Today at Crossroads we focussed on the Ministry of First United Church Community Ministry Society. First is a United Church outreach ministry based in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Rev. Cari preached on Isaiah 61:1-9, a text that is rooted in God’s vision of justice and peace for all.

Rev. Cari told the story of her personal relationship with First, as well as sharing news of their upcoming redevelopment of their property. She invited the congregation into a deeper relationship with First, quoting the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, their Executive Director. “There is a reason why 40% of the residents of the Downtown Eastside are Indigenous: where do you think survivors and intergenerational survivors of Residential Schools end up?”

Rev. Cari encouraged listeners to join the work of rebuilding bricks & mortar and relationships in the name of the God who “loves justice and hates robbery and sin.”