Thanks to Tom Betts for these.



CJPME (Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East) is delighted to invite leaders from the United Church, Hamilton Conference to a reception for its “A Child’s View from Gaza” exhibition. The reception will take place on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. at the Hamilton Public Library (Central Branch). The reception details are as follows:
Saturday, Sept. 22, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Wentworth Room, Hamilton Public Library
55 York Blvd., Hamilton, ON L8N 4E4
At its 41st General Council in August, the United Church passed a body of resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These resolutions reflect the fact that the Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the most important international social justice issues of our time. Our hope is that the exhibition on display in Hamilton will enable members of the United Church— and other members of the Hamilton public— to learn more about the situation between Israel and Palestine, and Gaza in particular.
Please RSVP, if possible, if you plan to attend the launch reception.
Light snacks and beverages will be provided. The program will also include two video shorts:
Samouni Street (13 minutes)
Gaza, did you know (5 minutes)
The exhibition of drawings will be on view until September 29 at the Hamilton Public Library Central Branch, 55 York Blvd., L8N 4E4, and then will pass to other sites in Hamilton. The exhibition offers the perspective of Palesitian children in Gaza. It features 21 pieces, combining over a dozen drawings by children from Gaza, ages 5 to 14, with photos taken by professional journalists from Getty, Reuters and Agence France Press during the assault. Despite the children’s young ages, their drawings provide fascinating insights into the impact of the assault on average Palestinians. Each drawing is unique in its style, perspective and details. The Hamilton exhibition is the sixth in a series of exhibitions of the drawings in central and eastern Canada.
Aside from the September 22 reception, the exhibition can be viewed at the Central Library from now until September 29, during the following hours:
Monday to Thursday: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
The exhibition will also be presented at Centenary United Church October 3-14, and at other Hamilton-area venues later in October.
CJPME is a grassroots-based, secular, non-partisan organization whose mission is to empower Canadians to promote justice, development and peace in the Middle East. CJPME has 35,000 adherents nation-wide, and active branches in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, London, Sackville-Moncton, Edmonton and Victoria.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday September 22nd, and hope that you will encourage your congregation, neighbours and family members to view this informative and moving exhibition.
Kindest regards,
CJPME – Hamilton
Telephone: 438-380-5410
Greening Sacred Spaces Web Site
Sorry I didn’t get this posted in time for the meeting tonight. Do take a look at the group’s blog, though. Very interesting work.
At his installation as 41st Moderator of The United Church of Canada on August 18th, the Right Reverend Dr. Gary Paterson compared the United Church to the early church that Paul described and prayed for in his letter to the ancient city of Ephesus.
“They found themselves in a vast multicultural community and began struggling, praying, wrestling, and fighting about what it means to be an intercultural church . . . We, like those people of Ephesus, are struggling, and we need to hear this prayer from Paul,” he said.
Dr. Paterson was speaking at the end of the General Council meeting in Ottawa, in which 350 delegates (commissioners) from across Canada had gathered to review where the Church has been and discern God’s guidance on the way ahead.
With Dr. Paterson’s words, commissioners departed, confident that with the help of the Creator, the United Church will be “able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)
* * * * *
For 87 years, The United Church of Canada has built its legacy as a prophetic, uniquely Canadian, voice in the world. It has made the ministry of Jesus a reality where and when it has been most needed, both in Canada and around the world.
And this legacy will continue, no matter where the United Church is headed?and no matter what form it will take.
Why not become part of this legacy? You can do your part by establishing a legacy gift. Perhaps a bequest in your will, or the purchase of a United Church gift annuity, or through the gift of a life insurance policy, designating the area of the church’s mission that moves in your heart.
For more information on the many ways that you can lead the legacy into the future, contact:
Lisa Di Veto, Financial Development Officer
Hamilton Conference
519.754-1803 ldiveto@united-church.ca
Every year a delegation from Toyo Eiwa University in Japan make a visit to Centenary, the home church of Martha Cartmell, missionary founder of Toyo Eiwa in 1884 and champion of women’s education in Japan.
This year’s visit happens on Sunday September 16. All are welcome to join the delegation for lunch after the service. This year we are combining our “Welcome Back” barbeque with the lunch reception for our guests.
Long time Centenary member Frank Hewett passed away on Thursday August 16. His memorial service will be held at Centenary on Saturday August 25. Visitation starts at 10:00 a.m. and the service, officiated by Rev. Liz Mackenzie, starts at 11:00. There will be a light luncheon following the service.
