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Moderator's message

Greetings, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Fall holds such paradox. Nature urges us to slow down and prepare for winter as we urge one another to speed up for another busy church year. Let's hold to both in this season, embracing prayerful contemplation and passionate action required of people of faith. So as summer turns to autumn, I invite you to join me in three particular movements of prayer and action this fall: First, please explore with me the theme of God's abundant healing of soul, community, and creation. As I listen and speak to you in my travels and through your comments to my blog, the connecting tissue between soul, community, and creation becomes clearer. This 9-minute video is an exploration: http://www.youtube.com/unitedchurchofcanada?gl=CA&hl=en#p/a/u/0/kzZpZbmDW7k. I'd welcome further comments. Most of my Conference visits in the coming year will be by train, the "Spirit Express," beginning with travels north and west from Toronto on Tuesday, October 12. My first stop is North Bay, then through Manitou Conference, the Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, Saskatchewan Conference, and Alberta and Northwest Conference. I'll continue with an eastern leg in 2011. Town hall meetings, focused on responding with hope to climate and ocean change, are a feature of the journey. Everyone in your community is welcome to join these conversations: United Church people; those of other faith communities, and any who want to talk and work with others about these great moral challenges. I look forward to seeing you at these town halls. As the Spirit Express makes its way from town to town, I expect that a parallel conversation will grow online. I'll be blogging and tweeting as I go, and invite you to participate with comments, photos, and videos. Please stay in touch with the rolling town hall conversations at http://www.wondercafe.ca/spiritexpress. Second, please join me in participating in a new liturgical movement: Creation Time in the Season of Pentecost. Christians around the world are joining in this new season of worship focused on Earth's urgent need of our prayers and changed behaviour. Our United Church worship resources for each Sunday of Creation Time (which began on Sept. 12 and continues through October 10) are found at: http://www.united-church.ca/planning/seasons/creation. On December 13, 2009, during the United Nations climate negotiations in Copenhagen, many of us around the world organized vigils, prayers, and activities, and rang bells or beat drums 350 times. We expressed our concern and commitment to hope-filled action for ecological justice. So we continue. This year, the World Council of Churches suggests that we join the 10/10/10 campaign (http://www.350.org/1010) with prayers, vigils, and Sunday. What better time to work for abundant healing? And thanks to you who have already joined me in writing letters to Canadian senators about the Climate Change Accountability Act, which will come to a vote this fall. See more at http://www.wondercafe.ca/blogs/moderator-mardi-tindal /moderator-mardi-tindals-blog-youve-given-me-hope. Third, please join me in prayer and action with our brothers and sisters of Pakistan. Now and in the months and years to come, we must and will find new ways to help one another through the consequences of climate change, such as massive flooding. In a context of tragedy and fear, we show up as a people of love and hope. As Christians we bring compassion and practical help. You have received information about the United Church's response to the crisis in Pakistan, and the work of our Emergency Appeal for Pakistan. For every eligible donation made by individual Canadians to Canadian registered charities, such as our church, the government will continue to match those donations dollar for dollar until October 3. Find our more at http://www.united-church.ca/pakistan. I have decided to donate as much for Pakistan relief as I did for Haiti relief, and invite you to consider doing the same. As I pray the scriptures, I'm reminded not to worry about my life but to strive for God's ways and God's realm of peace, justice, and the integrity of creation. We do so together. We are not alone as we begin another year of prayerful contemplation and passionate action. Pentecost blessings, Moderator Mardi Tindal