Practical Hope for the Homeless

                                      Homeless Jesus Sculpture -- Timothy Schmalz 

Faith without Works Is Dead 

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it?  If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?  So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

James 2: 14-17 NRSVue

A week ago Prime Minister Carney announced a commitment of $11 billion over four years as the first phase of ending homelessness in Canada in ten years. 

Yesterday the CBC Radio program The Current interviewed several people who are involved in addressing homelessness in their jurisdictions to ask whether the federal commitment is doable. One was Joe Preston. the mayor of St. Thomas, Ontario, population 47,000. The community has taken a proactive and determined approach to homelessness, beginning with enumerating the homeless population and figuring out who they are, by name and contact, never an easy task with those who have no fixed address. While there are shelter beds in St Thomas the bigger goal is to house this group of people, which they are doing with great success. hey are several years into a ten-year plan. 

 I was greatly encouraged by the whole segment so here is the link  https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/budget-homelessness-canada-decade-9.7411226

Mayor Preston described well what they are doing although he didn't mention the faith-based program called Indwell. This group has been very involved in creating affordable housing in St Thomas, including there-purposing of a former school. A blog reader, Judy, suggested that many communities have redundant school properties which could become housing, so this is an example. 

The Station at 16 Queen Street in St. Thomas is a 45-unit highly supportive housing building constructed by charity developers Indwell. The city's mayor says two more similar projects will be completed by early next year to house more individuals (Indwell)

The name Indwell suggests providing dwelling space for those who are marginalized and unhoused. It also brings to mind the biblical notion of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, of being imbued and enlivened by the Spirit of the Living God. 

Here is the statement of faith for Indwell, grounded in scripture and one of the great creeds of our Christian faith. All of the biblical references are thought-provoking and convicting. The one from the New Testament book of James is one I find particularly meaningful: 

We affirm the faith expressed in the Apostles’ Creed and build on the following core convictions as the theological foundation for our work:

1. Honouring Human Dignity

We believe that every person is created in the image of God and carries inherent dignity and worth regardless of housing status, wealth, gender, ability, ethnicity, or belief. From the earliest days of the church, followers of Jesus have affirmed that all people are equal before God (Genesis 1:27; Galatians 3:28).

2. Modeling the Love of God

Jesus’ life and mission brought good news to the poor and marginalized. He called his followers to care for “the least of these,” and he taught us to pray that God’s reign of justice, peace, and love would come on earth as it is in heaven. Through his words and actions, Jesus showed that love and compassion for our neighbors are essential signs of God’s kingdom. Justice and mercy are fundamental to who God is, and they are central to who we are called to be. The Scriptures urge us to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” and to stand up for the poor and vulnerable. Living this out means responding to injustice with compassion and courage (Luke 4:18–19; Matthew 25:35–40; Matthew 6:9–13; Matthew 22:37–40; Luke 10:25–37; Micah 6:8; Jeremiah 22:16; Psalm 11:7; 145:8).

3. Embodying Hope

We hold to the hope of the Gospel that God is at work, healing lives, renewing communities, and bringing justice to the oppressed. We seek to live out this mission in practical, faithful ways: welcoming those who have been marginalized, restoring community, and nurturing spaces of joy, belonging, and healing. We would insist that faith without works is dead (Isaiah 58:6–12; Revelation 21:3–5; James 2:17).

Our Quarrel with the Foe?

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

    That mark our place; and in the sky

    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

    The torch; be yours to hold it high.

    If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

        In Flanders fields.

In Flanders Fields -- John McCrae, WW1 Canadian solider & physician 

Our excellent local library is home to an art gallery as well and this year there is a cabinet full of ceramic poppies created by Perry Poupore. They were made as part of a project for the 75th anniversary of D-Day during WW2 in collaboration with Eastminster United Church here in Belleville. The poppy as an improbable symbol of remembrance of those who served and died in world conflicts has endured for more than a century. 

