NEW Mission & Service Music Video

We are excited to release this NEW Mission & Service Music Video.

Peppy music accompanies pictures and video from many of the ministries and programs that your Mission & Service gifts help to make possible.

What a difference United Church people are making in local neighbourhoods, across the country and around the world!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cS6fBWRSLc&feature=youtu.be

To get involved and help support the Mission & Service of The United Church of Canada, go to united-church.ca/donate.

An Annual Meeting Sermon: Fruit-fullness - Galatians 5:22-25

So it’s Annual Meeting time again.  The time of the year when congregations pause to take stock.  It’s time to look back over the last year and predict ahead into the next year.  What did we do?  What do we hope to do?  It’s a time for evaluation.

How do we evaluate the health of a church?

Too often we only look at the ABC’s:

Attendance, Building, Cash.

How many of us are here on a Sunday morning?
What is the state of our physical building?
Did we end the year in the black? Or looking ahead, “How long will the money hold out?”

However…

Only using the ABC’s to evaluate our congregation is a problem. You see, the ABC’s are the mode of being and thinking of the culture around us. The culture of greed and isolation and power.
Only using the ABC’s to evaluate our congregation implies that the results and outcomes are entirely on our shoulders.
Only using the ABC’s to evaluate our congregation comes out of the belief that we are working FOR Jesus. It’s the industrial, business model. Jesus is the CEO. We are the managers or workers. Jesus tells us what to do. We do it. Or we don’t. We are accountable to Jesus, just like we are accountable to our boss. It’s our job to please Jesus. Like the bumper sticker said, “Jesus is coming! Look busy.”
Only using the ABC’s to evaluate our congregation leads to despair, and hopelessness, because when we are honest we know we are broken and are not up to the task.
Only using the ABC’s to evaluate our congregation is also a fickle endeavour. When the #’s are good, we celebrate and take the glory. When the #’s are down, we despair and give up, or jump ship for something better.

So let me suggest a different approach.

Instead of focusing on numbers and buildings and finances, let’s look for fruit.

Galatians 5:22-25 (The Message)

But what happens when we live God's way? God brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard––things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good––crucified.
Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.

Instead of focusing on numbers and buildings and finances, let’s ask the vital question, “Are we bearing Fruit?” Are we bearing fruit (of the Spirit) for God’s Kingdom?

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control. (Galatians 5:22-23a - NRSV)

Yes, fruit can be hard to measure. Measuring fruit requires more than just statistics and spreadsheets.

Measuring fruit requires stories, sharing, and community.
Measuring fruit requires a willingness to look with our hearts, not just our eyes or our minds.
Measuring fruit means asking questions like:

• What kind of a difference are we making in people’s lives?
• How are we drawing people closer to God and to each other?
• How has our church helped me to grow in my faith and live my faith?

Measuring fruit means believing and trusting that the results are in God’s hands, not ours.
Measuring fruit leads to a stronger reliance on God’s Spirit. Which is a good thing!
Measuring fruit means understanding that we work WITH Jesus, not FOR Jesus. Jesus, our friend, toils alongside us. It leads to an emphasis on prayer, discernment, and trust!

When we start watching for and expecting Jesus to be at work in our midst, and in each one of us, we find an assurance that we are not in it alone. It is not reliant only on our strength, or endurance, or abilities.

Measuring fruit, watching for and sharing these kind of stories results in hope, energy, and transformation.

So, as we evaluate, as we consider the health of our congregation at this Annual Congregational Meeting, let’s take a few minutes to explore how “fruit-full” we are.

Sharing:

Share with 1 or 2 people near you how this church has helped you to live “fruit-fully”; more love, more joy, more peace, more patience, more kindness, more generosity, more faithfulness, more gentleness, and more self- control? As much as you can, please be specific and personal.

[give people ~5 minutes to share]

[after the sharing time, thank people for sharing. You may want to give them a moment to share a story of bearing fruit with the larger group.]

So as we also consider the ABC’s of life in this church, let’s not forget the stories of fruit-fullness we have also heard today.

AMEN.

Whose Money Is It? -Peace

There is an old joke that people share with ministers from time to time.  The church building has a leaky roof that needs repair.  The minister stands up to address the problem.  “People, we need to raise $10,000 dollars to fix the roof.  I have good news and bad news.  The good news is, I know exactly where the money is to repair the roof.  The bad news is, it’s still in your pockets!”

The church only wants me for my money.  That is a common accusation aimed at the church in general.  In all likelihood, every minister has been accused of this in some place and time when they preach about giving and money.
Let me address that and correct it.

1) There is no MY money.

