This month, we asked staff members to select a Mission & Service story that is meaningful to them, and write a short introduction to the story they selected. Five staff members have provided us with five heartfelt introductions to their favourite stories. |
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Your January Mission & Service Stories JANUARY 1
A Step Toward Peace (selected by Claudia Kutchukian, Editor) [Photo credit: DSPR]
I admit that I discriminate when I give to Mission & Service: I want my gifts to support women and girls, partly because of how lucky I’ve been. I grew up not knowing what hunger or poverty is, and got a great education thanks to support from my family. Women and girls in Canada and around the world aren’t always so lucky. I love stories like Leila’s and how she’s been empowered through the support of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees—support that your generosity through Mission & Service helped make happen. Thank you for your gifts. JANUARY 8
National Affirming/PIE Day (selected by Erik Mathiesen, Chief Financial Officer)[Photo credit: Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble] A Mission & Service story that really resonates for me is our PIE Day message. For me, we seek to live into being affirming, welcoming, and inclusive people and communities every day. JANUARY 15
Food and Hygiene Kits for Ukraine (selected by Susan Jackson, Statistics)  [Image credit: Antii Yrjönen/FCA]
In mid-2022, war rages in the Ukraine. Fortunately, Canada has not seen war on its shores. Others are not so lucky. I can’t imagine what these folks are living through. As Christians, we are taught the golden rule: treat others as we would wish to be treated. Believing that we had an opportunity to help those who now have next to nothing and don’t have the means to access goods, why wouldn’t we, who have so much, help those who at this time aren’t as blessed? Therefore, sponsoring hygiene and food basket packages for those less fortunate than ourselves helps my family live up to one of the tenets by which we live. JANUARY 22
Dignity is on the Menu (selected by Kathie Murphy, Annual Giving) [Credit: Centre 507] At Centre 507, a Mission & Service partner in Ottawa, Café Cinq-Zéro-Sept provides a full-service fine dining meal several times a year for only two dollars to people struggling with poverty in their community. No lines, no trays—everyone treated with the same dignity you and I take for granted. Mission & Service gifts help make this, and all the other meals served at Centre 507, possible. JANUARY 29
Learning Racism at a Young Age (selected by Amanda Tam, Donations) [Credit: kali9/iStock] I have worked with children for over a decade. One of the important things we try to include is respect for other people—and that includes another person's abilities, race, culture, and religion. |
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Congregational Stewardship/GenerosityThis is your resource to help you grow generous disciples and gather the resources you need to respond to God’s calling. Please modify and use these ideas in your context. Worship Resources for Epiphany
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Called to Be the Church: The Journey
Even though Christmas is upon us, Lent and Easter will be here before you know it! Either is perfect to set aside dedicated time for people to consider generosity and be inspired by your community of faith’s stories within a Congregational Giving Program. This is an intensive course intended for communities of faith planning to do a Congregational Giving Program in the winter or spring or 2023. It will be offered again in late May 2023 for those doing their giving program in Summer or fall 2023. Save the dates!! New cohorts for the Congregational Giving Program module start in January 2023. Cohort 1a: Tuesday January 17, and 31, from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. EST Cohort 1b: Wednesday January 18, and February 1, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. EST
View the course details. Registration will open soon: watch our new learning platform CHURCHx.
Called to Be the Church: The Journey modules really make a difference.
Community of Faith leaders in each cohort give the Congregational Giving Program module great reviews! Susan Roberts from Eden United Church in Mississauga, Ontario, tells us, “The learning was ENGAGING and the presenter was AWESOME…positive, kind and KNOWLEDGEABLE! I even liked and appreciated the homework because I could see from week to week that the work was manageable and could begin now.”
Come and join the movement!
Connect with us for help and support: called@united-church.ca |
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Worship Without Stewardship Is Like Peanut Butter Without Jam It’s OK once in a while, but so much better together! - Full worship liturgies, prayers, sermons and kids/youth ideas for most seasons of the church year.
- Stewardship Seconds: Short, pithy sayings that pack a punch, to help infiltrate stewardship thinking into your community of faith. Add them to newsletters, worship, announcements, webpages, wherever people gather!
- Offering Introductions and Dedication Prayers: The offering time in worship is NOT about collecting money! It is about growing generous disciples and stewards. These Introductions and Dedication Prayers, for each Sunday of the year, will help.
Find the jam for your worship! |
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We Love to Hear from YouAnd we have the people and resources to help you succeed. Call us. Email us. Book a meeting with us. Whatever works for you! |
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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! |
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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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