Minutes for Mission
2016
…bringing out
the God-colours
in the world
Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be saltseasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.
If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?
You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light,
bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is
not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as
public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you
don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?
I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you
there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house;
be generous with your lives.
—Matthew 5:13–16a (The Message)
The United Church of Canada | L’Église Unie du Canada
Minutes for Mission 2016
©
Copyright 2015
The United Church of Canada
L’Église Unie du Canada
3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 300
Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4 CANADA
www.united-church.ca
Minutes for Mission is published every year as a resource for the people of
The United Church of Canada to connect with the work that our gifts for
Mission & Service enable.
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
Minutes for Mission is available online at www.UCRDstore.ca/m4m.
Extra copies of this booklet can be ordered while supplies last
(product code CH11009).
Phone UCRD: 1-800-288-7365 or 416-253-5456
www.UCRDstore.ca
DVDs can be requested at ms@united-church.ca.
The scripture that is the theme of this book is from The Message by Eugene
H. Peterson, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by
permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Heartfelt thanks go to every person supporting Mission & Service ministry
and programs. Your generous gifts and good work are great acts of
compassion, community, and hope. Thank you to each of the writers for the
weekly Minute for Mission—your stories connect us all with God’s mission.
A special thank you to Alydia Smith for her prayer contributions.
We welcome your comments and stories for the next edition of Minutes
for Mission! E-mail: ms@united-church.ca
This document is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution
Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd)
Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca. Any
copy must include this notice.
Compiled by Ruth Noble
Design and layout: Diane Renault-Collicott
Cover image:
Richard Gunion | Dreamstime.com
©
150049
Contents
Mission & Service at a Glance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Message from the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Weekly Minutes for Mission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Lenten Prayers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Advent Candle-Lighting Liturgy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Legend/Index
Global Mission & Service 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 26, 30,
34, 35, 37, 39, 40, 42, 44, 45, 54, 56
Canadian Community and Justice Work 3, 11, 17, 33, 41,
46, 47, 53
Theological Education and Ministry Support 20, 29, 38, 55
Faith Formation 2, 6 , 9 , 14, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 31, 32, 33, 36, 41,
43, 48, 49, 57
Support to Local Ministries 12, 22, 23, 27, 29, 31, 46
Conference Leadership 29, 31, 32, 43, 46
Companion
video
available
Disponible en
français!
Stories with companion videos 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 24, 27,
31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 39, 43, 55, 56, 57
View at www.youtube.com/unitedchurchofcanada, or download
from www.UCRDstore.ca/m4m.
Minutes in French (online only)
Une minute pour la mission : récits (en ligne seulement) 2, 16, 17, 21, 25, 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 55
Visitez le site www.UCRDstore.ca/m4m.
Mission & Service at a Glance
FORECASTED 2015 MISSION & SERVICE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES: $29.8 MILLION
6
1
Conference
Leadership
Global Mission
& Service
5
2
Support to
Local Ministries
Community and
Justice Work
4
Faith
Formation
3
Theological Education
and Ministry
Support
REVENUE CIRCLE: $29.8 MILLION
Mission & Service Donations: $26.3 Million
•Annual giving for Mission & Service from congregations, UCW, and individuals
•Giving through wills and other planned giving for Mission & Service: bequests
and life insurance gifts
•Annual giving for Mission & Service comes from and through The United Church
of Canada Foundation
Other Revenue: $3.5 Million
•Additional revenue is designated for specific Mission & Service partners and
programs.
•Other revenue sources include investment income, retail sales, draw down of
capital reserves, additional donated revenue, and government co-financing.
Draws on capital reserves are used to fund governance and help balance the budget.
The General Council Office of The United Church of Canada complies with the Imagine Canada Ethical Code and the
Canadian Council for International Cooperation Code of Ethics.
The United Church is the first denomination in Canada to become a signatory to the United Nations’ Principles of
Responsible Investment.
iv
The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
1
4
2
5
Global Mission & Service:
18.5% of M&S funds
Peace and justice work undertaken
in cooperation with a range of
global partners in the regions of
Africa and the Middle East, Asia,
and the Caribbean and Latin
America
Community and Justice
Work: 13.0% of M&S funds
Supporting community and justice
ministries, engaging marginalized
communities, and seeking right
relationships across Canada;
includes the caring work of
hospital and university chaplains,
the Aboriginal Healing Fund,
programs related to Indigenous
justice and right relations, and
support for Canadian ecumenical
partners
3
Theological Education
and Ministry Support:
8.7% of M&S funds
Funding for seven theological
schools and two education
centres, training for lay leadership,
educating ordained and diaconal
clergy, and providing student
education bursaries
Faith Formation:
26.2% of M&S funds
Ministries with children, youth
and young adults, the work of the
Aboriginal Ministries Circle, as well
as stewardship, and intercultural
and diverse ministries
Support to Local Ministries:
20.9% of M&S funds
Supplying core operational funding
to congregations where required,
pastoral relations support,
providing grants and capital
funding, and sharing resources and
expertise with local ministries and
networks to address important
issues
6
Conference Leadership:
12.7% of M&S funds
Funding to support Conference
staff as they provide leadership
and resources to presbyteries,
ministry personnel, and local
ministries
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MISSION & SERVICE, SEE
Mission & Service program:
www.united-church.ca
www.stewardshiptoolkit.ca/mission-service
Minutes for Mission 2016
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
v
Message from the Editor
You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.
—Matthew 5:14 (The Message)
This edition of Minutes for Mission explores this passage from Matthew.
The mission and ministry that we enable with our gifts for Mission &
Service confirm that, indeed, we are here to celebrate the diversity of
who we are as God’s people, a diversity found in each congregation,
community ministry, education centre, and global partner.
AND
N
IO
S
S
I
M ICE FUND
ERV
S God calls us to reflect God’s colours in the world by being God’s peace,
joy, love, and hope. Mission & Service is the heart and soul of this
United Church of ours, where we come together in loving partnership in
Canada and in other parts of the world.
The inspiring stories contained in this booklet from the six program
areas of the Mission & Service narrative budget illustrate ways we are
called to share our God-colours with the world. These living stories
of heart and soul shine brightly, offering ways of love, peace, and
community, because what we do together as the people of The United
Church of Canada is generously support Mission & Service.
We pray in thanksgiving:
Mighty and tender God,
We offer ourselves, heart and soul, to the world.
You, Loving God, call us to be your colours in the world.
We are called to walk with each other,
to talk in faith, and to share in love.
Guide us, so that we may be able to shine brightly in the world.
Amen
Blessings
Ruth Noble
Mission & Service Engagement Coordinator
vi
The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
January 3
Companion
video
available
Los Quinchos
Since the early 1990s, Mission & Service has partnered with Los
Quinchos School in Managua, Nicaragua. Los Quinchos strives
to rehabilitate and reintegrate street children through a wholistic,
educational approach.
Mission & Service goes to support the ongoing quality breakfast and
lunch program that is a significant contribution to children’s nutrition in
the San Judas barrio.
About 900 students were expected to register in the day program this
year. Three hundred of them receive full scholarships. Other primary
students pay 20 córdobas per month (about $1); secondary students
pay 85 córdobas (about $4). Afternoon students pay a higher fee (300
córdobas, or $15), which subsidizes other activities, such as additional
staff, water, security, electricity, and so on. Salaries for 35 of the 45
teaching staff are paid by the government.
A number of United Church groups have visited Los Quinchos to see
firsthand all the wonderful work our partner is able to achieve through
our gifts for Mission & Service. Principal Luis Fariñas celebrates the
arrival of these groups as a way to celebrate the partnership.
We are thankful for our Mission & Service gifts that support the ministry
of the Los Quinchos School, which feeds and supports street children in
Nicaragua’s capital city, Managua!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
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SERVICE FUND
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January 10
People Helping
People
Disponible en
français!
Companion
video
available
The Four Men are a quartet who enjoy singing together and are
passionate about the Mission & Service of The United Church of Canada.
The Four Men are Michael Downie, Mervin Fick, George Kopulas, and
Brian McIntosh.
The quartet sings music inspired by groups such The Canadian Tenors
and Il Divo. They perform at churches as fundraisers for those churches’
Mission & Service giving programs.
The Four Men are passionate about connecting people to Mission &
Service and sharing the good news of what Mission & Service does in
Canada and other parts of the world in partnership.
To date The Four Men have raised $43,000, $25,000 of which has been
for Mission & Service.
In December 2014, the group released their first CD, Inspired, with $15
of the $20 price going to Mission & Service.
Verena von Stritzky, manager of the group, says that Mission & Service
is very important to the group: “It is all about people helping people. It
is what we are meant to do!”
We are truly thankful to The Four Men for their Mission & Service heart.
