Category Archives: Articles

By Joyce Sasse This article is made up of the review notes by Joyce Sasse on the book, Men Against the Desert by James H. Gray, published in 1968 by Western Producer Prairie Books. The disastrous conditions of the 1930s and the incredible work that saved the Prairies is a history-making story that has broughtContinue reading “Our Greatest Canadian Story, Almost Forgotten Until Now”

Submitted by Catherine Christie Besides being on United Church Rural Ministry Network,  Eric Skillings and I are on the Executive of the International Rural Churches Association.   Let me share with you some history of IRCA.  There was an international meeting in England in 1998, when participants (Joyce Sasse was there from rural Canada ministries) decidedContinue reading “IRCA Global Prayer”

Submitted by Catherine Christie, article by Joyce Sasse taken from Country Preacher’s Notebook Jesus was born in a manger, in a stable.  In cities, people see the manger scene in store windows or church Christmas displays, or perhaps even set up in their own living room.  But I fear that the scene loses its simplicityContinue reading “Christmas In a Barn”

Nine UCRMN members joined together on Zoom to check in with each other with their latest experiences in Rural Ministry; one from Alberta, one from Saskatchewan, six from Ontario (five from East Central Ontario Regional Council – Ottawa area), and one from Prince Edward Island. Worship Services: Starting Questions: –   Hybrid Church – How doContinue reading “REPORT: UCRMN Zoom Check in – November 24, 2021”

During the days Nov. 3 to 7, the Church in Mission Unit of the United Church of Canada invited members to celebrate and learn about many love and justice ministries of our church, in an online gathering.  There were worship times, workshops and ‘booths’ of partners to share work of the church. One of thoseContinue reading “The Asian Rural Institute”

The history of Ridgetown Campus begins in 1922 when the Western Ontario Experimental Farm was established on land purchased by the Ontario government. This farm was operated under the Ontario Department of Agriculture as a research facility for variety testing, production trials, and fertility studies of corn, beans, sugar beets and tobacco. Potato and horticultureContinue reading “Chaplaincy at RidgetownCampus of the University of Guelph”

In the place I know the lines of boats still head out like a silent prayer on the first day of lobster fishing.  The old store that supported and supplied this community through generations was closed last year.  The church building stands right next door.  With no land, other than that it stands on, peopleContinue reading “Somewhere”

By Laura Latimer of Wilkie, SK Last night , June 10th, 2021, I attended a vigil in Wilkie, SK to remember and memorialize the 215 dead children from the Kamloops Residential School and it was one of the most moving events of my life. The first speaker was a Metis woman, Helen Urlacher, who spoke ofContinue reading “GRIEF FOR THE CHILDREN”

By: Erin Pajunen Jones This article is written by Erin Pajunen Jones, who lives on a farm just outside the small Saskatchewan community of Lucky Lake.  Last year, as the local minister created online resources for their congregation, he asked the Jones boys to participate, and they did. The Lord of the Dance starts atContinue reading “Getting into Music: Music in Rural Communities”

By: Felicia Urbanski  This beautiful teacup and saucer, called “Pansies”, is the symbol of a special program for our congregation here at Erin United Church!  Most of us already do more than we brag about to help others… all this important project does is put a name or a focus on our kindnesses. For oneContinue reading “The Cup of Kindness Project: An Idea for Congregations from Erin United Church”