United Church of Canada Syrian & Philippines Appeal Updates

December 20, 2013

Dear colleagues in ministry,

As we draw closer to Christmas and the birth of the Christ child, let us be mindful of the people of Syria and the Philippines, especially children, who continue to endure the severest of hardships. More than two million Syrians have been displaced by a brutal civil war with no end in sight. Some 14 million Filipinos are still reeling from the devastation caused by the worst typhoon to have struck their country in recorded history. The United Church of Canada has issued church-wide appeals in response to both crises, and both appeals will remain active into the New Year. Following are brief updates on those appeals.

Syria: United Church members have generously donated more than $141,000 to the church's Syria Refugee Appeal.

The funds have been used by United Church partner, the Middle East Council of Churches, and ACT Alliance in support of the 12 million Syrians affected by the war, including the 2.2 million who are refugees and currently experiencing harsh winter conditions with only tents for shelter. More than 1.1 million are children. The United Church also has sent a total of $60,000 to ACT from the Emergency Response Fund. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) has provided another $5.8 million worth of food aid to which the United Church has contributed funds. Also, we are working with the federal government to help find homes in Canada for Syrian refugees.

Your donations to the Syria Refugee Appeal have purchased much needed food, clean water, medicine, clothes, blankets, education programs for child refugees, and psychosocial counselling for refugees in distress. But much more is needed. This week, for example, the United Nations World Food Programme appealed to the international community for $6.5 billion in aid for the war-affected Syrians!

The United Church's Syria Refugee Appeal  - http://www.united-church.ca/syria  -  remains open into the New Year.

Philippines: More than $1.1 million has been donated to the United Church's Typhoon Haiyan Appeal - a testament to the compassion of faithful United Church members.

To date, $585,000 has been sent to ACT for programming in the Philippines. United Church partners, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), have each received $60,000. The funds have been used to purchase materials for temporary shelter, food, clean water, medicines, and psychosocial counseling. Additional funds will be sent to the NCCP, UCCP and ACT in the New Year for much needed rehabilitation and reconstruction work.

The United Church also has received a grant of $55,000 from the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation. Augmented by some $45,000 from the United Church and other Canadian churches, it will be given to the NCCP for the purchase of seeds to help restore household food and agricultural production which was destroyed by tidal surges caused by the typhoon.

The United Church's Typhoon Haiyan Appeal - http://www.united-church.ca/haiyan  - remains open into the New Year. 

Once again, thank you for your tremendous outpouring of generosity in support of the people of Syria and the Philippines as well the United Church partners that are working tirelessly, throughout the holiday season, to assist them. As we celebrate the birth of the infant Jesus this year, let us keep them in our heartfelt thoughts and prayers. 

Yours in Christ,
Gary Kenny
Emergency Response Coordinator
The United Church of Canada
info@united-church.ca

General Secretary's Weekly Letter

December 13, 2013


Dear Friends,

 It’s a cozy December evening at our house. We have the radio tuned to a station that plays non-stop Christmas music: a sprinkling of carols or gospel, but also the full mix of sentimental seasonal pop tunes that return year after year. In the other room, my twentysomething nephew and teenage son have taken a break from their uproarious enjoyment of a video game to work on a school assignment. I’ve been working on Christmas cards, and now am sitting down to write my “weekly letter.” (The quotations marks are because I missed last week in a run of meetings, and this may be the last one until the new year.)

We are looking forward to church on Christmas Eve, family gatherings, and all the traditions and wonders of this beautiful time of year. In the midst of spiritual preparation and holiday baking and all the rest, I’m also thinking of the many people whose lives this Advent are not filled with joy.

Thousands of people in the Philippines had their lives changed forever when they lost family members, homes, and livelihoods in the space of a few minutes of devastating weather. Canadians with relatives in the Philippines have felt the losses too, with the pain of being at a distance.