The funds they have raised help many people help other people in
loving partnership! Thank you for the music!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
2
The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
January 17
Companion
video
available
A Safe Place
Western University United Church chaplain the Rev. Karen Low is
passionate about what she does. At a recent London Conference
annual meeting, Karen shared the story of a student named Nick who
is transgender and had been shunned by his family. Nick heard about
Western Chaplaincy from a friend who was worried about him and
thought perhaps Karen could help him. Before Nick ended up at Karen’s
office door, he had contemplated ending his life. Through the support of
chaplains like Karen, Nick is looking forward to the future as a graduate
student.
The United Church of Canada has chaplains in 21 universities across
Canada. Mission & Service supports chaplains, who are able to offer a
safe place for students to ask questions about their faith, their sexual
orientation, and their identity knowing their questions will be answered
without judgment. We are thankful for the work of chaplains, who often
see students through their bleakest moments, supporting them so they
can move forward with their lives and education.
Thank you for your gifts for Mission & Service that support the
important work of chaplaincy.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
3
January 24
Healing in
a Nuclear Zone
Companion
video
available
The nuclear plant in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India is making people
sick in the surrounding villages up to 50 km away, Dr. Pugazhendhi
believes. India’s Atomic Energy Department says the radiation levels are
too low to cause any ill effects, but the doctor argues that there is no
safe limit.
He cites three different studies that found that the rates of cancer
and autoimmune diseases were higher in the area, at rates that are
statistically significant. In and around Kalpakkam, the rate of thyroid
disease is 5 times higher than that in more distant villages, the rate of
cancer 7 times higher, and the rate of developmental challenges 11 times
higher.
Sangeetha, 32 years old, and her two children, ages 11 and 8, are three
of the faces of those statistics. Her husband died suddenly of cancer at
the age of 36 after the family’s savings were decimated for his treatment.
Lavanya, a 17-year-old girl with severe mental challenges, is another
example. Her father works in the nuclear plant. Lavanya was born
healthy before having seizures a few days after birth, resulting in
abnormal brain growth.
Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation helps families like
Sangeetha’s find work, pay school fees, and arrange childcare. HRAF
also supports Dr. Pugazhendhi’s local health clinic and helps pay
medical costs for children like Lavanya.
We are thankful our gifts for Mission & Service support this work.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
4
The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
January 31
Keeping the Clock
of Life Ticking
At the end of 2015, thanks to support from United Church Women,
Mission & Service partner Morogoro Women’s Training Centre had
provided maternal health worker training to over 500 women working as
traditional birth attendants, or midwives, across Tanzania. Collaborating
with the Tanzanian Ministry of Health, this program is part of a national
objective to reduce mother and infant deaths in Tanzania.
The training builds on existing skills and expertise for women already
working as traditional birth attendants. For many it is their first
formal training. Some learned their skills from mothers, aunts, and
grandmothers, and many others through lived experience. All are
deeply committed to caring for mothers and infants and improving the
outcomes of deliveries.
One of the women, Molen Abdul, has been delivering babies in her
village for more than 47 years. During that time she has encountered
many challenges and is happy to learn more about how to manage
potential crises for the benefit of mother and child. Molen says, “This is
very important to me. It is like it keeps the clock of life ticking.”
Norah Robert Mallya has helped deliver babies in buses, churches, and
all the surrounding villages. She is happy to have received training that
will improve her skills and knowledge.
We are thankful for our gifts for Mission & Service that support our
partners to make a real difference in the lives of women and children in
Tanzania.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
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SERVICE FUND
5
February 7
Beloved
Community
How can we better understand cultural difference? How can we gain
tools and attitudes for ministry in culturally diverse settings? How do we
look at our own power and privilege?
Some United Church people have been exploring these questions and
more through the Deepening Understanding for Intercultural Ministry
program. This six-day workshop offered by our ecumenical partner,
Canadian Churches’ Forum, offers practical ideas and is ideal for
Christian ministry leaders. The United Church works with Forum staff to
shape the content, and United Church members receive some financial
subsidies to attend. Each participant leaves with the commitment to lead
an intercultural project in their own community.
One past participant shared that “I grew in self-awareness and grew
in my capacity to be in right relationship with God’s people.” Another
reflected that the program was an “essential foundation for beginning to
grasp the inherent complexities of who we are, who we are called to be,
and how we are called to join each other in true Beloved Community.”
Many note that the program is a transformative experience.
United Church staff continue to connect and support participants
after the event as they do follow-up work. After returning home,
the energized participants are leading workshops, networking, and
organizing gatherings in their regions; some are exploring intercultural
worship in their local communities of faith. The result is fuller
participation of the rainbow people of God in church life.
We are thankful that our gifts for Mission & Service make programs like
Deepening Understanding of Intercultural Ministry possible!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
6
The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
Lenten Prayers
Lent 1: February 14
When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in
trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. Psalm 91:15
Practise silence. Throughout our Lenten journey, reflect on the following
questions as a way to prepare for a time of silent prayer: What are you
carrying with you on your Lenten journey? What burdens do you bear?
What can you take that will help you persevere when tempted and alone
in the wilderness? What spiritual food nourishes and replenishes your
soul?
(moment of silence)
Prayer: God, grant us your travelling mercies as we journey ever closer
to you. Amen.
Lent 2: February 21
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14
Practise lectio divina. Read the above verse several times, allowing time
to reflect on these questions after each reading:
‚‚ What word, phrase, or image from this passage catches your
attention?
‚‚ How does this passage speak to your life?
‚‚ Where do you sense God guiding you in this moment?
Prayer: God, grant us your travelling mercies as we journey ever closer
to you. Amen.
Lent 3: February 28
So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and
call on your name. Psalm 63:4
Repeat the Lord’s Prayer in at least three different prayer stances: seated
with hands open, standing with hands up, and kneeling.
Minutes for Mission 2016
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SERVICE FUND
7
‚‚ How did you feel in the different stances?
‚‚ Which felt most comfortable? Most awkward? Most vulnerable?
‚‚ Reflect on possible reasons why your feelings might have changed
while meditating on the same words.
Prayer: God, grant us your travelling mercies as we journey ever closer
to you. Amen.
Lent 4: March 6
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all
you upright in heart. Psalm 32:11
Practise hesychasm. Choose a short prayer from the list below and
repeat it continually for five minutes as a way to help focus your
thoughts on God.
‚‚ Lord, what would you have me do?
‚‚ Examine me, O God, and know my heart.
‚‚ You are with me, always, even to the end of time.
‚‚ Be still and know that I am God.
Prayer: God, grant us your travelling mercies as we journey ever closer
to you. Amen.
Lent 5: March 13
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Psalm 126:5
Practise examen. Use the following questions to reflect on your Lenten
journey so far:
‚‚ When have you felt closest to the Holy? Do these moments hold
anything in common?
‚‚ Is there anything you are particularly grateful for?
‚‚ When have you felt farthest from the Holy? Do these moments
hold anything in common?
‚‚ Is there anything you seek forgiveness for?
‚‚ Do you sense God guiding you in any new directions?
Prayer: God, grant us your travelling mercies as we journey ever closer
to you. Amen.
8
The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
February 14
Bread Not Stones
The Bread Not Stones initiative to end child poverty in Canada is
the UCW national project for 2015 and beyond. The project began in
2010 with Alberta and Northwest Conference UCW’s Child Well-Being
Initiative.
When the National UCW invited all UCWs across Canada to take up
the call to end child poverty, the people of Wesley Knox and First
St. Andrews in London, Ontario, were so inspired that the London
Conference Bread Not Stones campaign was born under the leadership
of Laurel Kenney and Linda Woods.
Laurel and Linda have since given talks and conducted many workshops
at churches and events in southwestern Ontario. They have also aligned
with numerous anti-poverty groups as they work continuously to raise
awareness of and eliminate child poverty in their region.
As Laurel and Linda share, “We are following in the footsteps of the
women out west as we approach all levels of government to actively
advocate on behalf of our most vulnerable children. We can’t think of a
more urgent issue.”
Bread Not Stones is also a Mission & Service–supported resource
designed to encourage and enable communities of faith to pray, learn,
and act to eradicate child poverty in their local region and across
Canada. You can download a copy at www.united-church.ca.
We are thankful to UCWs across Canada who offer leadership for the
call to end child poverty as well as support many programs in our
communities and around the world through gifts for Mission & Service.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
9
February 21
South Asian
Shrimp Industry
The South Asian tsunami of 2004 created havoc along India’s Tamil
Nadu coast, causing many traditional fishers to lose their livelihoods.
According to Mission & Service partner the Human Rights Advocacy
and Research Foundation, soon after the tsunami hundreds of industrial
shrimp farms began appearing along the coast with little or no
regulation or control. The digging of shrimp ponds often led to felling
mangrove forests that provide vital marine habitat and protect coastlines
from severe weather. The high rate of wild shrimp being caught to stock
industrial shrimp ponds seriously depletes wild fisheries and threatens
coastal biodiversity.
To make matters worse, polluted saltwater discharged from shrimp farms
contaminates agricultural lands, drinking water, and traditional fishing
areas. To maximize production, the commercial ponds are overcrowded
with shrimp. High levels of pesticides and antibiotics must be used
to prevent disease, adding to the contamination and posing potential
threats to community health. Traditional shrimpers can’t compete with
the low prices of imported shrimp from commercial farms “dumped” on
domestic markets like Canada.
