Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. By wearing an orange shirt on September 30, you are saying that Every Child Matters and that you want to be part of a future that values all Indigenous peoples.

Please take time to observe Orange Shirt Sunday on September 28. Events are taking place across the land on September 30 to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Please find one and join in.

In Ottawa, Moderator Kimberly Heath will be participating in the Remembering the Children: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation event on Parliament Hill. This 90-minute program is a united effort of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, the Algonquin Nation, APTN, and CBC/Radio-Canada. It begins at 3:00 p.m. ET and all are welcome. Not near Ottawa? It will also be broadcast live on APTN and on YouTube.

Some other significant events include the official unveiling of the former Mohawk Institute (Brantford, ON) as an Interpretive Historic Site, and the dedication of a memorial totem (Gitwangak, BC) created by Survivors to honour the Gitxsan children who were taken against their will to residential institutions. The United Church of Canada is honoured to have supported the creation of this totem through the Bringing the Children Home initiative.

Indigenous-Racialized Youth Scholars Program

[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]

The United Church of Canada's Indigenous-Racialized Youth Scholars program is back for 2025, offering communities of faith the opportunity for your community to engage in vital conversations and deepen its understanding of issues that matter. Through creative and engaging formats, the scholars will share their powerful research on identity, Canadian history, and the impact of racism. Check out The United Church of Canada website to learn more about the scholars, their research, and how to host a free, virtual presentation!

Living Out the Calls to Action

[Image credit:Knox United Church]

How does a church work towards the Calls to Action? Knox United Church in Brandon, MB, shows its commitment to a number of Calls that are specifically directed to the churches. That includes serving as Keeper of the BIRS Mobile Learning Centre (related to the Brandon residential institution), which responds to Call to Action 59. This year Knox was invited by Chief Vince Tacan of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to share these resources with a team from the Indigenous Services Canada office in Winnipeg. Knox also used an unexpected bequest from the former Central United Church in Brandon to continue its support for the work of the Brandon Bear Clan and the SHIFT (Supporting and Honouring Indigenous Families Together) program at the Elspeth Reid Family Resource Centre. This aligns with Call to Action 61, which calls for supporting and funding projects related to healing, reconciliation, culture and language revitalization, education, and relationship building. Finally, the Knox team along with partners from the BIRS research project, Elders, and knowledge keepers, helped lead an in-service educational event for Prairie-to-Pine ministry personnel in keeping with Call to Action 60.

Supporting Sandy-Saulteaux Ministry Students

[Image credit: Sandy-Saulteux Spiritual Centre]

Are you looking to live out your reconciliation commitment in a concrete way? A congregation in Hamilton, Ontario was inspired to learn how Indigenous ministry students at Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre in Manitoba are showing the broader church a path to reconciliation. Barton Stone-Mount Hope United decided to celebrate The United Church of Canada's 100th anniversary with a gift that supports these students and a hopeful future for our church. They challenge you to do the same! Learn more.

40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism

[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]

It’s almost time to begin a journey through 40 days of learning, faithful reflection, and prayerful action! The 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism returns on October 14. As always, though, you can participate at any time of year.

This year’s resources are really focused on congregational use. Every week there will be two video reflections (personal stories shared by a United Church person), a written prayer to go with each video, and suggestions for congregational action or response. There will also be live on-line events each Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. ET, including a November 5, 2025 session on Indigenous Justice and Healing.

It’s free to sign up on CHURCHx!