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Religion Devotional

Faithfully Yours

Letters for the Wondering

edited by Alydia Smith

contributions by James Aitchison, Alfredo Barahona, Josie Forcadilla, Christine Jerrett, Joe Kadi, Alana Martin, Donna Sinclair, Lorna Standingready & Bri-anne Swan

Publisher
United Church Publishing House, The United Church of Canada
Initial publish date
Jan 2020
Category
Devotional, Spirituality, Inspirational
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781551342511
    Publish Date
    Jan 2020
    List Price
    $8.99

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Description

Many of us have shoeboxes under our beds stuffed with cherished communications from those we love. In many ways, the Bible is a similar shoebox of love letters between a people and their maker.

The letters and reflections in Faithfully Yours will help you cherish the complex stories of the Bible during your Lenten journey. Daily scriptures, reflections, hymn suggestions, and prayers from a wide variety of United Church contributors offer comfort, inspiration, and a reminder that you are not alone. This collection may be used by for individual devotions or group study. Study guide included.

About the authors

Alydia Smith is a worship leader, educator, caregiver, mother, and Jesus-follower who works at the General Council Office of The United Church of Canada, supporting worship and faith formation ministries. She is a tuba player who holds a Bachelor in Music from Western University, a Master of Divinity from the Atlantic School of Theology, and a Doctorate in Worship from Drew University, under the mentorship of Donald Hilliard and Leonard Sweet. Alydia loves learning and crafting and is always looking for new opportunities to grow and create.

 

 

Alydia Smith's profile page

James Aitchison is currently studying theology at Emmanuel College in Toronto, discerning his call toward ministry after several years of travelling. He is as passionate about travel as he is about stillness. Upon completion of his Master of Divinity degree (God willing), James hopes to have more time to continue working on the spiritual memoir he began writing after a potent phase of spiritual growth and travel. He adores nature and has a heart for interfaith dialogue.

James Aitchison's profile page

Alfredo Barahona is originally from Cuzcatlán (Maya–Pipil territory, now known as El Salvador) and moved to Canada as a refugee in the 1980s. He has worked with refugee and migrant communities through Toronto-based settlement agencies and most recently through KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives. Alfredo is currently collaborating with labour and grassroots organizations, as well as academics and migrant communities in Canada, on Indigenous rights issues. A particular focus of this work is the development of meaningful relationships between Indigenous people and newcomers to Canada. Alfredo has facilitated the KAIROS Blanket Exercise extensively in English and Spanish throughout Canada and has trained Blanket Exercise facilitators. Supporting the effective and meaningful participation of affected communities in advocacy and solidarity endeavours is a key principle of Alfredo’s work.

Alfredo Barahona's profile page

Josie Forcadilla is a member of staff at the United Church’s General Council Office. Her love of animals began as a child when her family adopted a cat and dog, both of which always followed her mother to market and the entire family to church every Sunday. When she moved to a large city to continue her studies, she noticed the cruelty inflicted on animals as well as the injustices committed by many who hold power in society. Noticing the gaps between the haves and have nots was a turning point for her activism. Her petition “Free Lammie the Elephant at Jo’burg Zoo” has gathered over 186,000 signatures on www.change.org.

Josie Forcadilla's profile page

The Rev. Dr. Christine Jerrett works for the United Church with EDGE: A Network for Ministry Development supporting rural ministries and congregational renewal. She is also (very) part-time Ministry Personnel for Shiloh-Inwood Pastoral Charge and the director of Canadian Shield’s online training course for Licenced Lay Worship Leaders. Throughout her ministry, Christine has served with a variety of congregations, many while they were facing times of transition and change. In 2010, she received her Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. She was a 2014 recipient of the McGeachy Senior Scholarship from The United Church of Canada Foundation, which led to a project that gathered clusters of congregations into learning communities to journey with each other during times of transition. She blogs at https://christinejerrett.wordpress.com.

Christine Jerrett's profile page

Joe Kadi is an active member of Scarboro United Church in Calgary and a student at the Centre for Christian Studies.

Joe Kadi's profile page

Alana Martin has been a minister with the GO Project, a children and youth mission program of The United Church of Canada, for 10 years. Alana is thankful to work for a ministry that fosters faith, spirituality, and leadership with young people in our communities. Alana is studying to become a Diaconal Minister at the Centre for Christian Studies. The reflections she wrote for Faithfully Yours are rooted in her call to education, faith formation, social justice, outreach, and pastoral care.

Alana Martin's profile page

Donna Sinclair travelled widely internationally and throughout Canada for 27 years as an award-winning journalist with The United Church Observer (renamed Broadview in 2019). Now retired, she continues to write occasionally for various publications. Over the last decade, she and her husband, Jim, have devoted much of their time to caring for their grandchildren and the world they inhabit. Her most recent book is Activist Alphabet (Wood Lake Publishing).

Donna Sinclair's profile page

Lorna Standingready is a 76-year-old kokum (grandmother) to 23 living grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She is a direct descendent of Ka-na-hah-cha-pay-o (Skilful Archer), one of the negotiators of Treaty 4. Lorna was raised in the Big Bush on the Peepeekisis Indian Reserve in Saskatchewan for the first 5 years and 4 months of her life and is an Indian Residential School survivor (10 years). She holds strong beliefs in the spiritual teachings of her kokum, moshum (grandfather), and parents.

Lorna Standingready's profile page

Bri-anne Swan is the Community Minister with Living Presence Ministry in East Gwillimbury, ON and a candidate for Diaconal Ministry. She is a spiritual companion to men on Texas’ death row, journeying with them as they move toward their executions. In addition to her ministry role, Bri-anne is a professional singer/songwriter and composer with three released albums to date. Bri-anne co-led music at the United Church’s 43rd General Council meeting in 2018.

Bri-anne Swan's profile page

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