On Remembrance Sunday this moving poem was read or sung in different congregations where I was the pastor. I was always willing to include a time of solemn reflection in the service but I struggled with the phrase "take up our quarrel with the foe." and the notion that if we didn't we would have broken faith with those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 

I suppose, though, we can interpret it not just as a call to arms but as a reminder that even though some conflicts are necessary and even just, wasting the potential of those who go off to war is folly.

We live in an alarming time, one of the most unstable moments since World War Two. Important alliances seem tenuous. Russia's despicable aggression against Ukraine and America's senseless war with Iran are destabilizing the world order. Israel seems to have adopted a warrior mentality against everyone around them. The conflict in Sudan is the forgotten civil war that has killed at least 150,000 and displaced 14.5 million with foreign powers vying for influence. 

Our Canadian government seems intent on greatly expanded military spending and speaks of being prepared for war while reducing international aid for those who need it most. 

How do we absorb and make sense of this ominous global turmoil? Taking up the quarrel with the foe may mean that we respect those who served courageously and still do, while choosing not to engage in hatred. We can acknowledge as well that the world has and will continue to change. Foes of the past become allies, Quarrels end and new alliances are forged. This perspective allows us to be hopeful even though it seems that the storm clouds are gathering. 

As an old man I'm convinced that it is not God's intention for us to be gladiators and warriors, glorifying brutality 

 I hope that the symbol of the poppy and the words of the poem will continue to be meaningful reminders for decades to come of the sacrifices of others while strengthening our resolve to be peace-mongers, in Christ's name.  

Butterflies, Owls and the Glory of Creation

                           Barred Owl -- David McKnight photographer (gift from reader Judy McKnight)

 In September we visited friends who live an hour away, not far from the Lake Ontario shore. I wrote about their involvement in a group which helps maintain the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area a small gem tucked in alongside the growing community of Newcastle.

We were there on a beautiful day two months ago to participate in a tagging event for Monarch butterflies with nearly 500 swooped up in nets and carefully registered as they embarked on the journey to Mexico. I wrote a blog entry about the intergenerational crowd on hand that day amidst the wildflowers, looking out to Lake Ontario, and the sense of delight amongst the earnest participants. People were open and friendly even as they were purpose-driven. 

Last weekend we spent time with our friends again and because it was another glorious day we returned to Samuel Wilmot for a walk along with many others. We strolled through a section of towering older growth trees and shared stories of seeing Barred owls there in the past -- we lived in the area for a decade. 

We came around a corner to find a family with two children stock still on the trail and the boy carefully held up a finger to his lips and pointed. Sure enough, there was an owl sitting surprising low in a crook of tree, camouflaged almost to invisibility. We all watched as it seemed to examine us before taking flight directly beside the startled family. Ruth had begun filming with her phone camera and caught the owl swooping past the young teen girl's head, She was ecstatic when Ruth showed her the video clip and an airdrop was soon completed. Going on family walks is a hard sell for most teenagers but she was happy.

Again, there was an openness between total strangers that wouldn't occur in other settings. I am convinced that as humans we are made to have a sense of wellbeing in the presence of other creatures which allows us to be more fulfilled humans, our true selves. Of course, many people experience this without any specific religious convictions yet I feel that these moments are spiritual and they might agree.

 I figure we are all children of the Creator, whatever our age may be. My faith is rooted in the Incarnation, the earthly, earthy presence of God in Christ who was aware of birds and flowers, water and trees and spoke of them as he taught. 

Who knows what our next experience at Samuel Wilmot will  bring.  

                                                   Ruth Mundy, successful Monarch butterfly hunter

COP31 and Loving our Neighbours

 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

                               Hebrews 11:1 NRSVue

I wonder how many times during 20 years of blogging I've written about the commencement of the annual United Nations environmental conference, this year in Turkiye. I realize that as the years have gone by these international conferences -- this one is COP31 -- grow larger and it seems as though less is accomplished, despite the growing urgency about our rapidly heating planet. 

