Your September Mission & Service Stories
SEPTEMBER 5
Support for the People of Haiti
[Photo credit: Tearfund Canada, 2021. All rights reserved, permission required for further use.] Saturday, August 14 was a shattering day for the Haitian people. A devastating earthquake struck that morning, destroying homes, community buildings, hospitals, and precious lives. And Tropical Storm Grace hit Haiti on August 16, making an already bad situation even worse. Join us in prayer for the people of Haiti, and find out what Mission & Service partners say you can do to help. SEPTEMBER 12
No Longer Asking “Where Will I Eat?”
[Photo credit: Our Place Society]
When the pandemic first struck, we told you that guests at Our Place Society were asking “Where will I eat?” Thanks to the generosity of supporters, that’s no longer a question. SEPTEMBER 19You Are There Every Step of the Way: Jason’s Story [Photo credit: The United Church of Canada]
“I thought that when my kids were born, that was kind of the size my heart would be, but I’ve come to love the church, the people, and the vocation of ministry more deeply than I ever imagined,” says Rev. Jason Meyers in this heart-warming story about how Mission & Service supported his journey to ordination. A video of Jason's story is also available. SEPTEMBER 26 Wondering What More You Can Do to Become Anti-Racist?
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MODERATOR PRAYER VIDEOS
All of the prayers in Your Generosity Matters are now available in video format! Share them in worship, social media and other communications. Get them all here. |
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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.
Fall Planning
As you are looking ahead at the fall, here are some specific things you can do to nurture stewardship. Choose one or more and try them: - Find ONE story about a way your community of faith made a positive difference in someone’s life in the last six months. With any necessary permissions, share it as broadly as you can within your community of faith--and even beyond. Try to make it fit with a Sunday theme.
- There is a lot going on in the world right now. We could all use the lift of good news. Mission & Service is helping to save and transform lives, inspire meaning and purpose, and build a better world. Check out Your Generosity Matters stories and share them with your community of faith (during worship, in the newsletter, on Facebook, or all three!)
- Consider how you are going to share your abundance this fall with your church and the world. Make a giving plan for the last quarter of 2021. Can you increase your regular contributions by 2%? How about 5%? Invite others to join you.
- Call three people in the congregation to ask why they contribute to the life and work of the church and thank them. DO NOT ASK for anything as part of these calls.
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Children’s Story Books That Nurture Generosity
Because Brian Hugged his Mother, by David Rice (ISBN: 978-1883220891). "Because Brian Hugged his Mother is an uplifting tale that makes children more aware of their special effect on the world, and how any act, big or small, can make a difference."
Harold Loves his Woolly Hat, by Vern Kousky (ISBN 978-1524764678). "In this sweet picture book that celebrates selflessness and the joy of helping others, a little bear named Harold loses his beloved woolly hat--only to discover that others need it more."
Sidewalk Flowers, by JonArno Lawson, Sydney Smith, illustrator (ISBN 978-1554984312). In this wordless book, a girl is walking through a city neighborhood with her father. She gives flowers to those she encounters and her gifts brighten the world around her.
We Share Everything, by Robert Munsch (ISBN 978-0590514507). It's the first day of kindergarten and Amanda and Jeremiah have a problem. They both want to read the same books. They want to paint with the same paints. And they refuse to share. The teacher tells them, "Look. This is kindergarten. In kindergarten we share. We share everything." |
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Called to Be the Church: The Journey
Called to Be the Church: The Journey is a set of tailored and topical modules with coaching and ongoing support to meet your stewardship needs.
With ongoing coaching and support, you will make solid, achievable stewardship next steps with the Stewardship Best Practices Module: four two-hour online classes to dive into these vital best practices.- Claim Your Mission –it really is why people give to you
- Cultivate Generosity –practical ways to increase giving
- Create A Culture of Gratitude –saying thank-you is critical
- Stewardship Is Discipleship –integrating stewardship in your spiritual growth programming
Using the recommendations in your customized Stewardship Analysis report, you will accomplish your solid, achievable, stewardship next steps.
These sessions will be open to only three communities of faith per region, so be sure to SIGN UP EARLY! Questions? Email us.
More sessions may be added as needed. |
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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! |
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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. |
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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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