2017 AGM Priorities Presentation by Judy Krzesowski
Once we’ve (1) identified our leadership and (2) named for ourselves who we are and deepened the sense of community among us and (3) let people know who we are, I think there’s a natural progression to move outside ourselves by becoming involved with people outside. There’s a clear connection in the scriptures between being and doing…..who we are (our motives, our values, our ethics, our faith) necessarily leads to certain actions….and the things we do should be a reflection, a result of who we are.
If James Bay United Church is our reference point surrounded by 3 concentric circles, the first circle of “becoming involved with people outside” would be the James Bay Neighbourhood.
The Tuesday morning Outreach program seeks to reach out to those in the neighbourhood in need of a listening ear and a nurturing spirit. In addition to shared food, the lives of both volunteers and visitors are touched with God’s grace. The commandment to ‘love our neighbours as ourselves’ is lived out every week during Tuesday Outreach.
The James Bay United Church Thrift Shop is well-known in the community as the place to visit. On the surface of it, it appears as if our major task is simply to sell donated items and use the money for the work of our church. What really happens at the thrift shop is more shared Grace. When we re-opened after our winter break, our regulars welcomed us back and told us how much they missed us. It’s also a place where we share our lives, our conversation, our caring.
This year our church hopes to become more intentional about connecting to the larger James Bay community neighbourhood. If we can create more connections among neighbours, we can increase mutual caring for one another and increase our ability to work together towards a common good.
The second concentric circle around our church as reference point includes applying the commandment to love one another to more far-reaching issues. The Minute for Mission read by Joyce Willems last Sunday reminds us of great need that exists in the world. We can support the work of the United Church in North America and abroad with financial contributions, prayer and, if we wish, greater involvement in specific projects.
We cannot remain complacent towards certain social justice issues; we need to put our faith into action. The current volatile political climate… in the Middle East, in Asia and Africa, in Russia, in the United States… reminds us we cannot take the status quo for granted. For this reason, some of us march every year in the Pride parade. Many of us also attended the Women’s March in Victoria (and a lot of men and young people were there too) in support of the Women’s March on Washington, D.C. on January 21st. This march was a worldwide protest designed to send a message to the new US administration, a day after being sworn into power and in reaction to many intolerant statements made during the election. The message was to advocate legislative support for women’s rights, immigration reform, workers’ rights, healthcare reform, environmental reform, LGBTQ rights, racial equality and freedom of religion.
Some of you may also have taken part in the vigil of support for our Muslim friends and neighbours, in reaction to a growing anti-Muslim rhetoric. As well, there was a march to show support for the families and friends of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls and the work of the upcoming federal inquiry. We as Christians need to continue to have a presence at these gatherings to offer an antidote to the growing fear and hatred.
The third concentric circle around our church as reference point concerns two even greater and far-reaching issues. We need to have a presence around First Nations issues. So again, I invite your participation Thursday evening after our pancake supper. You may already have seen The Secret Path, but this is only half of it. We as individuals and people of faith need to take seriously the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report. What are the implications for us as a congregation in the James Bay neighbourhood? That’s why having Nicole Bresser (an indigenous lawyer in Victoria) to facilitate the conversation is a privilege for us. Never underestimate the influence of a passionate person, and this issue is a passion for Nicole. There will be continuing opportunities to live out support for the Truth and Reconciliation Report in our church community and in our neighbourhood community.
The second far-reaching issue concerns the refugee crisis in the world. Many of us were at the meeting 14 months ago here in the sanctuary when we sent out a call for concerned people to support refugees, especially Syrian refugees. These seats were full to overflowing with people from the neighbourhood as well as from greater Victoria. The concern and excitement that we were on the brink of a significant involvement was palpable. This has lead to the imminent arrival of the Syrian newcomer; there’s also a possibility of future interfaith dialogue as a result of her arrival and our support of the mosque in Victoria. This can only have beneficial results as our knowledge of other cultures and religions expands.
Many of us have also become involved with government sponsored refugees who are receiving some money for living expenses from the government but who need substantial additional support for life here in Victoria. Kathleen Gilbert, a member of the steering committee of the James Bay Refugee Initiative, sent out a call for winter clothing and household items for refugee families and many of us responded. Bev Tracey spearheaded the Board decision to hire two young Syrian men to take on the cleaning contract at the church and has become involved in supporting their families. Through employment for these young men, this congregation is also supporting their families; it’s the way of many things: one decision, one action is seldom only confined to that one thing.
It may not be possible for each of you to become involved in every issue and march and meeting I’ve mentioned here. It is, however, crucial that you become knowledgeable about the issues and become involved in the ones that call to you. As a congregation we can become more involved with the larger James Bay community to help foster an attitude of generosity and welcome: to strangers, to First Nations people, to refugees. This is my invitation and challenge to you.
I’ll close with a few select verses from chapters one and two of the book of James from The Message. “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word of God go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror and have no idea who they are… You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of Scriptures “Love others as you love yourself”. Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For judgement will be without mercy for those who have not shown kindness and mercy, and mercy will triumph over judgement---every time.”
26 February, 2017
Judy Krzesowski