Donations to Centenary are gratefully accepted. For those who prefer to donate online, the link is www.canadahelps.org (key in “Centenary United Church”).
Please pass this information along to fellow congregation members who may not already know. The obituary is expected to be published today, Tuesday August 21.
Summer Celebration
You’re invited to Five Oaks on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 7pm for our Summer Celebration. There will be live music with Kenny Kirkwood, a Juno Award-Winning Jazz musician www.kennykirkwood.com and an ‘Art Talk’ with Phil Irish, a painter from Elora www.philirish.com
This is a free event–- so bring your friends and family to enjoy the evening.
View or download the <Five Oaks Summer Celebration 2012 flyer
And here is the most recent newsletter Take Five with Five Oaks August 2012
Visit the Five Oaks web site at www.fiveoaks.on.ca.
Experience General Council from Anywhere!
Even if you aren’t in Ottawa, there are many ways to connect, share, and follow the 41st General Council in real time!
Online
The GC41 website offers a variety of mobile and desktop friendly options to follow the proceedings of the 41st General Council which will be meeting at Carleton University, August 11-18, 2012.
www.GC41.ca
Daily News
A team of reporters will bring you continuous news coverage of the work and activities of the 41st General Council. Follow the GC41 News page to keep up to date!
www.GC41.ca/news
Streaming Video
Watch GC41 virtually, including worship, plenary sessions, nominee speeches, the vote for the next Moderator- and more-directly on GC41.ca! You can also log in using your Facebook or Twitter account to share comments and discuss the proceedings. Tune in starting Saturday, August 11, to see General Council in action.
www.GC41.ca/live
Facebook and Google+
The United Church Facebook page will feature ongoing news, commentary, video, and photos throughout the 41st General Council. Follow the United Church page to share your own comments and keep up-to-date on all the proceedings. Connect with GC41 on Google+ as well!
www.facebook.com/UnitedChurchCda
http://plus.google.com/u/0/101905781790851712308
Twitter
Twitter is a great way to connect with GC41! Follow @UnitedChurchCda for the latest, up-to-the-minute updates from GC41! Share your tweets at #GC41 and join in the discussion with others.
www.twitter.com/UnitedChurchCda
WonderCafe and Caféchange
Join the conversation at WonderCafe and Caféchange (en français) to discuss the 41st General Council. Share your perspectives with the members of these lively online communities.
www.wondercafe.ca
YouTube
Each day short video clips will be posted on the United Church channel offering new perspectives on General Council, from breaking news to peeks behind the scenes at GC41!
www.youtube.com/unitedchurchofcanada
Photos
Follow the GC41 Flickr collection at www.GC41.ca. Those attending the council can also share their own photos via our GC41 Flickr Group.
www.flickr.com/groups/gc41
Just received an email from Environment Hamilton and thought I’d pass on the information about HSR (Hamilton Transit) group day passes.
Use the HSR Day Pass to travel the City and present your pass to 200+ locations makes you eligible for discounts at locally owned businesses.
One $9 HSR day pass allows 6 people, up to 2 adults and up to 6 children (no more than six people in total, group does NOT need to be related) to use the HSR for an entire day. Without a day pass, just one bus trip for six passengers would cost $14.10, and you may need to take several bus trips in just one day.
This project is affordable and a unique way for you and your family to support local businesses, visit different destinations in Hamilton and reduce your carbon footprint. You are not required to use your day pass when you buy, simply pick a day suitable for you and your group and begin your adventure!
There will be free maps available at the Centenary office.

In June 2012 Centenary received copies of an English edition of Canadian Woman Missionaries at Toyo Eiwa in Japan 1882 – 2006. The book is a translation from the Japanese edition published in 2010. The translators, Rev. Seiichi Ariga and Rev. Wayne Irwin, are both former ministers at Centenary.
From the preface:
“Several books on the history of Toyo Eiwa from 50 Years of Toyo Eiwa to 120 Years of Toyo Eiwa have been edited and published, but there has been no single book that focused on Miss Cartmell, the founder of Toyo Eiwa, and the other missionaries.”
From the preface to the English version:
“Shortly after the original book has been published in early 2010, Toyo Eiwa provided us with a copy, and we were deeply impressed by the integrity of the people of Toya Eiwa and their never-fading appreciation and affection toward their missionaries in the past.”
Copies are available at the church office.