Minutes for Mission 20171

Minutes for Mission Snippets 2017

Date and title of Minute
In Latin America, the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network is committed to including people with disabilities in church and society. Through the Network, our gifts for Mission & Service have helped transform the lives of individuals and communities for over 30 years. / Jan 1: Opening Doors
Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network, Latin America
A warm welcome awaits anyone who walks through the doors of Chalmers Community Services in Guelph, Ontario. This Mission & Servicesupported ministry invites people into community through food, clothing programs, and a café. / Jan 8: A Warm Welcome
Chalmers Community Services, Guelph
After over a decade of civil war, El Salvador now struggles with high rates of murder and gang violence. Inspired by Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Pastor Miguel Castro of Emmanuel Baptist Church in El Salvador, a Mission & Servicesupported partner, has created a Conference on Peace and Reconciliation in his own country. We sing thanksgiving for the work of reconciliation. / Jan 15: Truth and Reconciliation from Canada to El Salvador
Emmanuel Baptist Church, El Salvador
Our gifts for Mission & Service support the Ecumenical and Multi-faith Chaplaincy of the University of Guelph, where United Church chaplain Andrew Hyde and the other chaplains offer a safe space for students who are struggling with stress, mental health issues, and homesickness. / Jan 22: Campus Ministry
Ecumenical Campus Ministry, University of Guelph
We are thankful for the support of Mission & Service that allows the Quinte Deaf Fellowship in Ontario to continue to provide a spiritual home for many in the Deaf community. / Jan 29: Quinte Deaf Fellowship
Union United Church in Montreal was founded in 1907 as a Congregationalist church. Union led the way in reaching out to Black railway porters and their families who were segregated from the rest of Montreal, offering them a place of worship and a place to call their own. We sing thanksgiving for the Black people who have led the way toward our church becoming intercultural and a place where all are welcome! / Feb 5: Black History Month
Union United, Montreal
Millions of Syrian refugees have fled to neighbouring Jordan and Lebanon. Mission & Service partner ACT Alliance provides food, water, sanitation, education, and counselling to refugees, including skills training for teenagers and young adults so they can help rebuild Syria in the future. / Feb 12: Hope for Syrian Refugees
ACT Alliance
Our generous gifts for Mission & Service provide United Church young people with opportunities to take part in events like Rendez-vous and realize they are part of a diverse, welcoming, Christian community that extends across the country and connects around the world. Please make Mission & Service a regular part of your life of faith! Together we can do so much! / Feb 19: Rendez-vous!
In 2015, 22 United Church people from across Canada took part in an ecumenical visit to China at the invitation of Mission & Service partner The China Christian Council. Building on a long history of mission and ministry together in China, Mission & Service helps build relationships and partnerships in God’s mission. / Feb 26: The Church in China
Ecumenical pilgrimage/China Christian Council
Recently, Mission & Service partner the Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation in India supported 520 children to continue their secondary school education by covering the costs of schooling, basic school supplies, and a uniform. Working with others, Mission & Service is helping children in India change the dream of an education into reality. / Mar 5: Equipping a Child for School
Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation, India
In Jordan, Mission & Service partner The Middle East Council of Churches provides vouchers to refugees from Syria and Iraq so they can choose what they want based on their needs. MECC also helps local churches that are receiving refugees, offering assistance with resettlement and social programs for adults and children. To quote MECC-Jordan’s director, “Every prayer, thought, and donation is making a difference.” Thank you. / Mar 12: Helping Refugees
Middle East Council of Churches
Working toward racial justice in church and society is a lifelong journey. We sing thanksgiving that our gifts for Mission & Service encourage continuous learning and provide resources for justice and right relationships. / Mar 19: Racial Justice
The Santa Marta Economic and Social Development Association in El Salvador offers training for farmers in eco-friendly, sustainable practices of farming and works with other organizations to address the challenges presented by mining andindustrial farming. Our gifts for Mission & Service contribute to this work that is changing lives and livelihoods in El Salvador. / Mar 26: Care for Creation
Economic and Social Development Association (ADES), El Salvador
Creating a culture of gratitude builds and sustains generosity in communities. Our gifts for Mission & Service make resources like Called to Be the Church possible. / Apr 2: A Congregational Giving Program
Our gifts for Mission & Service help us walk with partners like the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines as they advocate for human rights for Filipino people, including Indigenous people. / Apr 9: Human Rights in the Philippines
