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Uniting MinistriesConnecting and supporting the diverse ministries of The United Church of Canada. May 2010 | Issue 11
| In This Issue |
Up Front
—by Moderator Mardi Tindal In her poem "The Seven of Pentacles," Marge Piercy writes about how connections are often made slowly, and sometimes grow underground. With more than half of a tree spreading out deep in the soil, you can't surmise what is happening by looking only at the part above ground. The honesty of a tree is clear: it must pass through seasons of dormancy and growth; of underground root development as well as above-ground leafy flourish; of keeping what is seen and unseen in good, healthy relationship. Through the community and communities of The United Church of Canada, we make room for the reflective and active dance of healthy relationships, nurturing conditions for Spirit-led life within us and beyond us. By so doing, we come to recognize truth in the words from Corinthians, becoming the body of Christ as we live in gratitude for the gifts of each one (1 Cor. 12). Isolation in MinistryThe United Church knows that unique stresses set ministry personnel apart from the population in general. That sense of isolation was studied in the 2005 Survey of Ministry Personnel. The survey measured alienation (organizational, belief-based, social), perceived persecution (sense of victimization), and role issues (ambiguity, overload, conflicting expectations). These correlate to emotional symptoms of burnout, anxiety, depression, and stress. The personal attributes of ministry personnel help them buffer the adverse effects of isolation, but no attribute is entirely effective in eliminating them. Left unaddressed, isolation adversely affects ministry personnel's sense of commitment to their work, their denomination, and their vocation. The Working Group on Isolation in Ministry develops policies and programs addressing isolation issues, and communicates updates in Connex, the newsletter of the Permanent Committee on Ministry and Employment Policies and Services. The Connecting CommunityA Humble Story for Humble Times Clearwater United Church, B.C., reported on a project underway to raise enough money for at least one soccer ball for Camp MacKenzie. Now, that might seem like a rather tiny gift, but Clearwater is a small church and they struggle. In spite of that, the congregation decided they could not ignore a need and decided they could do this. Perhaps we'll find enough pennies for two soccer balls! Join in the Call for Inspired Leadership for Justice: Invite Your MP for Dinner! Be part of the response to the upcoming G8/G20 summit meetings! An interfaith planning group that includes the United Church is inviting you to join with persons of other faiths and denominations in your community to build relationships with each other and your federal Member of Parliament. Profile: Loving the Creator, Loving the CreationAs we "discover our place as one strand in the web of life," as our Song of Faith says, we find many ways to demonstrate our love for God and the Earth and all of its wonders. Our interdependence within the laws of nature requires us to behave in a balanced and respectful manner and to examine the size of our ecological footprint—the impact of our choices. It is important to admit that some of us have disproportionately overused the global atmosphere, oceans, waters, and lands, extracting resources and dumping toxic wastes into the shared ecological space. Now it's time to clean up our act and develop greener, more sustainable practices—individually and collectively. Congregations are creating Green Teams, reducing emissions, conserving water, and learning to be more fully aware of our human responsibility for this beautiful planet. You Wanted to KnowWhat was the Racialized Youth Consultation? A one-time consultation for youth who identify as racial minority, bi-racial, Aboriginal, or Métis was held in November 2009, gathering together diverse voices on who we are as church. Youth came from diverse racial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, from rural and urban areas across the country, and with different levels of church involvement. Those who signed up for the racialized youth gathering knew that this would be a safe space for their authentic self. Youth hope that gatherings such as this will be repeated, praying that their church will embrace them fully by becoming an intercultural church of truly inclusive and welcoming communities. News and Resources from General Council OfficeMission Theme Mandate: Living for the Earth »
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Coming EventsLet There Be Life? Christian Activism, Social Justice and the Future of the Earth More Franchises: A Second Cup Mission Trip Leaders Training Worship Ideas for Special DaysNational Day of Healing and Reconciliation World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel Recommended ResourcesGlobal Partnership: What's It All About? Giving magazine and Bulletin Inserts 2010 A Liberating Lament Steadfast Hope: The Palestinian Quest for Just Peace Shepell.fgi Order these and more from UCRDstore » Mission and Service Fund OnlineLearn about how we fund the work of the church » Find worship resources for your M&S Sunday » PAR: Pre-Authorized Remittance » General Council Office Links |
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This newsletter is developed by: The United Church of Canada / L'Église Unie du Canada Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781 |
Direct all inquiries and submissions to Judy Sullivan, Managing Editor, at cecm@united-church.ca Supported by donations to the Mission and Service Fund. Help us keep the information flowing by making a donation. |