We are thankful that Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation,
with Mission & Service support, is helping traditional coastal fishers
push back against large commercial interests to regain their traditional
fishing rights and build healthy local communities.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
10 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
February 28
Companion
video
available
A Safe Haven
When you arrive at Pelham Park Resource Centre in Toronto’s west end,
you are greeted by a bright graffiti mural beside the entrance. Pelham
Park is one of the resource centres of the Davenport Perth Community
Ministry. Located in a housing project, Davenport Perth has been
providing a safe place for all ages to gather and take part in health, arts,
and education programs for 25 years.
On this day at the Pelham Park location, the children have
enthusiastically gathered after school for games, homework help,
and eating a meal together.
Ten-year-old Cesar says Pelham Park is important to him because they
help him with his homework and give him compliments. Eight-year-old
Jocelyn loves to come because the kids get to cook and eat together.
“It is wonderful to see the kids grow,” staff person Jasmine says. “You
can see the leadership skills in these kids. If I wasn’t here I would really
miss them.”
We are thankful that through our Mission & Service gifts, Pelham Park
and the other programs of Davenport Perth Community Ministry are
able to offer a safe haven and a place for people to grow in knowledge,
health, and community.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
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SERVICE FUND
11
March 6
A Way Forward
Companion
video
available
Nestled among trees sits a beautiful old red brick building, Oneida
United Church, that has been serving the people of the Oneida Nation
of the Thames (Ontario) since the 1840s. The church holds services in
the Oneida language.
Retired minister the Rev. Grafton Antone speaks passionately about
the ministry of the church and the community that surrounds it. The
welcome table prominently displays copies of the Gifts with Vision
catalogue and Minutes for Mission booklets, showing the giving heart of
the Oneida congregation, who are able to offer ministry through funding
from Mission & Service.
Oneida United Church went through a time of transition when the
Rev. Antone retired. They have recently welcomed a new minister into
their congregation and thanked the Rev. Antone for his many years
of joy-filled ministry. He will continue to be an important part of the
community, walking with the hurting, hearing stories, and offering
leadership in the healing process.
Oneida is a spiritual home for those on the First Nation, and we thank
Mission & Service for the support to continue this ministry. A short
distance away, the neighbouring community of the Chippewas of the
Thames is the home of what was the Mount Elgin Indian Residential
School, which opened its doors in 1851 and was permanently closed
in 1946. The school was operated by The United Church of Canada.
Survivors use their artistic abilities to express their experiences and their
faith in moving forward, giving the entire community a creative way to
walk the path of reconciliation.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
12
The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
March 13
Romero
Remembered
Who speaks for those whose voices are silenced? One of our Mission
& Service partners, Emmanuel Baptist Church, El Salvador, has been
greatly influenced by the words and life of Óscar Romero.
Archbishop Óscar Romero was a voice in El Salvador that was heard. He
spoke of injustice, disappearances, death threats, torture, and massacres
of entire communities. He said that if he were killed he would rise
again in the people, and this has proven to be true. Assassinated in
1980, Romero was beatified in San Salvador as a martyr for his faith in
May 2015. He continues to provide inspiration to justice seekers in El
Salvador and around the world.
Romero’s vision and voice can be seen today in the work of Emmanuel
Baptist Church as it inspires the people of El Salvador to take charge of
their destiny. Several communities in northern El Salvador are opposed
to proposed mining operations around the River Lempa, which provides
drinking water for about 70 percent of the country. These communities
are challenging multinational mining companies, many of them
Canadian, that have a record of causing pollution and environmental
degradation.
As Canadian citizens we can join communities in voicing their concerns
and making decisions about the land they live on. Oscar Romero said,
“The voice of the people must be listened to.” Let it be so.
We are thankful that, through our Mission & Service gifts, our partners
like Emmanuel Baptist Church can continue to provide inspiration to
justice-seekers in El Salvador.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
13
March 20
The Stones Cry Out
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission held its ceremonial close in
Ottawa, May 31–June 3, 2015. KAIROS Executive Director Jennifer Henry
shared her reflections as she awaited the release of the Commission’s
summary report and calls to action.
On the eve of the release of the findings of the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission, at the Human Rights Monument in
Ottawa, 100 or so of us gathered in a circle of prayer. To the sung
chant, “Listen, listen, listen to my heart’s song. I will never forget
you. I will never forsake you,” everyone was invited to lay a stone
in a gentle cairn on the steps of the monument.
Remembering Jesus’ words, “If these [disciples] were silent, the
stones would shout out” (Luke 19:40), every stone that was laid
cried out the truth of every child who went to residential school,
every parent left behind, and every child who did not make it home.
The stones cried out the truth of the larger process of colonization
that has left its devastating mark all around the world in inequities
that continue today.
KAIROS invites Canadians to advocate for the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action through the Winds of
Change campaign. We believe in the Word made flesh—made flesh
in love and justice, deep peace and reconciliation. May we continue
to find our voices, inspired and accompanied by the truth of that
living Word.
We are thankful for the work and witness of KAIROS, one of our Mission
& Service partners.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
14 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
March 27
Companion
video
available
Bearing the
Brunt in Gaza
Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on earth, with
approximately 1.8 million people confined to an area 40 km long and
10 km wide. Israeli military control and Egyptian border restrictions limit
the movement of people and goods.
Mission & Service partner the Near East Council of Churches reported
that in 2014 about half a million people had to flee their homes.
Two hundred thousand homes in Gaza were destroyed or made
uninhabitable. Access to water has been severely restricted and
sanitation systems damaged. It is estimated that in 2014 between 1,000
to 3,000 people were permanently disabled. The number of people with
mental and psychosocial problems is increasing exponentially.
Thirty international aid agencies agreed with this analysis, signing a
statement in 2015 that reported, “Most residents are unable to meet
their food requirements, and over seven years of blockade had severely
compromised access to basic services, including health, water, and
sanitation.
“Bearing the brunt of this suffering are the most vulnerable, including
the elderly, persons with disabilities, women and nearly one million
children, who have experienced unimaginable suffering in three major
conflicts in six short years. Children lack access to quality education,
with over 400,000 of them in need of immediate psychosocial support.”
The Near East Council of Churches offers training programs such as
welding and dressmaking to young people, as well as grants for graduate
degrees to university students.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
15
April 3
Syrian Refugees
Disponible en
français!
Companion
video
available
The humanitarian crisis in Syria continues to grow exponentially. In
April 2015 Mission & Service partner ACT Alliance reported 12.2 million
people urgently needed basic assistance like shelter, food, and water.
About 7.6 million people have been internally displaced in Syria, fleeing
their homes to try to escape continuing violence. Over 3.9 million Syrian
refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, 1 million to Lebanon
alone.
In Lebanon the Joint Christian Committee for Social Service, part of
Mission & Service partner the Middle East Council of Churches, is
looking beyond basic humanitarian needs and developing programs that
will help refugees when they can hopefully return to Syria.
One of those needs is ensuring Syrian children can still receive an
education. Refugees are not able to attend Lebanese schools, and
for those in higher grades this interruption to their education can
compromise their future. The Joint Christian Committee for Social
Service has begun working with grades 9 to 12 students in particular,
using Syrian curriculum, textbooks, and teachers. Students are then able
to take Syrian school exams. One young woman, Nowar, who passed
her exams, had lost two years of schooling because of the conflict. As
a result of this program she has now graduated from high school and
plans to attend university.
We are thankful for our gifts for Mission & Service that, in partnership
with others, are creating a more hopeful future for young Syrian refugees
in Lebanon.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
16 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
April 10
Disponible en
français!
Companion
video
available
A Message
of Hope
Bridges to Hope in St. John’s, Newfoundland, one of our community
ministry partners, is committed to reducing the effects of poverty on
individuals and families. The centre’s Community Kitchen programs are
in great demand, with many individuals and community service and
public health organizations signing up for four- to six-week sessions. In
2014 the Food Pantry served 8,200 people, 1,800 of which were children.
The Bag to School and Passion for School Projects initiatives continue
to be in great demand. Bag to School provides 900 school bags filled
with curriculum-based supplies for students in grades K–12 and Adult
Basic Education. Passion for Projects provides supplies for heritage and
science fairs for students throughout the English School District.
The programs at Bridges to Hope are successful because of the
dedicated staff and volunteers who give of their time and talents—a true
community endeavour.
We are thankful for our Mission & Service gifts that support dozens of
community ministries across Canada like Bridges to Hope!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
17
April 17
Farming
Partnership
Smallhold farmers are some of the most important growers of food
in Africa. According to some estimates, almost 80 percent of food for
African families is supplied by smallhold farms. The health of those
farms is therefore essential to solving chronic food insecurity in Africa.
