"If my experience at Romero House has taught me anything it is that it is in drawing close to the deep suffering of others that we will find joy, we will find Christ alive, between us and among us. Once we remove ourselves from this neighborly relationship, all the discussions about issues and problems in the churches become dust and ashes." -Mary Jo Leddy (The Other Face of God p. 130-131)

If you’re in the Toronto area, join us on Saturday, March 28th! We’re thrilled to announce the launch of a new workshop and online toolkit to help churches hear and respond to the biblical call to become neighbours to refugees. Mary Jo Leddy, founder of Romero House, a front line refugee support community in Toronto, will be speaking and members of the CRC Refugee Justice Task Force will lead us through the new workshop. A light lunch will be provided.

RSVP to World Renew Refugee Coordinator Rebecca Walker at [email protected]. 

Where: First Christian Reformed Church (67 Taunton Road, Toronto)

When: 9:30 am-1pm Saturday, March 28

If you're not in Toronto but would like to preview the toolkit and workshop, please visit the Centre for Public Dialogue’s website: http://www2.crcna.org/pages/publicdialogue_toolkit.cfm (Stay tuned, Vancouver! It's coming your way soon.)

An outline of the morning’s activities follows:

Sponsored by justice and reconciliation ministries of the CRC in Canada: World Renew, Diaconal Ministries Canada, Race Relations and the Centre for Public Dialogue.

9:30 am Registration and Gathering

10 am Opening Plenary

·         Introductory and opening comments

·         Opening prayer

 ·         Mary Jo Leddy Address: (Topic: Describing the realities faced by our refugee neighbours, and considering our responses as churches and citizens.)

10:45 Journey with Me Workshop 

12:15 Closing

Celebration and Refreshments

[Image: Flickr user Kris Krug, modified]