Affirming Leaders Day!

Join us from anywhere in the world for Affirming Leaders Day!
Affirming Leaders Day is a faith-based development & connection day for allied and LGBTQ2S+ folks
Featuring Civil Rights Activist Rev. James Lawson, Queer Singer/Songwriter Semler, and Pop Culture Critic/Scholar/Author Anthony Oliveira! 

When: Saturday, May 22, 2021, 10am-4:30pm MDT

Where: Zoom Webinar

Tickets: $15-$30. Every ticket type gives you access to ALL of the sessions. 

Peace and Protest: Creating Change with Love and Intention

We explore the ways that our faith calls us to bring justice, love, peace, and hope into the world.

This year we reflect on the ways in which our communities have been strained and constrained by the pandemic and the increasing polarization of an “us vs. them” mentality. How do we resist the urge to “other” others, while still standing our ground and working for justice?

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Rev. James Lawson Jr., Civil Rights Activist

Rev. James Lawson was instrumental in shaping America’s Nonviolent Civil Rights Movement. After incarceration for refusing to report to Korean War draft, he traveled to India to study Ghandi’s principles of nonviolence. After being introduced to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and moving to Nashville, he mentored a number of young students and future civil rights leaders at Vanderbilt, Fisk University, and other area schools in the tactics of nonviolent direct action. His students were instrumental in movements such as the 1963 March on Washington, the 1965 Selma Voting Rights Movement, and The Freedom Rides, to name a few. Rev. Lawson moved to Los Angeles in 1975, where he was the pastor for 25 years. He continues to be a civil rights activist and teacher on non-violence.

Rev. Lawson will be speaking on our title theme, “Peace and Protest,” and we will have a Q&A with him after his talk.

LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE:

Semler, Singer-Songwriter

Semler recently became the first openly queer artist to hit Number 1 on the iTunes Christian music charts with their EP, “Preacher’s Kid.” The project explores Semler’s experience growing up as a queer person of faith. Semler has been featured on NPR, The Washington Post, and Apple Radio. Preacher’s Kid was recorded independently by Semler on a USB mic, and received over a million streams in just a few months.

We will have a Live Performance from Semler along with a special Q&A!

IG: @gracebaldridge

IN DEFENSE OF BLASPHEMY – a talk with:

Anthony Oliveira, PhD, Author, Film Programmer, Pop Culture Critic

Anthony is an award-winning writer of prose fiction, graphic novels, essays, and journalism. He is also a recurring contributor to Marvel Comics, his work for which has won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book. He is the weekly host of The Devil’s Party, a podcast exploring the classics of Christian literature (including John Milton’s poetry and the Gospels) through a queer scholarly lens.

Twitter: @meakoopa

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!

Congratulations Woodcliff United in Calgary, AB on your Affirming Ministry! Let’s celebrate!

Woodcliff United Church – Calgary, Alberta

Affirming celebration for Woodcliff United Church

5010 Spruce Drive SW, Calgary AB  T3C 3B2

Planned for: Sunday May 16, 2021

All are welcome to a celebration of becoming an Affirming Ministry for Woodcliff United Church on 

Date: Sunday, May 16, 2021 

Time:  10 am (MDT)

Location:  Online Service accessed from Woodcliff UC website or Woodcliff UC YouTube channel

Website:   https://woodcliffunited.com/

Phone:  403-249-3121

Please send a note of congratulations to the entire faith community of Woodcliff United Church through this private form:

Email for sending congratulations  office@woodcliffunited.com

The Kitchen Sink presents: Queer Friendship in COVID and Beyond!

You are invited!

Tuesday April 20th, 2021 – 7:00 – 8:30pm EDT

You’re invited to join Affirm United as we gather online every third Tuesday night of the month for a time of friendship and learning together in community. This is your chance to connect with people from across the country who share your passion for Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ justice.

This coming Tuesday we’ve invited Ally Phillips to be our guest speaker and will talk about how staying in touch with our LGBTQ2S+ siblings can be a challenge during times like these, how are you staying connected during these isolating times? What do queer friendships look like and mean to you? Let’s talk about the understanding, acceptance and love we can bring to each other in friendship and fellowship.

More about our guest speaker: Ally Phillips

Ally with Reese

Ally Phillips lives, works and worships in St. Catharines, Ontario with his favourite sidekick, Reese the blind beagie. Ally serves as an openly queer and trans person at Silver Spire United Church as Co Chair of council, member of the Affirm committee and youth group leader. Outside of church life, Ally enjoys working with youth, coaching lacrosse, caregiving for his Granny, cooking delicious gluten free food and being trans in public.


Topic: Kitchen Sink Series Event Zoom Information
Time: 7pm – 8:30pm EST

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98828097187?pwd=SGtnL3J4Sy82bFV5WTMwY1RYd3hkZz09

Meeting ID: 988 2809 7187
Passcode: 815307

Phone In instructions to ZOOM:

Canada (dial the number in your area code or use the Toll Free number below enter the meeting ID and the passcode with your key pad):

+1 778 907 2071
+1 204 272 7920
+1 438 809 7799
+1 587 328 1099
+1 647 374 4685
+1 647 558 0588
Toll Free: +1 855 703 8985

See you Soon at the Kitchen Sink!

Congratulations Runnymede United Church on becoming the newest Affirming Ministry in Canada!

