God's Mission Our Gifts: Your April Mission & Service Stories and more!

Your April Mission & Service Stories APRIL 3 Acting Together for Ukraine   [Photo credit: Hungarian Interchurch Aid/ACT Alliance] Spanning 127 countries, Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance is the world’s largest network of Protestant and Orthodox churches and agencies, including the United Church. Your generosity through Mission & Service has long supported ACT’s humanitarian relief and advocacy efforts. Right now, your ongoing support through Mission & Service as well as special emergency gifts are helping provide Ukrainians with shelter, clean water, food, and medical attention.   APRIL 10 Millions Face Food Shortages in Afghanistan   [Image credit: Asian Muslim Action Network] The United Nations estimates that nearly 23 million Afghans – more than half of the population – face potentially life-threatening food shortages, with nearly 9 million on the brink of famine. In addition, people lack proper healthcare and are confronting unemployment and housing shortages. Here’s how your generosity through Mission & Service is helping.    APRIL 17 Compassion Gives Rise to Peace     [Photo credit: The United Church of Canada]   There is one thing that will never fail us: compassion. Acts of compassion both big and small give rise to peace. We can’t wave a magic wand and bring about world peace but with every act of compassion, we harness the power of love, the same love Jesus lived and died for and that he promised would move mountains. *Video coming soon   APRIL 24 You Give Skills for Life: Kathleen’s Story   [Photo courtesy of Kathleen White] Camp is more than a holiday. For some people like Kathleen who is now a teacher and youth leader, it offers skills that last a lifetime. “I just want to say a huge thank you to Mission & Service donors for their support of camps,” says Kathleen. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for their support. Thank you.” *Video available Easter Video Coming to Your Inbox Watch your inbox for an Easter Mission & Service video to share with your community of faith. Please feel free to share this Easter blessing for a new day: Blessing for a New Day Rise to blessing.  Rise to gratitude.  Rise to potential.  Rise to goodness.  Rise to generosity.  Rise to appreciation.  Rise to hopefulness.  Rise to new life.  Rise  like Jesus did  for God has blessed you  with a day too beautiful  to miss.  Amen. Congregational Stewardship/Generosity   This is your resource to help you grow generous disciples and gather the resources you need to do God’s mission. Please modify and use these ideas in your context. [Photo credit: congerdesign, Pixabay]   Tell Your Stories Easter Sunday is a great time to talk about God’s generosity and invite our response. Tell the inspiring stories of how your community of faith is experiencing and generously sharing resurrection and new life. What does it mean to you to be people of the resurrection? How does what you do help people experience hope and newness of life? Invite people to consider and share their story of giving or receiving “resurrection” in your community of faith. Watch this video to get inspired.   Post-Easter Stewardship Worship Resources The Early Church in Eastertide provides complete worship, with sermons and young people’s programming, for five weeks. Called to Be the Church: The Journey Spring Cohorts Stewardship is so much more than a fancy word for fundraising. Stewardship is one of the core practices for followers of Jesus. Find out how it can help build-up your community of faith in either the Stewardship Best Practices module or the Congregational Giving Program module. Stewardship Best Practices module Participant Laurel Silenzi from Southampton United Church in Southampton, ON, says, “If you are starting on a Stewardship journey, this course is for you and your team. Lots of guidance, resources and encouragement.” Spring cohorts start the week of April 25. Find out more on the Stewardship Best Practices module page. Space is limited. Register now through United In Learning. Congregational Giving Program module Training and coaching for your giving team to plan and implement a successful giving program in the second half of 2022. You don’t have to do it alone! Spring cohorts start the week of May 24. Find out more on the Congregational Giving Program module page. To be added to the registration list, email called@united-church.ca. Stewardship Seconds, offering invitations, and offering prayers Stewardship Seconds, offering invitations, and offering prayers for April 2022 are available on the United Church’s stewardship worship theme page. Scroll down to “Related Material” at the bottom of the page. GOD’S MISSION, OUR GIFTS is your newsletter. We want to provide news and information that you can use in your community of faith, whether you’re a minister, a board member, an administrator, a treasurer, or anyone else who wants to make a difference.   What else would you like to see? What can we do to help your community of faith get where it needs to go? Send us your thoughts! Fill out your Mission & Service goal-setting form online! Visit the United Church’s COVID-19 page for tips and resources for members and communities of faith during the pandemic. And for help with government COVID-19 support, visit the United Church’s emergency funding page. Donate Facebook Twitter Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn   Your generosity enables the United Church to love, serve, and minister in the world. Make an online donation or learn more about your options to support the work of the church.

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