There is only God’s money, which each of us has been given some of to use to help in God’s work of transforming and saving the world from itself.

So the church doesn’t want your money. It wants some of God’s money, of which you are in possession. (and yes, the distinction matters!)

And the church doesn’t want some of God’s money, of which you are in possession, because it doesn’t want you to have that money; or because it doesn’t trust you with it.  The church wants you to give, to be generous with what is God’s, that has been given to you, in order for the church to be part of and to help you be a part of what God is doing in the world.  God’s work of transforming and saving the world from itself.  When any of us chooses to be generous, we are participating in God’s great work; God’s mission.  We are helping to create hope and we are helping to create peace.

Here’s how it works:

Peace is not just the absence of conflict.  Peace requires justice.  You have likely seen or heard the phrase:  No Justice, No Peace.  Know Justice, Know Peace.

You see, greed kills justice.
Generosity counteracts greed and therefore creates a space for justice and peace.
Justice requires generosity.

We see many many examples of this when we examine the contrasts and issues that exist between the First world, in which we live, and the Third world.  As well as within each of those realities.
The legacy of colonialism, especially in Canada with First Nations people and residential schools.

Greed kills justice.
Generosity counteracts greed and therefore creates a space for justice and peace.
Justice requires generosity.

After all, generosity is really about how we distribute resources, isn’t it?  Generosity is about how we use the world God has created and given to us.  It takes us back to and comes straight out of the creation story in Genesis.  God created and gave to all of us.

Which means it’s not so much about us and them as it is about us and us.  (and again, the distinction matters!)

There’s a critical comparison to be made here between:

Rabid capitalism and individualism, in which a small number of people believe it is their right to accumulate the majority of the resources for their own use and their own good and lay waste to the planet in the process, increasing the divide between them and everyone else;

AND the Kingdom that Jesus came to proclaim; where no one goes without; where everyone has a place and has value; where the need to consume in order to feel complete and good has been ended because we find our completeness and wholeness in God’s love for us and in our serving and caring for each other.

And more than a theoretical comparison, there is a choice confronting each of us.  The spiritual practice of generosity is about making that choice.

So when we live generous lives, generosity for the sake of generosity, not out of some sense of duty forced upon us, or out of guilt, or to get something in return, when we live generous lives we are making the choice to follow Jesus and do the things that Jesus did, building a community centred on Jesus.  We are accepting the place that God offers us within God’s realm.  We are making true what Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is among you.”  When we live generous lives we are doing justice which leads to peace.

Think about it!

1. If you are currently involved in a situation that is not “peace-full” how could an act of generosity bring peace? 
2. How generous can you be?  
3. In your praying and quiet time this week, ask God to help you be aware of opportunities to be generous.

Only Two Sermons? Year C -Transfiguration Sunday 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

The story is told, of one Sunday morning when the congregation was gathering for worship. The minister was mingling, saying hello and being friendly, when one of the congregation, a man known for being straightforward and speaking his mind, approached the minister and asked a question that would change that minister's life. “Which is it today?” the man asked. “Pardon?” asked the minister. “Your sermon,” the man asked, “Which is it today?” Again the minister uncertainly responded, “Pardon me? I'm afraid I don't understand your question.” “Well,” the man went on, “Your sermon. Which is it? I've been listening to you for some time now and it seems to me you really only have two sermons. “Work harder” or “Give more.” Which is it today?”

Ouch.

I guess it can feel that way though, can't it? Every time you turn around someone wants you to do something, or help with this event, or sit on this committee. I remember hearing a group committee person trying to recruit a parent to be a leader in scouting. “It's only 1 hour a week!” Funny.

Likewise with our money, isn't it? How many “opportunities” each month do we get to give money to a worthy cause? I think Canada Post makes a substantial amount of money delivering those opportunities to us.

It seems like more and more, we are asked to do and give, more and more.

And yes the church can be guilty of that, as well. Too many times, if people are honest about why they back away from a church, or are hesitant to get involved in the first place, the answer has to do with the belief that they are only wanted for the resources they bring.

Think about it. When you imagine new people coming to your church, are you thinking about which positions they would fill? Or how soon is it appropriate to give them offering envelopes? (or better yet, get them signed up for PAR!)

Congregational leaders suffering from burn-out. People on committees feeling trapped and unable to get off because of guilt.

I know of a church who had this unofficial rule, “You can't get off the Board, unless you die or get pregnant.” Hard to get a break, eh?