Families living in refugee camps in Syria and elsewhere are struggling to offer stability for their children after fleeing violence.

In Central Africa, hundreds of people, including children, have been killed through the violent conflicts between Christians and Muslims.

There will be empty places at Christmas tables in Lac Mégantic after the terrible rail accident in July that killed 47 people and destroyed the centre of their town.

The death of Nelson Mandela last week has left an empty place in the world, and in the hearts of so many people who found hope through his example.

These are just a few of the stories we know through the news. There are countless other stories of loss that people know in their own lives, the kinds of things that can make memories of happy Christmases painful.

But listen: the reading from Isaiah 35 for this Advent Sunday speaks daring words of hope in the midst of hardship.

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. … then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water … And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Each year, our suffering world receives anew the promise of a holy child who brings hope and joy. This sacred birth inspires us to reach out to help the hurts of the world. We know that the wondrous infant born in a stable grows up to offer a vision of a better world, a vision that calls us to care for others and stretch beyond our places of comfort.

May God bless our Advent preparations. May the infant Jesus renew our hope. May the Holy Spirit inspire us to share our love with the world.

Peace be with you at Christmas, and always.

Nora

Let's Make 2014 “The Year of Compassion!”

The folks at Zion United Church want to make the year 2014 “The Year of Compassion!” Beginning Feb. 3, Sheila Redden-Smith, invites you to begin a journey to pursue a year of living compassionately. Sheila will be leading a discussion group, using Karen Armstrong’s book, “Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life,” which ought to be of interest to people of ages, genders, religious and non-religious affiliations. Everyone is invited. The plan is to gather the first Monday of each month at Lane’s Privateer Inn at 7 pm.  Let’s make Liverpool a more compassionate community! If you would like to attend, or would like further information, please call Sheila at 350-6814. Cost of book is $15. Deadline for registration is Jan. 6, 2014.

Remembering Nelson Mandela by Moderator Gary Patterson

General News and Announcements

Remembering Nelson Mandela

5 December 2013

As the world mourns the death of Nelson Mandela, Moderator Gary Paterson reflected on the life and legacy of Mandela.
“We have an opportunity today to remember the man – his determination to confront apartheid and injustice; his commitment to freedom and equality; his capacity to endure twenty-seven years of prison and emerge with his soul intact, able to forgive and embark on a journey of reconciliation, persuading others to follow along with him,” commented Paterson.
In this moment says Paterson, “We are called to give thanks for Mandela’s life – not simply to praise him, but to honour his memory with a determination to undertake a similar quest for wholeness, for ourselves and for the body politic.”
And, adds Paterson, “As we grieve his passing, I commend to you the following prayer, Remembering Mandela printed below.

Remembering Mandela

For us, in our being, Mandela is gone:

We will no longer dance and march with him.

We will no longer hear him speak of justice, freedom, and peace.

For us, in our knowing, Mandela is changing:

He can no longer speak to us, but he can still be heard.

He can no longer touch us, but he can still be felt.

For us, in our thoughts, Mandela is alive:

We dance and march with him when we work for human dignity and rights.

We speak with him when we work for a world where one does not oppress another.

For us, in our actions, Mandela is here.

So as we journey with our siblings imprisoned by poverty, slavery,

and all forms of created suffering,

we will remember Mandela’s belief that we are all imprisoned until we are all free.

As we encounter forces of resistance that feel overwhelmingly insurmountable,

we will remember the integrity and grace with which Mandela held to his convictions while he was imprisoned for 27 years.

And as we give thanks to our Creator for the life of Mandela,

we will continue to pray for your comfort to surround the family, friends, and nation that mourn the loss of Madiba;

we will celebrate a life that perpetually worked for the good of all;

and we will affirm that his legacy will continue

in our memories and actions.

As we entrust him into your loving care,

may we commend him to our hearts.

Amen.