United Church of Christ in the Philippines and National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Thank you for gifts for Mission & Service, which support theological schools and education centres for all who are answering God’s call. / Apr 16: God’s World Needs Leaders
We are grateful for the gifts for Mission & Service that made 60 years of nurturing ministry possible at Five Oaks Centre. / Apr 23: Five Oaks Farewell
Our gifts for Mission & Service support safe spaces like Camp Caterpillar in Candle Lake, Saskatchewan, a camp for LGBTQ+ kids aged 7–13 and their siblings. / Apr. 30: Camp Caterpillar
We celebrate the Mission & Service foundation of missionaries like Dr. Robert McClure! / May 7: Missionary, Moderator, Faithful Follower
Dr. Robert McClure
The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea helps to ease the transition of the growing number of immigrants to Korea. We are thankful for Mission & Service gifts that help PROK provide cultural and language training, advocate for immigrant workers’ rights, and support those who are ill, unemployed, or victims of domestic abuse. / May 14: Reaching Out to Migrants
Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, Korea
Our gifts for Mission & Service support London Community Chaplaincy in Ontario, which offers hope, advocacy, and resources to people living in poverty. / May 21: London Community Chaplaincy
We sing thanksgiving that Mission & Service supports our church’s intercultural journey, including culturally sensitive worship resources that lift up Asian heritage. / May 28: Asian Heritage Month
God’s world needs leaders! We are thankful for the commitment of United Church theological schools that our gifts for Mission & Service support. / June 4: A Call to Leadership
St. Andrew’s College, Saskatoon
Supported through your gifts for Mission & Service, The Healing Fund is changing lives, connecting residential school survivors with Indigenous youth in learning experiences that revitalize culture and language. / June 11: The Healing Fund Is Changing Lives
Through gifts for Mission & Service, London Conference and Moraviantown United Church transferred a parcel of land to the Delaware Nation, Moravia of the Thames, for an interpretive centre that will share their history and story. / June 18: A Historic Land Transfer
London Conference and Moraviantown United Church
Église du Christ au Congo’s Department of Women, Children, and Family educates and supports children who have been orphaned or traumatized by the country’s ongoing conflicts. This Mission & Service partner also helps young mothers who are victims of rape by providing psychological and vocational support. Thank you for the gifts for Mission & Service that make all of this possible. / June 25: Help for Children in Congo
Église du Christ au Congo
We celebrate gifts for Mission & Service that help to make possible the University of Toronto’s Ecumenical Chaplaincy program, Qu(e)erying Religion—a safe space that allows students of all faiths to explore gender identity, sexual orientation, and religious belief. / July 2: Qu(e)erying Religion
Ecumenical Chaplaincy, University ofToronto
Thanks to our gifts for Mission & Service, we support our ministers through training and continuing education at theological schools and education centres. Thank you for helping our ministers to live out their call in The United Church of Canada! / July 9: Thank You to Our Ministers
Support from Mission & Service helps Wesley Urban Ministries in Hamilton, Ontario, offer housing, a meal program, and support for local people and refugees, including 1,000 refugees from Syria. Thank you for helping us live out social justice in Canada and around the world! / July 16: A Home at Last
Wesley Urban Ministries, Hamilton
Naomi House in St. John’s, Newfoundland, offers emergency help, housing, and employment support to young women aged 16–30. Thank you for gifts for Mission & Service that continue to support this partner’s work, whichwas started by Stella Burry in the 1930s! / July 23: A House of Welcome
Naomi House, St. John’s
The annual Skylight Festival is an ecumenical exploration of faith through arts, faith, and justice. Supported through Mission & Service and the team from EDGE Network, the festival celebrates innovation. We are thankful for creative spaces like Skylight Festival that nurture hope, joy, and transformation! / July 30: Skylight Festival
After Typhoon Haiyan devastated parts of the Philippines in November 2013, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines not only met emergency needs for shelter, food, and water but also began long-term planning to build better homes, more sustainable communities, and livelihoods. With our support through Mission & Service and special emergency appeals, UCCP continues to restore hope to many Philippine communities. / Aug 6: You Visited Me
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
We are thankful for the ways Mission & Service makes possible the chaplains of Kingston Community Chaplaincy, who support prison inmates and their families! / Aug 13: Chaplaincy in Kingston
Kate Johnson, chaplain, Queen’s School of Religion
We give thanks for ongoing Mission & Service support of leaders through educational scholarships and grants in Canada and around the world. / Aug 20: Paying It Forward!
