May 1, 2018
Dear United Church family,
Something special is happening at the 43rd General Council this year, and you and your congregation are invited! The opening worship service is being held on Sunday, July 22, starting at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
We are inviting visitors from across Canada to join us for worship, with a special invitation to the churches in and nearby Oshawa, Ontario. Please consider relocating your worship service that morning and join General Council commissioners, visitors, and international and ecumenical guests in Oshawa. Imagine how wonderful it would be to sing and pray with up to 2,000 people!
This General Council is being co-hosted by All Native Circle and Bay of Quinte Conferences. This unique collaboration will be reflected throughout the week and will be beautifully embodied in our opening celebrations.
If you are unable to attend the opening worship in person, consider following along online with the livestream from GC43 on the United Church YouTube channel.
Let’s celebrate God’s presence together!
You are also invited to another new feature for GC43 called the Festival of Faith. All day Saturday, July 21, and Sunday, July 22, there will be events, concerts, displays, workshops, artisans, and fun as we celebrate the wonderful faith and diversity of our church. The mass opening worship service on Sunday morning is just one feature of the weekend.
The 43rd General Council is being held on the campus of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) located at 2000 Simcoe St. North, Oshawa, Ontario, from Saturday, July 21, through Friday, July 27.
We hope you will be able to join us in person or online for some or all of this exciting week. And we trust that you will be holding all of the commissioners in prayer throughout the week as we seek to discern and respond to God’s call to the church at this time.
May God continue to bless you and your faith community as you carry out the mission and ministry of Christ where you are among your neighbours.
Peace and grace to you,
Jordan Cantwell
Moderator/Modératrice
The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada