God's Mission Our Gifts: Your December Mission and Service Stories and more!

Your December Mission and Service Stories DECEMBER 1 Nurturing New Beginnings   [Image credit: Fairview Resource Centre]   At Fairview Resource Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the New Parents Support group aims to walk with parents as they navigate the complexities of raising a newborn. DECEMBER 8 Helping Refugees     [Image credit: 14119943 © Visual Generation | Dreamstime.com]   When Christine and her family arrived in Canada, they were exhausted and emotionally drained from their long journey and years of unrest. Their first stop was Wesley’s Newcomer Reception Centre, where they found support from Wesley staff and a comfortable place to rest.      DECEMBER 15 Giving Gifts with Vision   [Image credit: The United Church of Canada]   With Gifts with Vision, you can give meaningful gifts without the stress of packaging or last-minute mall dashes. Every gift helps transform lives across Canada and around the world.   DECEMBER 22 A Place to Thrive     [Photo credit: Beasley Community Centre]   For some, Beasley Community Centre is just a building to pass while driving down Wilson Street in Hamilton, Ontario. For others, Beasley is a sanctuary, a safe place where they can truly be themselves and thrive.   DECEMBER 29 A Time of Reflection     [Photo credit: Scopio (Canva)]   As we look forward to the New Year and all the hope and possibility 2025 will bring, it’s also a time to reflect on the growth we experienced in 2024. Mission and Service Worship Materials for Advent Mission and Service worship materials for Advent are here! You can find slides, a prayer, and more on the Mission and Service worship page. Canada Post Strike As you know, Canada Post workers launched a strike on Friday, November 15th. While we hope and pray that this will be resolved quickly so our Advent communications can be sent out as scheduled, the strike may be lengthy. If this happens, we will be reaching out to you and all of our faithful supporters by email and we would ask that you look at these communications and share them widely.   In the meantime, please know that material to support your Advent plans is available on the Mission and Service website at united-church.ca/worship-theme/mission-and-service-worship. If you are asked how a donation may be made, please share this link: united-church.ca/advent.   In short, Canada Post is on strike, but we’re still here! If you have questions about Mission and Service or want to make a donation by phone, please give us a call at 1-800-465-3771. Mission and Service Volunteers What do you feel called to do? There’s a place for you!   Mission and Service volunteers are people who are ready to spread the word about the great work that’s being done by the United Church of Canada through Mission and Service. They can choose the work they want to do and the amount of time they are able to spend.   It’s easy to take the next step to become a Mission and Service volunteer. Just call us at 1-800-465-3771 or email us at ms@united-church.ca. 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.   Preparing for Christmas! Try one or two of these ideas through Advent so that people in your Community of Faith are more likely to have a meaningful Christmas.   Review the year and celebrate the wins. Reflect on 2024's highlights in your congregation. What will you celebrate? When you acknowledge achievements, you inspire a positive culture of success and gratitude. Each week in Advent, focus on an inspiring story in which your Community of Faith makes a difference in people’s lives.   Focus on Advent themes of generosity and thanks. Center worship and preaching on Advent themes of giving and thanks: Week 1: Give thanks for all the ways that the generosity of the people in your Community of Faith create Hope. Be specific! Week 2: Generosity is a rebellious act against a culture of individualism and greed; which leads to suffering and injustice. Generosity is the beginning of Peace. Week 3: Research is clear – Generosity brings Joy to the receiver but also, and especially, to the giver. Experience Christmas Joy by giving generously. Week 4: God’s love for all people and all the creation is revealed again and again, in that God gives of God’s-self. Our love is shown in the same way. We give to show Love. Each week, invite people to share their own personal story of generosity; either giving or receiving.   Build relationships. Now is the time to be intentional.   Send Christmas cards full of gratitude. Just say “Thank you!”   Prepare a “Welcome to Christmas Eve Worship” letter to tell people how grateful you are that they came and how important this can be to their faith.   Connect with newcomers to invite participation in 2025 ministries: “Coming soon in 2025!”   It’s OK to ask. People can’t respond, if you don’t ask.   Generosity comes out of gratitude, by invitation. Give them a weekly opportunity to try the spiritual practice of giving. Each week, use the Offering Invitations and Prayers on the Stewardship in Worship page to invite gifts to your Community of Faith and to Mission and Service.   You have to inspire.   You have to thank.   AND you have to invite a gift.   Have a deep and meaningful Advent!! Rev. Dave Jagger Community of Faith Stewardship Lead Read the Latest Stewardship Blog In our latest stewardship blog, Vicki Nelson helps us remember that stewardship is not about the budget! Stewardship Seconds (January- June 2025 coming soon!)  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.  Offering Introductions and Dedication Prayers (January- June 2025 coming soon!)  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.  Get the Stewardship Support You Need The people and resources to help you succeed are here. Dave and Glenn Ask You! This month, we would like to ask you a few questions. You can help us shape the future of God’s Mission, Our Gifts today. Just take two minutes and fill out our survey! Do you have a question for Glenn and Dave? You can send it to us on our handy form. You’ll get an answer by email or in the next issue of God’s Mission, Our Gifts, or both (your choice). And if your question stumps us, we may even collaborate! 2025 Mission and Service goal-setting form is here! Have you started planning for the Centennial year? We can help. The 2025 goal-setting form is new and improved – and ready to go whenever you are!   Questions? Email Mission and Service or call us at 1-800-465-3771. 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! 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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