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

Scroll down for congregational stewardship news! Mission and Service Worship Resources   Downloadable Mission and Service worship resources for the Easter season – including slides, an impact report, a video, and a prayer card – are now available under “Mission and Service This Season.” Support Mission and Service This Easter!   Your Easter gift can nurture and sustain rural ministries across Canada and around the world through Mission and Service. Donate online, by mail, or by phone at 1-800-465-3771.   And did you know you can give to Mission and Service through PAR? See how below. Let’s Get Ready! Congregational Stewardship and Generosity   Will this be your time? Will this be the time you step out in faith and hold a Congregational Giving Program to finally address the financial and stewardship issues you see in your Community of Faith? We are praying it is because we know it will make a difference! But if this story sounds familiar, then you need to hear these stories: Instead of yet another deficit, Trinity United Church, in Beamsville ON, finished 2025 with a $10,000 surplus by doing an annual stewardship plan and giving program in the fall of 2025. AND… With an intentional program, White Oaks United Church, in London ON, increased their November and December 2025 donations by $20,000 to tackle a deficit. When they compared their income from donors from 2023-2025 they were happy to find that the amount had increased. Why can’t this be your story? Find out more and register for Setting Up Your Giving Program on CHURCHx, or contact us to talk. Seriously, isn’t it about time? Celebrate your congregation with personal stories of why it matters. Invite greater generosity as a commitment of faith. Be thankful for God’s blessings.   Take care. And remember, God loves you! Easter is coming When you have a fuller house for worship on Easter Sunday, family, friends, people you have never met, it's really important to tell your story. People want to know, what is your Community of Faith doing, what makes it different, because of Jesus’ resurrection? Connect the dots for them. And hopefully one of those stories is about generosity as a spiritual practice.   Easter worship resources Look no further. Worship, Liturgy, Sermon, Kids Activities, for the 5 weeks following Easter are all available in the The Early Church in Eastertide: Worship for Five Sundays after Easter file on the Stewardship in Worship webpage.   May is PAR Month How will you Inspire, Invite and Thank people who are not giving consistently to try it? By using PAR (Pre-Authorised Remittance) to give monthly, of course. And consider how will you Inspire, Invite and Thank people already using PAR to increase their monthly giving.   All the resources you need for PAR month will be available under Downloads at the bottom of the United Church PAR webpage in March. Sample letters. Social media. Sermon. Planning template. And watch for the new PAR Video (hopefully before May!). Get the Stewardship Support You Need The people and resources to help you succeed are here. Team Changes. Welcome to the Rev. Sarah Giles!! Sarah will be covering for Vicki Nelson while she is on medical leave. Those of you in the Prairie to Pine, Living Skies, Northern Spirit, Chinook Winds, and Pacific Mountain regions can reach Sarah at sgiles@united-church.ca Beginning on January 1, 2026, The Rev. Roger Janes has retired! We will seriously miss him, but wish him the best. Those in his regions are still welcome to reach out using stewardship@united-church.ca. We hope to have a staffing update for you, soon. Your April Mission and Service Stories

April 5 Rooted and Rising  [Image credit: Michelle H. | Adobe Stock]   Easter reminds us that new life often begins in unexpected places. In rural communities across Canada, churches are continuing to gather, serve, and nurture faith in ways that keep hope alive. April 12 Anchored in Every Season  [Image credit: Tobermory United Church (sign created by Jan MacDonald)]   At the northern edge of the Bruce Peninsula, Tobermory United Church is a place where people gather in every season. From shared worship to community events and a welcoming thrift shop, care and connection happen year-round.  April 19 Flowing Beyond the Banks     [Image credit: Chipman United Church] For more than a century, Chipman United Church has been woven into the life of its town. From preparing meals for neighbours to sharing worship online, this small congregation shows how care can ripple far beyond its walls. April 26 Room to Speak, Space to Listen  [Image credit: Amy Zavitz] In Kenya, a mentorship circle offers young people something powerful: a safe space to speak openly and be listened to. For Christine, conversation changed her life – and now she’s helping others find their voice. Gifts with Vision News Our small but mighty Gifts with Vision catalogue has been updated – featuring brand new gifts, as well as your existing favourites. Take a look now! Questions? Email Gifts with Vision. You can also call us at 1-844-715-7969. Why be a Mission and Service Volunteer? What do you feel called to do? There's a place for you! You might be part of a small congregation: you’ve been promoting Mission and Service in your community of faith for a while now, and sometimes it seems like you’re doing it all alone. We want to give you the support and resources you need, and listen to what you have to say. As a volunteer, you get a weekly email with information you can use, plus resources to help you spread the word about Mission and Service in your community and online. You also get the chance to share your own stories of Mission and Service with a wider audience.   Contact us today to learn more!    Mission and Service Volunteer Program   The United Church of Canada Foundation ms@united-church.ca   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 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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