Your July Mission & Service Stories JULY 2
Inspiring Generations to Lead
[Image Credit: Amy Zavitz/The United Church of Canada]
Eunice Chianka felt a calling to be a minister, and meeting female ministers inspired her even further. With a scholarship from the United Theological Seminary in Zimbabwe, she is one step closer to reaching her goal of preaching, teaching, and inspiring girls to follow their own call. Your gifts to Mission and Service help make this possible. JULY 9
Working with Young Leaders: Amy Crawford’s Work [Video still: The United Church of Canada/Amy Crawford] Amy Crawford has been doing ministry with youth and young adults for almost 30 years, and she’s never been more excited about the future of youth leadership in the church. Mission and Service is providing opportunities for young people who will become the next generation of church leaders. JULY 16
A Declaration to Be Involved in Decision-Making  [Image credit: Amy Zavitz/The United Church of Canada]During the 2022 Zimbabwe Council of Churches General Assembly, youth asked to be included in decision-making. In response, the Assembly appointed youth members to its committees. Now, whatever decision is being made, the interests of youth are included. Your gifts to Mission and Service help youth around the world advocate to have their voices heard.
JULY 23
Ecumenical Youth Leadership Development Program
[Image credit: by toubibe from Pixabay]
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches will host a youth leadership development program in 2023. 50 youth from 10 provinces will come together to increase their knowledge and skills as active citizens and use what they have learned in their churches and communities. Your gifts to Mission and Service help develop and continue programs like these where young people can flourish. JULY 30
Learning the Gospel at Camp
[Image credit: Cave Springs Camp] Children come together at United Church camps across Canada to learn the gospel in a safe and supportive environment. Through campfire stories, hiking, music, canoeing, and so much more, campers gain confidence while enjoying unique activities and exploring their curiosity. Mission and Service support gives many children the opportunity to have these affirming and defining experiences. |
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The 2022 Accountability Report Is Now Available Online!
Throughout 2022 we were amazed at the generosity shown by those of you who have supported the work of Mission and Service. Whether it was through regular donations, emergency appeals or other methods, your generosity raised $24.5 million to help others.
As part of our commitment to you, we are sharing where those funds went, as well as stories of how your gifts were used. The 2022 Accountability Report will be mailed out in June but it is now live online for you to view.
Please take the time to read it and also to share the stories of those who have been impacted by the work you made possible.
Thank you for your continued support!
[Image credit: The United Church of Canada] |
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Congregational Stewardship/Generosity
This 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.
Ideas You Can Try!
Summer Resources for Families and Kids to Encourage Generosity and Stewardship“I don’t know about you, but the end of the school year always feels like a fresh start; a chance to leave behind the busyness and expectations of the school year and find space and time to do something new. This summer, why not build some generosity practices into your family’s summer days and see how it can impact you.” Find four ideas and read more in our latest Stewardship Blog, Spice Up Summer with Kindness and Generosity. Summer Stewardship ReadingNot Your Parents’ Offering Plate by Cliff Christopher “If you are new to Stewardship, the reading of the book Not Your Parents Offering Plate should be a given!” - Tony Bishop of Grace United Church, Edmonton, AB, Getting Started in Stewardship participant. Generosity, Stewardship and Abundance by Lovett H. Weems Jr. and Ann A. Michel Solid theory goes deep, while examples and worksheets for your Community of Faith help you apply what you learn. I Like Giving by Brad Formsma Always inspiring, stories of giving and generosity from people who are learning how to make a difference with their resources. Preaching and Stewardship by Craig A. Satterlee Biblically based advice for real stewardship preaching that grows generous disciples. Includes a lectionary-based guide of scripture and preaching ideas. |
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Stewardship Seconds (revised for July-December 2023) 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! Find them at the Stewardship in Worship webpage. |
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Offering Introductions and Dedication Prayers (revised for July-December 2023) The offering time in worship is NOT about collecting money! It is about growing generous disciples and stewards. These Offering Introductions and Dedication Prayers, for each Sunday of the year, will help. Find them at the Stewardship in Worship webpage. |
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Called to Be the Church: The Journey
Called to Be the Church: The Journey modules really make a difference.
“A very practical course from a terrific presenter!” exclaims Beth Wilson of Rockingham United Church, Halifax, NS.
“This course changes how you think about your church finances--it helps to turn us from thoughts of scarcity to an attitude of abundance.” Susan Phillips from Neepawa United Anglican Shared Ministry, Neepawa, MB says.
In each module, community of faith leaders rediscover how inspiring their church really is and get excited about telling their stories as they invite people to share their resources to grow in faith and make a difference in people’s lives. Come and join the movement!
Plan now to participate in the fall! Watch CHURCHx in July for all module dates, times, and to register. First come, first served.
Getting Started in Stewardship:
IT ALL STARTS HERE! Join United Church people across the country for this 90-minute online course to learn some stewardship first principles. Follow-up projects get you ready to go deeper.
Stewardship Best Practices:
Newly updated! Four two-hour sessions interspersed with practical exercises and discussions to examine Stewardship Best Practices in order for you to set achievable goals, create an annual stewardship plan, and get energized! Ongoing coaching helps keep you on track.
Setting Up Your Congregational Giving Program:
Learn how best to utilize the Called to Be the Church Giving Program materials and develop a plan that will work for your church with two 2-hour online sessions and coaching. (For those planning a giving program in the first half of 2024.)
Bequests and Estate Giving for Your Community of Faith:
Explore how to set up and maintain a Planned Giving Program at your church, with two one-hour online sessions.
For more information on these and other stewardship supports, contact called@united-church.ca. |
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Our Call and VisionThe General Council Office has adopted a Call and Vision statement that speaks to how we boldly embody the Christian story in this time, filled with the certainty of resurrection and hope for new life, and which informs the 2022‒2025 Strategic Plan of the General Council Office. Living purposefully into this call and vision anticipates becoming what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others called the Beloved Community—the ever inbreaking, ever transforming, ever reconciling realm of God, realized in our time. In the next few issues of God’s Mission, Our Gifts, we are sharing stories, prayers, and worship resources that your community of faith can use to engage with the Call and Vision: to live into deep spirituality, bold discipleship, and daring justice.
This month, we’re examining what bold discipleship can mean to the church. The current wisdom is that declining attendance at in-person service has put the church on an unchanging path to irrelevance. But the Rev. Dr. Paul Douglas Walfall sees hope in the call to bold discipleship. How do we practice bold discipleship, especially in the circumstances the church finds itself in today? Dr. Walfall says, “To be a disciple of Jesus suggests that we must study his life and teaching and reflect on what we have learned in our life and living.” He challenges us to go beyond once-a-week church: as disciples, we are called to learn, and live what we have learned, every day. |
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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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