I confess that I have attempted to "put lipstick on a pig" in my brief blog entries each time around and it wears me down. It's not because climate change is a "hoax, scam, con job" as the Denier-in-Chief has described it. And it's not because the complex challenges of addressing this global issue are insurmountable if we have the will to address them.  It's the Groundhog Day (I'm getting in my critter metaphors today) of representatives from nearly 200 nations wearliy cheering the final resolutions from these events, only to see them ignored. The United States, the second largest contributor to greenhouse emissions won't be at COP31, having abdicated any role in leadership to addressing the issues. 

Is that my cynicism showing? Despite sounding like Eeyore (there I go again) I reluctantly admit that as a Christian I can't abandon hope. And as a parent and grandparent I can't shrug and turn away. Thou shalt not be Eeyore. 

I come back once again to the example of Katherine Hayhoe, the Canadian climate scientist who lives in Texas (now there is an example of improbable hope) who is a Christian. I've heard her speak in Kingston and she was inspirational. She figures, wisely, that we begin with the commitment to caring for our neighbours rather than be crushed by the massive weight of the issues. It's interesting that another Texas Christian, James Talarico, ran and won a senate seat using "love your neighbour" as a focal point for his campaign. These two may be on to something. 

There will be non-governmental representation at COP31 including Indigenous leaders, grassroots movements and churches. The World Council of Churches are calling for  an equitable, orderly, and rapid phase-out of coal, oil, and gas. 

The United Church has invited members to "Light Candles for Cop" as an act of faith. https://united-church.ca/news/light-candle-during-cop31-love-creation

Here is what the UN website for COP31 says about the purpose of COP31

So, what's on the table in Antalya?

Behind the diplomatic language are decisions that could affect millions of lives. Several major issues remain unresolved:

1. Climate finance: Developing countries want wealthier nations to fulfil their financial commitments under the Paris Agreement, while disagreements persist over funding responsibilities, access to finance and how global financial flows can be directed towards climate action.
2. Just transition: Countries agreed last year to establish a mechanism to support the shift to cleaner economies – but still need to decide how it will work.
3. Adaptation: Negotiators will continue to work on measuring progress while developing countries press for greater financial support.
4. Cutting emissions: Governments remain divided over how to strengthen emissions action and deliver on existing commitments.

COP31 will also launch the second global stocktake, the Paris Agreement’s formal process for assessing collective progress towards its long-term goals.

But, haven’t we already lost the fight against global warming?

Scientists warn that the world is set to temporarily exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C warming threshold, a situation known as overshoot. But how far temperatures rise, and for how long, still depends on the choices governments, businesses and societies make today.

“Overshoot is not surrender. Overshoot should really lead to a much greater degree of urgency,” Mr Hart says, calling for faster emissions cuts and greater investment in protecting vulnerable communities.

Despite the warning, he sees reasons for optimism.

“The good news in this horrible situation of overshoot is that the world has never been better equipped to solve this challenge,” he says, pointing to the rapid expansion of electric vehicles, solar energy and battery storage.

What's giving us hope?

• Electric vehicles: Ten years ago, fewer than one in 100 new cars sold worldwide was electric. In 2025, it was one in four, and that share is expected to reach 28 per cent in 2026.
• Solar power: The world added more than 600 gigawatts of solar power capacity in 2025, accounting for over three-quarters of new renewable power capacity.
• Battery storage: Global battery storage capacity is now 11 times higher than in 2021. In 2025 alone, the world added 108 GW – 40 per cent more than the previous year. These systems allow electricity generated by solar panels and wind turbines to be stored and used later
• 
  

Resisting Evil this Remembrance Sunday

 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 

 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

                Jesus, Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5: 11-16  NRSVue

A couple of weeks ago the Globe and Mail newspaper published an opinion piece by former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper with the eye-grabbing headline: As prime minister, I saw firsthand that Vladimir Putin is truly evil.

Harper lays out how he came to this conclusion, admitting that initially he was not all that concerned with the influence of the Russian leader, and then says:

Of all the famous people I have met, I still get asked more about Mr. Putin than about any other. I guess it is because he is a real-life Bond villain. And make no mistake, for all his strong attributes, he is a truly evil individual. He has knowingly and deliberately inflicted great and avoidable harm in his country and around the world.

