Isn't there a french wondercafe as well?

Wondercafe is primarily for those in Canada-that's the target audience as it is hoped to increase numbers attending the United Church of canada.

Now we have welcomed and appreciate Pilgrim from Australia and Jon (and others) from the USA so Yasu you are welcome here. Come join some threads.

And for the record when the UCC goes overseas it always works through local churches and organizationa.

Welcome yasu - I hope you will post in some of the threads here so we may understand more from your perspective of growing up in Japan and now living in North America.   The internet, as you point out, has no nationality.

I'm curious ...  how did you find out about wondercafe? 

 Dear Tabitha and carolla,

Wow! I didn't expect to have response this early! Thank you for reading.

I've been learning at a United Church theological school in Canada for more than 4 years. So I do understand the United Church has been doing wonderful overseas ministries including in my beloved home state, Hokkaido

But I didn't know there is a French version! It's so nice

I'll read some of the interesting threads later. Thank you so very much, Tabitha and carolla!

Have a happy Easter!

 As a seminary student in the UCC, I've checked the UCC movements occasionally. I got a chance to know WonderCafe about 2 years ago and created account, though I hadn't used almost at all until now...  

Welcome Yasu. It is nice to "meet" you.

Hi yasu. I am glad you are with us. Post often.

If its role is to recruit people into the United Church of Canada, it's doing a plumb poor job of it says this Baptist. While my posting here at the Cafe has led me to respect the UCC more, I'm hardly signing up in its membership ranks.

Jon is from the US? I thought jon was a United Church minister...?

Really? If so, that must be a modern modality. One of my relatives was a United Church missionary in Korea, and she was working for the United Church of Canada.

Awww.

Yes, Wondercafe is meant most especially for we Canadians, and what of it. Surely we Canadians can have a place to call our own. There is certainly a place for ministries aimed at particular parts of the world, and Canada no less than your own home country.

I welcome you to Wondercafe, Yasu, and look forward to your posts.

Greetings!

Nice to see you topic starting and posting here, Yasu.

I really don't know why it states "Canadians" - perhaps because the UCC is only in Canada, that it says that.

Looking forward to getting to know you better,

Hope, peace, joy, love . . .

Jae . . . pehaps you are thinking of Rev. John who is the UCC minister . . . not Jon, from USofA.

Welcome to wondercafe Yasu! I'm glad you you have joined us here. And I certainly hope that once you hang out a bit that you won't feel awkward here at all!

I wonder if it has been a surprise at all for those who envisioned and created wondercafe to have the number of non-Canadians and non-United Church folks over the past 3+ years here at wondercafe.  I'm glad this site has attracted people beyond the UCC and beyond Canada!

Thank you all for the warm welcoming. 

What I actually had in my mind was Non-Canadians in Canada and in the United Church of Canada not in other countries. There are many Non-Canadians in ethnic minority churches like Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, Italian, Filipino, Japanese United Church. Many of them are not Canadians but understand English, and I'm sure there are people who see WonderCafe like myself. Considering this fact, it could become more inclusive if it used "God's people."

WonderCafe rocks. How come I hadn't used it after creating an account long ago! 

Have a blessed Easter all!

Well, for one, I'm not one of "God's people".  No more than I'm one of "Allah's people" or one of "Thor's people".  I'm just one of many "people".  I dismiss all of the above gods as myths.  Interesting myths, but not the kind I could bring myself to believe in without at least a little evidence.

So, while I see your point that some might feel excluded by the reference to "Canadians", any attempt to tie the site with God will alienate a number of people who do not believe in God.

What is wrong with "all people"?

I didn't mean to exclude people like you. Sorry for making confusion by my not-very-well writings. God's people in the UCC is generally (dangerous word though) used in a broader sense such as all the people God loves, which eventually includes all people.

But I see your point. I would use simply "people" rather than "all people" because it doesn't actually mean all people in the world in the page. No need to put and emphasize "all" as it doesn't say "all Canadians."

By the way, you are very good at both grabbing other people's points and making your own points clear. I imagine you have highly intelligent mind... Glad to see you here.

Jae - not to derail the thread but to answer your post.  I don't think it is the intention of the UCC to recruit you from your Baptist church that is meeting your needs.  It is to reach out to all those people who feel disinfranchized from any church, as well as giving us all a place for lively discussion.

