Mandate magazine is looking for success stories from congregations for its This Worked section. These are 600-word articles that highlight a creative initiative in any area of congregational life, from worship to Christian education to outreach. They’re written by someone in the congregation. We need to fill an unexpected “hole” for the February issue and so are looking for an immediate suggestion as soon as possible.

Fore those of you that recieved a paper version of the recent Pastoral Relations survey (many of you, WonderCafe folk, would have done this online)

PLEASE NOTE: Survey deadline has been extended to March 11 (Friday). 

The survey was sent our on Feb. 11, but in many cases hasn't arrived at the intended destinations until (in one notable case) Today!  ACK!

We Want Your Input: Please do complete the survey and send it it. It isn't late!

It is so sad to hear of a congregation closing.   Even when they amalgamate with another group, there is still a feeling of loss.

There are many congregations struggling with an aging, inaccessible building that has an obsolete sound system and a cranky furnace, along with a lack of free parking etc. etc.  Each year the congregation declines in numbers until the inevitable happens.

 The original development of "Union Churches" in the late 19th century was driven not by denominations but by local concerns - the realization by people of various denominations (Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregational, etc.) that to compete with each other was silly and a waste of resources; an understanding that more could be accomplished if Christians would work together than if they competed. I spent almost 8 years as minister of a congregation that had a background as a former "Local Union Church," and that background was looked upon with some degree of pride.

This past Sunday, known in the church as Advent 3, and the Sunday coming (Advent 4) both have as a possible Gospel text the song of Mary, singing of her joy at being the mother of the son of God. Lots of sermons will be preached in the next week or so about whether or not Mary was a technical virgin, or just a very young woman; her happiness; the social justice part of the text - the mighty being brought down from their thrones, the hungry being fed and the rich sent away with nothing. All of these are important parts of the text.

apologies if notice of this event was posted previously, but this seems like an important event for congregations that have questions about their building, and let's face it, who doesn't?

This Old House... of Worship - Toronto Area Workshop

Nov 22nd 2008

9:30 a.m. to 4:30  p.m.

New Hope United Church, Vaughan

‘In what ways is your church building helping your congregation's mission; in what ways is it hindering that mission?’

I just came across this article at Virtue Online about how the political left-wing used to work with and through the Christian churches but really isn't anymore.  I wonder if people here feel the same way.

Have we become so affluent (or co-opted by consumerism) that we don't have much to complain about, or fight for anymore?

If that's true, then what is the religious activism of the right-wing about?

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=150