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EFC Update Newsletter July 14, 2020

14 July 2020

Spoken Word Poem in EFC Young Adult Magazine Tells of God’s Sovereignty

Indigenous pastor and rapper Andrew Russell was commissioned by the EFC to produce a spoken word poem entitled Draw Near for Love Is Moving magazine. Released on July 1, 2020, a supporting video offers a poetic visual prayer that reminds us of God's sovereignty through uncertain times.

Weekly Pandemic Prayer Meeting

One of the EFC's affiliates, Strategic Renewal Canada, is offering a weekly worship-based Zoom prayer meeting. It is happening each Wednesday at noon Atlantic. To register and receive the Zoom invitation, please visit: https://strategicrenewal.ca/zoom-prayer-meetings-registration/

God Gives Life Through Our Hospitality

“You don’t know the value of being included – until you’ve been excluded," says Lis Lam. She and a variety of other Canadians are quoted in the latest Faith Today cover article about why hospitality is so vital to the Christian life. The Faith Today website has also published a supplementary profile by writer Renée James, Practising hospitality from home, which profiles the exemplary hospitality of Helen and Tafari Kukoyi and their family in Toronto.

Send Us Photos of Your Church Reopening

It’s official — churches across Canada are reopening. We’d love to see how your church is doing this! Send us a photo of your regathering so we can share it on social media.

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar

→ Alpha for Youth Learning Lab, online, July 15
→ Rikk Watts on Reframing the Trinity (Regent College), online, July 15
→ End Sexual Exploitation Global Summit, online, July 18-28
→ Malcolm Guite on Poetry and Prayer: A Mutual Inspiration, July 20, online
→ Plan to Protect 101, July 21, free webinar, online
→ Engage our Congregations (Missional Commons), online, July 21
→ Hymnody Seminars, online, July 22 and subsequent Wednesdays
→ Plan to Protect through Training, July 22, free webinar, online
→ David Smith on How Technology Is Changing Christian Education (Regent College), online, July 22
→ Krish Kandiah on Hospitality as Hopeful Resistance (Regent College), online, July 27
→ Wesley Hill on When Christians Disagree, online, July 29
→ Equipping your church to foster racial reconciliation, online, July 29
→ World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, July 30
→ It Is Time, July 30-Aug. 2 (prayer gathering) (Deadwood, Alberta)
→ Global Leadership Summit 2020, online, Aug. 6-7

Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.

Changes to Medical Assistance in Dying Law

The federal government has been granted a five-month extension by the Quebec Superior Court before changes to the euthanasia and assisted suicide law take effect. See the EFC’s recent blog on the impact of Bill C-7 on vulnerable Canadians and how you can help. Learn more at TheEFC.ca/C-7

A Bill Against Forced Labour 

Bill S-211 is a private member’s bill in the Senate that would require large corporations to report on what they are doing to make sure their supply chains are free of slavery, forced labour or child labour. The EFC supports this effort to reduce forced and child labour and to raise awareness about human trafficking. See the EFC’s letter sent in support of this bill plus a sample letter you can use to communicate with your MP at TheEFC.ca/S-211

Pandemic a Great Time for Learning? 

Online course registrations are now open for many seminaries and Christian postsecondary institutions. Several are listed at TheEFC.ca/Calendar. Be sure to check the website of your preferred institution for more opportunities. Or visit www.checonline.ca to search a database of Canadian Christian online courses.

EFC Speakers in Your Online Gathering?

The EFC has local ambassadors in many Canadian provinces and expert staff on a variety of topics. One of them would be delighted to make a presentation at an online gathering of your community. Learn more at TheEFC.ca/Speakers. Request a new topic or mention one listed there, including social issues from euthanasia to refugees to prostitution, and ministry issues from adoption to youth ministry. Request a speaker now!

In Case You Missed It

Faith Today writers and editors won awards last month from the Canadian Christian Communicators Association and The Word Guild. Congrats to all the winners
Hospitality, Church and People with Disabilities (Faith Today article)
Peaceful Assembly, Large Gatherings and the Local Church (blog post by EFC President Bruce Clemenger)
Walking and the Life of Faith (audio podcast)
Reopening Churches 2: What we know so far, and what we can learn as provinces reopen (EFC June 30 webinar recording)
Sample letter of support for Bill C-219
EFC letter of support for Bill C-233
→ The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear a case about whether ecclesiastical decisions about membership and discipline are outside of the scope of judicial review. See TheEFC.ca/Aga.
→ Home print subscriptions to our award-winning magazines Faith Today and Love Is Moving are now free in Canada at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.
→ Get your message out at FaithToday.ca/Classifieds. Contact ads@faithtoday.ca