Greetings
from the General Council Office,
To
recognize and celebrate National Volunteer Week (April 6–12, 2014), the United
Church’s Moderator, the Right Rev. Gary Paterson, has written a letter of
thanks to the many thousands of United Church members and adherents who
generously volunteer their time and talents every day.
The
Moderator’s letter can be found at the end of this message. It is also posted
on The United Church of Canada’s website
http://www.united-church.ca/communications/news/general/140404
as a PDF document so that, if you wish, the letter can be printed and posted on
a bulletin board or copied and given to volunteers in your congregation.
Also,
as a special tribute during National Volunteer Week, we are inviting United
Church individuals and congregations to celebrate the contribution of the
volunteers in their midst by telling us about what they—and you—are doing and
how this work has had a positive impact in the community.
Please
post your tributes on The United Church of Canada’s Facebook page:
Mary-Frances
Denis
Program
Coordinator
Media
and Public Relations
The
United Church of Canada
416-231-7680
ext. 2016
1-800-268-3781
ext. 2016
Moderator’s
Letter
Friday, April 4, 2014
“Now
there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of
services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is
the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the
manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12:4–7 (NRSV)
Dear sisters and brothers
in Christ,
I am writing today as
Moderator to say thank you to the many thousands of volunteers who are part of
our United Church family.
Volunteers are the heart,
soul, and backbone of The United Church of Canada from coast to coast to coast.
It’s impossible to calculate the number of volunteer hours offered each day,
week, month, and year in congregations and communities throughout Canada and
around the world; the positive impact of that work is equally immeasurable. But
when you stop to think about it, even within your own congregation, it is truly
impressive.
In my travels as
Moderator, I have met many hundreds of faithful volunteers, all of whom have
offered countless hours in service to others. And United Church people don’t
limit their volunteering to church activities—you will find them involved in
projects that benefit the whole community, assisting individuals in need, and
contributing their time and talents in ways that help to make this a better
world.
Whether it’s working at a
food bank, being a volunteer driver, organizing a fundraiser, or visiting a
patient in hospital, there is always much to do. And you do it, faithfully,
generously, and with a smile.
Thank you.
The Right Rev. Gary PatersonModerator
The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada
