Growth and Stewardship Ideas: Neighbours, Needs and Connection (September 16, 2026)

How can we show up for our neighbours? As the fall season progresses, connect with local schools, inviting high schools to get volunteer time, post secondary students to get to know the community and help in the process. Connect with families and plan a day of caring for creation in your neighbourhood. A prayer walk ahead of time can help you generate observations of potential needs. Talk with the congregation about what they need, and invite them to talk it up about a neighbourhood caring day. Check if your area has a neighbourhood association to connect with. Talk to community partners about needs they are noticing. Yard clean-ups, small repairs, litter pick-up, gardens needing to be put to bed, storm windows needing to be secured, consider tasks that helping hands would be helpful for. Reach beyond your church building and property fall clean and recruit others to reach into the neighbourhood for a meaningful connection. Perhaps hold a potluck meal of gratitude and friendship with neighbourhood support following a clean-up day. It might be a renewal or beginning of traditions for neighbours helping one another!

This Week’s Stewardship Second:
Those who have been blessed with riches have many opportunities to bless others through generosity. From each according to their ability, to each according to their need.

Contact your growth and stewardship animator, Sharon Ballantyne sballantyne@united-church.ca