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From the Pen Of
By Michael Wilson Pastoral Letters September 11, 2026

Watch this week’s service on YouTube by clicking:

September 13 Worship Service Video

 

Join us for Sunday morning worship at CUC at 10:00 AM with the He/SheBrews Café following in the Van Roon Community Hall

 

 

  • A search for a new Children’s Ministry Leader is underway. Unfortunately during that time we are unable to provide a church school program. Games and crafts are available for children at the back of the sanctuary and in the nursery. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Children are always welcome at Charleswood United Church.

 

  • The Charleswood United Church – Shaarey Zedek Synagogue Exchange and Dialogue – We have been planning for a very special and unique event this fall. On Friday, October 16, a delegation of 25 members of CUC will visit Shaarey Zedek Synagogue (at the corner of Academy Rd. and Wellington Cres.) for their Friday evening worship, a shabbat dinner (sponsored by the Asper Foundation), and a program of conversation. Then, on Sunday, November 15, the same 25 people will receive 25 members of Shaarey Zedek Synagogue at CUC for breakfast, our Sunday worship service, followed by further discussion on our respective traditions. Registration is required and is presently limited to twenty-five participants from each congregation. If you are interested please contact the church office (204-832-3667 or office@charleswoodunited.org ). For further information please speak to Michael Wilson.

 

 

Dear Friends

Welcome to worship for Sunday, September 13, 2026.

 

Scott Galloway is an NYU Business professor, a bestselling writer, a podcaster, and a keen analyst of economics. He is also an American expert who loudly defends the mutually beneficial trading relationship that Canada and the United States have shared for the last 60 years. He routinely calls Canada the US’s best friend and a trade war insane. While admiring of Canada his arguments tend to be mathematical. Among the things he said in a recent interview was that this trading relationship is so integrated it cannot be disentangled. For example auto parts travel across the border 8 times before final assembly. That Canada exports $120 billion of energy into the US each year. And that low margin imports from Canada result in high margin exports such that shareholder value increase 18 times in a partnership that benefits the United States more than it does Canada.

 

Well, I can’t say that I understand the intricacies of economic analysis. But I do believe that the math is real. And that whatever politicians and media and commentators may say, at the end of the day the math will prove itself to be real. The question is, how much damage will be done by then? And how many people will suffer unnecessarily before the inevitable happens? These are not political or economic questions. These are moral questions and perhaps they need more attention.

 

Jason Kenney and Rachel Notley are more well known names. They have each been Premier of Alberta in the last ten years. They come from opposite sides of the political spectrum but made the news this summer for teaming up. They have united in common cause both to encourage Albertans to show up at the polls in October for the referendum on separation and are co-leading that campaign. Within their numerous compelling arguments is a lot of math. Kenney in particular is making the case about the cost of separation to Alberta in debt, investment, lost revenue, and even population. Their hope is that the numbers make a convincing argument and a winning strategy. I share that hope with all my heart. But theirs’ is also a moral question and one hopes morality will be part of the consideration of Albertans this fall.

 

Moral questions are by nature about what is right and what is wrong. They are best answered, not by appeal to eternal values or universal standards, but by the effect issues have on other people. Do decisions hurt or help? Can benefit be broadened or narrowed? Will consequences be love or hate? In the spirit of moral philosopher A.R.C. Duncan since we share the places where we live, how can our life together benefit the greatest number of people. That’s the moral challenge.

 

Christianity is not the only moral way to look at the world and it cannot be for Christians to impose our understanding of morality on others. But that doesn’t mean people of faith can not or should not participate in conversations about the moral questions of our time. The bible is full of moral instruction and perhaps we need to speak more openly about the morality of the world in which we live, the world we share. In so doing we should look less to questions of individual piety as has often been part of our tradition, and more to the epic stories of how our life together can contribute to a greater knowledge and understanding of moral order.

 

When God appears to Moses on Sinai from a burning bush, God essentially announces the economics of enslavement are over. Egypt needs to hear that where they once lived morally with Israel in the days of Joseph, those days are gone and the immoral ones must end. “Let my people go” was never a cry for separation, it was a judgement against two nations who once live side by side in harmony. The domination of one over the other could not be allowed to continue.

 

The moral understanding of Jesus is most clearly revealed in the greatest commandment, especially the second half. “Love your neighbour as yourself” should be read with the broadest of understanding. After all, Jesus himself said when asked about favoring a small group of people, ‘who is not my brother, who is not my sister’. Love only expands, only includes, only adds, only broadens, only increases the capacity of our hearts.

 

I am grateful in the present moment for people like Scott Galloway, Jason Kenney, and Rachel Notley, among others. People who are publicly announcing the reality of mathematics and thus forcing the rest of us to ask the moral question. We cannot respond to immorality by being immoral. We need to counter the morality of those who would reduce, limit, and restrict the benefits of living in a society to a few with a morality that looks to the greater good and the broadest benefit.

 

The love of neighbour is a moral code and will triumph if enough people believe in it.

 

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/   Thank you for your generous support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Wilson
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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