Rev. Karen Bach

It is with a sad heart that we share the news of the death of Rev. Karen Bach. Karen was the founding chaplain of the Ecumenical Chaplaincy at U of T (1990-2002). In her role as chaplain, Karen did everything from hosting spaghetti suppers to facilitating lunchtime weekly meditation groups to advocating for sexual assault support groups and providing pastoral care and counselling for students. She was well loved and respected on campus. Students who knew her described her as an incredible support, present in times of crisis and unafraid to rock the boat when needed. She was an inspiration and a model for how to do ministry.

In one of her chaplaincy reports, she wrote: “The human need for care, compassion and support seems to just keep on growing. As always, to have the opportunity to be agent of such support and sometimes transformation in people’s lives is not only an honour, but also a sacred trust. God calls each of us to be God’s hands, arms, eyes and feet according to our own particular gifts wherever God leads us.”

Our prayers go to Karen’s family and friends as they mourn this huge loss. She will be missed.

https://www.frontenacnews.ca/obituaries/item/16422-the-rev-dr-karen-sue-bach-nee-kennedy?fbclid=IwAR0Ar1Yt0raM362rjCjc5EaPK4NwCWCnKYwDT40zYP0cB_30Y18nJ29u_pI

Partnering for Student Community

Partnering for Student Community: A Conversation with Rev. Michael Blair, General Secretary of the United Church of Canada”

Tuesday, April 25, 5:30 pm, Emmanuel College Common Lounge

Join the Ecumenical Chaplaincy at the University of Toronto as we explore together what it means to build Christian community on campus. The evening will feature remarks by Rev. Michael Blair as well as opportunity to hear about the Ecumenical Chaplaincy’s work on campus and ways in which you can support this work! Co-sponsored by the Centre for Religion and Its Contexts at Emmanuel College.

Rev. Michael Blair serves the General Council of the United Church of Canada as the General Secretary, a role he began, November 1, 2020. He is the first person of African descent to serve in this role in the United Church. Before joining the General Council staff, Michael served as the Executive Director of the Toronto Christian Resource Center (CRC) in Regent Park, Toronto. Michael previously served as a congregational minister of a number of Baptist churches in Toronto and St. Catherine’s, Ontario; a staff member with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at the University of Toronto, and as a community chaplain with the Ontario Multifaith Council’s Reintegration Program.

RSVP: www.bit.ly/partnerstudentcommunity

Divorce in Religious Contexts
Friday March 10, 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Zoom

The end of a marriage is always heartbreaking; for people within faith traditions it can also include experiences of judgment, shame, loss of significant community, and/or internal struggles with our personal belief systems. Join us for a facilitated peer-support gathering to exchange stories on what it is like to go through a divorce in religious contexts, and where hope and healing have shown up along the way. For U of T students. Register here: https://clnx.utoronto.ca/home/slevents.htm?eventId=52659

Lenten Taizé Services

Join us for a time of silence, song and prayer in the Taizé tradition during the season of Lent.

Tuesdays (Feb 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28, April4) , 5 – 6 pm, in the Knox College chapel. Due to construction on King’s College circle, it is easiest to enter Knox College on the north side door by the parking lot. Email jeanette.unger@utoronto.ca for further information.

Sponsored by ECUT and The Christian Reformed Chaplaincy and Knox College.