The United Church of Canada is publishing a book about "physical and spiritual journeys undertaken during times of change" in anticipation of Lent.

Faith on the Move: Daily Reflections on Hope and Change is edited by Dr. Julie McGonegal, a writer who specializes in the intersection of language, culture, and ethics. Her latest project, published by the United Church, looks at those factors through a lens of travelling. 

"For migrants, refugees, and others seeking out a precarious existence, the journey is more than a metaphor," McGonegal writes. "This devotional also invites you to reflect on and respond to people forced to flee their homes and countries. Their journeys have only become more dangerous. The pandemic has worsened deep, pre-existing inequalities, leaving people without a permanent home more vulnerable than ever."

As Lent approaches, McGonegal is looking at is an invitation to strengthing the self to face new challenges. The Lent-based devotional is filled with diverse contributors, inviting the use to "reflect on and embody God’s welcome and love for people who are on the move."

"As we seek inspiration for how to create this new community, may we look to the learnings of the migrant church, which is changing the way we do church and offering us guidance on how to grow in our faith. And may we also look with fresh eyes, and guided by the Spirit, to the mystery of the resurrection, reassured by the promise of new life as an antidote to death and despair," McGonegal says.

The devotional is meant to be used for personal study, with a guide for groups.

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