Rev. Park Young Ju, Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea
We are so thankful for communities of faith that support Mission & Service-supported ministries like the Bissell Centre with gifts of time, talent, and treasure. / Aug 27: Bissell Centre and Childcare
Chalmers Castle Downs UC, Edmonton
We sing thanksgiving for missionaries of the past who offered their lives in service with global partner churches. Mission & Service is built on the foundation of their vision and witness! / Sept 3: Educating Girls in China
Laura Hambley, missionary
Through our gifts for Mission & Service, children and youth continue to grow in faith and community. One example is The GO Project, which offers mission experiences, summer camp programs, and a young adult intentional community. / Sept 10: A Vibrant Youth Program
GO Project
The gifts of Mission & Service support students who are discerning their path to ministry through the guidance of theological schools such as the Vancouver School of Theology. Thank you! / Sept 17: Preparing for Ministry
Vancouver School of Theology
Our gifts for Mission & Service support intercultural programs such as Deepening Understanding for Intercultural Ministry, an exciting time of Spirit-led questioning, experimenting, and mutual learning for church leaders. / Sept 24: Engaging Difference
Deepening Understanding for Intercultural Ministry
Through Mission & Service we are able to support our partners offering displaced people in Kenya and Colombia the basic necessities of life. / Oct 1: Displaced People
Nat’l Council of Churches of Kenya
Through Mission & Service, we offer long-term support and solidarity to partners the Cuban Council of Churches and the Evangelical Seminary of Theology in Matanzas, Cuba. / Oct 8: Dr. Reinerio Arce Celebrates Decades of Solidarity
Cuban Council of Churches
Mission & Service supports global partners like the Near East Council of Churches in the West Bank, which assists Palestinian families who have lost land and property due to the Israeli occupation and illegal settlements. / Oct 15: Food Insecurity
Near East Council of Churches
Nations Uniting in Ohsweken, Ontario, is a Mission & Service partner which offers a place of community for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people to gather in the journey toward reconciliation. / Oct 22: Nations Uniting
Six Nations First Nations, Grand River
Mission & Service partner the Middle East Council of Churches is bringing together groups of Christian and Muslim youth in Lebanon to discuss, work, and play together to bridge cultural differences and reject judgment and stereotypes. / Oct 29: Breaking Down Stereotypes
Middle East Council of Churches-Lebanon
We sing thanksgiving for the giving hearts of those who have answered the call to chaplaincy in times of war, who receive inspiration and training for ministry supported by our gifts for Mission & Service. / Nov 5: A Chaplain and Church Planter
Waldo Smith
Our gifts for Mission & Service co-funded the first bilingual Social Innovation Challenge in Montreal—one way Mission and Service partners create innovative ministry! / Nov 12: EDGE Social Innovation Challenge
Our gifts for Mission & Service support the United Church Women child poverty initiative, Bread Not Stones. We sing thanksgiving for UCW’s work to end child poverty! / Nov 19: UCW Works to End Child Poverty
PEI UCW Presbyterial
Mission & Service supports midwives and healthy babies and mothers through the Morogoro Women’s Training Centre in Tanzania, which trains midwives in an overall strategy to reduce mother and infant deaths. / Nov 26: Training Birth Attendants
Morogoro, Tanzania
Mission & Service supports microcredit programs like the one created by the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network in Kenya. Small loans allow women to run small businesses—but even more, they create opportunities for women to improve their families’ lives by providing the means for shelter, food, clothing, and an education for their children. / Dec 3: Microcredit Funds Hope
Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network, Kenya
Our Mission & Service partner Wi’am works with all sectors of Palestinian society, striving to build a just society through mediation, conflict resolution, and non-violence. We sing thanksgiving for their work with Christians and Muslims, women and men, and people of all ages. / Dec 10: Conflict Resolution in the Midst of Violence
Wi’am, Palestine/Israel
Our gifts for Mission & Service offer support to congregations like Northern Arm Pastoral Charge in Newfoundland, which receives a Mission Support Grant funded by Mission & Service. We sing thanksgiving for the giving heart of communities of faith whose gifts change lives and offer hope! / Dec 17: Supporting Local Churches
Northern Arm Pastoral Charge, Newfoundland
Our gifts for Mission & Service support rebuilding after conflict and disasters in places like Guatemala, where the Guatemala Conference of Evangelical Churches is training Indigenous women in human rights, citizen participation, and economic empowerment through farming. We sing thanksgiving! / Dec 24: New Beginningsafter Civil War
Guatemala Conference of Evangelical Churches
We sing thanksgiving for the ongoing support of Mission & Service to those who work with people on the margins in Canada and around the world. Together we do so much! / Dec 31: Mission & Service through the Years
92nd anniversary of The United Church of Canada

© 2017The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit Any copy must include this notice.