M&S and You, News for M&S Donors- Winter 2009 issue has been posted in the M&S Newsletters folder in the MaST Web site.

M&S and Youth

Hi Youth Leaders,

The United Church is keeping up with the times. We're on YouTube, Facebook and we're bloggin'.

One of the problems in our society is our materialistic thinking that keeps us from serving others and caring for the world as we should.

Ideas for your Group

Read Overturning the Tables and get youth involved.
Check out the activities on the blog.
Set up a blogging group with your young people or even with other congregations. By subscribing to the blog they will get updated whenever a friend adds a comment. They can post and share their ideas even when you can't meet in person regularly.

Rethinking consumerism is a natural for young people!

Are you an Enthusiast?

Here are some hints for Enthusiasts.

Suggestions for Enthusiasts from Alberta Northwest Conference

Learn more about Enthusiasts

Greening the Church Grounds

Martha sent this list of ideas for being a greener church:

Our April, May and June emphasis for the Outreach & Evangelism/M&S committee will be to work outside and learn how to green our grounds.
In the fall we added a truck-load of compost and bark mulch to the south gardens after planting 150 bulbs. This spring we will add another truckload of compost to the east side. We compost all our leaves, but have not enough compost yet to do the job on the gardens. We are trying to keep snow-melt and rain water on our grounds, instead of allowing it to run freely to the river. This will keep the river cleaner, and reduce our need to add treated water from the tap. We have declared our yard as pesticide - free; this requires us to have dandelion digging events in May and June. The lawn mower has been raised to its highest position so that the taller grass shading the ground will reduce evaporation, and slow down weed growth. The lawn clippings are left on the lawn to add shade and nutrients to the lawn and to retain moisture. We also participate in World Water Day and Earth Day events.

United Church Urges Greener World

Check out the United Church Web pages on the environment.

As part of its continuing work in solidarity with the victims of climate change, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has prepared a new discussion document which analyzes the challenges of implementing the Kyoto Protocol and lays out some of the ethical basis for negotiating a climate policy framework for the post-Kyoto period. We invite United Church members to study the WCC document as a way of reflecting on the challenges ahead of us and moving forward with new actions on climate change. In particular, how can we continue to put pressure on the Canadian government to implement the Kyoto Protocol? What steps do we need to take in the longer term to continue to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions?

A Template for Annual Reports

Are you responsible for annual financial reporting at your church? Here's a template for annual reports that may be helpful.

United Church Moderator Calls for a Ceasefire in Gaza

In a statement released today, the Moderator of The United Church of Canada is calling for an immediate ceasefire to end the current violence in the Middle East.

"The United Church of Canada has consistently expressed its deep concern about the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories, and about the violence committed by both Israelis and Palestinians," says the Moderator, the Right Rev. David Giuliano.

"The current crisis in Gaza is a tragic consequence of the hatred and hostility bred by the occupation. Peace cannot be achieved through violence. Instead, it leads to greater suffering and increased hatred and continues the cycle of violence. The teachings of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are rooted in love, peace, and justice," says Giuliano.

"I invite all religious leaders to join hearts to witness to those roots through prayer and action for peace. As faith leaders, let us demonstrate that religion is a force for life, not death, in the world."
In condemning the violence that has led to death and suffering for both Palestinians and Israelis, the Moderator echoes the call for a ceasefire by the church’s partners in Palestine and Israel.
"The United Church stands together with our Israeli and Palestinian friends who continue to call for meaningful negotiations within the framework of international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions, leading to a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis."

The United Church of Canada has strong links with both Palestinian and Israeli partners. For over five decades, churches in Canada have supported the Near East Council of Churches in Gaza, which works to provide key services (particularly medical care and job training) and build up civil society.
Since 2006, Gaza has been suffering a humanitarian catastrophe as a result of the economic blockade that is leaving people without water, food, electricity, fuel, shelter, or adequate health care.
"As children, women, and men struggle for life under occupation, economic siege, and military action, an immediate ceasefire must be implemented and unrestricted access to humanitarian relief provided," comments Giuliano.


The Moderator urges all United Church members and adherents to
• pray for peace in the Holy Land
• enable the work of United Church partners by contributing to the United for Peace Campaign or increasing support to the Mission and Service Fund
• help to provide humanitarian relief by earmarking a designated donation to the Action by Churches Together (ACT) appeal for Gaza. Individuals can either donate online or mail cheques, made payable to The United Church of Canada and marked "ACT: Gaza", to Financial Services Unit, The United Church of Canada, 3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 300, Toronto, ON, M8X 2Y4. (More detail on the United Church website.)
• participate in efforts to seek a lasting peace through dialogue and action for justice

An M&S Way to Start the Year

Pam Harrison shares some good news and an idea. She says, "We passed our M&S $8,000.00 goal by $762.00 and were up over last year by $1,020.00!"

Here is an idea that they used to keep track in their local congregation. At the beginning of the year, they created an M&S tree out of a white twig with a set of muli coloured mini lights. They attached paper money all over the tree to represent their goal. (For them, $4,000.00 in $50.00) Each month the treasurer announced how much they had sent to Toronto and a child removed the money from the tree and replaced it with bows made from the Mission and Service colours.

Come December the money should all be gone and the tree should be decorated with lots of bows ready for lighting it up for Christmas.

Add your M&S fundraising ideas here by clicking on comment below.