PMM April News

Dear Friends,

Here are SIX items which may be of interest to you:

  1. A letter shared with us by Bill and Rosemarie McMechan about needs of Friends in Uganda
  2. Earthcare Resources from Montréal Friend David Millar—(see especially the list of music!)
  3. Get to Know Thee, Friend event with Jane Orion Smith
  4. An opportunity to have input on the shape and priorities of our Yearly Meeting.
  5. Also a new poster inviting us to Yonge Street Half Yearly Meeting on May 1
  6. An intriguing list of resources and events around Indigenous and Settler concerns and education.

In Friendship, Margaret

Letter from Uganda:

Cover letter from Rosemarie: I thought you might like to see this letter from our Friend Kolya Patrick in the village Bududa. Mbale is the closest town which has the bank to which we send the money. The account is for a registered organisation with the title: “Trauma Healing Child Care and Community Development Association”. Perhaps other folks in the Meeting may also be interested in this letter. We sent $1,500 US which came close to $2,000 CAD with the bank charges. The money is always used for very basic needs. -Rosemarie-.

 Re: ACCOUNTIBILTY
 Dear Bill and Rosemarie.
 Praise God.
 Esther greetings from your friends in Bududa side.Hoping that you're well.For us this way we're guided by God's mercy.It's raining we are busy in our gardens planting.We are still need your prayers for our nation.
 This was what I distributed to the team.                                                 
 1ton of maize flour @ 1,000,000/=
 1/2 ton  rice              @  1,200,000/=
1/2 ton  beans.         @ 1,200,000/=
100 litre cooking oil  @   600,000/=
 Team facilitation               150,000/=
 3 people withdraw Mbale 120,000/=
 Bank charges                32,93/=                                             ...............
 Total.                      5,102,983=
   ( The amounts are in Ugandan shillings.)                                              
 This serving 50 households   
 120 adults and 180 children totaling 300 benficiaries   
 Thanks a lot,we pray that  you remain strong in spiritual 
and continue serving His people.
 We wish you successful Esther  
 Your friend  
 Kolya Patrick

Earthcare Resources:

You can read this short but inspiring newsletter about Quaker earthcare activities without killing a tree or a bee. Download the PDF version here:

https://www.quakerearthcare.org/sites/default/files/bfc/bfc3401_for_web.pdf.

more at https://www.quakerearthcare.org/living-our-testimonies and https://www.quakerearthcare.org/living-our-testimonies

As Quaker rep to the Convention on Biodiversity / Kairos / For the Love of Creation / et le Réseau oecuménique Justice Écologie Paix (ROJEP) I will be happy to answer any question you might have about what is going on: the state of the planet, contacts for Spirit-led action, local groups.

~ David Millar

Get to Know Thee, Friend: (CFSC): 7pm, April 29 The link hasn’t been sent out yet, but you can get connected on the CFSC site https://quakerservice.ca/ This month we spend time with Jane Orion Smith. Orion is dear to your Clerk and to others in this Meeting who know her. She coordinated CFSC for several years before she suffered a brain injury one day while out walking their dog and was unable, as it turned out, to return to work. She now lives in Winnipeg with her partner Janet Ross. Orion’s brain still works well enough that she will be really great to hear.

A Friendly Exploration of CYM

Saturday April 17, 2021 from 2:30 – 4:30pm Eastern on Zoom

This is our chance for input into the refocusing of priorities and energy in our Yearly Meeting. If you are willing to report back on the discussion of New Technologies Integration, or on Youth Engagement, please let the Clerk know, as it would be good to have someone from our Meeting at each of the four topics. Anne T and Margaret S plan to attend ‘CYM in Session’ and ‘Communications,’ respectively.

Here is the invitation:

We invite all Friends to join with members of the Change and Sustainable Transformation (CAST) working group to explore what we want CYM to be. Where do we need to focus our efforts to create meaningful change with regards to future sustainability?

CAST proposes the following areas:

  • New Technologies Integration
  • Communication
  • Youth Engagement
  • CYM in Session

We will meet via Zoom. You will be asked to join a breakout group to discuss one of these areas. Please come with your thoughts and ideas. The Zoom link can be found on the CYM Calendar in the Business Section of quaker.ca and below.

Questions? contact

Topic: Zoom – CAST Event for CYM

Time: Apr 17, 2021 02:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8671213216?pwd=VlRCRHhpSFFhRHllS2dBcHNnc1kvdz09

Meeting ID: 867 121 3216

Passcode: CYM1955

April W.I.N.D. Listings

APRIL 10 1 – 2:30 PM A Reflection On Land Acknowledgments with Daniel Stevens  us02web.zoom.ushttps://fb.me/e/z0a5s3uS

APRIL 12, 7 – 8:30 PM Treaty as Sacred Covenant – Skyler & Eric, Landback Lane https://mcec.ca/event/12653-2021-04-12-treaty-as-sacred-covenant-storytelling-landback-lane

APRIL 12, 19, and 26 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Film Study on Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Lands, Strong Hearts: St. John the Evangelist, Port Hope and St. Paul, Perrytown are offering a three-part, free online discussion of this award-winning documentary, facilitated by Marnie Bickle, John Bird, Cheryl Marek and Patricia Sinnott. The series takes place on Monday evenings Please contact Patricia Sinnott by April 7th to register. See our Indigenous Relations page for direct links to the film.

Now – April 11, 2021. Embodying Power and Place. Audio-visual Presentation by Nightwood Theatre and Native Earth. Artists responses to the report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. twelve audio-visual works to honour the lost lives and create sacred space reflect, heal, and find renewed hope. https://www.embodyingpowerandplace.com/

April 14- 20 Contemporary Indigenous dance at Harbourfront Centre Tickets start at $16.14 for single viewer (fees and taxes included).   http://tracking.wordfly.com/view/?sid=MzIyXzU3MzZfNjc1MDRfNzIzNQ&l=dfabaccb-fe8b-eb11-a82b-0050569dd3d9&utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RedSkyPerformanceAnnounce&utm_content=version_A&sourceNumber=8696

April 8 – 25 TOMSON HIGHWAY Performance. The Post Mistress.  Live music and performance by Krystle Pederson, Tickets:$20+GST   http://tracking.wordfly.com/view/?sid=MjY3XzE3NDAyXzY1NTM2XzcwMzQ&l=420f6e77-0a88-eb11-a82b 0050569dd3d9&utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ThePostMistress_salesemail&utm_content=version_A

Ongoing exhibit: Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket https://images.app.goo.gl/uAt3Yo1egciycXqC6 , http://witnessblanket.ca/#!/project/ ,http://witnessblanket.ca/blanket/     

Now- April 25 Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth. The first retrospective of Christi Belcourt’s career at the McMichael Gallery https://mcmichael.com/general-admission/?utm_campaign=Tickets&utm_medium=email&utm_source=artflash      

April – June Introduction to Indigenous Lands and Issues in Canada by Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre. each session $25.Register at https://sandysaulteaux.ca/event/introduction-to-indigenous-lands-and-issues-in-canada/

  • April 17 9 – 11 AMSession 3: Indigenous Child Welfare
  • May 15 8 – 10 AM, Mountain Daylight Savings Time Session 4: Indigenous People and Resource Development
  • June 19 8 – 10 AM, Pacific Daylight Savings Time Session 5: Traditional Lands and Environmental Protection