Runnymede United Church, Toronto, ON

Affirming celebration for Runnymede United Church

432 Runnymede Road, Toronto ON M6S 2Y8

on Sunday April 25, 2021 at 1pm

All are welcome to a celebration of becoming an Affirming Ministry for Runnymede United Church on Sunday April 25, 2021

Time: 1 pm

Location: YouTube

Website: https://www.runnymedeunited.org/

Phone: 416-767-6729

Please send a note of congratulations to the entire faith community of Runnymede United Church through this private form or send an email directly to office@runnymedeunited.org

Congratulations Toronto East End United Regional Ministry on becoming Affirming!

East End United Church

An Affirming celebration is planned for Toronto East End United Regional Ministry:

All are welcome to a celebration of becoming an Affirming Ministry for:

Toronto East End United Regional Ministry

on Sunday April 18, 2021 Time 10:30 AM

Location: YouTube and Facebook Live

Website: https://eastendunited.ca/

Phone: (416) 463-2179

Please send a note of congratulations to the entire faith community of Toronto East End United Regional Ministry through this private form or email directly to office@eastendunited.ca:

Congratulations Central Saanich UC in Saanichton, BC on your Affirming Ministry!

Central Saanich United Church, Saanich, BC

An Affirming Celebration is planned for June 27th, 2021

Central Saanich United Church

7180 East Saanich Road, Saanichton, BC  V8M 1Y4

All are welcome to a celebration of becoming an Affirming Ministry for Central Saanich United Church on Sunday June 27, 2021 

Time and location will depend on COVID-19 protocols at that time. If possible it will be in person, larger venue as the church has limited capacity and there may/will be social distancing rules in effect – possibly pre-registration required. Details are still to be determined.

Alternate plans will be:

Location:   Pre-recorded service posted on website on the morning of June 27th  

Website      https://www.centralsaanichunited.ca/   

Church Phone:  250-652-2713

Please send a note of congratulations to the entire faith community of Central Saanich United Church through this private form or email congratulations directly to megarnett@shaw.ca   

P.I.E. Parade for 2021

All across Canada faith communities gathered together either virtually or safely physically distanced and celebrated P.I.E. Day 2021.

P.I.E. is a special day on or around March 14th each year that we can remind ourselves of the commitment we have have made to be Public, Intentional and Explicit in our welcome to 2SLGBTQIA+ folk of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Here are some of the highlights in song, photos, videos and some incredible fundraising efforts.

Thank you to everyone who participated and continues to enjoy P.I.E. everyday!!!

An Affirming Celebration in Pictures for Hinton United Church in Alberta!

Shining Waters Region Council celebrates being the first Regional Council to have permanent Affirming status!

David Hall of Silver Spire United Church and AU/SE Council member:

Happy P.I.E. Day from Grosvenor Park United Church

Photo Parade of P.I.E. Day 2021 Moments:

A P.I.E. inspired Song!

Here is a song written just days ago and his process, by John Oldham, songwriter (shared with permission):

WE ARE COVENANT PEOPLE

( An Affirming Song of Inclusion and Acceptance)

We are Covenant people , sharing both our joy and grief.

We welcome ev’ry person who ongs for peace and relief.

As we “affirm” each other with our varied gender, views (and our sexuality)

we witness to the wonder – it is loving that renews. (of our shared humanity.)

(we’re created to be free.)

Everyone is holy, of great value, beauty, worth,

all precious, blessed and treasured and right from their sacred birth.

Diversity enriches and variety declares

we are all one family as both peace and love are shared/

We are a community called to reach out and embrace

another on life’s journey who is blessed with gift of grace.

Together let us venture on in solidarity

as we work hard for justice and for truth and liberty/harmony.

Song notes:

Honoring Ronan, Spencer, niece Justine, nephew Robert, and…..

John Wesley Oldham; # 8899; Sun, March 14, 2021; Verses1,2 -Journal entry during 10 a.m. zoom Affirming worship; I noticed the word ‘Covenant’ on the screen at the beginning of worship. Opening comments by minister Dawn evoked the lines, 2,3,4 of verse one. The first two lines of verse two were written during the video in which I heard the words “everyone is holy” and “blessed.” During the story read by Richard the last two lines of verse two came through.

Verse 3 was written at 3.10-3.11 p.m. direct to computer screen while on a break from tidying the house and watching curling. I had heard Darlene in our discussion time say that our our church is “a community that embraces us all.”

The metre is 14 14 14 14 or 7777D The melody is like an olde English folk song. Sung with the Eagle Drum.

Word changes at about 10 p.m. while watching men’s curling…

Volunteers Needed to Review Document Language

Addressing Language in Foundational Documents; racism, ableism, intersectionalities

Calling Volunteer Participants!

Are you a member of Affirm United/ S’Affirmer Ensemble?

We are beginning to update some language in our organizations foundational documents. This discussion specifically will address racism, ableism and other intersections that exist and should inform our work at Affirm United/S’Affirmer Ensemble…  Are you interested in joining the conversation around this and looking at re-writing these statements?

Meet on Zoom on Thursday March 25th from 7-8pm and we will start the discussions. Lead by Rev. Emma Pipes and Rev. Cindy Bourgeois.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/93456556696?pwd=VUZqZlliL1dLM1gwR3haSFNISkZoUT09

Contact Michele with any questions at communications@ause.ca