Mission & Service partner The National Council of Churches in Kenya,
in collaboration with The United Church of Canada and Canadian
Foodgrains Bank, is undertaking a major initiative in Tharaka Nithi
County in the upper eastern region of Kenya, working with Kenyan
farmers to improve yields and practices using conservation agriculture.
Many of the households in these areas are headed by women who
depend on farming for their livelihood. Poor yields have an immediate
impact on daily life. There is no money for school fees. Families reduce
food consumption at the same time that significant energy and labour
on the farm are required. These farms are very vulnerable to climate
change–related issues such as drought.
The project will focus on access to resources such as land, water, and
drought-resistant seeds as well as training in farming techniques such
as mulching to maximize the use of local resources. Preserving and
harvesting water as well as small-scale irrigation will all help vulnerable
households improve their farm yields and family nutrition.
We are thankful that our Mission & Service gifts are supporting farmers
in Kenya as they work to feed their families and care for the land.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
18 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
April 24
Companion
video
available
Heaven among
the Stars, Trees, and Lakes!
Every summer, United Church kids pack their hockey or duffle bags,
backpacks or suitcases for a week or two in the Canadian wilderness.
United Church camps offer a place of faith and fun. Children, youth, and
staff gather, giving thanks to God for the beauty of creation.
Many United Church camps offer camperships, where campers are able
to attend at a reduced cost so that those who wouldn’t normally be able
to attend can have a wonderful experience in the Canadian wilderness.
Campers experience a community surrounded by God’s creation. Many
campers who have struggled at home and at school find their time at
camp life-changing.
Mission & Service supports camping in the United Church through
networking and camp accreditation, supporting and strengthening the
camping experience for United Church kids across the country.
We are thankful for the generous gifts that make it possible for children
to have an experience of faith and fun in the Canadian wilderness.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
19
May 1
Ecumenical
Chaplaincy
The Ecumenical Chaplaincy at the University of Toronto has a presence
at the university’s downtown Toronto and suburban campuses in
Mississauga and Scarborough. Jeannette Unger and Ralph Carl Wushke
are two halves of the downtown chaplaincy, which is a partnership
between the Presbyterian and United churches on campus and are part
of a larger multifaith network of chaplains.
The chaplaincy touches on various aspects of campus life. It offers
interfaith co-creative programs on ecology and spirituality, as well as
a safe space for students who are often struggling in the university
environment.
Ralph describes one student who was on the verge of suicide. Suffering
from depression in his second year, he found his way to the chaplain’s
office at Knox College. After finding the support he needed, he is now
close to getting his undergraduate degree.
“Students come from small towns and start questioning everything
when they arrive. University is also often when mental illnesses appear.
We are here to lend an ear and guide the students in the direction they
need to go,” says Ralph.
We are thankful for Mission & Service, which supports the University of
Toronto Ecumenical Chaplaincy and is inspiring the transformation of
communities and students.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
20 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
May 8
Disponible en
français!
A Call
for Peace and Prayer
A prolonged civil war that began in 1996 has led to extreme violence
and human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Women
and girls are bearing the brunt of the atrocities, suffering widespread
sexual violence and abuse.
Mission & Service partner L’Église du Christ au Congo has issued a “cri
d’alarme” to the world highlighting the urgency of the situation. The
Rev. Nzeba Kalombo Berthe, General Secretary of the Department for
Women and Family of the ECC, says: “This cry of alarm invites us into
national solidarity and compassion to assist these innocent victims to
recover their dignity—but also to offer them hope as future professional
women and honourable mothers.”
Supported by L’Église du Christ au Congo, local women volunteer to
support and accompany survivors, war orphans, and women’s groups.
Families receive support to foster war orphans and provide them with
a loving and safe haven. ECC also provides funding for school, medical
care, and psychosocial support.
The United Church, in partnership with others, is answering a call for
prayers and action supporting peace in Congo and an end to the war on
women.
We are thankful that our Mission & Service gifts support the women
and children of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who seek security,
dignity, and healing.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
21
May 15
Mino-o-dapin
Means Welcome:
Alderville First Nation
In southcentral Ontario, on the south side of Rice Lake, approximately
30 km north of Cobourg in a valley, you will find the beautiful Alderville
First Nations Community.
Through support from Mission & Service, Alderville First Nation is a
thriving, Spirit-filled community that is rich in heritage and Native
culture. Visitors are able to interact with the community at the Annual
Pow-wow and at Drum Socials.
The little white church that was originally Methodist is still a thriving
part of the community. Alderville United Church has produced many
ministers over the years to offer a place of spiritual reflection for
Alderville.
We are thankful to those who give for Mission & Service that allow
communities like Alderville to continue to thrive!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
22 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
May 22
Heart Gardens
On Sunday, May 26, 2015, congregations all over Canada created Heart
Gardens to honour the memory of Aboriginal children who died in the
residential schools over the 120 years the schools existed. Over 2,000
Heart Gardens were created.
Faith United Church in Kingston, Ontario, was one of those
congregations. Faith United is entering its 25th year. It began its ministry
through a Mission & Service–funded mission support grant. The
congregation gathers in the small theatre of La Salle Secondary School
every Sunday morning and was able to plant their garden on the school
grounds.
The hearts were made over two Sundays and symbolized Faith United’s
deepest hope and prayer that the work of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission will allow truths to be spoken, and healing and a new
relationship to begin between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in
this land.
The congregation sent one heart made by their youngest member to
Ottawa to be part of the Heart Garden planted on the lawn of Rideau
Hall, the Governor General’s residence.
“The heart has an image of an alien because the artist said we should be
nice to everyone, including aliens!” says the Rev. Nan Hudson.
We are thankful for our gifts for Mission & Service that support
congregations in transition or in remote locations so faith can be
shared and grown!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 23
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
May 29
Music in Our Lives!
Companion
video
available
We experience a lot of sharing when we gather in faith communities.
Singing and playing music together builds community and strengthens
communal bonds. Competent and confident church musicians are vital
to that process.
Music United provides a nurturing forum for church musicians on
its website (www.musicunited.ca) and Facebook page. The Music
United annual meeting and learning events across the country provide
professional development and kinship.
Whether it is helping a pianist learn the mysteries of the organ,
exploring fresh ideas on ow to support liturgy, problem-solving, or
understanding music as a means of pastoral care, Music United provides
help and support for hundreds of church musicians across our church.
We are thankful for our gifts for Mission & Service that assist programs
like Music United to continue.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
24 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
June 5
Disponible en
français!
Mission & Service:
With Thanks
The work of Mission & Service continues because of us.
Support from our congregation and congregations across the whole
United Church make vital ministry possible.
Our gifts for Mission & Service change lives daily. Because we give to
Mission & Service, thousands of meals are served, unemployable people
find new hope in work programs, and people in need of housing find
places of shelter.
We have done so much with our Mission & Service givings. Imagine
with me what could be accomplished if more people joined us and gave
for Mission & Service!
Mission & Service is like a stone dropped into a pool of water: the
ripples span out from that rock, creating a reaction in the entire pool.
Mission & Service is like that rock. The ripples of support spread across
communities in Canada and in other parts of the world!
All the people whose lives are touched and transformed because of our
gifts for Mission & Service say THANK YOU.
Thank you for being part of that giving with me.
And if you have not given yet, please join me in making Mission &
Service giving a regular part of your life of faith!
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 25
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
June 12
Interfaith
Peacemakers
Founded in 1990, the Asian Muslim Action Network, or AMAN, has
members from over 20 Asian countries. The network seeks active
collaboration with other faith communities to promote the human
dignity of all, regardless of religion. Its programs of training and
capacity development emphasize creative thinking, right understanding
of religions, respect for diversity, and service to humanity. Based in
Thailand, this Mission & Service partner brings people of many faiths
together to promote peace and tolerance.
Each year AMAN gathers 30 young peace activists from across Asia for
its peace studies and transformation course in Bangkok. The course
aims to equip these young people to be the faces of peace in their
respective communities. Ekraj, a young man from Bangladesh, explains
that “living together for three weeks with all our cultural, religious, and
social diversity showed us all how we can embrace our differences in a
modern world.”
We are thankful that our Mission & Service gifts support young people in
Asia learning to be interfaith peacemakers.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
26 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
June 19
Companion
video
available
Whole Life Ministry
The community gathers, and music fills the air. Slipping effortlessly
between Anishinaabemowin and English, the gathered congregation
sings their favourite hymns to piano and guitar. Christian Island
United Church serves the Ojibwe, Potawatomie, and Odawa people of
Beausoleil First Nation located on beautiful Georgian Bay.
The Sunday morning congregation is tiny, but the pastoral care needs
of the community are never-ending. This is a place where the United
Church tries to live out in practical ways our apology to First Nations.
The United Church, and its predecessor the Methodist Church, have
had a presence in this community for approximately 175 years. The
early missionaries were both teachers and ministers. The United Church
ran the Protestant school on the reserve, with the minister acting as
the principal and the pastor. The band took over the responsibility for
education in the early 1970s, amalgamating the United Church and
Roman Catholic schools. For the first time, the pastor was freed for fulltime ministry.
