Sunday, May 10th, at 10 a.m.

Mother’s Day/Christian Family Sunday,
Sixth Sunday in Easter

Rev. Sheila Macgregor will be leading our service

Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 3:1-10,
                    Psalm 91,
                    John 13:34-35

Message: “A Time for Everything Under Heaven”

Mary McGoldrick will be our director of music!

All welcome!  We would love to see you!

Sunday, May 24th, at 10 a.m.

Pentecost Sunday

Mary Jane Bisset will be leading our service

Scriptures: Psalm 104: 24 - 34, 35b

                     Acts 2: 1 - 21
                    John 7:37-39

Message: "It's A birthday!"

Mary McGoldrick will be our director of music!

All welcome!  We would love to see you!

People of The United Church of Canada (‘UCC’) Helped End Apartheid in South Africa

The significant participation by UCC people in the Canadian struggle against South Africa apartheid was highlighted in a 2014 Canadian Dimension magazine article. UCC people were part of a “broad-based coalition of NGOs, churches and activist groups from coast to coast.” Many will recall the work in their own congregations in support of these efforts, part of a world-wide campaign to end South African apartheid. 

Because of that work, Canada played an instrumental role in ending Apartheid. Soon after becoming prime minister, Brian Mulroney met with Desmond Tutu, who encouraged strong action. Prime Minister Mulroney persuaded U.S. President Reagan and U.K. Prime Minister Thatcher to join in imposing economic sanctions on South Africa. The sanctions helped bring an end to the apartheid regime in 1990, with free elections following in 1994

We Can Now Help End Another Apartheid – in Palestine/Israel

While the first international anti-apartheid laws were directed at apartheid in South Africa, the prohibition was also included in treaties adopted after apartheid there had ended. The prohibition is now universal and part of customary international law binding all countries.

For years, Palestinians and knowledgeable observers have named what exists in Palestine as apartheid. Desmond Tutu, the former Archbishop of Cape Town was one such observer. 

After a 2002 visit to Palestine, Desmond Tutu stated what he saw there reminded him so much of what happened to black people in South Africa. In an interview he stated that in many instances it was worse

The specific crime of Apartheid in areas under Israeli control was detailed in 2021 and 2022 by three human rights organizations – United Church partner B’Tselem, Human Rights Watch (‘HRW’) and Amnesty International (‘AI’) -. Amnesty has an excellent 14 minute explanatory video , while Human Rights Watch provides a shorter 3 minute video. 

Since those reports were written, the oppression being experienced by Palestinians under Israeli occupation and in Israel itself has worsened. A July 2024 International Court of Justice (‘ICJ’) Advisory Opinion provided to the UN General Assembly stated that Israel’s occupation is unlawful and must end. 

And most recently we have watched the accelerating downward spiral in news reports and on social media. The Palestinian pleas to the world have become ever more urgent. Most recently Palestinian Christians through their Kairos Palestine 2025 Christmas Appeal called for what is happening in Palestine to be named for what it is: genocide, settler colonialism and apartheid. 

Apartheid-Free Communities [‘AFC’] Was a Response to the Human Rights Reports 

The AFC Network was organized as a response to the Crime of Apartheid being carried out against Palestinians. Begun by North American faith groups, it now (as stated on the AFC website,) “includes congregations, faith communities, solidarity organizations, non-profits, campus groups, businesses, and more.“ Much like the coalition that worked in Canada and worldwide to end South Africa apartheid. 

The 19 October 2024 UCC General Council meeting confirmed that its approved principles for justice work apply to Israel/Palestine work and allow for the joining of Apartheid-Free Communities Movement. [See the communication issued after that meeting in the section headed GCE10 Principle-Based Approach to Palestine-Israel]. 

A number of UCC Congregations and at least one Region (Pacific Mountain Region) have already joined the AFC movement. Others are in process, while still more are working locally with businesses, municipalities, unions and justice groups.

To join the AFC movement, a faith community makes a Pledge. The Pledge is to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s Apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation. A page on the AFC website provides ideas on actions a community might take to live into the Pledge. They are suggestions, based on what has worked for others. 

Our Webinar – A Chance to Learn More 

Your faith community can help bring the apartheid in Palestine/Israel to an end.

This webinar will help you explore how becoming an Apartheid-Free Community can be a good way for your Faith Community to help end the apartheid and bring peace with justice to Palestinians living under Israeli rule. 

The webinar is organized by United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine/Israel, a network of United Church of Canada members/adherents and friends. We work for the end of apartheid in Palestine/Israel and for peace based on justice.