St. Mark’s Mission and Outreach Committee

What is the Mission and Service Fund?

The United Church is able to love, serve, and minister in the world
thanks to the Mission and Service Fund. This unified fund connects us to
others around the corner and around the world to whom we offer a loving
hand of support. The M&S Fund connects us to each other as members of
the United Church in Canada and Bermuda, enabling us to speak with a
united voice in advocacy and justice work and to participate together in
our worship life. The M&S Fund connects us to our faith: we live in
God's world, we believe in God who works in us and by the Spirit. The
M&S Fund is the only fund in which members and friends of the United
Church pool their givings. Gifts are also given by members to their
local church, but it is through the Mission and Service Fund that we
collectively live our creed "to be the Church, to celebrate God's
presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others,
and to seek justice and resist evil."

Gifts to the Mission and Service Fund from congregations, individuals,
and from bequests have exceeded $30,000,000 annually since 2000. This
money is spent in hundreds of different ways. Some of the money supports
congregations, programs, and new church development. Some of the money
is spent in Canadian outreach programs; some on international relief and
development programs; some to train ministers; some to maintain
ecumenical relationships; some to administer the work of the church.

Supporters of the Mission and Service Fund want to give their gifts to
support work that reflects their values and beliefs. The United Church's
Mission and Service Fund works with partners in Canada and
internationally to ensure that needs are assessed quickly and
accurately, that responses are immediate, and that ongoing support helps
prevent problems from recurring. Because of the Mission and Service
Fund, the United Church is able to quickly respond to emergency
situations without waiting for media appeals to create interest in them.
Working with reliable trusted partners in Canada and in 37 countries
means that less money is spent coordinating and delivering aid and more
money goes where it is needed. The United Church is also blessed by the
countless hours of work fulfilled by hundreds of United Church
volunteers. These individuals enable more of your M&S gifts to go to our
partners and to the work we share.

Consider supporting the Mission and Service Fund. You can make a gift
through your local church. At St. Mark's we have a commitment of
$12,600 for the year 2007 and already $11,000 of that has been submitted
to the national church. Last year we exceeded our commitment and we
hope to do so again. It is by giving that we receive, and we are truly
blessed in our congregation that so many people believe in helping
others through the Mission and Service fund of our church. If you don't
already contribute to the Mission and Service fund, please consider an
extra few dollars for the work of the church in the world--remember you
need to mark your envelope with the portion to go to M & S. Thank you
for your support.

Lana MacLean