1 Stewardship + Mission and Service = US! New Year s Newsletter 2016 Montreal and Ottawa Conference God s Mission and Our Gifts A new year stands on my doorstep ready to enter my life's journey. Something in me welcomes this visitor: the hope of bountiful blessings the joy of a new beginning the freshness of unclaimed surprises Something in me rebuffs this visitor: the swiftness of the coming the boldness of the entrance the challenge of a year's good-bye. Something in me fears this visitor: the unnamed events of future days the wisdom needed to walk love well the demands of giving away and growing. A new year stands on my doorstep. with fragile caution I move to open the door for its entrance, my heart leaps with surprise, joy jumps in my eyes, for there beside this brand new year stands my God with outstretched hand! God smiles and gently asks of me: can we walk this year together? And I, so overwhelmed with goodness, can barely whisper my reply: Welcome in! Sisters of Saint Martha of Antigonish, Nova Scotia
2 Chalking the Door Chalking the Door is a way to celebrate and literally mark the occasion of the Epiphany or the New Year and God s blessing of our lives and home. Doors are good images for the New Year. We have closed the door on the last year and opened the door to a new year. When you walk through a door things change. When you go from outside to inside, you use a quieter voice, you wipe off (even take off) your shoes, you expect to do different things. Walking through doors tells us where we are and who we are. Various elements go into the sacred markings placed above the door. The marking for this year is: 20 + C + M + B+ 16 The meanings are: 20 = First digits of 2016 C = Caspar M = Melchior B = Balthazar 16 = Last digits of 2016 Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar are names of the three Magi ( the scriptures don t tell us there were three Magi or what their names were, this is handed down from ancient tradition). An alternative meaning for "C + M + B" is Christus Mansionum Benedicat ~ May Christ Bless This Dwelling. Chalking the doors is basically a house blessing, but can be used on church doors as well. Using chalk, members of the household or congregation write on the door frame the year s date and the letters C, B, and M. A Prayer can then be offered asking that the door welcome many visitors during the coming year and that all who come through the doorway be blessed. At church think of all the people who walk through your doors: worshipers, brides and grooms, parents, bridal party, and guests parents bringing babies to be baptized and friends and families
families and friends coming to bury their dead members of community groups which will use the facilities etc. In your home there can be any number of people who come through your door. 3 A prayer to use in your home or it can be altered slightly to use at your church: You can have this prayer written out to hand people along with a piece of white chalk to take home with them. God of doors and homes, bless this home this year and every year. Bless all who come and go through this door, both those who live here, and those who visit. May all who enter through this door come in peace and bring joy. May all who come to this door find welcome and love. Make this house a shelter in the storm, and a haven of rest for all in need of your warmth and care. May the love and joy in this home overflow and spread into the community and the world. Amen Opening door quotes The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live. Flora Whittemore Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee. Ralph Waldo Emerson Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open. Alexander Graham Bell There is much to be gained from opening the door to your mind and letting new ideas and beliefs come in. Senora Roy We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we re currious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. Walt Disney In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Jiddu Krishnamurti Life is a house with millions of doors. Here is a good strategy of life: Open the doors, open as much as you can, open as much as possible, open the doors! Mehmet Murat Ildan Mission and Service Remittances for 2015 is January 29, 2016 Just a reminder as churches tackle their year end reports in preparation for annual meetings please remember your gifts to Mission and Service. Please ensure all 2015 gifts for Mission & Service are transferred, and received by January 29, 2016 at the General Council Office. To make sure your cheque arrives on time I would mail it no later than January 22 nd.
