advent 2012: second sunday - women of courage
DESCRIPTION
KAIROS’ new Advent 2012 resource, 'Seeking Shelter: An ecumenical Advent justice journey', is now available! Inspired by Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, the resource is based on Las Posadas, a Central American and Mexican tradition in which actors playing Mary and Joseph walk through town searching for shelter, accompanied by local church members singing and carrying bright lanterns. Turned away again and again, they finally find householders who welcome them in. Today, that search for shelter is a reality for many in our world, whether the shelter people seek is fair wages, land rights, or clean water. What is our response?TRANSCRIPT
Advent 2: Women of Courage
Our Advent journey through Hope, Peace, Joy and Love can also carry us along on a search for justice and right relations.
KAIROS invites you to an Advent search for that shelter in the spirit of Mary and Joseph’s journey.
Advent 2: Joy- honouring all who defend human rights
Mary and Joseph relied on the welcome of strangers when they arrived in Bethlehem after a long journey.
In today’s world, who is seeking shelter?
Who is seeking freedom from fear? Who is seeking freedom from want? Who is offering shelter to our battered Earth, God’s
creation and our only home? What is our response to the knock on our doors?
“Without women, human rights are not human.” Colombia
All humans are God’s beloved children- yet too many live with violence.
In memory of women murdered near Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
KAIROS’ Women of Courage programme:
IS FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE WOMEN SHOULD HAVE IN ENDING ARMED CONFLICT AND SYSTEMIC VIOLENCE
ASKS WHY WOMEN ARE SO OFTEN THE FOCUS OF VIOLENCE, AND WHY THEY ARE OFTEN CUT OUT OF POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
CONNECTS WITH SOUTHERN, INDIGENOUS AND MIGRANT WOMEN TO SHARE ANALYSIS, STRATEGIES, AND STRENGTHS
KAIROS’ Women of Courage programme Focuses on peoples and partners
facing violence in:
CANADA, ESPECIALLY INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND MIGRANT WORKERS
COLOMBIA
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
THE PHILIPPINES
SOUTH SUDAN
“Because ideas are stronger than guns.” Women’s meeting, Colombia
THESE ROCKS REPRESENT MISSING AND MURDERED PEOPLE IN COLOMBIA. AN AVERAGE OF OVER 2000 PEOPLE ARE
KILLED IN THE CONFLICT EACH YEAR IN COLOMBIA, ACCORDING TO THE UN.
Jill Harris, Penelakut First Nation and Anglican activist, in Colombia with photos of victims of violence. R: Vigil with rocks bearing names of
victims of violence.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen millions die and millions of women brutalised in decades of armed conflict.
Near Bukavu, DR Congo Women walk by posters for the DRC’s first national
election in decades.
Congolese women showing their inked fingers after voting for the first time in national elections. Women must be part of political processes if
change is to happen at all.
Chantal Bilulu of Congolese partner Héritiers de la justice accepts an award from Vancouver-area MLA Mabel Elmore.
Chantal and Vernie Yocogan-Diano of the Philippines were two Women of Courage partners who visited Canadian churches, First Nations, community
groups and government officials to talk about human rights.
In Ottawa, with local activist and with Dr Cindy Blackstock of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society. R: Preparing to meet the
Government!
Palestinian women with photos of dead or imprisoned family members meet with the KAIROS church leaders’ delegation, 2004.
Everyone is needed in the struggle to end violence against women. All of us need healing from violence.
Claudia Castellanos of Colombia with Mi’kmaq elder Billy Lewis at the Halifax Native Friendship Centre.
Father and daughter at an event against violence, Colombia.
Signs at the October 4 Sisters in Spirit vigil, Saskatoon SK, where churches marched alongside community groups.
At minimum, 600 Indigenous women have gone missing or been murdered in Canada in the past 3 decades.
Faith communities need to bring respectful voices and offers of action to Indigenous communities living with violence and racism.
Every Woman Drum leads a national church and Indigenous action on Parliament Hill.
Lutheran National Bishop Susan Johnson and Colin with friend Max, Montreal Lake First Nation, SK. May reconciliation lead to
a better future.
St. Paul’s United Church, Moncton NB: Indigenous rights workshop. Reconciliation must start at home.
KAIROS Saskatoon offers an Expression of Reconciliation and commitment to action at the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission, Saskatoon. www.trc.ca
Cadboro Bay United Church, Victoria BC: Expressing public commitment to the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The TRC’s work continues through 2014 and is one crucial way of naming the truth about the violent legacy of the schools.
Montreal Lake First Nation, SK
The first full generation to grow up without residential schools.
Yolanda Bird and Theresa Halkett, two Women of Courage working for a healthy, whole community.
THIS WINDOW BY CHRISTI BELCOURT REMEMBERS CANADA’S APOLOGY TO
SURVIVORS OF THE “INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL
SYSTEM”, TELLS SOME OF THE STORY, AND REMINDS US OF THEIR STRENGTH AND OUR
COMMON HISTORY. IT’S LOCATED IN THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS.
Giniigaaniimenaaning/ Looking Ahead
stained glass window
People of courage need the shelter of our support, our ideas, our action and our voices.
The Canadian delegation at a vigil against violence, Colombia. Through our global partners and the global church, we reach far beyond borders and commit to a future free of violence.
KAIROS’ Women of Courage programme
Believes women can make a huge difference in the struggle to end violence and conflict.
Believes men can and must be an important part of this work, both individually and together.
Believes the Canadian government can offer a great deal, but must step up.
Believes that the Canadian public and church members can make a difference if we get involved locally and nationally. Please join the journey!
KAIROS is: YOU!
A faithful movement for justice
KAIROS is:
A network of over 20 global partners
Supportive local churches (KAIROS Communities)
Ecumenical and interfaith Communities
Individual Companions
Local and regional partnerships
The Anglican Church of Canada The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops The Canadian Religious Conference The Christian Reformed Church in North America (Canada
Corporation) The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada The Mennonite Central Committee Canada The Presbyterian Church in Canada The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) The United Church of Canada
KAIROS members:
Check the KAIROS website, Facebook group and Twitter feed for resources and perspectives that add to your work for social justice.
Bring your faith community’s perspective and energy to the KAIROS ecumenical justice journey.
Join us locally and regionally for events, workshops and worship related to Women of Courage and more. Contact us at [email protected]
www.kairoscanada.org