Faith & Love Lead To Action
The Mission & Service of the United Church
In the reading from the first letter of John (1 John3:16-24), we heard these words: “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.”
“And this is God’s commandment, that we should believe in the name of God’s Son Jesus the Christ and love one another, just as Jesus has commanded us.”
This is one of those times when the Bible speaks clearly. Faith and love lead to action.
What a perfect introduction to the Mission & Service of the United Church.
You see, we believe that the purpose of the church is to do God’s mission.
The people of the United Church engage in God’s mission together through Mission & Service.
Faith and love lead to action. Doing God’s mission.
Individually; and together.
So let me say, “Thank you for your leadership in doing God’s mission!”
What you do here and beyond here, through Mission & Service, is an important part of doing God’s mission for the healing of the world.
Now before I get into some details about Mission & Service, I want to do 2 things.
First, my story.
And then, your stories.
First, let me tell you why I give, and specifically, why I give to Mission & Service.
In addition to giving to support our local congregation, my wife and I give to Mission & Service because no matter how much the local congregation is doing, it can only do so much. Our local congregation, in partnership with out local social service agency, has a monthly Pay What You Can Community supper called Community Can Dine. It has a winter clothing drive. It supports the local food bank and speaks out on injustice. It’s all great and it’s all important, and it makes a difference, but it can only ever go so far. Mission & Service takes us further. Mission & Service allows us to be part of making a real difference in the lives of people we won’t ever meet in places that we can’t go. And it does it all the time, not just when our lives and work schedules make it possible.
And I know there are lots of great organisations out there doing social justice work and helping people, but Mission & Service does it with and from a faith perspective. We serve and care and love and everything else that Mission & Service does, all the nitty gritty detaily stuff, as an embodiment of Jesus; as a way to live out our faith and do what Jesus did and taught. That makes Mission & Service different and special; and that’s really important to us.
Now it’s your turn.
Sharing why we give is an important part of stewardship and Mission & Service giving.
And I realise that not everyone here today gives to Mission & Service, yet.
So let’s just talk about Why I Give, period, since I am certain that everyone here gives, in some way, shape, or form.
Do “Why I Give” exercise. Share your story of why you give with a person sitting near you and listen to their story in return.
I hope you found that inspiring.
I hope you also find this inspiring.
In 2017, Mission & Service provided $5 million to support 92 global partners in 21 countries around the world.
Acting for peace and justice, building capacity, implementing programs, and responding to humanitarian crises, the church accompanies global ecumenical and interfaith partners in the regions of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
Faith and love lead to action in order to be part of God’s mission.
In 2017, Mission & Service provided $3.4 million to support community and justice work.
This work in Canada supports communities and social justice ministries as they work toward eliminating poverty and engage in the ministry of healing and reconciliation including, the caring work of 33 chaplaincies, the Healing Fund, and initiatives that nurture right relations between Indigenous and settler peoples. Faith and love lead to action.
In 2017, Mission & Service provided $2.2 M for theological education and ministry support.
Your Mission & Service giving educates and equips our leaders for the church that we are becoming by providing funding for 7 theological schools and 3 education centres. It also provides some student education bursaries. Faith and love lead to action
In 2017, Mission & Service provided $7.7 M for faith formation.
This includes programing in ministries with children, youth and young adults, Indigenous people, and United Church Women, support for LGBTQ+ people and networks, as well as stewardship, ethno-cultural, intercultural, and diverse communities in ministry.Faith and love lead to action
In 2017, Mission & Service provided $6.8 M to support local ministries by providing:
• programming and financial support to congregations as they transition in ministry, operate in remote communities, or experiment with new ministries
• renewal and new ministry support through the EDGE Network
• launching Embracing the Spirit to fund innovation in local communities of faith: as Embracing the Spirit develops, grants for innovation will increase.
This map shows all the congregations across Canada that get support from Mission & Service in order to survive and make a difference in their communities.
Faith and love lead to action
In 2017, Mission & Service provided $2.6 M to support Conference staff as they provide leadership and resources to presbyteries, ministry personnel, and local ministries.
As in previous years, General Council Leadership and Governance is funded from other revenue and draws on reserves. Pension and Group Insurance is self-funded.
Faith and love lead to action
For a short, inspiring glimpse into many of the ways Mission & Service is making a difference across Canada and around the world, let’s watch the current Mission & Service music video.
See what you can spot that is important to you.
Mission & Service is truly a way that your faith and love are erupting in action.
If you want more inspiring stories of what you are doing through Mission & Service check out the Stewardship toolkit web-site.
Like us on Facebook at Mission & Service.
Follow us on Twitter. @UCCanmission_service
OR…
Read the Mission & Service At A Glance.
Your go-to information brochure.
Our main tasks are to Inspire people, to Invite every person in our communities of faith to make a meaningful annual gift for Mission & Service, and to Thank people for doing so.
Giving for Mission & Service is part of our stewardship journey, a regular part of our life of faith.
Remember, Faith and love lead to action. Doing God’s mission.
How cool is it, that after telling our stories, we get to invite people to come and be part of God’s mission? And thank them when they do so.
Mission & Service changes lives every day.
Sometimes our lives.
Thank you.
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