The United Church of Canada has invited members to demonstrate solidarity with Palestinian peoples by wearing white to worship services this morning. While we condemn the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, we are dismayed by Israel's military response resulting in the deaths of approximately 35,000 Gazans and widespread destruction in the enclave bringing about displacement and famine. Wearing white is in support of a ceasefire, currently being negotiated in Egypt. I imagine lots of the folk at Trenton UC will do so because they have a strong social conscience.
This also happens to be Red Dress Day and often people wear red in solidarity with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. This is an important, solemn commemoration which also deserves recognition and often has in United Church congregations. Indigenous women are six times as likely to be murdered in Canada than the general population and for far too long these women and girls were treated as expendable. The trial of a Manitoba man who is charged with murdering four Indigenous women and disposing of their bodies in landfills got underway last week, so this year's commemoration is particularly poignant.
What to do? Wear both colours? Whatever choice, it's important to remember, to pray, to act as Christ's people committed to justice and compassion on behalf of the marginalized and down-trodden.
No comments:
Post a Comment