The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! - John 1:29
Last year, the US economy grew by 2.5 percent while the total carbon emissions decreased by 2-3 percent, according to the US Energy Information Administration. US emissions are now down 20 percent from the all-time high in 2007, according to the EIA. Americans, on their own, are consistently choosing to save money by reducing their own energy costs, whether it is through more efficient lighting, electric cars, better windows, etc. Although per-capita emissions are still at the high end of the global scale, the US has gone from emitting around 20 percent of the global total of CO2 annually in 2000 to less than 12 percent of the global total in 2023 - though part of this decrease is certainly due to increased emissions and population growth in other nations.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported in April that the global emissions of CO2 increased by 1.1 percent in 2023 over 2022, and the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is now at 419.3 ppm. That’s more than 50 percent higher than it was before the Industrial Revolution (280 ppm).
We celebrate declines in greenhouse gas emissions Creator, give us your vision as the rates of decline are still much too slow given the timelines scientists have laid out. The world continues to burn coal and fuels, leaving us with a world getting more and more unstable and disruptive, not less. We must act with haste and conviction, O Lord. Empower us and encourage us.
Canadian Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, announced Monday that Canada will be increasing the number of temporary resident visa (TRV) applications that will be accepted.
This comes after Canada addressed the crisis in Gaza which implemented special measures for extended family. These special measures were put in place for Palestinians who currently live in Gaza, are related to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who lives or intends to live in Canada and will be supported in Canada by the Canadian citizen for 1 year. In most cases, a temporary resident will be permitted to stay for up to three years, assuming their passport and biometrics are valid. The program initially allotted 1,000 temporary visas, but due to the high demand, this number was increased to 5,000. As it stands, 448 Gazans have been issued a TRV, but only 41 have arrived in Canada so far. Miller expressed concern for the current state of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but remained optimistic about the Canadian government’s continued efforts, stating: “While movement out of Gaza is not currently possible, the situation may change at any time. With this cap increase, we will be ready to help more people as the situation evolves. Our focus remains on keeping families together.”
With bombs continuing to drop, we pray that as many Palestinians as possible can make it out of Gaza to safety. We pray for warmth and welcome upon their arrival, and beloved communities across Canada to greet them with kindness and love.
An Israeli airstrike triggered a fire that killed 45 people in a tent camp in the Gazan city of Rafah, officials said on Monday, prompting an outcry from global leaders who urged the implementation of a World Court order to halt Israel's assault. Palestinian families rushed to hospitals to prepare their dead for burial after a strike late on Sunday night set tents and rickety metal shelters ablaze. Israel's military, which is trying to eliminate Hamas in Gaza, said it was investigating reports that a strike it carried out against commanders of the Islamist militant group in Rafah had caused the fire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike had not been intended to cause civilian casualties. More than half of the dead were women, children, and elderly people, health officials in Hamas-run Gaza said, adding that the death toll was likely to rise from people with severe burns. French President Emmanuel Macron said he was "outraged" over Israel's latest attacks. "These operations must stop. There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians," he said on X. Several thousand demonstrators later gathered in Paris to protest against the offensive in Gaza. Canada's government said it was "horrified" by the deadly airstrike in Rafah, and called for an immediate ceasefire. "Canada does not support an Israeli military operation in Rafah," Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a post on X. "This level of human suffering must come to an end." Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also condemned the Israeli attack and Qatar said the Rafah strike could hinder efforts to mediate a ceasefire and hostage exchange.
Heavenly Father, we pray for peace and comfort for those grieving in Gaza. Grant wisdom to leaders seeking justice and protection for the innocent. Guide us towards love and reconciliation, ending violence and suffering. May Your mercy shine upon all affected, bringing hope and healing to this troubled land.
US aid efforts for Gaza have suffered an embarrassing setback after the temporary pier built by the military broke apart in heavy seas, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. The $320m pier was intended to provide a crucial supply line for aid deliveries by sea to reach starving Palestinians and alleviate a humanitarian catastrophe. Now the effort is on hold for at least a week.
Sabrina Singh, the deputy press secretary for the defense department, told reporters that high seas and a north African weather system had caused a section of the pier to break away on Tuesday morning. The pier will be pulled out and sent to the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, where US Central Command (Centcom) will repair it. “The rebuilding and repairing of the pier will take at least over a week, and, following completion, will need to be re-anchored to the coast of Gaza,” Singh said.
We pray for those tasked with repairing this pier, we pray for strength and for all logistics to come together. Help this come together with great speed, O Lord, so that aid might reach those who need it most.
“How do you pastorally tell the truth of the Good Friday story without retraumatizing and injuring those in your midst?” The question stumped the panel. Between the six of us, we figured out that we had a septugenarian’s worth of years of experience in leading worship ministry in the church. Yet this question led all of us into a moment of silence and deep reflection. Continue Reading Here »
Looking for a prize winning chili recipe? How about bannock bread inspired by Indigenous traditions? The CRC’s Indigenous Ministries are offering a collection of recipes to anyone who gives a gift of any size in support of their important justice and reconciliation work. Visit bit.ly/NIPD2024
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