Fully funded by Mission & Service, this ministry is broader than just care
for the families that identify as United Church. This ministry reaches
out to the entire First Nation, offering spiritual care, counselling, and
religious services where needed.
Thanks to our contributions for Mission & Service, together we can offer
the gift of God’s presence in tangible, everyday ways.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 27
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
June 26
A Safe Place
under the Rainbow
In northern Ontario, Camp McDougall runs a week-long Rainbow Camp
for LGBTQ campers and their allies.
Director Deb Woodman talks about what makes this camp unique:
Our goal is to educate and promote awareness in society
regarding gender, sexual identities, and expressions. Camp is
organized around the philosophy of safer space; in other words,
no questions will be asked and no explanations are needed
for campers to live in their chosen identities and be honoured
in this. We support this each day by offering campers the
opportunity to claim their identity for the day or moment.
We use educational programming on gender, sexuality, sexual
health, trans issues, and body image to structure the day. The
programming also includes fun activities, singing, running, and
exploring as well as going on a nature hike, watching films, and
discussing topics. We do all of these and many more traditional
camp activities like having bonfires, holding an open stage night,
playing cards, and just being silly.
Each year campers have opportunities to have positive experiences that
will help them deal with any negative experiences after they leave camp.
We are thankful that through our gifts for Mission & Service, campers
are offered a safe space to explore what it means to truly be themselves.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
28 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
July 3
Thank You
to Our Ministers
The Rev. Bronwyn Corlett, Program Coordinator for Ministry Recruitment,
shares her reflections on those in ministry.
I have met serious ministers and funny ministers; ministers who arrive
early and overprepared for every meeting; ministers who arrive late
with a disorganized bundle of papers. I have seen ministers preach
with a seeming relaxed ease and ministers who have fumbled anxiously
through their notes, both actively sharing the Word of God. I have seen
ministers put their own problems and pains on hold so they might hold
someone else’s problems and pains for a little while.
My favourite question to ask a minister is “How did you get into
ministry?” Nine times out of ten they will reply, “Well, I didn’t go into
ministry in the usual way. I avoided my call until I couldn’t avoid it any
longer.” Nine times out of ten, they will tell you they do it for the love of
God and the love of people.
Thank you to our ministers. Thank you for the sermons, the prayers,
and the visits. Thank you for the laughter and the tears and the times
you leave your own families to sit with someone else’s. Thank you for
your leadership and your late nights and your theological reflection.
Thank you for answering God’s call. Thank you for living out that call in
The United Church of Canada.
We give thanks for Mission & Service, which helps support theological
schools and education centres that provide training and continuing
education for our ministers. Mission & Service also provides support
through discernment and settlement processes through Conference
leadership.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 29
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
July 10
Mutuality in Ministry
“This is the church of William Scott,” the General Secretary of the
Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea reminded delegates to
its General Assembly in 2015. The General Assembly approved an
agreement of Mutual Recognition of Ministry with The United Church
of Canada. Unanimously approved by our 42nd General Council in
August 2015, the approval in Korea heralds a new step in the partnership
journey of our two churches.
The Rev. William Scott (1886–1979) was a Canadian missionary who
answered the calling of global mission, arriving with his wife Kate Scott
in Korea in 1914. He and the Rev. Chai Choon Kim became allies in
challenging literal and conservative interpretations of scripture in Korean
seminaries in the 1950s. Refusing to back down from their beliefs, they
were expelled as heretics from the Presbyterian Church in Korea in
1952. In 1953 they joined with like-minded ministers and others to form
the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea. The United Church
of Canada supported this new denomination—the only global partner
church in 1953 to do so.
The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea was founded on
principles of inclusion and public witness for justice and peace. The
church reaches out to the minjung—the oppressed, exploited, and
despised people of Korea. It is also an active and prophetic voice for
democracy, human rights, and reunification of North and South Korea.
The life and witness of William Scott is a reminder of the United Church
model of partnership in mission, based on mutual respect and faith, and
life together in a troubled world.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
30 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
July 17
Companion
video
available
Youth
at the Crossroads
The Rev. Bronwyn Corlett reflects on being the facilitator at London
Conference’s Youth Forum 2015.
When I am at a crossroads and don’t know what choice to make,
especially when I don’t want to move forward, I often think of
Peter and the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–9). Peter so wants
to get it right, so when he sees Jesus transfigured and speaking
with Moses and Elijah, he assumes this is a moment to be
memorialized.
Suddenly God says, “This is my son whom I love; with him I am
well pleased. Listen to him.” When Jesus speaks, he says, “Get
up. Don’t be afraid.” Jesus then goes back down the mountain
with the disciples, enters Jerusalem under palms, flips over
tables, eats a meal with his disciples, has doubts in a garden, is
crucified, and rises!
If Peter had stayed on the mountaintop building his memorial, he
would have missed so much!
It was my honour to join the London Conference, affectionately
known as “LoCo,” Youth Forum 2015 and explore with them
the theme of the crossroads. Youth and young adults face an
overwhelming number of crossroads, and it can be daunting to
realize crossroads just keep coming as an adult.
Remember: “Get up. Don’t be afraid,” for you are not alone.
We are thankful for our gifts for Mission & Service, which help support
Conference ministries, including programs for youth and young adults.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
31
July 24
Maritime Conference
Becomes Affirming!
The Rev. Bronwyn Corlett reflects on the experience of Maritime
Conference becoming an Affirming Conference.
What does it mean to be inclusive? What does it mean to love your
neighbour as yourself? What do you do with your concerns when you
disagree with your neighbour? How do you live in a community with
varying beliefs, understandings, and practices? And what happens when
the rules change?
At the 2015 Annual General Meeting of Maritime Conference, a series of
votes were passed making Maritime Conference the fourth Conference to
become Affirming.
As a visitor at the meeting, it was an honour to witness such thoughtful
preparation from those making the motions and those raising questions
and concerns. It was an honour to witness such respectful and sincere
conversations. It was an honour to witness the way the youth and young
adults were determined to have their voices heard, and how eager the
court was to listen. It was an honour to witness the court’s desire to
expand and ensure that youth and young adult voices would be heard
in the future. It was an honour to witness how the Affirming process
opened up new conversations about what inclusion really means. It was
an honour to experience the joy of the court when the work was done
and the singing began.
It was an honour and a privilege to witness God’s people at work.
We are thankful for our gifts for Mission & Service that support Affirm
United and the Affirming process.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
32 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
July 31
Companion
video
available
We Become
Family at Camp!
What would you say to the whole United Church of Canada about
Camp Lorrain? The question brings smiles to the faces of campers and
counsellors sitting in Murphy’s Lodge.
“When I was younger, I didn’t fit in at school. I was bullied a lot,” says
Liz. “When my church sent me to Camp Lorrain, I found a family—
people who accepted me and cared about me. Here I was a person, not
a problem. Now I get to be a counsellor with girls who are like me. We
become family.”
Chris shares his story: “I have been coming here since I was only seven,
even though it means travelling hundreds of miles. I’ve changed here at
camp. I am now a counsellor-in-training, helping other kids to have the
same experience that I had.”
Connor chimes in: “I’ve grown spiritually since coming here. I’ve met
new people and become open to them. I’m growing into a better leader
because now I am able to work with and learn from kids who are
different from me. My favourite memory is sleeping out under the stars,
listening to the waves crashing on the rocks. I’d never had a chance to
do that in the city I’m from.”
Torrin says: “I wouldn’t be the same person without Camp Lorrain.”
Camp Lorrain, on the shores of Lake Temiskaming in northeastern
Ontario, has been supported by Mission & Service for many years.
Our gifts change the lives of young people for the better. For this most
valuable gift, the gift of lives changed—thank you!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of
your life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 33
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
August 7
Sharing an
Overseas Heart
Companion
video
available
As Mission & Service–supported overseas personnel for the past 45
years, Rob and Keiko Witmer have put a lot of effort into building links
between the church in Canada and the church in Japan. This includes
building links among church people, Indigenous people, and education
centres in Canada and Japan. With their help, many groups from both
countries have participated in exchanges between The United Church of
Canada and The United Church of Christ in Japan.
Rob and Keiko’s main work has been with the Dohoku Centre, a rural
church centre established in 1960 with the financial support of The
United Church of Canada. The Dohoku Centre carries out a wide
range of activities and programs, such as one related to issues of food,
agriculture, and rural society called the Three Love rural network: love
for God, love for humanity, and love for the soil.
Rob and Keiko speak about the effects of the 2011 earthquake and
tsunami that transformed what farmers are able to grow. Farmers in this
region now grow carrots because they are resistant to radiation.
We wish Rob and Keiko well as they begin a new phase of life in
retirement! We are thankful for the giving hearts of our overseas
personnel, supported by our gifts for Mission & Service!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
34 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
August 14
Companion
video
available
Fighting to
Get Back to the Sea
On December 26, 2004, one of the deadliest natural disasters in human
history occurred when an underwater earthquake near Indonesia
triggered a massive tsunami. In India, mostly in Tamil Nadu state, over
18,000 people were killed and more than 600,000 displaced.
