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

Your June Mission & Service Stories   JUNE 5 Your Gifts Support Displaced People in Ukraine   [Photo credit: Fekete Dániel/Hungarian Interchurch Aid] More than 12 million people are believed to have fled their homes in Ukraine since the invasion began. Irina’s family is among them. Here’s how your generosity is helping.   JUNE 12 Transportation Is Key to Improving Lives [Photo credit: 99mimimi from Pixabay] High gas prices, the cost of a vehicle, and lack of public transit that reaches job-rich areas can be barriers to creating a better life. Your gifts through Mission & Service help.   JUNE 19 Habtamu’s Story     [Photo credit: Canadian Foodgrains Bank]   Habtamu, a husband, father and farmer, used to feed his family with maize he bought from the market. Now, he not only feeds his family but supplies the market, too. Here’s how a program your gifts support helped make a difference.    JUNE 26 985 Leaders Trained in Anti-Human Trafficking   [Photo credit: Diocese of Durgapur] In 2021, the Diocese of Durgapur - a Mission & Service partner - helped 985 key youth, church and community leaders become aware of anti-human trafficking methods. But that’s not all the organization accomplished last year with your help. Learn more. Mission & Service Certificates Set to Be Delivered This Summer Together, we help transform lives through Mission & Service every day. And we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for your support!   Your community of faith will receive your certificate of thanks in the mail this summer, along with copies of the 2021 Mission & Service report. Please highlight them in your community of faith and celebrate the generosity of your people. Help Support Ukrainian Refugees   [Photo credit: Antti Yrjonen/FCA] The devastating invasion of Ukraine has already caused over 6,000,000 people to flee their homes for the safety of neighbouring countries. Many refugees have lost friends and loved ones, and struggle to meet basic needs. You can help.   For just $25, you can give them a hygiene package with items like toothpaste, laundry detergent and disinfectant. For $38, a food basket of staples. For $40, a hygiene package and incontinence products.   All of these gifts go directly to support Ukrainian refugees through our Mission & Service partner ACT Alliance. Please make a gift today. 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. It’s NOT always about how much! It’s also about how often!   One of the sure signs of spiritual growth is a growth in generosity. As your congregation’s year-round stewardship programming teaches and mentors people, their desire to share what they have in order to help other people will increase. As people have become more comfortable making one-time gifts using Interac e-transfer, you can offer them a simple way to become a consistent monthly donor.   Pre-Authorised Remittance (PAR) makes consistent giving easy. With PAR, financial gifts are given by an automatic monthly debit from individuals’ bank accounts. You can ensure that your community of faith and those who are helped through Mission & Service can count on your support by giving monthly through PAR.   May and June are great times to invite people to sign up for PAR and to invite your current PAR donors to consider an increase in their gifts. Find out more and find the materials you need here. Celebrate Your Church! As we get closer to the 97th anniversary of the United Church on June 10, why not also celebrate your own community of faith? Whether it’s as part of worship, or with a special newsletter, or an updated section on your website, this is the time to inspire people with personal stories of how your congregation matters. Ask people to share a story of why they love your community of faith. In person, ask these two questions: What brought you to this community of faith? Why are you still here? Short (one minute) video clips showing your congregation in action having an impact in your community make a great introduction to worship, and show how people’s gifts are being well used. And don’t forget to include a story about how you are making a difference beyond your local context through Mission & Service. Called to Be the Church: The Journey-Registration It’s official! Registration for all modules of Called to Be the Church: The Journey is now happening through United In Learning, including upcoming module information, dates and times, and module leaders. It’s never too early to start gathering your learning team and sign up!   Find more detailed information about each module at www.united-church.ca/stewardship. Stewardship Seconds, offering invitations, and offering prayers Stewardship Seconds, offering invitations, and offering prayers for June 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! 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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