Embracing the Spirit: Freedom Kitchen & Closet, Grant Application Deadline, and more! 🌱

Freedom Kitchen & Closet   In Lower Sackville, NS, the Freedom Kitchen is a food ministry that continues to grow through relationships and staying open to listening to what is next. It started as a meal where the community gathered and ate together, which grew in partnership with other communities of faith. With eyes and ears open, the need for food and hidden poverty was seen. With relationships in place, it became possible to act. The relationship with the library provided the best parking lot to provide a meal, and the relationship with Salvation Army found the truck to deliver meals anywhere. Over 200 volunteers are involved, and corporate sponsors are more than just cash; they have a relationship, and one has even offered to be a drop-off centre for food. When the need for warm clothing and the "closet" part of the idea was identified, it was the corporate sponsor who provided a trailer and enabled this new outreach to be possible overnight. When the pandemic hit, the truck that was being used was sent to Quebec as that's where it was most needed. Based on the network and awareness of Freedom Kitchen & Closet, a local food truck owner donated the services of her truck. At the same time, Nova Scotia experienced and was deeply impacted by the largest mass murder in Canadian history. This tragedy had—and continues to have—a profound impact on all of Nova Scotia. A local sponsor approached Freedom Kitchen and asked, "What can we do?" As they were a bakery, they created Flowers of Hope and shipped them to frontline workers. Knox United Church continues to learn and grow with Freedom Kitchen & Closet, responding in partnership to what they are hearing from the community. Watch the whole story. [Image credit: Freedom Kitchen & Closet] Due Date is Tomorrow!   Embracing the Spirit grant applications are due tomorrow. Both Innovation Grants and Growth Grants are accepted for the April 15 round. EDGY Conversations and Events Remember to check out EDGE’s calendar to see what is coming up! Sustainability Cohort: Every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. EDT starting April 22. Please RSVP to carla@edge-ucc.ca. EDGY Conversation: every Monday at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Just show up! What’s in the Mindset?     The EDGE team recently sat down to discuss the mindset shift needed to make changes.   Over the years, we’ve learned that two of the main challenges to adopting a new mindset are: confidence ability to relinquish control Relying on validation and holding control can often hold us back from exploring something new. So, where do these two challenges intersect? Curiosity! This is at the heart of change.   And we also acknowledge that curiosity is scary. It takes bravery to act on your curiosity and to try something new. We often call this the “leap of faith.” Therefore, we can put trust in our faith to overcome some of that fear. We can also have faith that we are not alone on these journeys. Be inspired by other’s curiosity and allow that to foster your own. When we realize we are not alone, this mindset shift doesn’t sound as scary. The original fear begins to fade, and, in fact, we start to see and feel the joy of curiosity.   Check out our conversation as we discuss fear, faith, and joy in relation to curiosity. [Photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash] Embracing the Spirit is a learning network and innovation fund. It offers funding and support for innovation ideas hatched out of faith communities and communities in ministry. Some of the stories and best practices that are happening throughout The United Church of Canada are shared in this newsletter. If you have an idea that you want to launch, reach out and tell us about it! Proposal deadlines are quarterly, and due on the 15th of the month: January, April, July and October. Find out more.  Share Tweet Forward to a friend Sign up for the Embracing the Spirit newsletter! Facebook Twitter Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Donate to The United Church of Canada and help fund life changing work around the world!

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