterday I wrote to all Senators, to the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Environment and to Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate.
I wrote with the encouragement of Senator Grant Mitchell of Alberta . He and Senator Elaine McCoy (also an Albertan) have sponsored critically important legislation that is now before the Senate - and they need help to encourage a majority of Senators from across the political spectrum to support the Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311).
I asked Senator Mitchell if he would find a letter of support from me to Senators helpful.
"That would be enormously helpful" he said, and was amazed and grateful that I might also encourage United Church members to write to the Senators from their province. He went on to say "You've given me hope" and I told him "Well, you've given me hope."
If you are called to find out more about this bill, what I've said to Senators, and how to contact Senators from your province, please follow this link to my blog for more information: http://www.wondercafe.ca/blogs/moderator-mardi-tindal/moderator-mardi-ti...
And please feel free to share this link with your network. Senator Mitchell and I are hoping that we can 'go viral' with this effort for the sake of God's mending of soul, community and creation. One of many wonderful ways to celebrate a church anniversary!
Pentecost blessings to you all,
Moderator,
Mardi Tindal,
The United Church of Canada ,
3250 Bloor Street West