Jesus said, “Work first for the reign of God and of God’s justice.”
Interested in opportunities to learn, to grow, to participate and serve.
News for February 2022
- Social Justice Vestry Motion: The Social Justice Vestry Motion for 2022 focusses on justice for precarious and low-wage workers – those workers who have been called “essential” but who have borne some of the greatest burdens of the pandemic. The motion has been approved by the College of Bishops and is now posted on the Vestry Motion page of the Diocesan website. We have also posted additional resources supporting the motion – including a video from members of our Social Justice & Advocacy and Poverty Reduction Committees responding to questions about the motion. Parishes are free to amend the wording of the motion if they see fit; please communicate the results of the vote (and any amended wording) to Elin Goulden
- Lent Materials coming soon: The Bishop’s Committee on Creation Care (BCCC) presents “Ecological Grief and Creational Hope: A Lent Curriculum for all Ages,” written by noted Biblical scholar and BCCC co-chair Dr. Sylvia Keesmaat. It will be available by Friday Feb. 4 on the Creation Care page. Each week features a Biblical passage on a particular theme, with prayers, questions for discussion and reflection, activities and action ideas. The curriculum is suitable for use by individuals, families, and parish groups (adult, youth, or children 8 and up).
- “Home Safe” film and discussion, Thurs. Feb. 3 at 6:00 p.m. “Home Safe” (2009) deals with how families with children in the Greater Toronto Area live with the threat and the reality of homelessness. The free event features a screening of sequences from this ground-breaking feature film, and a panel discussion including the film’s director, Laura Sky, as well as anti-poverty activist Rene Adams and street nurse and activist Cathy Crowe, both of whom appear in the film. Register here.
- Reconciliation Walk series resumes Feb 10. The Reconciliation Walk event originally scheduled for Thursday January 13 has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. The series, which is hosted by the deacons of Parkdale-West Toronto Deanery, will resume on Thursday, February 10 at 7:00 p.m. Details and registration links will be shared on Diocesan Bulletin Board, on the Diocesan Events Page, on our Facebook page, and in the February Update.
- Refugee Network Workshop: Saturday, Feb. 12 The Diocesan Refugee Network will be hosting an online workshop on the morning of Sat. February 12, 2022, on the subject of sustaining refugee committee volunteers in the face of compassion fatigue and burnout. Confirmed speakers include Mary Jo Leddy, the Rev. Canon Douglas Graydon, and Suzanne Lawson, ODT. Registration will open January 24, 2022 via the Diocesan Events page.
- Faithful Climate Conversations, Sat. Feb. 5. For the Love of Creation, a national coalition of faith communities (including the Anglican Church of Canada, Citizens for Public Justice, KAIROS, and PWRDF), invites you to join their Faithful Climate Conversation – From Concern to Action on Saturday, Feb. 5 from 1-3 p.m. EST. They are also holding Facilitator trainings on Feb. 12 and 16. To learn more and register, visit their website.
- Refugee Network Workshop: Saturday, Feb. 12. The Diocesan Refugee Network will be hosting an online workshop, “Sustaining Volunteers through Compassion Fatigue and Burnout” on Sat. February 12, 2022 from 10 a.m. to noon. Our panel of speakers include Dr. Mary Jo Leddy, the Rev. Canon Douglas Graydon, and Suzanne Lawson, ODT. Register here. [Please note there will be no Diocesan Refugee Network gathering on Thurs. Feb. 10]
- AURA Looking for New Board Members: The Anglican-United Refugee Alliance (AURA), our ministry partner in refugee sponsorship, is looking for new Board Members. To learn more about this voluntary position and to apply, please visit their website.