Many churches have a rule that sets a fixed term on committees, after which you MUST take a year off of all committee work. It's part of trying to learn from other situations and take care of people, so they don't get stuck on committees forever and feel overworked. Yet I'm sure, there are still times when it can feel like all the church wants is more time and more energy and more work.

So, while I'm trying hard NOT to make this a “work harder” message, I want to think with you today a bit about what's behind the church's never ending need to get people to do things.

Maybe your church has a few positions open on its committees or Board? You may be worrying about activities that won't happen this year without more people involved?

One reason that a church may seem to be constantly trying to get people involved, is because in order for certain things to happen, you need people to do them. We're good at communicating that one. Without people's willingness to help, things won't get done. That's a very basic reality, and probably the main reason which the church portrays for its never ending recruiting drive.

Another reason that a church may seem to be constantly trying to get people involved, is because of the rules. This goes hand in hand with the last reason. “The Manual says” we must have such and such a committee, so we need people to sit on it. “The Manual” is the United Church rule book. So we look at people with this helplessness in our eyes and claim it's not our fault that we're asking them, and would they please consider it. And there is great hand wringing and moaning and gnashing of teeth.

Now both of those reasons for constantly trying to get people involved are real and true. In order for things to happen we need people to do them. The rules say we must do certain things certain ways and so we need people to do them. However, neither of those reasons really gets at the heart of why we as a church spend so much time and energy trying to get people involved. Neither of those reasons is good enough.

After all, if they were, we'd have people lining up to help and we'd have to turn them away. Our committees would be full. On Sunday morning, a person would stand up, make an announcement describing a need for people to help, and before they sat back down the need would be filled. But it doesn't seem to happen that way, does it?

Talking about need doesn't do it. Talking about need doesn't do it, because people don't tend to give toward need. And when we're talking about such a precious commodity as time there has to be more to it than just need.

It has to have meaning. It has to help people. Bottom line, it has to make a difference. The word we use in the church to describe activities that help people and that make a difference, is: ministry.

Why does the church spend so much time and energy trying to get people involved? It's because we believe, no we know, that the best way for a church to help people grow in their faith as Christians is by involving them in ministry. And that's our purpose as a church, to help people grow in their faith and become strong disciples of Jesus Christ; which in turn will transform the world around us.

2 Corinthians says it this way: “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.” (2 Corinthians 3:18-4:1 – NRSV)

Unfortunately, all too often that purpose, that reason for involving people, seems to get lost or forgotten in the need. When we return ministry as an avenue to faith growth back to the forefront, it places everything we do in a different perspective.

Now, helping with the roast beef supper becomes more than just helping the church make money. It becomes a way to build supportive relationships among ourselves. It becomes a way to bring people into our building to see how disciples of Jesus get along and enjoy each other, so that if they are looking for a faith community, we’ve given them a good reason to choose us.

Now, giving two years on a committee becomes an investment in your faith life and the faith life of other people. It becomes a way to get to know two or three fellow committee people on a deeper level, to support each other and care for each other. It means growing in your faith by helping build up your church.

So instead of always talking about what the church needs, maybe it’s time to start talking about what the church provides. Even better, hearing stories from each other about how getting involved made a difference in other people’s lives, but also in each of ours.

That’s really why the church spends so much time and energy trying to get people involved. It's because we know that the best way for a church to help people to grow in their faith as Christians is by involving them in ministry. It's definitely not just “Work Harder” or “Give More”. It's “grow closer to God; be more like Jesus.” In order to live fully, thankfully, and joyfully.

Think about it!

1. What ministry at your local congregation are you currently involved with?

2. How has your church helped you to grow in your faith?

3. In your praying or meditating; ask God to continue to transform lives through your church.

Give A Gift With Meaning

As United Church of Canada folks, we receive many opportunities to give and be generous. It’s up to each of us to decide how we will give and whom we will support. Fair enough.

So here’s a home grown way that you can give a gift, make a difference, and feel confident that it will be in line with your values and our mission as a church.

The new Gifts with Vision (giftswithvision.ca) catalogue is now online and ready to help you lovingly celebrate your special occasions and make a difference in the world –with no excessive packaging and no exchanges.

• For someone who is always helping you out with a building project—make a gift of a bag of cement for a new cultural centre built by Indigenous peoples in the Philippines.
• For the inspired cook in your family—make a gift to help students enrolled in a program to teach culinary skills to enhance their employability.
• For all those nieces and nephews—make each one a gift that will put a graphic novel about the impact of residential schools into the hands of a student or an educator.

Why not give everyone on your gift list something that is memorable and meaningful—to you, to them, and to the people who will benefit from your generosity? There’s something for everyone.

This year, give a gift with meaning.

Think about it!