go2learn:LEADING WITH CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE

There is a great learning opportunity coming up on OCTOBER 23-24th 2009. International Teams is hosting a 2 day leadership conference on “glocal” (global and local) training for missional leaders.

DAVID LIVERMORE, will be the keynote speaker. He is a gifted communicator with a wealth of knowledge in the whole area of cultural intelligence. (If you haven’t read his book “Serving with Eyes Wide Open” you need to!)  This year he will introduce us to best practices for connecting across any cultural divide including national , ethnic, and organizational cultures.

There will also be several breakout sessions including:

• churches working together “glocally”
• embracing cultural diversity
• resourcing and fundraising missional activities
• preparing fora successful short term team
• planning for long term impact

I think it will be great learning day for all those interested in cross-cultural ministry. Please consider joining us.

For full event details and to register online visit: go2learn.iteams.ca or call International Teams Canada at 1 -800-465-7601 (toll free) . The conference is being held in Waterloo, ON. The registration deadline is October 16th and the cost is $50.

There will be a group from Hamilton going so if you are interested and need a ride let us know. Email  alisonjillwitt@gmail.com

World Refugee Sunday-June 21st

June 21st has been designated World Refugee Sunday by the World Evangelical Alliance.

We encourage you to consider including the forcefully displaced in our world today in your worship that day. Some ideas:

• Consider including them in your prayers during your worship service(s)
• Consider having your Sunday morning educational classes (aka Sunday School) to explore a biblical story about forcefully uprooted people (see “Refugees in the Bible” below for some ideas).
• Consider raising awareness of this global issue during your worship using one or more of the following resources:
  • Refugees in the Bible (27 kb)
  • Snapshot of Refugee Realities on the Refugee Highway Today (216 kb)
  • Understanding the Basic Terminology of Forced Displacement (519 kb or 77 kb)
• Consider asking a refugee or former refugee that is part of your fellowship to share their story of displacement with the church
• Consider including a note about World Refugee Sunday in your bulletin and other church publications
• Consider downloading and playing Hold On – a 5 minute musical prayer for uprooted people in the world during your offetory, prelude or postlude. Download Hold On by choosing a resolution and clicking a link below. QuickTime player required to view:
  • high resolution (126 MB)
  • medium resolution (42 MB)
• Consider downloading and playing “The Orphan, Widow and Alien“, a 3 minute interview from International Teams about the mandate of God’s people to love the refugee. Note: .mp4 file -QuickTime or iTunes Player required to view.
• Consider encouraging other pastors and churches you know about World Refugee Day
• Consider coming up with some better ideas and resources!

Take a look at www.refugeehighway.net, the official website of the Refugee Highway Partnership (WEA) for more resources to help churches observe this day.

Hamilton Ride for Refugees- Oct 3rd 2009

Mark your calendars now! This October 3rd, join your friends and community in the 6th annual Ride for Refugees. It’s a growing worldwide movement of people riding bikes, raising money and advocating for refugees.

Keep checking the website rideforrefugees.com for more details. As the time gets closer there will be more up-to-the-minute news and resources posted there. By participating in the Ride for Refugees, you can involve your friends, family, church or work-mates in raising much needed dollars  for the unique needs of refugees along the refugee highway, including refugee resettlement in Hamilton.

Register yourself, lead a team, give generously or volunteer. Please join us – Every Mile Matters.

Refugee Claimants: what comes after the Hearing

Please join us for a great learning opportunity.

Saturday October 27th
9:30-11:30 am
“The Vine”  corner of Vine St. & Park St. N
 Light refreshments will be served

Presenter: Jeremiah Eastman LLB Immigration Lawyer (and former lawyer with the federal department of Citizenship and Immigration)  Jeremiah is a refugee lawyer who previously worked for Immigration. His unique experiences and knowledge will make for a fascinating discussion. Together we hope to learn more about the Canadian immigration system  so that we can better serve refugees in Hamilton.To learn more about Jeremiah click on this link:
 http://www.carters.ca/lawyers/jeastman.html

Hope you can join us!

CartoonsSpeak

CartoonsSPEAK:  A Celebration of the Afghani Political Cartoons of the late Said Rahimi, who was tragically killed in Hamilton on January 15, 2007. 