Ten years later, people in Tamil Nadu are experiencing what they call “a
continuation of a permanent tsunami” due to large corporate projects. In
Kari Kattu Kuppum fishing village, for example, villagers were relocated
after the tsunami’s destruction. Today, their path to the sea is barred by
a large wall built by a private company that wants to build on the prime
land on the other side, close to the sea.
This means villagers have to carry their nets, boats, and other
equipment over 2 km to reach the sea, a journey along which they are
often harassed by police. Community leaders have even been arrested
at the instigation of the private company, they say, because they are
fighting against the wall in court. One community leader who had five
cases filed against him and has been arrested once says the problems
they now face are worse than the tsunami. The community originally
had 350 families; less than 50 remain today.
Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation helps local villagers
bring their cases to court across Tamil Nadu. We are thankful our gifts
for Mission & Service support this justice work.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 35
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
August 21
Shirley Goodness
and Friends
Jane Harding, Stewardship and Gifts Officer for BC Conference, shares her
joy over the giving heart of Shirley Goodness, who has raised thousands
of dollars for Mission & Service.
Shirley Goodness (a.k.a. the Rev. Deb Hinksman) is a well-known
character in British Columbia Conference who lifts up the work of
Mission & Service every time she speaks.
Shirley, together with the Stewardship Team of British Columbia
Conference, offered an old-fashioned music and comedy cabaret at a
local theatre as a Mission & Service fundraising event.
Shirley invited some of her fantastic friends to perform, including pianist
and entertainer Perry Dickison; the Spirit Sisters, a talented group of
women who sing sacred and secular a cappella music; and the musical
duo of Linnea Good and David Jonsson. There was a bit of a Scottish
theme throughout, with a bagpiper and a Scottish dancer rounding out
the entertainment. Prizes were donated and sponsorships procured, and
after all was said and done, $4,123 was raised to go to Mission & Service
for ministry and mission.
We are so very proud of the work the United Church does in Canada
and around the world, and so thankful for the many gifts of time, talent,
and donations for the work of Mission & Service.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
36 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
August 28
Companion
video
available
There Is Hope!
In Chiclayo, Peru, there is an organization of people who aren’t afraid to
show their light to the world. They determinedly work day in and day
out with people who live with poverty, marginalization, and oppression.
They are known to many as “las Esperanzitas”—“the hopeful people.”
This group of people shine their light onto the world with passion,
dedication, and a spirituality of hope.
They make up the Hope Centre, or Centro Esperanza. Centro Esperanza
has outreach programs engaging children, youth, and women in
marginalized communities in the city of Chiclayo. The work of Centro
Esperanza has produced many fruits. Women become entrepreneurs and
bravely speak out on key issues. Children learn to dance, play a musical
instrument, and express themselves in non-violent ways through
creative arts programs. Youth become inspired to chase their dreams and
find their self-worth through after-school programs and workshops.
Las Esperanzitas are people who bring to life vibrant and healthy
communities in Chiclayo, Peru. They pass their light of hope and
genuine appreciation for all people in a broken and unjust world.
We are thankful that Mission & Service supports people so they can rise
above poverty, marginalization, and oppression and share their colourful
gifts with the world.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 37
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
September 4
A Fertile Ground
for Learning
Bethe Benjamin-Cameron, who has begun a new pastoral relationship as
a member of the Order of Ministry in Prince Edward Island, reflects on
her years at the Atlantic School of Theology.
Following a call to ordained ministry in your mid-40s can be a
daunting task. It was indeed a little scary but not impossible with
God’s help. Balancing a half-time pastoral charge, family, and
studies was easier than it looked with the support of the professors,
staff, and other students at the Atlantic School of Theology. The
school offered a fertile ground for academic learning as well as
space for creative spiritual experience and expression.
Our gifts for Mission & Service generously support the work of
the Atlantic School of Theology and six other theological schools
across the country where students become members of the Order of
Ministry.
Meister Eckhart said: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire
life is thank you, it will be enough.”
Students like Bethe offer prayers of gratitude to Atlantic School of
Theology and to the generosity of Mission & Service for recognizing the
importance of supporting our theological schools so that well-equipped,
educated, and caring people can offer ministry in many ways in The
United Church of Canada.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
38 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
September 11
Companion
video
available
Toward
Sustainable Agriculture
Agriculture is an important part of Haiti’s economy, but the country
produces only about half of the food its people need. The rest is
imported.
In developing countries, the gap between the food that people can grow
locally and the imported food they need to purchase is often called
“food security”—or in this case “food insecurity.” In Haiti the gap
means many of the poorest and most vulnerable people can’t afford
enough to eat, resulting in a multitude of health problems.
Farmers in Haiti work with the practice of food sovereignty in mind.
They work to increase food production even as they struggle to reduce
soil erosion in the mountains, and try to work with nature as they
manage ever more erratic cycles of rain and drought. They form local
organizations to support one another, shape local food systems that
are fair, press for collaboration from government, and work with
international development agencies.
In Haiti, Mission & Service helps support two partners: Haiti’s Methodist
Church and the Karl Lévêque Cultural Institute. Both organizations
support local farmers with microcredit, livestock, and seed programs,
and both participated in a two-day forum on food security with the
representatives of six Canadian churches and the Canadian Foodgrains
Bank.
Through our gifts for Mission & Service, Haitian farmers are able to
help ensure the social, economic, and environmental well-being of their
communities.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 39
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
September 18
Uniting Hands
for Life
Bolivia is changing fast. It’s a South American country where Indigenous
people who once had no power have had an Indigenous president for a
decade.
In Bolivia, The United Church of Canada works with a network of three
national churches and seven non-governmental organizations. The
network is called Uniting Hands for Life, or UMAVIDA (OOM-ah-VEEdah). The members of the network help one another understand and
take action on complex issues such as climate change and address the
structural causes of poverty and social exclusion.
The groups come together in common cause around ecological issues
(particularly water contamination and access) as well as poverty, human
rights, a just society, and relationships of respect and equality.
Each member of the network brings a particular focus of activity and
expertise to the collaboration. One organization, for example, works
with children and youth in southern Bolivia, lifting up alternatives to
earning a living from working in the underground silver mines. Another
works with local farming communities on the impact of mining on
water quality. A third promotes use of small-scale gardens in urban
neighbourhoods, partly to create more green space and improve
nutrition but also to provide people with a good, lived experience of
being part of a process of social and ecological change.
Our gifts for Mission & Service are creating positive change in Bolivia.
Thank you!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
40 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
September 25
Communicating
with Sign
It started with an idea.
Why don’t we gather Deaf ministry leaders from different denominations
in one place? We could talk about what we have in common and see
what happens next.
That idea led to forming the Canadian Consultation on Christian Deaf
Ministries. Bringing together a broad and diverse group of leaders who
use American Sign Language in their communities of faith, this group
has been working on worship resources, theological training for Deaf
students, sharing ministry ideas, and leadership.
Mission & Service supports the work of this group and the work of
Deaf ministries congregations across the country. Most church worship
services are designed for people who can hear, so Deaf people have no
idea what is happening if there is no sign language. “Deaf people are not
disabled; we are a cultural group who use American Sign Language to
communicate,” one person shared.
But the numbers of Deaf communities in any given geographic location
are small, so some experimental worship services are being done online.
With leadership from the Deaf community in the United Church, Deaf
people in any region can access Deaf-led worship through the Internet.
Even if a person is in a place where there is no in-person worship
service in American Sign Language, they can view a service online.
We are thankful that our gifts for Mission & Service make it possible for
Deaf people across the country to worship freely.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
41
October 2
Typhoon Haiyan
Disponible en
français!
Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda), considered the world’s
strongest typhoon ever to make landfall, pummelled Central Philippines
in 2013. Government figures estimate the super typhoon affected about
14 million people and left 4.1 million displaced. More than 6,000 people
were killed, and about 44 provinces in 9 regions sustained extensive
damage to houses, livelihoods, and infrastructure. About 1 million
houses were damaged, half of them completely destroyed. The UN Food
Security and Agriculture Cluster reported that the livelihoods of over a
quarter of a million small-scale farmers were affected. As is often the
case, the most vulnerable were the most affected by the typhoon; many
faced devastating loss.
Mission & Service partner the National Council of Churches in the
Philippines (NCCP) was quick to respond and continues to play a
key role in supporting communities as they rebuild their lives and
livelihoods.
Subsistence farmers who relied on their farms to feed their families
were devastated and desperately need help. A key part of the NCCP
community-building response involved distributing seed for food crops
in five of the most affected area villages. The response prioritized the
most vulnerable: subsistence farmers, women-headed families, and
families caring for elderly people.
We are thankful that, with support from Mission & Service, 763
vulnerable families in the Philippines received the seed that ultimately
put food on their tables.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
42 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
October 9
Disponible en
français!