4 You may forward your 2015 congregational gifts for Mission & Service in one of three ways: 1. By mail sent by January 15 (projected two weeks time in the mail): The United Church of Canada, 300-3250 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4, to the attention of Nicole Chicote, nchicote@united-church.ca; 1800 268 3781 or 416 231 7680 ext 3072. 2. By bank transfer: Bring cheques to any RBC Royal Bank branch for deposit to The United Church of Canada s account, specifically: The Royal Bank of Canada, 2 Bloor Street East, Toronto, ON M4W 1A8. Bank #: 003; Transit #: 06702; Account #: 000-038-0; Swift: ROYCCAT2. Please write your pastoral charge s M&S number on the deposit slip and inform Nicole Chicote of your deposit and its designation for tracking purposes (1-800-268-3781 or 416 231 7680 ext. 3072, nchicote@united-church.ca). 3. By pre-authorized remittance (PAR): To set up your PAR account contact Cathy Guo at 1800 268 3781 or 416 231 7680 ext. 3050 or cguo@united-church.ca. She can also ensure that your Mission & Service giving is processed through PAR. If you are already on PAR, you may contact Cathy Guo (as above) or Nicole Chicote (1-800-268-3781 or 416 231 7680 ext. 3072, nchicote@united-church.ca) to authorise a transfer from your church bank account through your PAR. In your communication, please include your Mission & Service number, your bank account details, the amount of the Mission & Service contribution, and any additional details such as the amount from the congregation and the amount from the UCW, whether any of the amount is to be designated to World Development and Relief. Your gifts to Mission and Service are vital in keeping alive the programs that our partners provide, and allow them to create new ones as the need arises. Your gifts are always gratefully received and used wisely, but quarterly submissions of your Mission and Service givings makes it easier for us to keep our commitments to our Mission and Service partners in the form of Mission Support Grants handed out during the year. Friends, we celebrate God s gift of Jesus who was born and lived in a world like ours. Jesus example inspires us through his compassion for all those in need. We give thanks for the Mission & Service of our church. These compassionate ministries are a profound and tangible expression of our faith across Canada and around the world. These ministries of hope, joy, love and peace save and transform lives. We want to thank you for answering God s call to follow Jesus by continuing to give to Mission and Service.
5 Let Us Count Our Blessings Sunday Once again this spring we will celebrate Let Us Count Our Blessings Sunday the Second Sunday in Lent, February 21 st, 2016 During your worship service please pass the Mission and Service Hat, Basket, Pig etc. giving everyone a chance to drop in some money to count their blessings for such happy events as birthdays, anniversaries, births and the love you have shared at those times. Lectionary Gospel reading for that Sunday is: Luke 13: 31-35 The blessing of knowing that God looks after us like a hen with her chicks. So what does a mother hen do? Well, she watches over her chicks all the time. She makes sure that they drink enough water and eat enough food to get strong. And when there is danger she calls them repeatedly to come and shelter under her wings. It is fascinating to know that whenever a bird of prey is flying over, they only see the mother hen! Yes she protects them with her life. But equally God is calling out to you and me on a daily basis to come under His wings for protection. He is watching us like a mother hen, looking after all our needs. And when there is danger or challenging situations, he calls us for protection. All you and I need to do, is to run to him and stay close to Him. It is a blessing in our lives to know that we have someone whom we can trust, someone who loves us unconditionally. Jesus spoke of himself as a mother, longing to wrap his arms around us, like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing (Matthew 23:37) Loving Lord, thank you for your tender care. How blessed are we Lord that you are like a mother hen shielding her chicks, you nurture and protect us. We praise you for your care. Gather all the hungry, the homeless, and the hurt O loving Lord, under the warmth of your wings, and give them hope, peace, joy and love once again. Amen
6 The Bay of Quinte Conference Stewardship Committee is hosting a "Stewardship Festival" Saturday May 14th, 2016 9 am - 4 pm Cannifton United Church - 237 Cannifton Road North, Cannifton, ON K0K 1K0 just north of Belleville Cost is $15.00 which includes lunch & snacks - $3.00 of this fee will go to Mission & Service Workshops in both morning & afternoon Guest Speaker - The Right Rev. Jordan Cantwell, Moderator of The United Church of Canada There is limited registration - so register early to register call 1-613-967-0150 or email reception@bayofquinteconference.ca As you travel through this year 2016 remember God will place us where we need to be, when we least expect it, and then we are responsible for doing the rest. Please remember that I am available to come speak at your churches on a Sunday morning or to a group during the week. If you have any questions at anytime please contact me: Carolyn Ruda Montreal and Ottawa Conference Mission and Service Support Chair, Conference Stewardship 613 932-2415 gordonruda@sympatico.ca I will not be available from January 22 nd to March 1 st, 2016. If you need assistance please contact: Paul Sales, Financial Development Officer, Quebec and Eastern Ontario The United Church of Canada Phone: 613-841-9291 Cell: 613-47-6884 Email: psales@united-church.ca<mailto:psales@united-church.ca>