Yasu,

Welcome to the Family - we put the FUN in dysfunctional!

As a Canadian I can say that all are welcome to be Canadians.  You do not have to be, or live here, to be one.

A fondness for beer or coffee does help though.....

LB - Undercover Classified Canadian (UCC)  Recruiter

I am so excited about Canadians ruling the world.
John Diefenbaker

It's main focus is not to serve all of God's people. It's main focus is to serve Canadians, and there's nothing wrong with that. Others are more than welcome to join this community. The other reason why saying "God's people" would be problematic is that not everyone here is one of God's people. There are some here who are atheist and agnostic.

This is true, Yasu. As said at the Vancouver Olympics, "If you're good at something, we will recruit you."

I imagine at the onset of wondercafe the intent was to have a spot where those who aren't attending cvhurch in Canada could go and discuss.

Mostly I woudldsay we are UCC members. a few atheists, a few of other denominations, a few who no longer go but once did.

A few from other countries but not many.  I think it is only advertised in Canada so others find us by chance.  I think.

Regradless of your background, by living here you are part of the big mass of canada

Welcome Yasu! I'm surprised that even as a candidate for ministry in the United Church of Canada you don't consider yourself Canadian. I'm an immigrant too, and have my own background I celebrate, but I now consider myself Canadian. It isn't a surprise to me that WonderCafe, created by the United Church of Canada, is aimmed at Canadians - but I think if we're in this country, reading this site, involved in its institutions shouldn't we be considered Canadian?

 Welcome Yasu!

Sorry that the wording seems a little exclusive, but the community definitely is not.

 Also - 'God's people' doesn't necessarily mean people who believe in God.  In fact I've rarely seen it used that way.  Usually it means all the people God created and loves, whether they believe He is there or not.

Amen. ShamanWolf.

To that extent, you're one of Xenu's people.  Whether you believe you're composed of body thetans or not, you're the result of Xenu's attempt to destroy trillions of people in earth's volcanoes due to overpopulation concerns on 76 other planets, 75 million years ago.

There are lots of different creation myths, all equally plausible, and choosing just one seems pretty arbitrary.  We are as much "Xenu's people" as we are "God's people", so I suggest we're just "people" until one of these competing hypotheses comes up with some more compelling reasons to buy in.

I've never felt like anyone here was trying to recruit me into the UCC.

For at least a couple of weeks each year I'm a UCC adherent anyway. In the summer months I vacation in northern New Brunswick, and while there attend the churches of New Mills Pastoral Charge.

That may be true, however not everyone believes in Creation, and not everyone believes that God loves everyone. The term thus remains somewhat problematic.

Hi Yasu -- great to "meet" you.  So glad you decided to jump in. 

As for the whole "Canadian" thing -- I think that the introductory wording could use a little tweaking.  I believe we suffer a bit from being too "Canadian", and I would certainly like to see more people from outside Canada and from other cultures and religions posting here.  

Looking forward to your contributions.

Hi Yasu, and welcome to this wonderful group of people.  I hope you'll enjoy it here as much as I do.  I would agree that the intro page could use a bit of editing, but I hope it doesn't prevent you from jumping in and joining us!  Peace, RB

Yasu wrote:

LBmuskota and jae are wonderful "recruiters"!! Now I've decided to become Canadi.... Nooooooo! I think I am a guy with full of Japanese spirits who lives in a magnificent country called Canada with beautiful people. I'm planning to become an immigrant though.

LOL. I LOVE that description. I am quite sure I would do similar if I moved to another country. I would always be a Canadian who is living in another country.....even if I took that country's citizenship.

Welcome Yasu ....  looking forward to your posts!

I believe you are our first Japanese member.

"too 'Canadian'"? Such a thing can not be possible!

Jae, I agree.

No one can be too Canadian!!!

 I agree with Yasu ... and with Chansen ... it should just be all people.  I think that one important message of Christ was that divisions should be broken down and a new unity among all people be sought through love and inclusion.  Welcoming all people is a simple way.  We do, in fact, welcome all people.  Why not say so.  By doing this we exclude no one and we remove the cause for anyone to exclude themselves as subjects of our love and esteem by asserting they are not "God's people".  I am reminded of the ending of Some Like It Hot (Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon) where Jack Lemmon points out to the amourous millionaire (Joe E. Brown) "But I'm not a woman ... I'm a man" and Joe E. Brown answers happily ... "that's okay".

