A TIME FOR PAKISTAN

Every day we open the page of the morning news to find new disasters that rip our core of care into action. Haiti was only yesterday now we learn of the torrential rain of Pakistan.

Flooding is present in over one fifth of the country, causing contamination, illness and homelessness. The cries of the people are being heard around the world.

Now is the time to act and respond.

The Prayer Vigil at Metropolitan United Church IS POSTPONED

for Thursday August 26, 8 pm .

Hosted by Metropolitan United Church and Facilitated by the Toronto Area Interfaith Council

United Church Launches an Emergency Appeal for Pakistan

Pakistan continues to struggle in response to massive flooding, which has affected an estimated 20 million people. Continuing monsoon rains have washed away roads and bridges and are hampering relief efforts. The rains also sometimes make it impossible for relief and rescue helicopters to reach stranded communities.

The United Church of Canada, together with other members of the global ACT Alliance, is continuing to monitor and respond to the crisis. As a result of donations made by its members, the United Church sent $25,000 to ACT immediately following initial news of the crisis, and has now sent an additional $40,000 also to be used for ACT’s work on the ground.

ACT members in Pakistan are working diligently to deliver assistance including food, water, tents, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, and emergency medical care.

The United Church has also contributed $75,000 through its membership in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB). The funds will be used for a multi–CFGB member supported project that will provide food kits containing rice, lentils, flour, oil, sugar, salt, tea, and spices.

The United Church will receive donations to its Emergency Response Fund and channel these through the ACT Alliance to provide a coordinated response with other church organizations.

How United Church members can help:

Pray: Hold the people of Pakistan and their families around the world in prayer.

Donate: Designate a gift for “Pakistan Flood Relief.” As part of the United Church's Emergency Response Fund, 85 percent of your donation will go directly to emergency response in Pakistan. Fifteen percent will be used to support emergencies that do not receive intense media coverage and response. No administration fees will be deducted from your donation. Regular donations to the Mission and Service Fund enable the United Church to absorb staffing and administration costs of emergency response work.

Individuals are invited to contribute to the United Church’s Pakistan appeal either through their local congregation or directly to The United Church of Canada’s national office: 3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4.

Online donations can be made at www.united-church.ca/pakistan.

Cheques and online donations should be made payable to The United Church of Canada and marked “Pakistan Flood Relief.”

Donations made by United Church members and congregations to the Pakistan appeal are considered “over and above” gifts to the United Church’s wider work, and so they are not recorded as part of a congregation’s Mission and Service Fund giving. But they are eligible for tax receipts. Congregational treasurers may receive and receipt individual cheques and then forward one congregational cheque to the United Church, attention “Pakistan Flood Relief.”

Additional background material related to the United Church’s Pakistan appeal has been posted on The United Church of Canada’s website (www.united-church.ca/pakistan). Please watch for updates as new information becomes available.

For more information, contact:

Gary Kenny
Program Coordinator, Emergency Response
The United Church of Canada
Tel: 416-231-7680 ext. 4051
Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781 ext. 4051
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This is the season where have the opportunity to take a time out.

This is the season where we have the opportunity to become tourists in our own city and take a moment turn a corner and find the wonderlust ready to meet us. It was the month of July where we took the time out to explore the Royal Ontario Museum, specifically the Terra Cotta Army Exhibit. www.rom.on.ca/terracottaarmy/en/exhibition/

In 1974, farmers in northern China accidentally unearthed fragments of a terracotta figure - the first evidence of what would turn out to be one of the greatest archaeological finds in history. The terracotta army pits of the Warrior Emperor Ying Zheng.
Powerful and ambitious, Ying Zheng was the first Emperor of China, coming to power initially as the King of Qin at the age of 13. During his reign he built an empire which at its height rivalled that of Rome's, and would prove to be more enduring.
Buried 2,200 years ago in what is now China's northern Shaanxi province, the First Emperor surrounded himself with nearly 8,000 full sized terracotta warriors and horses in magnificent military formations, along with many other artifacts, in preparation for the afterlife. The warriors are often referenced as the eighth wonder of the world and in 1987 the site was added to the official list of World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

This is the season to open the door and find the mystery inside. Stepping back into the annals of Chinese history reminded me that there is a fascination for many with the buried past and the countless thousands of artifacts and relics of the work. These remnants of yesteryear speak the time before in the age that is now.
In the context of the terracotta warriors we ask the question “why?” Why would an emperor decree that 8,200 life size statues be buried him for the next life.
The monumental task stands counterpoint to the daily grind that we all face.
It is as infinitesimal as a grain of sand on the seashore. I am reminded that we are not the final step in our own winding road rather we are the summation of all who have gone before us. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors.

