God's Mission Our Gifts - Your September Mission and Service Stories and more!

Emancipation Day August 1, 2026 marked Emancipation Day, commemorating the legal abolition of slavery on the land that is now Canada. It’s a day to remember our history, acknowledge that racism continues to impact lives today, and renew our commitment to building a more just and equitable future. This Emancipation Day, The United Church of Canada Foundation extended an invitation to help sustain anti-racism initiatives across the church. You can still make a gift. Gifts will support programs that address racial injustice and create opportunities for learning, healing, and conversation. Powerful anti-racism initiatives are happening across our church in response to the truths that racialized and Indigenous Peoples have bravely shared and acknowledge their stories of resistance and strength. Contributions to the Foundation are an investment in these crucial initiatives, such as:   The United Church of Canada’s 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism, which encourages vital conversations about racial discrimination across our church communities. Our involvement in Fund Canada, which aims to unlock $500 million in grants by 2030, focusing on underfunded leaders and underrepresented voices. This funding will transform communities by investing in leaders with lived experiences to drive necessary change. The Indigenous and Racialized Youth Scholars Program, an investment in young leaders in the church, encouraging their participation in dialogues that shape the future of our society.   Together, we can continue the work of becoming an anti-racist church. The giving page is online. Your September Mission and Service Stories PowerPoint slides for each story are available on the Mission and Service Resources page. September 6 Leaders in the Making At Camp Kee-Mo-Kee, emerging senior staff are discovering what it means to lead with the support of an experienced mentor who can coach, encourage, and step in wherever needed. As staff grow in confidence and capability, they are better equipped to create a caring, meaningful summer for every camper. September 13 Food4Fun Children spend their PA Days getting their hands in the soil, learning their way around the kitchen, and discovering the joy of doing things together. For children with different abilities and needs, the welcoming program offers a place to explore, build confidence, make connections, and perhaps discover a new love of gardening or cooking. September 20 Crossing Class Lines Crossing Class Lines begins with something wonderfully simple: people sitting around the same table, sharing a home-cooked meal and getting to know one another. From there, honest conversations about poverty, privilege, and lived experience can unfold, creating space for deeper understanding and relationships across economic differences. September 27 Restoring Sacred Connections Healing with Horses brings people together with the land, community, and the gentle strength of horses, including four rare Ojibwe Spirit Horses that have found their way home. Through riding, caring for the horses, traditional teachings, and time together, participants are finding new ways to reconnect, express themselves, and begin to heal.

Why be a Mission and Service Volunteer? You love the Mission and Service stories and want to share them: you’ve been reading the stories on the website every now and then, and you think they would inspire your congregation – if only you could hear about how other people were using them! As a volunteer, you can have Mission and Service stories for the upcoming month sent right to your email inbox. They’re part of a weekly email with lots of information you can use.  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  Gifts with Vision News   Looking for a gift that gives twice? The Gifts with Vision online catalogue is brimming with meaningful ways to celebrate birthdays, holidays, milestones, or even "just because!" From supporting food security and education to caring for creation and emergency response, there's something for everyone. Take a look... you might just find the perfect gift. Take a look now! Questions? Email Gifts with Vision. You can also call us at 1-844-715-7969. Congregational Stewardship/Generosity   Don’t forget, as of July 2026, you can find Stewardship resources and support through the Community of Faith Stewardship page on The United Church of Canada website. Special Event: Project Ploughshares Marks 50 Years of Peacebuilding Celebrate 50 years of Project Ploughshares on the United Nations’ International Day of Peace. The anniversary gala will be held Monday, September 21, at 6:00 p.m. at Federation Hall, University of Waterloo, and will feature dinner and a keynote address by the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy. Tickets are $70. Proceeds support Project Ploughshares’ continuing research, advocacy, and action for global peace. Register today! 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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