Alydia Smith

Advent Generosity

ADVENT GENEROSITY UPDATE

The people of The United Church of Canada are being extremely generous. We are thankful for all the many gifts being given to serve God's mission. Your donations are an expression of compassion, build community and offer hope.

We are also grateful for the careful management of all financial gifts by ministers and lay people in congregations. All of this is happening in the context of stewarding gifts for our local ministry and Mission and Service, other year-end financial demands, while responding to the emergency appeal for Typhoon Haiyan.

CONGREGATIONAL STEWARDSHIP
Many year-end annual stewardship programs are wrapping up now and the focus turns to the spiritual practices and celebrations of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. There are many worship resources (http://www.united-church.ca/planning/seasons/advent) available on the United Church website. May this be a time of hope-fulfilling connection with people in your community, joyous celebration, and loving hospitality.
sgwalker@united-church.ca

MISSION AND SERVICE
Mission and Service (http://www.united-church.ca/funding/msfund) campaigns are in high gear. We remain faithfully optimistic that United Church people are doing all that they can to encourage generous giving for Mission and Service and to forward these gifts as quickly as possible so that they are put to work. Already in 2013, the whole church has raised over $15 million Current M&S Givings (http://www.stewardshiptoolkit.ca/current-m-s-givings for Mission and Service work! We will receive Mission and Service contributions for 2013 until January 31, 2014. Please consider sending (http://www.united-church.ca/files/funding/msfund/cong_remittance.pdf) your Mission and Service gifts monthly or quarterly.

Thank you for making Mission and Service a vital part of the life and ministry of your church. What we accomplish is far greater than what any one of us could do alone. The generous financial support of each congregation makes all this possible.
ccurtis@united-church.ca

EMERGENCY RESPONSE: TYPHOON HAIYAN
The extraordinary response to the Typhoon Haiyan appeal is so inspiring. As usual, people are giving very generously. As well, we know there are many gifts on route from congregations. Be assured that funds are flowing to the partners on the ground to provide relief and begin long term reconstruction.

There is a new deadline for receiving individual donations eligible for matching funds from the Canadian government. The new deadline is December 23, 2013. This may be considered a mixed blessing for administration volunteers in congregations as reporting for so many things converge.

Remember that our way of working is always with partners in the region on the ground. This emergency funding and our long-term relationship with these partners increase the capacity of the Filipino people themselves to address such emergencies. The long-term relationship is sustained by your generous gifts for Mission and Service.

Daily updates of funds received will be posted on the website (http://www.united-church.ca/haiyan). You will find some other updates on the website including the FAQ sheet .

GIFTS WITH VISION
Gifts with Vision, (http://www.giftswithvision.ca/) the United Church's giving catalogue, is more popular than last year at this time. Gifts with Vision is a great way to give gifts, honour loved ones, spark a conversation about our hope for the world. Check out the Gifts with Vision badges and banners (http://www.giftswithvision.ca/page/downloads) for posting on your church's website. Thank you for being part of these hope-inspiring activities.
cguo@united-church.ca

UNITED CHURCH FOUNDATION
At year end in a year that provided strong growth in the stock market many donors are giving gifts of stock through the United Church of Canada Foundation to their local congregation. This saves in capital gains tax and supports the generosity of members across the country. The Foundation provides this service at no fee and can be contacted at fdn@united-church.ca; 866-340-8223.

IN CONCLUSION
All of these financial stewardship activities are taking place as we enter the time of patient waiting for the birth of the baby Jesus into the world and into our hearts. You know the best balance and focus for your community. We thank you for encouraging generous giving. In the flurry of activity, may we all take a moment (or more) to slow down and breathe in Advent's hope, peace, joy and love that prepares us for the work of relationship with our neighbour. It is there that we will find the Christ child.

David Armour
Director of Philanthropy
President of The United Church of Canada Foundation
416-231-7680, ext. 2022, or 1-800-268-3781, ext. 2022
darmour@united-church.ca