This is the season to step outside the grindstone and rediscover ourselves as the grain of sand on great shore.
It was over two millennia ago that young man from the House of David decreed
“The first shall be last and the last shall be first” and “Where your treasure is there your heart will be also”
The treasure of the Warrior Emperor Ying Zheng was buried for centuries and stands the test of time. The creation of this Terra Cotta Army is a living epitaph to an ancient and modern civilization. This is the truth for him that meets the truth for us.
The Emperor is dust, his memory lives on and we here the wisdom the years. Greatness is not measure by the breadth of our deeds but the action of our hearts.

This is the season to step outside and take a look inside and see the grain of sand
Forming the shoreline of sea.

The G20 is almost packed up and put away for another country and another discussion.

Many ask what was accomplished. I have spoken with dozens of police officers who speak of aftermath. People on the sidelines speak of devastation.

What have we learned?

This week is Pride week a complete paradox of the G20.

Pride speaks of rainbows and welcome with this year’s theme being “YOU BELONG”. Pride speaks to the welcome and embrace of all people regardless of orientation. Saying yes to the LGBTQ community embrace all people in this City of Toronto. Pride pushes back at the phobias of our world that lead to the “isms” of separation. Pride speaks of building bridges and opening doors.

The herald of Pride speaks the message of prepare and make ready for all world and society that welcomes all people.

The paradox of pride in contrast to the G20 is that the organizers postponed Pride by one week to make room for the G20. Perhaps Pride week, Pride day and Pride moments could have been a living testimony to what society could stand for instead and leading to confrontation but rather extending the hand of invitation and welcome.

This year the United Church builds a Pride Float with theme “THE VILLAGE CHURCH –YOU BELONG”.

As the United holds space in the Pride Parade there is a door being held open saying “Come on you are welcome to the village Church where you belong”

CYCLING- FREEDOM 47

It is said that the wheel of life invites us to participate in the season of beginning and ending and with each turn we discover and new facet of ourselves. The wheel was invented centuries ago and with its advent came a revolution in transportation.y

The first evidence of wheeled vehicles appears from the mid 4th millenium BCE, near-simultaneously in Mesopotamia, the Northern Caucasus (Maykop Culture) and Central Europe, and so the question of which culture originally invented the wheeled vehicle remains unresolved and under debate. The wheel has provided mechanism for transportation and has evolved from wagon, chariot, bicycle and automobile. Each transition witnessed a paradigm shift about time and perspective and destination. We seek to travel from one destination to the next. Previously we attempted journeys on foot or on water. The water increased the speed and length that a distance could be attained.

Each age witnessed fresh inventions to extend the boundaries of transportation. Recently there has been rediscovery of the bicycle in our North American landscape as a preferred mode of transportation. The bicycle is not only for children and youth but also adults. The purpose is to decrease the carbon footprint and to get outside and rev up the cardio muscle to provide the necessary mechanism for the deficit in physical fitness. I have promised myself for the past few years to take the plunge and ride my bicycle for more than leisure. I have witnessed countless hundreds taking to the road. One particular friend stood apart as a model for fitness that set high the benchmark taking the challenge to lead by example and ride the wheels in rain, sun and sleet.

For me the stumbling block had been what to wear when it rains. Simply put the staggering price of a Gortex riding shell seemed a bit off putting. So off to Eddy Bauer another store of sport and fitness to find the water proof riding shell at a modest price and made the purchase. Now I was set. The next step included reducing from two cars to one. We live in Cabbagetown 10 mins from the gymn and 10 minutes from Metropolitan United Church. It seemed absurd to take a vehicle. Now the excuses were reduced once more.

I took the plunge riding the roads of the downtown have been exhilarating and filled with adventure. There is something unique about reading the contours of the road from the perspective of a cyclist it is quite unique. There is anticipation at every turn. No longer are we covered with the metal shield exterior of the motor vehicle. There is the invitation to step outside into the world of the vagabond and freedom 47. Yes I will be 47 years of Age on August 7. For some that is vastly young while countless others it is older.

To turn 47 is a delight. There is a great freedom in riding a bicycle in this decade perhaps it is my version of midlife challenge. Well let it be so, it is certainly more affordable than a sports car and it is my taking a responsible role in reducing the carbon footprint and gripping the handles (not love handles) of cardio fitness.

I have noticed that I am more aware of pedestrians and construction can be a monumental obstacle. The point of navigating and taking road bearings as to uphill, downhill or broken way is so keen and important.

The ride on the wheels provides time for reflection there is no radio and even hands free mobile phones present a challenge.  The call is simply my life, and listen to the call of the road and the wind in my face.

I think of the words that came so long ago when I heard the call to faith

Luke 9:57

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

The call of cycling is a reawakening for me and many others. The bicycle takes us out of the metal shell and onto the streets to rediscover another facet of our urban neighbour. That is for me as I turn 47 years of age this year FREEDOM 47.