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

Scroll down for congregational stewardship news! 2026 Northern Indigenous Ministers Retreat   The Northern Indigenous Ministers Retreat will once again offer space for rest and renewal in 2026. In mid-May, The United Church of Canada Foundation will invite your community to take part in supporting this gathering by mail, email, and social media. A donation link is already available for those who wish to make an early gift or include it in communications. We invite you to keep an eye on your mailboxes (physical and digital!) and share these resources when they are available. Your May Mission and Service Stories May 3 Healthy Food, Healthy Relationships [Image credit: Carlington Community Connection]   At Carlington Community Connection in Ottawa, a simple act of welcome – coffee, conversation, and a listening ear – is helping to ease isolation and restore dignity in everyday life. Through shared meals and practical food support, relationships and wellbeing are strengthened one visit at a time. May 10 Held in Hope [Image credit: ACT Alliance and Hungarian Interchurch Aid]   In Ukraine’s Eastern Carpathian Mountains, mothers and children displaced by war found a moment of rest and renewal through a retreat of care. In the midst of grief and exhaustion, they were given space to breathe, reconnect, and begin to regain strength for the journey ahead. May 17 The Work of Water [Image credit: Cordillera People’s Alliance] In the Philippines, Indigenous farming communities are facing growing water challenges as climate change and environmental change affect daily life and food production. A community-led solar water project is helping restore reliable access to water and strengthen livelihoods for families. May 24 The Work of Compassion [Image credit: Indigenous Ministries and Justice, The United Church of Canada] Across Northern Canada, Indigenous ministers carry the weight of grief and loss while serving communities in moments of deep need. The Northern Indigenous Ministers Retreat supported through Mission and Service offers rare space for rest, connection, and shared healing among those who support others. May 31 Belonging without Barriers    [Image credit: Pearce Williams Summer Camp & Retreat Facility] At Pearce Williams Summer Camp in Ontario, inclusion is ensuring that children of all abilities can fully experience the joy of camp life. With trained staff and adaptive supports, every child is welcomed not just to attend, but to truly belong. Let’s Get Ready! Congregational Stewardship and Generosity   Discipleship. What does it mean to you? Maybe you conjure visions of indoctrination rooms where people are taught the “right” answers to specific questions? I am reminded of the catechism books from many many years ago. Maybe you envision people out on the streets sharing food and clothing? Maybe for you it’s about changing unjust systems? Maybe it’s what happens on Sunday mornings during worship or in small groups exploring their faith? I was reminded last week, that even though we all react differently to this word and have different ideas around it; we tend to recognise discipleship when we see it and we do believe it is important to the life of every congregation. I would argue, it is at the heart of every congregation. Helping people to live the way of Jesus is what we are about. And of course, one of the key practices of discipleship is generosity; aka Stewardship. So, my question for you this month is “How does your Community of Faith teach and nurture people to be generous?” Is it during the sermon time? Is it linked to the offering during worship? Is it at Board or Council meetings? How does your Community of Faith disciple people to be generous? (Here’s a hint: It should be all of the above and more!) You want more generous people in your congregation. We want more generous people in your congregation. People actually want to be more generous. So let’s get together and see what happens. Take care. And remember, God loves you!   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 are now available in one easy file under Downloads at the bottom of the United Church PAR webpage. Sample letters. Social media. Sermon. Planning template. And watch for the new PAR Video (hopefully before May!). Resources You Need! NEW Free Capital Campaign Resource kit In secular fundraising they say that if done well, capital campaigns can raise 10 times the annual amount given for operating. Think of the church or ministry you love. What would it mean to raise 10 times your annual donation amount? Improved facilities? New programs?  There is a lot of untapped potential generosity if your Community of Faith hasn’t engaged in a capital campaign in a while. Get the free Capital Campaign Resource kit. Ideas, plans, samples. And don’t forget the Stewardship Starter Kit, Digging Deeper Kit, Stewardship Program Kit, Planned Legacy Giving Kit.  All available on this web-page: Free Stewardship Resource kits   Stewardship Seconds (NEW Update for January-June 2026!)   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 & Dedication Prayers (NEW Update for January-June 2026!)   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. 2026 Lectionary Worship Starters UPDATED   Sermon ideas, theme hymns, RCL based. Five-week worship series on giving and generosity. Available now on the Stewardship in Worship webpage. New Stewardship BLOG The Rev. Brenna Baker explores the question “What should I leave to my Community of Faith?” It might not be what you think! Getting Started in Stewardship This is where it all begins. Communities of Faith completing this course have better outcomes. After this FREE 90-minute online course you will better understand: Stewardship is not fundraising. Stewardship is discipleship. Why people give? What can you do next? Find out more and sign up on CHURCHx. 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 Big News for Eastern Canada!! Coming soon! New staff will be hired (hopefully this month) If you are in those regions, you are still welcome to reach out using stewardship@united-church.ca. We hope to have a staffing update for you, soon.

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’d like to do more for Mission and Service but you’re not sure how to get started: your congregation hasn’t really done anything about Mission and Service for a few years now, and you’re pretty sure it’s not just about the two-sided envelopes anymore. We want to give you the support and resources you need to get started again.  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 can also virtually meet other Mission and Service volunteers and learn what works for them!    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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