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Why I Listen - The Listening Post
Visitors to any of The Listening Post’s locations in Barrie, Ontario, will find a safe, accepting space and volunteers trained to offer deep listening. You can share your life experiences, talk about what’s on your heart, or relax in a quiet space. What a gift this project is to the Barrie community!
The Listening Post is a Burton Avenue United Church initiative. Visit The Listening Post’s Facebook page and watch EDGE’s interview with Executive Director Ruth McDonald to learn more.
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Hopeful Economics Podcast
You’re a busy person. It’s not often that you can commit to sitting down to an hour-long webinar to learn new things about your faith. Why not check out some podcasts during your commute or while you’re doing your chores?
The Hopeful Economics podcast, brought to you by EDGE and New Church Ministry, explores ways of making the world’s assets and abundance work for all people! In just the few episodes produced so far, you’ll hear from an incredible line of speakers, including:
- Adriana Beemans, Inclusive Local Economies Program Director, The Metcalf Foundation
- Rev. Michael Blair, General Secretary, The United Church of Canada
- Rev. Dr. Japhet Ndhlovu, Executive Minister of Church in Mission, The United Church of Canada
Tune in right now for an introduction into what the Hopeful Economics podcast is all about!
Then, register for the Hopeful Economics Unconference, March 3 and 4, 2022, for a great time of learning about why Hopeful Economics is so needed right now and how our communities of faith can help!
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Job Posting: Grants and Storytelling
Living Skies and the United Church’s EDGE network are collaborating on an eleven-month contract that focuses on supporting the Regional Council’s mission grant-supported ministries. Particular focus will be given to:
- Researching available grants
- Assisting ministries in preparing successful applications
- Assisting leaders and staff in telling the ministry’s story to diverse audiences through different media.
Please spread the word and please think about who you know who might be interested, or who might know someone who is. Click here for the PDF job posting.
[Photo credit: Naassom Azevedo from unsplash]
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Canada Summer Jobs Program
Keep the Canada Summer Jobs Program in mind for your 2022 planning!
Every year the Federal government supports job opportunities for youth. It is designed to focus on local priorities while supporting youth in getting job experience.
United Church congregations across Canada have hired youth for property maintenance, messy church, drop in centres, summer camps, social media and technical support, community gardens, farmers markets, archiving, day camps, sports music and theatre camps, v.b.s. and many community outreach activities.
Here is a glimpse of some Churches have done in past years:
- Kimbourne Park United Church and Willowdale United Church, hired youth to work in their community gardens and interact with the community.
- Robert McClure United Church hired a youth to help launch their farmers’ market activities, in conjunction with the Embracing the Spirit funding they received. This helped them scale up the project even faster, as the student was able to help with the management of the market’s logistics and sign up vendors.
- Deer Park United Church ran drop-in day camps for people in the neighbourhood, at times when it was needed and convenient for them.
- First Metropolitan United Church launched a live streaming service, run by youth (who were great with technology), which reached shut-ins.
- Hillhurst United Church hired a youth who was dedicated to communications and media relations.
- Grace United Church hired a social media marketer who could also do videography, which was an unexpected bonus.
Learn more about the Canada Summer Jobs program here.
Other Canada Summer jobs success stories…
Keswick-Ravenshoe United Church, ON (2021) - "I volunteer with the Georgina Historical Society which includes looking after the Georgina Pioneer Village. We use students through this program every year and it really does help! Both the Society and Village and the students benefit because we hire students who are entering a career that involves history, etc. so it gives them a really close look at what goes on and helps them to decide whether they will want to make a career in this area. It benefits all who use it."
Athabasca United Church, AB (2021) - "We hired students to do research projects on the historic church (built 1913, designated historic in the eighties by the restoration committee) and various prominent members. The organist in the 50’s had the local theatre named after her, various mayors learned how to lead from chairing the church council, we had a famous bush pilot (who has a neighborhood street named after him in Edmonton) memorialized with the donation of a communion table in the 50’s after his commercial plane crashed on its maiden voyage in Karachi, India (!?!), and dignitaries from Suffragette Nellie McCLung to Moderator Stan McKay. They also share the research they do through presentations to the congregation, and through guided tours of the building during summer hours. The building has been a designated bomb shelter, a public school classroom, a drop in centre for people on disabilities, and has been rented by AA and Al Anon almost since they started meeting in Athabasca. I like to say that if you know the history of the church, you know the history of the town!"
Westminster United Church, Thamesford, ON ( 2019) - "I am pleased to say that we have been successful in receiving this grant for the past 3 years towards staffing for our 9-week, all day summer day-camp. This past year we received just over $19,000 to support the staff positions, which included an Inclusions Counsellor to aid and support children with special needs. We are looking forward to being able to apply again this year to keep our day-camp sustainable in the Thamesford Community. You can find out more about our camps on our website.
Ralph Connor Memorial United Church, AB, (2019) – “…in 2017 and did utilize these CSJ funds as well as UC seed money. The summer student was a young adult networker who studied the life realities of youg adults in our community. A project was founded from that, which came to be known as the Canmore Young Adults Network, and it continues to thrive. You can find out more by visiting the Church website and CYAN website.
Has your Community of Faith ever hired a student? We would love to hear your story! Please send details to lori@edge-ucc.ca!
PLEASE NOTE: Canada Summer Jobs is a federal government grant. If you have questions, please direct them to 1-800-935-5555 or your nearest Service Canada location.
[Photo credit: Cytonn Photography from unsplash]
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Embracing the Spirit is a learning network and innovation fund. It offers funding and support for innovation ideas hatched out of faith communities and communities in ministry. Some of the stories and best practices that are happening throughout The United Church of Canada are shared in this newsletter.
If you have an idea that you want to launch, reach out and tell us about it! Proposal deadlines are quarterly, and due on the 15th of the month: January, April, July and October. Find out more.
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Sign up for the Embracing the Spirit newsletter!
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Donate to The United Church of Canada and help fund life changing work around the world!
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