Dear people of God at Gloria Dei, 

In this critical moment when the situation for the people in Gaza and the West Bank is dire, I want to bring to your attention this powerful statement from the perspective of Palestinian Christian women - as grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and caregivers. The statement has just been endorsed by our National Church - (it does not yet appear on the page).

The statement was drafted by Shadia Qubti whom we hosted at Gloria Dei in January. It is a prophetic response to the ongoing starvation of the Palestinian people in Gaza. 

In her email to me and others she writes: 

While the world speaks of "women and children" as victims, we must articulate a more complete vision of justice that recognizes the humanity of all Palestinians.

Drawing on the foundation of the Kairos Palestine document and the Call to Repentance, we seek to create a statement that:

1. 1. Centers the prophetic tradition of women in scripture (Mary, Tabitha, Huldah, and others)
   2. Addresses the "unchilding" of our children and the denial of Jesus's command to "let the little children come to me"
   3. Speaks to our experiences as women caring for families while processing our own trauma
   4. Connects Palestinian women's embroidery traditions to Tabitha's story and our forms of resistance
   5. Reclaims the unnamed and marginalized women of scripture and connects their erasure to our own

Please visit the petition page to add your signature to the statement. 

The Groovin' Grannies are back! Don't miss out on this short program of piano duets after our Sunday worship on June 1. Arelene McIntyre adn Pat Shaw will play familiar tunes from Beethoven to Boogie Woogie.

On May 19, Prime Minster Carney together with the leaders of Great Britain and France issued a joint statement on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. They write:

We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions,” their statement read. “If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.”

Since dawn on Friday at least 66 Palestinians have been killed as Israel kept up its attacks across Gaza, including recent strikes on Khan Younis in the south and the central Nuseirat refugee camp. UN chief Antonio Guterres has said the limited aid that Israel has allowed into Gaza amounts to a “teaspoon” when much more is needed, and he called for “rapid, reliable, safe and sustained aid access.”

Since Israel has continued its egregious actions, I wrote to the Prime Minister encouraging the Canadian Goverment to take the strong actions promised. 

Here is the text of my email. I encourage you to prayerfully consider doing the same. Here are the email address for Prime Minsiter Mark Carney, and Anita Anand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

anita.anand@international.gc.ca

Our English - Ukrainian Conversation Circle continues this Saturday  from 1:00PM - 3:00PM.   

This will be our second -to - last session of this season. Next Satureday, May 31 we plan a potluck meal and social to celebrate all our learning.  

Our own Sue Engelbert will be performing in a spring concert with the North Shore Community Singers, under the direction of Annabelle Paetsch.