Vision Statement

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these who are members of my family - you did it to me." [Matthew 25:40]

Christ being the centre of our lives, the Social Justice Group of Kingsway Lambton United Church is committed to education that will lead to greater understanding and clarity around social justice issues, connections that work in partnership with others and action that moves toward the creation of a more just, sustainable and equitable world.

Guiding Principles

We will do this by:

• Being inspired by the life and teaching of Jesus Christ Educating ourselves and others within the congregation by seeking to understand the root causes of social injustice
• Learning to listen and hear others before we act
• Partnering with those we seek to support and with others to leverage our own efforts and resources
• Building community within our area and beyond

Grant us, Lord God, a vision of your world as your love would have it:

A world where the weak are protected and none go hungry or poor,
A world where the riches of creation are shared and everyone can enjoy them,
A world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect,
A world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.
Give us inspiration and the courage to build it, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Focus

The congregation of Kingsway-Lambton identified three social justice issues of concern-youth at risk, environment and sustainability, and human rights. Through congregational education and community partnership we are currently addressing the needs of marginalized youth in our community as well as initiatives that will lead to better care for our environment. Call Sharon Jorgens or Barb Sheffield via the Church office to become more involved.

We bring issues and opportunities to the attention of the congregation every Sunday through bulletin announcements to help us all learn more, so we can do more. During April and May, we are encouraging individuals within our congregation to think about how they can advocate positions around social justice issues:

April 11, 2010 - The Voice of the United Church Needs to be Heard
According to United Church Minister Cheri DiNovo, who is now an Ontario MPP, the United Church is not the social justice giant it once was. She says her colleagues in the legislature don't know what the United Church stands for. She says there was a time when the prime minister would call the moderator for an opinion on issues. She does not understand why the United Church isn't speaking vociferously "to power" and "at power" about issues of concern such as homelessness, poverty, hunger, racism, homophobia and sexism. She thinks we need to let politicians know how we feel about justice issues. What can we do to make our individual voices heard?

April 18, 2010 - Promoting Action on Alzheimer's and Dementia
According to the Alzheimer Society, if nothing changes, the prevalence of dementia will more than double in 30 years. The cost to our health care system, the stress on families, and the community will be immense. Etobicoke Centre MPP Donna Cansfield wants us to engage her colleagues, and working with the Alzheimer Society, to promote action on Alzheimer's for residents of Ontario and to encourage change. You can tell your story by sharing your experience and knowledge in a letter sent to Donna's office at Suite 200, 4800 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M9A 1B1, or by email to dcansfield.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org, or through her blog comment box www.alzheimerstakingaction.ca.

April25, 2010 - Count Yourself in on World Malaria Day
There are over four billion people of faith in the world. Respect, justice and compassion for all people are deeply rooted in all of our religious traditions. Yet, nearly one million people, mostly pregnant women, and children, die from malaria every year. This means one child every 30 seconds. This is especially unjust since malaria is entirely preventable and treatable. Congregations across Canada are acting in solidarity this week to raise awareness and funds for malaria. Take a look at www.congregationsact.ca. All donations will be matched. Or, you can join the movement of people of faith by signing the Faiths Act at www.faithsact.org. Kingsway-Lambton is counting itself in through a gift to the campaign.

May 2, 2010 - Poverty Reduction-Make Your Pitch
A new social assistance advisory review council has been established to give advice to the Minister of Community and Social Services on the Ontario government's promised Social Assistance Review. The council is taking submissions about how community members think the review should proceed. Take a look at the five benchmarks identified by the 25-in-5 Network as essential to a successful social assistance review: http://25in5.ca/five-benchmarks-for-social-assistance. If you want to participate in having your voice heard, use the online submission form at:http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/sacouncil/contact.aspx

May 9, 2010 - Honouring our Mothers and Grandmothers
We have learned about justice from our mothers, grandmothers and the important women in our lives since we were young children; they have fed us, clothed and comforted us; they have taught us about the right things to do in life. The Stephen Lewis Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers program continues that support and education in Africa by providing resources to grandmothers who are raising some 11 million children who have been orphaned by AIDS. Since the launch of the program in 2006, some 220 groups of Canadian grandmothers have taken up the call to action and raised more than $6 million for African grandmothers and the children in their care.

Honour your mother, grandmother or a mentor in your life, by making a donation in her name to the fund. Or, as a grandmother learn more about how you can establish a grandmother's group and become more involved with this justice issue. More information at www.grandmotherscampaign.org.

May 16, 2010 -Turning Green Ideas into Action
Did you know that the City of Toronto has community animators who can help us and Toronto neighbourhoods get organized, find the information and advice we need and even connect us with financial resources, if it is appropriate, to turn our green ideas into action. Maybe it is a community tree planting event or the establishment of a community food garden that would provide fresh vegetables to those who need them. Learn more about what we could do at Kingsway-Lambton or in our community by contacting livegreentoronto.ca or teo@toronto.ca

May 23, 2010 - Buying Locally: Join the Crowd
Have you discovered one of the many Farmers Markets in Etobicoke or Mississauga where you can meet the vendors who nurtured seedlings into plants, picked the fruit, pulled the vegetables, baked the bread, prepared the jams and jellies and other offerings loaded on their trucks in the early morning hours to bring their home grown products to us. Shopping at these markets is a healthy decision not only in terms of the food we eat, but for the economy as well. For every dollar spent at the market, another two dollars ripple through the provincial economy. For every one person you see at the market, two are busy at work back on the farm. And, your purchase at the market will reduce pollution, and reduce gas and oil use needed for longer transportation distances. Support your local growers and the family farm. Take a look at www.farmersmarketsontario.com.

May 30, 2010 - Our Commitment to Social Justice
Are you a champion of social justice? Are you engaged in actions which will transform yourself, society and individual lives as we move toward the creation of a just and sustainable world? As we recreate and renew over the summer months, let's be more aware of the many faces of injustice in our world and how we might better address issues around youth at risk, care for our environment, and human rights. Let's think about how we respond as individuals to what we see and experience and how we might build a world where peace is built with justice and justice is guided by love. Join us in September as we focus on education around human rights issues.