Dena Nicolai

My 7 year old niece made a book for a friend called "10 Things A Spy Should Know." Though I am not a spy (as far as you all know) I now plan to incorporate these 2 things in particular into my life.

Christmas in Palestine this year. The Child under the rubble. Immanuel God is with us in our pain and suffering. God in solidarity with the oppressed. The child of Bethlehem is our hope. For the children of Gaza and all victims of wars. At the Christmas Lutheran Church Bethlehem

I don't own A Secular Age, but Charles Taylor very graciously agreed to sign another book instead.

Brilliant review in @GuardianBooks (and book of the day!) this morning! #WhoGetsBelieved “will cement Nayeri’s position as a master storyteller of the refugee experience.” Such an intelligent, attentive, and thoughtful read. Thank you @aamnamohdin amp.theguardian.com/books/2023/mar…

@AmandaHeldOpelt Churches of all denoms across Canada continuing (since 1979!) to directly sponsor refugees of all nationalities and religions -- raising tens of thousands of dollars (all of which goes to the refugees) and committing to fully support them in their first 12 months in the country.

Tell me something good happening in your church or faith community this week? Goodness is present in the family of God, and sometimes I wish we talked about it more.

@midwestern_ope Paging @janehalton. What's your answer?

“Midwesterners will make 7 different salads for the fourth and none of them will have lettuce” Midwesterner: do you want to come over or not?

🧵 This week, #Vancouver’s City Council voted unanimously in favor of a motion urging #BC to cancel its immigration detention contract with #CBSA. No other city in #Canada has taken this step. This @hrw video of the vote brings me close to tears. #WelcomeToCanada #bcpoli 1/4

Take a look at three challenges currently in Canada's refugee system. loom.ly/AzA9PdM

@KatelynBeaty Relatedly, it seems in many of the fallen's "return to grace" stories they talk about the "accountability circles" etc. they've now surrounded themselves with. But if those circles so easily let them return to the spotlight, it makes you wonder about their strength and function.

Unless the Oilers are playing at the moment of invasion. Then Canada's all yours, Russia.

Just informed my dad (a responsible hunter who owns a gun and who thinks the gun culture in the United States is appalling) how relieved I am that he is personally prepared to deter a Russian invasion. 💪

@richvillodas Thanks for this! Also wondering how you think through/address socio-economic diversity in the stories you tell? Lately I've been pondering how this might be even more challenging than cross-cultural/ethnic diversity, especially in terms of real belonging.

2) Can people from this diverse congregation find themselves in the stories I tell? I aim to have my stories and anecdotes cross-cultural and drawn from a global consciousness.

Preaching in a multiethnic, immigrant congregation (over 75 nations represented) is a great gift, but has its challenges. Here are some questions I think thru in my prep…

Together with our refugee sponsorship partners we have identified three significant areas of concern within our refugee resettlement programs right now. Read more about each of these concerns and message your MP today. loom.ly/3vfXT8k

Join us Sat, May 7 in-person (YVR) OR online to talk about trust in the space where displacement and welcome meet. I've been working with a brilliant group from @KinbraceRefuge, @UBC_Arts, and the @muslimfoodbank on this & we'd love to see you! Learn more: tinyurl.com/2tbnwsa9

@Water89087 @UBCRobsonSquare @kinbrace @muslimfoodbank @UBC_Arts @CRCNA @LBalisky @ChurchforVan

You're invited to a community event #BecomingNeighbours May 7 @UBCRobsonSquare & online. Featuring participatory storytelling & honest discussion on ᴛʀᴜꜱᴛ. Hosted by @Kinbrace team in collab with @muslimfoodbank @UBC_Arts @CRCNA @LBalisky @denanicolai eventbrite.ca/e/becoming-nei…

@beim_m His sister is an excellent writer too! theguardian.com/world/2017/apr…

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

@ianvh @PattiTLenard Any chance I can request that PDF as well?

@PattiTLenard I will send it to you later today!

I enjoyed presenting my research on selection processes in refugee sponsorship in 🇨🇦 at a #PAA2022 poster session this morning!

Dr Wilton Littlechild, who has advocated for years 4 the Catholic Church to apologize; was a TRC Commissioner, he’s a survivor of residential schools and now uses a walker-it’s his 78th bday today. He danced in St Peters Square celebrating @Pontifex apology which is momentous

1/ I cried reading these words. I thought of my mom (Veronica) who attended St. Anne’s institution. In 2002, at her request, I brought her to the #Vatican and asked her, why after all of the abuse she suffered that she still remained faithful to the catholic church.

"The people of Ukraine have the right to defend themselves from violent Russian aggression, but we must not accept as normal or desirable the violence of war or the symbols it creates." Thank you, @benjaminhertwig theglobeandmail.com/opinion/articl…