Companion
video
available
Overwhelmed
with Gratitude!
The Rev. Melody Duncanson Hales, Mission & Service Animator for
Manitou Conference, reflects on getting to share her ministry with many
congregations.
“My name is Melody, and I am your minister.” This is the way I
introduce myself in Manitou Conference. I serve The United Church
of Canada in northeastern Ontario and northwestern Quebec in the
area of Mission and Stewardship animation. I am a minister for 60
pastoral charges, from Hornepayne, Ontario, to Val d’Or, Quebec, from
Kapuskasing to Manitoulin Island.
On paper, my “job description” seems detailed and overwhelming. In
any given week, I might lead worship and learn with a congregation
about stewardship, meet with church leaders to plan their annual
giving program, facilitate a conversation about refugee sponsorship and
overseas partnership, resource a group concerned about environmental
protection, share the stories of our Mission & Service, and pray with a
youth group on retreat.
I love this church, this place, and these people. I am the churches’
cheerleader: listening, encouraging, and telling their stories of hope
and generosity wherever and whenever I can. Good Friday moments in
saying goodbye to ministries, resurrection moments in celebrating new
ministries—these are part of it all, and what a privilege to be a witness!
We are thankful for our generous gifts for Mission & Service, allowing
those in ministry to see the gospel being made real all over Manitou and
across the church.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 43
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
October 16
Making Dreams
Come True
Disponible en
français!
Filadelfia lives in Tizate, Las Flores, Guatemala, supported by
Fraternidad de Presbiteriales Mayas. Filadelfia leads a group of 10
women participating in a community microcredit program. The women
use loans to purchase and raise steers and produce potatoes for sale.
FPM, a partner of The United Church of Canada, brings together
3,000 women of Mayan descent from across Guatemala working for
development in their own communities.
With their children sitting on their knees, the women speak about a
new and vibrant sense of self-esteem, as well as practical skills around
care of the environment, hygiene, parenting, and raising livestock. They
want to keep learning so they can teach their children and show them
the value of education. Many are working so their children can attend
school. They dream of a life with a sustainable, livable income.
With the support of Fraternidad de Presbiteriales Mayas, those dreams
now seem possible. The women are excited as they talk about new
possibilities for cooperative business ventures and new skills that bring
the dreams ever closer to reality.
With pride in their accomplishments, the women also talk about healthy
relationships. They dream of being treated with respect and of taking
leadership roles in their community, family, and church.
We are thankful for Mission & Service gifts shared in partnership with
Fraternidad de Presbiteriales Mayas that have made and continue to
make many dreams come true for Mayan women.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
44 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
October 23
Daring to
Imagine Peace
“Children’s art is dangerous for war,” reads a sign in a school on the
south edge of Bogotá, Colombia. The sign reflects the work of building a
culture of peace among children and youth in the war-torn country.
In the wake of 60 years of civil war, work for peace in Colombia takes
place in many different settings: official peace talks among warring
factions; advocacy for victims of violence; and education to strengthen
the voices of women, youth, Indigenous people, and Afro-Colombians—
all groups that have often been left out of decisions made by those who
hold power.
The Latin American Centre for Popular Education, known as CEPALC
(SAY-palk), is one of three United Church partners in Colombia
supported by Mission & Service.
CEPALC is an ecumenical group that helps children who have lived
their entire lives in the midst of war imagine peace and experience
healthy community. It also offers training in media production to many
community radio and cable TV stations in different parts of Colombia
challenging the norms of violence and lifting up alternative ways of
living in peace. CEPALC makes its own radio, video, theatre, dance, and
puppet productions as it works toward a culture of peace throughout
Colombia.
Another sign in the school says, “War is afraid of children’s art.”
We are thankful that CEPALC, supported by Mission & Service, helps
children become a force for peaceful change in Colombia.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 45
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
October 30
Faithful
Decisions
Disponible en
français!
Each year, in each Conference, a group of dedicated volunteers meet.
They have two sets of documents for their meeting. One set is the
usually large file of community ministries requesting funding and
congregations in need of support, and the other set contains information
about the allotted amount of Mission & Service funds they have to share
in their Conference.
Thus begins the painstaking work of reading about and discerning how
the funds will be allocated. Mission Support Grant Committees often
meet over a series of days. They prayerfully discern and distribute some
of our gifts for Mission & Service so all who have made requests will get
at least some money to continue their work.
Without Mission & Service givings, the work of these committees would
not touch as many lives as they do. Congregations would not be able to
call ministry personnel to offer leadership; community ministries would
not be able to serve many people in their communities.
Thank you for all the ways we are making a real difference in
communities across the country and other parts of the world. Through
our gifts for Mission & Service, people who could be our neighbours,
our friends, or our families feel the beating heart of the United Church,
supporting and caring for people on the margins.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
46 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
November 6
Engaged Citizenship
What do you care about? What matters most in your community and
our world?
Many of us participated in Canada’s federal election in October 2015.
This was a time of hope and decision. General Council staff created a
2015 Federal Election Kit to help United Church people learn more about
issues that concern our church and our global and Canadian partners.
Aboriginal justice, climate justice, refugee rights, and the elimination
of child poverty were some of the topics included. The kit also offered
instructions for planning and participating in an all-candidates meeting.
Some United Church people are shocked that the church deliberately
makes the connection between faith and politics. Yet, our United Church
witness is not to a particular person or party but to God’s mission of
justice and love lived out through policies that promote sustainable
communities, build peace, and defend human rights.
The United Church has been active in the public arena, including
elections, since its earliest days. The founders of our church believed
that ours is a living faith and a witness to the ministry of Jesus Christ
that is expressed in active, thoughtful involvement in society.
We are called to be the light that brings God-colours of justice, peace,
and healing into the democratic process.
Our gifts for Mission & Service make resources like the 2015 Federal
Election Kit possible. Thank you!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 47
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
November 13
Rewriting
the Story
Disponible en
français!
Recently, people with disabilities and their allies were invited to share
their stories of living with disabilities in the United Church. Some
stories were joyful; many were vulnerable, honest, and painful stories of
exclusion.
Some people reflected on how they could not physically access a church.
Some noted that their disability was the only thing others noticed or
asked them about. Some shared that they could not participate fully in
their community of faith. Some explained how difficult it is to read the
Bible passages that talk about healing from disabilities. Many noted
attitudes of exclusion, and that people with disabilities are not always
welcome.
United Church staff and elected members are working to address
the hard realities these stories express by offering new ideas about
theologies of disabilities, sharing those widely in the United Church,
and developing educational resources that will be soon be available
to communities of faith. A group of people with disabilities, and
their allies, has been following up on ideas through a United Church
consultation on disabilities and developing new ones for the church.
These are positive ways people with disabilities are changing the church,
and they invite the whole church to be part of authoring a new, positive
story.
Our gifts for Mission & Service make it possible to be part of the new
accessibility story that is being written.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
48 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
November 20
Conference–Wide
Confirmation Retreat
In 2010, a group of Conference staff and youth ministers from Living
Waters and Northern Waters presbyteries of Toronto Conference
gathered to plan the first of many confirmation retreats. The retreats
received funding through the Mission & Service Vision Fund, which
offers financial support to new initiatives in youth ministry. Monies that
were received subsidized the accommodation and meeting space as well
as program supplies.
In 2015, the confirmation retreat became Conference-wide. Our support
of youth ministry through the Vision Fund has grown this program over
the years.
The retreat offers youth an opportunity to gather for a time of learning
about A New Creed through art, games, discussion, and worship. One
youth who walked in was overwhelmed by the group. “At my church I
am the only youth!” he exclaimed, “Here, I am not alone!”
Through your gifts for Mission & Service many youth can come together
for faith exploration and create friendships beyond congregational
borders.
Thank you! Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular
part of your life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 49
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
Advent
Candle-Lighting Liturgy
The following Advent wreath liturgy focuses on the theme of Advent
Unwrapped. Wrap four candles in large boxes with removable lids in
newsprint so they look like Christmas presents. Label the boxes Hope,
Peace, Joy, and Love. Each week, the congregation will be asked to draw
or write on the outside of the box what these words mean to them,
unwrap the box, and remove and light the candle or remove a ribbon to
represent the candle.
Advent 1: Hope
One: In a world filled with doubt, fear, and uncertainty,
All: we are called to reflect God’s hope.
One: A hope that does not rely on things or possessions;
All: our hope is…
(Invite people to share what Christian hope means to them, or have some
prepared definitions. Write or draw the definitions on the box.)
One: Grant us the courage to share this hope,
All: as we prepare the way for the hope of the world, God-with-us, Emmanuel.
(Unwrap the box, being careful not to tear the words of hope, and take
out the Advent candle. Or, unwrap other gifts of hope, such as pictures of
hope in your community or individual candles for people to take home.)
One: May this gift of a candle’s defiant flame remind us of God’s gift of hope!
(Light first Advent candle.)
All:Amen!
