Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada

Special Edition
August 9, 2006

WELCOME

Welcoming. What kind of rebellious, status quo challenging, cutting edge, gang of misfits might be called to that kind of radicalism? Perhaps only those who have known what it is to be lost, alone, and anxious about the future can truly appreciate its holy power.

—Keith Howard

THE BUZZ

Emerging Spirit Looks Forward to Phase II

Emerging Spirit will present plans for Phase II of the campaign at General Council 39, meeting next week in Thunder Bay. (You can read the full Emerging Spirit report to the General Council here.)

If General Council 39 authorizes the lift off of Emerging Spirit the fall season will be both busy and productive. All of the initiatives resulting from the research, the work of the Emerging Spirit Impact Teams, and the advertising and web development firms we work with will enter the exciting phase of production and launch.

Here are some of the major outcomes we anticipate during the next 90 days if the General Council meeting in Thunder Bay should approve the Emerging Spirit recommendations.

• Living the Welcome
  ... up to 24 regional training events per year offering congregational teams cutting-edge training on building effective welcoming ministries.
• A New, Highly Interactive Website
  ... specifically for those 30-45 year olds who want to build relationships, probe life issues from spiritual, moral, and theological perspectives, and find out more about The United Church of Canada.
• Media Campaign
  ... a thoroughly researched national media campaign to build awareness of the witness of The United Church of Canada. Elements of the campaign can be adapted by local congregations for their own context.

And what about for you? What are some ways you might engage Emerging Spirit?

[read the full article]

ON THE LINE

Sites of Interest along the Information Highway

The Girl Guides' Surprising New Ad Campaign
CBC reports that the Girl Guides of Canada are setting aside their "wholesome image" for a provocative recruitment campaign, "Why girls need Guides." The Girl Guides say that they're using ads which some may consider risqué ads to demonstrate that their organization offers an alternative to negative social and media messages. See the Girl Guide site for more information.

PULSETAKING

Below are some of the responses to the question in the July 7 and July 28 issue of Emerging Spirit News: "What would you like to you tell those who don't attend church about your faith?"

If you would like to share your thoughts on this question in the next newsletter, please email Emerging Spirit .

from Rev. George Moore, Dalston-Crown Hill United Church, Dalston, Ontario

We humans are creatures of relationship, without which we never reach our full humanity. My faith helps me to connect with the Holy Mystery that surrounds us and expresses itself through us and it helps me to connect with others. Through worship, financial offerings, service in the community and even committee work(!), I believe that we become the body of Christ in the world. I believe that our faith helps us to become better at giving and receiving love.

from Trish MacGregor, St. Andrew's United Church, Kippen, Ontario

My faith is the reason that I smile even in sad circumstances; that makes me strong when my body feels weak; that gives me hope even when the world seems to be crashing in. Because I believe in God and his son Jesus Christ, our Saviour, I understand that nothing, absolutely nothing is bigger than God. The part of my faith that excites me the most is that it is a living faith. God is working in us and through us every day. If we are open to God's presence stirring among us, anything is possible. I look for extraordinary events in ordinary things and give thanks that I am discovering God's work in our present world over and over again. I think that people our age think that church does not "fit" with their lifestyles. The thing they are forgetting is that our loving Creator created us to "fit." We are all unique and special to Him, created with special gifts. We can be a blessing to God and to others whether we are in a church building, hockey arena, workplace, an institution, or anywhere else in the world. The choice is ours to make. He loves us and works in our lives whether we choose to acknowledge this gift or not.