E-ssentials: Growth Initiatives, Ask and Imagine: Your Turn Webinar, Hymn Sing for Union Sunday, and more!

Growth Animators to Support and Strengthen Communities of Faith

“Growth is the most urgent priority God has given The United Church of Canada in this season” —Rev. Mitchell Anderson, Member of General Council Executive, May 13, 2023   The Growth initiative represents the leading priority of the Strategic Plan of The United Church of Canada. As a way to embody this priority, the General Council Office’s Organizational Development and Strategy Unit is working with regional councils to create and fill six new positions. The six Growth Animators will be deployed across the regions to work in local and regional partnerships with a focus on renewing existing communities of faith, creating new communities, and strengthening invitation. Growth Animators will support and connect with communities where growth is occurring, and seek to bring best practices and fresh possibilities where growth is a challenge and feels impossible. The Growth initiative is seeking to articulate a vision for what growth and invitation looks like rooted in humility and respect as we together answer our call to be the church, become beloved community, and embody Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship, and Daring Justice. These staff will join a team that includes existing EDGE colleagues bringing their experience and expertise. Working with the Growth Team will be the newly hired Director of Growth and Ministry Development, the Rev. Cameron Fraser, who is concluding ministry leadership at Knox-Metropolitan in Regina. Join us in praying for those who will discern a call to engage in this vital work.  [Image credit: The United Church of Canada] New Blog: We All Need a Little Pentecost In the latest Round the table blog, the Rev. Dave Jagger dares to use the “E” word and challenges us to make the season of Pentecost a time of new discovery, positive energy, and bold discipleship. [Image credit: Peter Bauer from Pixabay] Ask and Imagine: Your Turn Webinar Communicating with young people and understanding their passion and desire for a life of faith can be difficult—especially in this post-pandemic time. How can you build relationships with youth? Are there ways to encourage their connection with and leadership in the church?  Join us on June 8 for the Ask and Imagine: Your Turn webinar. We will share a framework for conversations as well as current research on GenZ (born 2001-2020) to inform and inspire you to “ask and imagine” with young people. You will also be asked to gather information from your “ask and imagine” sessions to offer back to us as we reimagine our ministry with young people. Two sessions are available, but you only need to register on CHURCHx for one option: June 8, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. EDT June 8, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. EDT After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the meeting [Image credit: CHURCHx/The United Church of Canada/Robert Massey Photography] Then Let Us Sing! Hymn Sing for Union Sunday Celebrate Union Sunday, the anniversary of The United Church of Canada, with a hymn sing that will help us live into our call to be a people of Deep Spirituality, Bold Discipleship, and Daring Justice! This “Then Let Us Sing! Hymn Sing” worship service is new for Union Sunday—June 4—this year! Check it out and see the other worship materials available to celebrate the 98th birthday of the United Church. (Union Sunday is usually celebrated on the Sunday before June 10.) [Photo: Highwaystarz-Photography / iStock] Your Generosity Matters: Affirming that Gender and Sexuality Are Gifts from God The United Church of Canada welcomes into full membership and ministry people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. A recent consultation with Mission & Service partners in Asia provided a safe space for gender and sexual minorities to share their personal and collective struggles and gains. [Video still credit: The United Church of Canada/Rated R: Gender Asian Consultation ] United Church Bookstore: Featured Read for Asian Heritage Month  May is Asian Heritage Month! Jesus and the Marginalized is a great book to start exploring the theme. It examines the meaning of Jesus for Koreans in The United Church of Canada and in the Canadian context. After discussing the marginalization that Koreans experience here, the book examines how Jesus enables Koreans to withstand this and live prophetically in their situation.   [Image credit: The United Church of Canada/ Jesus and the Marginalized] Spring Webinar Series: Leading Adaptively with Clara King Sign up for three online Zoom sessions for Leading Adaptively with Clara King on May 31, June 14, and June 28, and discover new ways to lead adaptively with skills you already have! You’ll encounter the core theory of adaptive leadership in a vibrant new way and come away with usable practices to reinvigorate your day-to-day leadership journey. Register on CHURCHx by May 30!  [Image credit: CHURCHx/Clara King] Worship Resources  See our Worship Resources for upcoming Sundays and special celebrations. Pentecost Sunday - May 28, 2023 Asian Heritage Month 4 - May 28, 2023 Union Sunday - June 4, 2023 Environment Sunday - June 4, 2023 Pride Sunday - June 4, 2023 Trinity Sunday - June 4, 2023 Second after Pentecost - June 11, 2023 Third after Pentecost - June 18, 2023 Indigenous Day of Prayer - June 18, 2023 Fourth after Pentecost - June 25, 2023 For more inspiring worship ideas and resources subscribe to GatheringWorship.ca Facebook Twitter Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Our gifts for Mission & Service bring healing, justice, and hope to life. Donate today.

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