- “Broken Hearts Day” – Tues. Feb. 15, 12 noon: The Interfaith Coalition to Fight Homelessness invites faith communities to send delegations to participate in “Broken Hearts Day” on February 15, 2022 at noon in front of Toronto City Hall. “Broken Hearts Day” follows Valentine’s Day and creates a space to mourn the 3.6 homeless deaths a week in this city and the 132 deaths in Toronto’s shelter system in 2021. This action is a follow-up to the ICFH letter signed by over one hundred clergy, faith groups, and community organizations to Mayor Tory and other City officials requesting immediate action to stop the humanitarian disaster that is threatening the lives of those experiencing homelessness in Toronto. (You can view and sign on to the letter here.) Participants are asked to wear a mask, observe physical distancing, and follow the instructions of event marshals.
- Social Justice & Advocacy Consultant On Leave Feb 23-Apr. 3. Please note that I am scheduled for major surgery on February 23, 2022, which will take me off work for nearly 6 weeks. As of this week I have been told to assume it will go ahead as planned. I will therefore not be available from Feb. 23 until my planned return to work on Monday, April 4. Messages sent to egoulden@toronto.anglican.ca (including reports on the Vestry Motion) will be responded to after my return. If you have an urgent social justice-related question during my absence, please contact the Rev. Canon Maggie Helwig, Social Justice & Advocacy Committee Chair, and/or the Rev. Canon Andrea Budgey, Poverty Reduction Committee Chair.
For more information about social justice activities across the diocese, to be added to the distribution list for this newsletter, or to share information on events, please contact me at the email address listed below. If you would like to receive more frequent updates on our activities, consider liking our Facebook page.
In faithful witness,
Elin Goulden
Social Justice and Advocacy Consultant
Social Justice and Advocacy Website: www.toronto.anglican.ca/sjac
Outreach Prayer Cycle for February 2022
Thanks to all who provided updates on their outreach ministries for the 2021-22 Prayer Cycle! If you didn’t make the Nov. 16 deadline, no problem – just send updates to Elin Goulden and the document on the website will be updated ASAP.
February 6, Epiphany 5
Pray for Holy Family, Heart Lake, its partnership with Region of Peel enabling a wider food bank outreach, and its involvement with Habitat for Humanity;
for Holy Trinity, Guildwood, its food pantry, parish nurse ministry, pastoral care to seniors residences and local nursing homes, partnership with high school programs, and work with community partners on social justice issues;
and for Holy Trinity, Thornhill, its support of food banks in Richmond Hill, All Saints Kitchen & Clothing Depot, and Eva’s Place, refugee sponsorship, and its parish nurse ministry.
February 13, Epiphany 6
Pray for Holy Trinity, Trinity Square, its daily meal program, offering food, hygiene and harm reduction supplies, encampment support, shelter and housing advocacy, its Homeless Memorial, refugee sponsorship and advocacy, and its partnership with Toronto Urban Native Ministry and Trinity Square Café;
for the Church of the Incarnation, its support of local food banks, the North Yorkers for Disabled Persons group home, Flemingdon Park Ministry, the Pikangikum First Nation Water Project, Eenochkay Birchstick School Suicide Prevention Programme, Canadian Food for Children, monthly seniors’ lunch, and community garden;
and for the Parish of Lloydtown, its support of the King Township food bank, Christmas in King community initiative, and Schomberg Country Run supporting the Pikangikum water project.
February 20, Epiphany 7
Pray for the Church of the Messiah, its community garden and hosting of the Avenue Road Food Bank;
for the Parish of Minden-Kinmount, its Thrift Shop, and the outreach initiatives it supports;
and for the Mission to Seafarers, and its ministry of pastoral and practical care to seafarers from around the world.
February 27, Last Sunday of Epiphany
Pray for the Church of the Nativity, Malvern, its afterschool, summer camp and youth programs, Seniors’ Community Lunch, and support for the local Indigenous community, Malvern Coalition and TAIBU Community Health Centre;
for the Church of Our Saviour, Don Mills, its partnership with the Common Table community garden, food drives for the Community Share Food Bank, ongoing support of the Flemingdon Park Ministry, Haven Toronto men’s drop-in centre, Sistering women’s shelter, and for Moorelands Kids baby layette program;
and for the Parish of Penetaguishene and Wabaushene, its Deacon’s cupboard and bi-weekly breakfast and lunch programs.