What does your community of faith love most about its identity? What do people often talk about as something your community of faith really cares about? In your context, what good thing(s) that you do could you stretch and grow in good ways. A community of faith that loves music decided that gathering time should express their love of music and singing together. Two volunteer musicians lead singing gathering music weekly for 30-minutes before the service., with the regular musicians and choir doing the service. It was wonderful to discover pews filling half an hour before worship.
Perhaps your community of faith thrives on its coffee and fellowship time. Is it hosted before, after or during? How might it be expanded to offer more of what you love. A community of faith has two services and has coffee and refreshments before, during and after each, finding the time in the middle a great time to connect.
Perhaps you are all about eating, and you want to host more regular simple lunches shared together? Find some community partners to help.
Does your church love Advent/Christmas? Plan now and extend your activities to reach more neighbours. In all ways keep spreading your generosity, strengthening invitation and growing in faith. Remember you are the busy bees of your community, pollinating possibilities! Whatever it might be, start where you are. Start with baby steps. “Bump up” what you love and extend your invitations.
This week’s stewardship second:
Stewardship is a life-long process. In fact, stewardship extends beyond our lifetime. Please consider making a gift in your will to support the ministry of your Community of Faith and through Mission and Service the ministry of The United Church of Canada.
Contact your growth and stewardship animator to explore ideas, Sharon, sballantyne@united-church.ca