Early on the morning of January 15, Said Shiraga Rahimi was killed by a train at the Mount Albion Road crossing while delivering pizza to support his wife and seven children. The 35-year-old was a talented political cartoonist whose work, while he lived in exile in Iran and Azerbaijan, mocked the fanaticism that had taken hold in his homeland. He came to Canada in 2005 and Hamilton last year and was planning for a show of his cartoons even as he worked to help his children get the education they need to be successful here.

Saturday June 23, 7 – 10 pm  at The Pearl Company, 16 Steven Street at King William.  Also featuring live music, Afghani hors d’oeuvres, door prizes, and original cartoons and other items for sale. MC for the evening will be CBC radio personality Jeff Goodes.  Featuring four outstanding Canadian political cartoonists: Terry Mosher, longtime political cartoonist for the Montreal Gazette (Aislin); Brian Gable, of the Globe and Mail; Graeme MacKay, of The Hamilton Spectator; and Roy Carless, Hamilton Political Cartoonist.

All money raised by the event will go into a trust fund for Rahimi’s wife and children. 

Tickets are $30 apiece and can be purchased at Bryan Prince Bookseller (Westdale),  the Carnegie Gallery ( Dundas),  Arts Hamilton (Jackson Square),  La Jardinere (Locke St), OPIRG (McMaster University) and The Immigrant Culture and Art Association (Stuart St). Donations to the trust fund can be made at any TD/Canada Trust location to the Rahimi Family Trust at Branch 346,  Account 6312464. 

 Please call 905-524-0606 or email cartoonsspeak@gmail.com for more information.

Philpott Church has ongoing contact with his wife, Karemah. Hope you can join us -it will be a great way to show our support Karemah and her family.

Eva Rothwell Resource Centre

A good place to refer both people who have furniture to donate, and those looking for used furniture, is the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre. It is located in the old Robert Land school at  460 Wentworth St. N  (just a little south of Burlington St.) It is a couple doors down from St. David’s Presbyterian church with the bright red doors and across the street from a small neighbourhood park.

Donations of furniture and housewares are trickling in at times – pouring in at others – and things are starting to get organized. A clothing room is up and running already, and is being capably coordinated by Sue Fowler. Several newly arrived refugees including residents of Micah House – along with members of the surrounding area – have already benefitted from the clothing, housewares and furniture available at the Eva Rothwell Centre.

The Centre hours are: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 9am -12 noon and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9pm. 

Their phone number is: 905-526-1558.

Karen community garden

This is a photo of the backyard of the TrueCity office on Gage Ave. As you can see it is a bit of a mess! But transformation plans are underway as we are working with the Karen community to turn it into a community garden. We are hoping that it can become a place for them to grow vegetables, and flowers, and just enjoy spending time outside together. 

Saturday May 12th (starting at 9am) will be  the first ‘garden cleanup’ to begin getting the ground ready to plant. It is in pretty rough shape right now so there is a lot of work to be done!If you want to join us please drop by. Or call Alison at 296-1426 for more details.

Opportunities to help Micah House

Spring Cleaning Day – May 5

Help to keep Micah House beautiful! Spring cleaning projects include washing windows, scrubbing and painting walls; cleaning the yard; dusting those hard to reach spaces that never get dusted!

If you would like to commit your time and elbow grease to Micah House spring cleaning please contact Paul or Crystle at 905-296-4387 or info@micahhouse.ca  Lunch provided for all workers!

Friends on the Move – Walk-a-thon Fundraiser – June 20, 2007 at Gage Park

Friends of Micah House, please join us for our first annual Walk-a-thon and BBQ fundraiser to be held on World Refugee Day! Date: June 20th Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30pm Location: Gage Park Minimum pledge of $25. The first 125 registrants will receive a t-shirt! Micah House cooler lunch bags for those raising pledges of $150 or more!! Sponsorship opportunities available. Please ask for our Sponsorship Package. Promotional material available for youth and other church groups. Pledge sheets and registration form will be available on our website at www.micahhouse.ca For more information please contact Director Paul Millar at 905-296-4397 or pmillar@micahhouse.ca Join us in helping welcome and support refugees in our community!

Focus Team Meeting

We will meet Saturday December 9th at 9am at the Hughson St. Baptist Church manse. The main topic on the agenda is discussing  plans to welcome the newly arrived Karen refugees.

Learn about the HOST program

Interested in being a freind to newcomers to Canada? First Hamilton Christian Reformed Church is inviting people to learn about SISO’s HOST Program. Join us  on SATURDAY NOV. 25TH at 10am.

First Hamilton CRC is located at  181 Charlton Ave. West (near corner of Hess St.)