I was intrigued by the headline and content because the word "evil" is not used all that often to refer to persons or systems anymore, even in Christian worship settings. The Lord's Prayer is still repeated in most mainline/old-line churches nearly every Sunday but lots of contemporary congregations don't bother, even though when Jesus was asked by his followers what to pray he included "deliver us from evil." 

There are a couple of paraphrases of the Prayer of Jesus or The Lord's Prayer in Voices United, one of our worship resources. One says:

do not put us to the test, but rescue us from evil  (p 916a)

The other offers: 

From trials too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us. (916 b)

In many churches today, including Trenton United, this will be Remembrance Sunday, a huge deal in Great Britain I discovered while there years ago. Some advocates of peace are uneasy with the recognition of participants in wars during a service of worship. As a pastor I never saw it as a glorification of war but a solemn reminder of the sacrifices of many in the face of evil. 

I figure there has to be room to recognize evil in all its forms and to pray that we are freed from the grip of evil so that justice and love will prevail in our world. We can be advocates for light in the darkness as the people of the Christ.

We are called to be the Church:
    to celebrate God’s presence,
    to live with respect in Creation,
    to love and serve others,
    to seek justice and resist evil,
    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.

    Thanks be to God.

from a New Creed, The United Church of Canada

While I have your attention, this is also Aboriginal Veterans Day in Canada. 

Budgeting an End to Homelessness in Canada?

 

A person sleeps on the street in downtown Montreal, on Monday, Sept. 10, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press)

Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.  A scribe then approached and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.

Matthew  8:18-20 NRSVue 

  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Ezekiel 36: 26-27 NRSVue 

 I listened to a political pundit who was formerly a provincial budget planner who reminded us that budgets at every level, including federal, tend to be performative rather than transformative. Politicians want us to know that they are doing Very Important Things with our tax dollars, real and imagined. The reality is that there are a lot of fixed costs and not much leeway, but announcements are made. 

He was speaking in response to Thursday's federal budget with the kinda cheesy title: Masters of our destiny. Have these folk been watching too many Marvel films? There is lots to digest in this budget but I was really intrigued by the commitment to end homelessness in Canada within ten years. The government estimates that there are 65,000 homeless people in the country and has pledged a little over 11 billion dollars over the next four years and nearly 18 billion in future years to address community mental health and addiction facilities and create stable housing. 

As a "democratic socialist" Canadian and a Christian I support this initiative whole-heartedly. I am aware though that a commitment was made nearly a decade ago to halve homelessness and instead the numbers have grown across the country in nearly every town and city. Here in Belleville, population 56,000, those without shelter is a major issue with encampments everywhere. When we moved here in 2013 some people argued that there weren't signs of homelessness in our community, although folk were "living rough" even then. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney describes the pledge to end homelessness as a $30-billion co-ordinated national plan. John Woods/The Canadian Press

Yesterday Prime Minister Mark Carney stood with Premier Wab Kinew to announce a commitment of a billion dollars for Winnipeg and Manitoba. According to the Globe and Mail: 

Speaking at the construction site of Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn, a First Nations-led affordable housing project located in Winnipeg’s former Hudson’s Bay building, Mr. Carney said the homelessness crisis has no easy answers.

“We understand both how difficult this will be, but equally how imperative it is that we all succeed,” he said, as the scent of burning sage wafted through the space. He was flanked by about 50 supporters and dignitaries, including First Nations chiefs and front-line workers who spend their nights patrolling Winnipeg’s streets supporting unhoused people.

“Ending homelessness is hard, it’s good and it’s right, and it will require more than compassion. It will require ambition, execution and partnership amongst all levels of government, with contributions from philanthropy and business,” Mr. Carney said.

I would agree with the Prime Minister, adding that we need to be rooted first in compassion as a nation in order for the ambition, execution, and partnership to unfold. There is a lot of hard-heartedness out there and we need to be vocal in our compassion. As a Christian the foundation is the love of Christ, 

Have you noticed that there are rarely homeless people in the background of press conferences about ending homelessness? 

Let's pray for new hearts so that the promises are fulfilled. I'm all for transformation.