Candle Burning
By Michael Wilson Pastoral Letters January 10, 2025

Watch this week’s service on YouTube by clicking:

January 12 Worship Service Video

 

 

Join us for Worship Sunday at 10:00 AM followed by fellowship and refreshments in the He/SheBrews Café

 

  • WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2025 is a week-long series of worship events beginning and ending with city wide services (https://www.weekofprayer.ca/). Charleswood United Church is going to host the West Winnipeg gathering on Wednesday, January 22 at 7:30 PM. Please join us for this mid-week worship celebrating the unity we have in Christ with Christians of all denominations.

 

  • LET’S TALK 2025 – MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS – Dementia Care -Last year we held our first mental health awareness evening to coincide with the Bell Let’s Talk Initiative. We are returning this year with a new topic and a guest resource person. On Tuesday, January 28  at 7:00 PM we will welcome Jennifer Licardo, Education Manager of the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba. Jennifer’s presentation is going to be on the topic We all have a reason to care.

 

 

Dear Friends

Welcome to worship for Sunday, January 12, 2025.

 

First they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me

 

This famous quotation by German pastor Martin Niemoller has been used and can be found in many places including the wall of the Western Canada Holocaust Education Centre here in Winnipeg. Niemoller spent most of World War 2 in a German prison for his opposition to the Nazis but the quotation comes from the speeches he gave following the war when he also needed to confess his complicity in supporting nationalism as it rose in his home country. It is exceedingly eloquent and speaks for itself.

Voicing opposition to Anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred has become a critical strategy of the Jewish community in Winnipeg no matter how small or insignificant the offence may be. But if we are to take the wisdom of Martin Niemoller to heart, then it is not enough to only have the targets of hatred express their concern. It is something incumbent upon every one who longs for a community where all are welcome and all feel safe.

Which brings us to Charleswood.

Over New Year’s there was an incident of Anti-Semitism and vandalism at the Westdale Community Centre, a place of gathering in our church’s neighbourhood. Five swastikas were spray painted on the walls. A statement of condemnation was immediately issued by the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. Similar statements followed by the leaders of Westdale CC, our city counsellor, and even the Premier. Charleswood United Church must add its voice and not let this act of hatred pass by unaddressed or worse, dismissed as frivolous and without meaning.

All acts of hatred are anathema to the essence of Christian witness and our core mission to ‘love our neighbours’ whoever they may be. We are as opposed to this cowardly act against our Jewish sisters and brothers, as much as we condemn similar acts targeting Muslims (Islamophobia), people of colour (Racism), the LBGTQ+ community (Homophobia and Transphobia) or any other group who are on the receiving end of language or actions meant to demean and diminish their place in society. God is Love, the love that is not equal but exceeds our understanding of our neighbour’s inherent value.

I am aware of the same paradox that you will be considering. No vandal who spray painted the symbol of Nazism is going to read an email from the minister of Charleswood United Church. Furthermore no one in our church community needs to be reminded of this. But I still feel it is important to say something in a more public way, ways that be shared, ways that eliminate any doubt that the hatred we see around us should go unchallenged.

To speak for the other, whoever the other may be, is one of the greatest blessings from the One who grants us voice.

 

Grace and peace,

Michael

 

 

 

  • For news and events please have a look at Life & Work on our website: Life and Work

 

  • Did you know you can support this ministry by e-transfer, automatic withdrawal (PAR), and gifted securities, in addition to weekly or monthly cheques? For Offering Information please visit: https://charleswoodunited.org/support/  We have begun to receive donations for this summer’s Roofing Project which will be held separate from Operations and Mission & Service. Thank you for your generous support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Wilson / About Author
Michael’s involvement in the wider church has included ministry with children and youth, membership on the National Division of World Outreach, supervision of campus ministry, and the Ten Days for Global Justice National Committee. He has been blessed by the opportunity to represent the United Church of Canada in the Bahamas, Cuba, and Africa on different occasions. Michael has taught at the University of Winnipeg – Faculty of Theology and is past President of the Conference of Manitoba and North Western Ontario.
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