God's Mission Our Gifts: September 2021

Your October Mission & Service Stories OCTOBER 3 Your Support Is There When Disaster Strikes   [Photo credit: Cordillera Disaster Response Network] In times of emergencies, your generosity is on the ground ready to help in over 120 countries where there are United Church partners and ecumenical relationships. Thank you!   OCTOBER 10 Dignity Is on the Table   [Photo credit: Centre 507] Many of us don’t have to stand in line for every single meal with a tray in hand. That’s why special dinners like Café Cinq-Zero-Sept, hosted by Ottawa-based Mission & Service partner Centre 507, are so important.   OCTOBER 17 Defining Love: Emmanuel’s Story   [Photo credit: Emmanuel Baya]   Emmanuel Baya learned sustainable agriculture techniques at the Asian Rural Institute, a Mission & Service partner that teaches farming skills. Now, he is passing on life-saving information to over 287 children and 7 communities. An incredible story for World Food Sunday. A video of Emmanuel's story is also available. Check out the full Mission & Service worship service (scroll to "Worship Ideas") for this Sunday, including children’s time and sermon.   OCTOBER 24 Growing Stronger Together: Maina’s Story   [Photo credit: ASWA]   Maina’s mother died when she was a baby. Sadly, she didn’t have an opportunity to go to school. Now, she can read and write and is teaching others to, as well. Here’s her amazing story.   OCTOBER 31 Your Generosity Has a Worldwide Impact: Mambud’s Story   [Photo credit: The United Church of Canada]   What do soccer, organic farming and ministry have to do with each other? Mission & Service, of course! Mambud’s story is a tangible example of how your generosity sends ripples of compassion across continents. A video of this story is also available. WORLD FOOD DAY SERVICE—DONE! 191,000,000 children under 5 years old are malnourished. This World Food Day (Oct. 17, 2021), share an uplifting service (scroll to "Worship Ideas") about how Mission & Service helps fight hunger. Sermon, children’s time, bulletin insert, slide, video and digital impact report included! 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.   You Are Amazing! Thank You! Thanksgiving is the perfect time to tell your donors and supporters that they are, in fact, amazing, and to thank them. After all, without their generosity, your community of faith doesn’t exist. How will you do it? Here are three ideas: Direct messaging as part of the Offering Invitation during Thanksgiving worship. For example: “Every week at this time, we ask you to be generous with your money and make a gift to support the mission of this congregation. And every week you respond. On this Thanksgiving Sunday, I want you to know that you are amazing and we appreciate you. Thank you." Or, “You make what happens through this congregation possible. You really are awesome! Remember that as you make your gift today. Thank you.” A Thanksgiving card sent to each donor and supporter. A short article in your newsletter/website telling people they are amazing, because their generosity makes them stand out in a culture of greed and possession. Also, let them know how their generosity makes your mission possible (and what it you’re doing with their gifts) and thanking them. Community Ministries Are Special Whether you work with a camp, inner-city ministry, chaplaincy, or some other form of Community Ministry, it’s always important to find new supporters and better engage current donors. Spend some focused time developing skills in this special cohort of the Stewardship Best Practices module of Called to be the Church: The Journey. This three-week program will help you dig into the best practices for stewardship specifically for your context. This module runs Tuesdays, October 26, November 2, and November 9 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. MT (6:00 - 8:00 p.m. PT and 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. CT), followed by individual support sessions to create and implement a plan for increasing your year-end donations. To register or for more information, contact Vicki Nelson. Every Small Step You Take Makes a Difference Increasing giving and generosity is not about making huge changes. Gaetz Memorial United Church in Red Deer, AB, sent semi-personal cards to every member and donor thanking them and asking them to consider an increase in giving. Within two weeks, 21 people had made large one-time gifts or increased their monthly giving through the church’s Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR) plan. You can do this, too! It really is just that easy. Discover Your Gifts—Share Your Gifts: Epiphany 2022 Five weeks of NEW stewardship worship material sermons, prayers and children/youth materials. Find them on the United Church stewardship in worship page in late October. Best results when used as part of Called to Be the Church: The Giving Program Image credit: marian anbu juwan from Pixabay  Called to Be the Church: The Journey You want to increase revenue and participation to do God’s mission. You asked, “Can’t you just tell us what to do?” Here’s our answer: Claim Your Mission Cultivate Generosity Create a Culture of Gratitude Learn how and get help doing it at united-church.ca/stewardship. Look for Module 1: Stewardship Best Practices.   “Give this informative, interactive course a chance to turn the tide. Don’t give up on your church. You won’t be sorry!” --Lorna Watkinson-Zimmer, Gaetz Memorial United Church, Red Deer, AB   These sessions will be open to only three communities of faith per cohort, so be sure to SIGN UP RIGHT AWAY! Questions? Email us. More sessions may be added as needed. Stewardship Seconds, offering invitations, and offering prayers Stewardship Seconds, offering invitations, and offering prayers for October 2021 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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