The 2011 election will have an enormous impact on our lives. Now more than ever, all faith voices need to be heard in the political process. To help you consider important issues and get involved in this process of decision-making, the United Church has created the 2011 Federal Election Kit.

http://www.united-church.ca/getinvolved/takeaction/election

We say our God is a just God.

But we also see it written that "The sins of the father shall be visited upon the sons".  The questions then arises "How is it just that the sons should be punished for the misdeeds of their fathers?"  The innocent newborn sons did not sin yet they are burdened with the suffering.

News news!  JGER has unveiled its swanky new facebook page - United Action for Justice.  I highly recommend checking it regularly for dialogue and news on international and justice subjects, all hot off the desks of the United Church.

Last evening I returned from a week-long visit with our partners in the Philippines, a nation of 7,100 islands—7,101 at low tide. United Nations Human Rights Day, December 10, is already dawning there. 

"I'll believe it when I see it."

I've heard that worldly scepticism many times when cynics are told about good works, about a growing spirit of hope and things getting better.  And in today's doom and gloom times, near apocalyptic warnings are so common you can't keep track of them all.

This past Monday, I had my first day at UCC Head Office.  I was offered a job in the JGER - Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations - unit.  My head is still spinning, but I know I can say something I've never said before:  I love my job.

I was thrown into things straight off the starting block - conference calls, staff meetings, M&S awareness week, etc.  I don't think I've had much time to process everything yet!  But I have learned a handful of things.  Here they are:

I was reminded of this song, after our congregational meeting on Sunday, so I thought I would share it with you....

Barriers are obstacles — things that get in the way of people with disabilities and others doing many of the day-to-day activities that most of us take for granted.

Barriers make going to Church impossible, or difficult, or they make it difficult or impossible for people to benefit in the same way that other people benefit from going church.