I am Marilyn Oke-Johnston, WICC board member appointed by the United Church Women (UCW) of Canada. I share information with the UCW National group, which has communications reps to further share the news.
I am a Mohawk/English/Swedish person, with a foot in both the white and Aboriginal communities.
I have a strong commitment to right relations for Indigenous Peoples and a need to seek justice for all.
Having lived in many different communities across Canada – whether it was Manitoba, Quebec, or the city of Mississauga I have tried to listen to understand the many differences across Canada. As a leader within the UCW (past president of Horseshoe Falls Region), I am also connected with churches and members across southern Ontario and actively seek out opportunities to learn, grow and share what I have learned.
I have been fortunate to serve within the church in numerous ways throughout my life. These include Outreach, Ministry and Personnel, Christian Development and Worship Committees. Additionally, I was Chair of Council at a time when the congregation was undergoing significant transition and discernment. For many years, I worked with children and youth by teaching Sunday School and leading confirmation classes. I also supported young adults who went on to become ordained in the UCC. I have shared creatively through my musical gifts and participation in the church drama groups. I learned to quilt once I retired and devote hours to this pursuit. I currently facilitate a monthly book group that increasingly opens conversations about difficult topics and attracts participants who aren’t regular Sunday morning worshippers.
Outside our local congregation, I have written for the United Church Exchange Magazine and volunteered for the United Church Pension Plan Advisory Committee of General Council.
I am retired now. My career began as a pre-school teacher and progressed to working in Human Resources and finally as a Project Manager for a major pension company. I joined the CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women) during COVID times, and produce their newsletter and keep their website up to date … although this term is coming to an end in May of this year.
As a child I loved the Bible story of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall and his faith that God would help and how all the people worked together to rebuild. As we work together, we can accomplish many things with God’s help. We must not be fearful or dismayed as we pursue Justice for All. The following is the Bible verse I chose to try and live by.
Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”.
My involvement with World Day of Prayer started when our church hosted this event well before COVID. I was the president of our ladies’ group, and it fell to me to get the event together. Back in those days we had a binder that was passed between churches. Everything fell apart during COVID, and we are just getting things back on track. The resources online really help. I really liked reaching out to different churches and was glad to receive favourable responses.
This brings me to a hymn I like very much. “Through the Heart of every City” #584 in Voices United. I selected a few of the lines that speak to me and remind me that I still have work I can do in His service.
Through the heart of every city runs the flow of human need.
Through the passing generations, in their spirt, flesh and bone Jesus Christ becomes incarnate.
Holy hearts are living stone, building here a house of refuge as a temple, as a home.
Jesus sows the word as seed
Has our church a word to offer, some hope shining from our creed?
We hear the heartbeat of Compassion
You, our vine, and we your branches, deadened not by any chill,
Working for that final city where harvest Is fulfilled.