Sung Response Suggestions
“Ameni” (More Voices 219)
“Prepare the Way of the Lord” (Voices United 10)
“Come Now, O God of Peace” (VU 34)
50 The United Church of Canada
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Advent 2: Peace
One: In a world filled with broken relationships, broken hearts, and broken spirits,
All: we are called to build God’s dream of peace.
One: A peace that is not the absence of chaos, noise, or war;
All: God’s peace is…
(Invite people to share what Christian peace means to them, or have
some prepared definitions. Write or draw the definitions on the box.)
One: Grant us the courage to be peacekeepers and kin-dom builders,
All: as we prepare the way for the Prince of Peace, God-with-us, Emmanuel.
(Unwrap the box, being careful not to tear the words of hope, and take
out the Advent candle. Or, unwrap other gifts of peace, such as dove
cookies, symbols from the Advent Peace Box, or other symbols of hope
significant to your community.)
One: May this gift of a candle’s defiant flame remind us of God’s gift of peace!
(Light second Advent candle.)
All: Amen!
(See Sung Response Suggestions in Advent 1.)
Advent 3: Joy
One: In a distressing and despairing world,
All: we are called to share God’s joy.
One: A joy that cannot be purchased or packaged,
All: a joy that is…
(Invite people to share what Christian joy means to them, or have some
prepared definitions. Write or draw the definitions on the box.)
One: Grant us the courage to share this joy,
All: as we proclaim the joy of the world, God-with-us, Emmanuel.
Minutes for Mission 2016
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SERVICE FUND
51
(Unwrap the box, being careful not to tear the words of joy, and take
out the Advent candle. Or, unwrap other gifts of joy, such as scripture
sentences or other symbols of joy significant to your community.)
One: May this gift of a candle’s defiant flame remind us of God’s gift of joy!
(Light third Advent candle.)
All:Amen!
(See Sung Response Suggestions in Advent 1.)
Advent 4: Love
One: In a world filled with loneliness and isolation,
All: we are called to share God’s love.
One: A love that does not depend on our feelings and likes,
All: a love that is…
(Invite people to share what Christian love means to them, or have some
prepared definitions. Write or draw the definitions on the box.)
One: Grant us the courage to love others as God loves us,
All: as we prepare the way for love-made-known, God-with-us, Emmanuel.
(Unwrap the box, being careful not to tear the words of love, and take out
the Advent candle. Or, unwrap other gifts of love, such as pictures of love
in your community or heart cookies.)
One: And may this gift of a candle’s defiant flame remind us of God’s love for the world!
(Light last Advent candle.)
All:Amen!
(See Sung Response Suggestions in Advent 1.)
52 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
November 27
Ministry of Presence
Inner City Pastoral Ministry was established in 1978 by Edmonton
Presbytery and grew into an interdenominational community ministry
supported by the Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Lutheran churches.
It serves the Boyle-McCauley area of Edmonton, a marginalized
community with many people experiencing poverty and homelessness
as well as the challenges of addiction, mental health issues, and family
dysfunction. About half of the diverse community is Aboriginal.
The ministry of Inner City Pastoral Ministry is offered throughout the
week by a full-time pastor, a part-time pastoral associate, and most
recently an Oskapew, or Helper, in the Cree language. Sunday worship
is held in the Bissell Agency Drop In Centre, with average attendance of
125 people and 250-plus attending a hearty lunch after the service. More
than 80 churches and synagogues take turns preparing and serving the
lunch 52 Sundays a year.
Midweek finds the ministry team visiting homes, hospitals, and local
drop-ins, and on the street building relationships and offering pastoral
care, prayer, advocacy, and referrals for local community members.
Spiritual wellness groups build trust and provide times of reflection
to deepen spiritual life. An annual Men’s and Women’s Retreat is
a highlight of the year. The Oskapew concentrates on Aboriginal
relationships, offering teachings and ceremony through a Métis lens.
We are thankful for our gifts for Mission & Service given in partnership
with the Inner City Pastoral Ministry, one of dozens of community
ministries across Canada.
Thank you! Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular
part of your life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 53
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
December 4
Doctor, Missionary:
Florence Murray
“Were you a doctor or a missionary?” people asked Florence Murray.
“I hope I was both,” she responded.
Born in 1894, Florence Murray began her medical studies at the start of
World War One. In 1921 she was appointed a missionary medical doctor
to Korea. Placed under house arrest by the occupying Japanese in 1941,
she was deported to Canada one year later in a prisoner exchange but
returned to Korea in 1947 and remained there until 1969.
She became known internationally as an authority on leprosy and
respiratory diseases and was one of the founders of the Wonju Severance
Christian Hospital and College. With over 5,000 alumni from its schools
of nursing, medicine, and dentistry, the hospital is today a centre of
medical excellence in Korea.
Dr. Murray is remembered and revered by the Presbyterian Church in
the Republic of Korea and by thousands of Koreans as a compassionate
doctor who dedicated her life to living and working among poor and
marginalized people. With courage, faith, and ingenuity, she confronted
disease, poverty, tangled politics, cultural differences, and the violence
of war. She committed her life to the well-being of others, and with
fellow Korean workers left a proud legacy of hospitals and schools that
continue to serve the people of Korea today.
We are thankful for the cloud of witness found in our history with our
partners like the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea—and for
the passion of women like Florence Murray!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
54 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
December 11
Disponible en
français!
Companion
video
available
Polity in Action
Students who are studying at Emmanuel College had a rare opportunity
to delve deeper into the polity of the United Church and to experience
polity in action at the 42nd General Council, which took place last
August in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. The course, ably taught by
Professor Pamela Couture, began its time together through a series of
webinars. The 12 students who were enrolled each took a portion of the
1,100-page General Council Workbook, researched the background, and
wrote a paper on what it means for the national church moving forward.
Meeting as a class in Corner Brook at GC42, with their teacher as table
facilitator, discussed, questioned, and listened intently to discussion
from the floor.
The course was created after the “awakened opportunity for learning
that came out of General Council 41 in Ottawa,” says Steve Willey,
the now retired Program Coordinator Education and Leadership
Development. Willey and the staff of Emmanuel College saw this as
an opportunity for students to see the church at its best. The students
attentively observed all, questioned, and came away with a better
understanding of the polity in the church and how we as a national
body make decisions.
We are thankful to Mission & Service for the grant that covered staff
costs and helped defray costs for students to travel to Corner Brook. The
GC42 course is a partnership between Mission & Service and Emmanuel
College.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith!
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 55
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
December 18
Servant Leadership
Companion
video
available
For over 40 years the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) has been training rural
leaders in three core areas: community building, integrated organic
farming techniques, and servant leadership.
Servant leadership has been part of ARI since its inception. Participants
learn about different models of leadership, such as those personified
by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi. At the core of
this training is the belief that through understanding current issues
and developing management skills, the students will become effective
leaders.
One of the participants shared his understanding of servant leadership:
A leader is not a commander but serves the people. I got a great
challenge and lesson from ARI on the role of servant leader. The
servant leadership methods completely changed me. Staff are
always practising servant leadership, and that is why. It is not just
taught and learned but also practised every day. All people are
equal, no discrimination. I never learned this before. I know the
words “servant leadership” as a Christian but not in practice in the
community. But from ARI I really came to know its meaning.
Working in partnership with staff members and in work teams allows
participants to learn what it means to both serve and follow.
We are thankful for partners like Asian Rural Insitute, where our Mission
& Service gifts offer many an opportunity to learn what it truly means to
lead and serve.
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
56 The United Church of Canada
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND
December 25
Companion
video
available
We Are Pilgrims
on a Journey!
In July 2015, 13 youth pilgrims and two young adult leaders made a
cross-country pilgrimage to the 42nd General Council in Corner Brook,
Newfoundland. Katelyn Cody from London Conference shares her
reflection on day one.
Two hours of sleep and two plane rides later, I’m surprised at
how energized I was feeling when all of us pilgrims finally got
together. Today has been a day of bonding, getting to know each
other, and just pure, authentic fun.
In every smile, in every laugh, in every example of acceptance
I am reminded why I wanted to be a part of this excursion. In
every person here I truly see the presence of God. Each and every
moment so far, and all of them for the next six weeks, are truly a
blessing. I cannot stop smiling.
Aside from the fellowship and fun, we have already begun
to create deep and spiritual bonds. At worship tonight, we
discussed being salty. I don’t mean salty as in sassy/crooked/
rude—I mean salty as in how one engages with their faith and
acts on it out in the world. One amazing connection a fellow
pilgrim made was that part of our job this summer is to discuss
the future of the United Church so that, as salt, we are helping to
preserve the church.
I look forward to seeing what day two, tomorrow, holds.
Our Gifts for Mission & Service supported the life-changing faith
experience of these pilgrims!
Please join me in making Mission & Service giving a regular part of your
life of faith.
Loving God, we are called to be your colours in the world, to walk with each other,
to share in love through our gifts for Mission & Service.
Guide us to shine brightly in the world. Amen
Minutes for Mission 2016 57
MISSION AND
SERVICE FUND