Chansen says, "But I'm not one of God's people" and we say "that's okay". 

Ummm...thanks?

jae and pommum: LOL!! I LOVE your Canadian spirits here!!

ShamanWolf, qwerty and chansen: I guess we all are just trying to use inclusive language as much as possible. You are my inspiration. I really appreciate your inclusive spirits and thoughtful comments! 

Not good enough.  Please sing "Wind Beneath My Wings" and post it on YouTube for me.

With your Japanese Geisha dance behind me? 

I don't think my hair could ever do that.  Nor could the rest of me.

 Hahaha! Neither could mine!

Hi Yasu

I am a German immigrant- I have never noticed this text on wondercafe before. You are right it should be altered.

I am a bit confused by your profile- you say you came to Canada in 2005 and plan to become an immigrant-what and where are you right now?

Welcome to Wondercafe, Yasu.

I joined a couple of months ago, and find it to be a very warm and welcoming place for serious discussion or for having some fun.

Interesting that you are a seminary student - you must be very busy.

Nice to find another person from different countries. Thank you for the comment. 

Now my status is student. I've been studying for more than 4 years while serving a Japanese church. I haven't applied PR status,  but my fiance is a Japanese immigrant. So after we get married, I will be an immigrant too.

Thank you for the comment. I feel the same way. People here are just fabulous.

I'm occupied by my study and work, but sometimes I escape and wondercafenate myself. 

Mrs. anteater ... I'm guessing Yasu might be referring to the official designation of "landed immigrant" status - a change from "student" 

That's what I wanted to say! Thank you carolla for your help!

You'd better check into that again. I'm not so sure that it's that automatic. As an immigrant herself can your wife sponsor you.

Hello Yasu and welcome to WonderCafe.

I'm guessing that since WonderCafe is aimed at "Canadians" and you are not, by definition, a "Canadian" you think that WonderCafe intends to be exclusive.

Is that what is making you feel awkward?

Well, I think that your belief is honourable.  I don't think that your belief gets to dictate to The United Church of Canada and to the Emerging Spirit Campaign (which initially launched WonderCafe) who its primary target should be.

The Emerging Spirit campaign was, in essence, an attempt to get The United Church of Canada noticed by Canadians who do not, as a rule, attend and who are, for the most part, ignorant or apathetic about who it is that we are and what it is that we believe.  Many, who do not have a very deep understanding of Christianity in general or the United Church in particular think that we can be painted with the same brush that is used to paint the religious extremes.

Since it takes place on the internet it does automatically become universal rather than local.  At the same time it is exceedingly difficult to find congregations attached to The United Church of Canada outside of Canada's geographic bounds.  Bermuda is the only exception.

Now, if dialogue here leads an American to The United Church of Christ we will not be hurt.  We wouldn't even be hurt if discussion here lead an Australian to the Uniting Church. We might get perturbed if it lead anyone to Benny Hinn or the reverend Fred Phelps.

Actually, to be honest.  I think that it was intended for Canadians and Anglo-phone Canadians at that.  There is a Franco-phone site CafeChange.ca

If we manage to hit folk that we are not aiming at we are okay with that.  Realistically, you are right we are not going to be looking at residential status with the idea of turning non-canadians away.  In fact, I think that on the user profile page WonderCafe offers users the option of identifying their nationality.

I think that WonderCafe is part of The United Church of Canada's web presence and that like many gatherings of The United Church of Canada we are initially welcoming.  How one comports themselves once they get in the door tells another tale.

Grace and peace to you.

John

I understand that I have to apply if I want to get such status in Canada. So it's definatelly not automatic. Thank you for your note.

By the way, I'm in Japan now and don't connect internet as often as in Canada. I am sorry for this late reply. I'm going back to Canada on May 6th.

Thank you for your warm welcoming words. I'm enjoying the Cafe so much.

What I thought was that wording could be altered. If it's "Canadian", then I wonder about non-Canadian people. I don't think the Cafe intends to be exclusive.

I hope I'm answering your question all right. Thank you very much for telling me about interesting things. I assume you are a minister. Sharing your deep and wide knowledge is so helpful for a person like me.