While it is unlikely that I can meet with all of the 437 communities of faith in my three regional councils in any given year, I certainly have connected with a good number of them over the last year. A few things are clear. We are all struggling. We are all facing an uncertain future. Congregations that are running out of money, others who are running out of people. Disciples who are unsure how to speak to their friends and neighbours about faith because they are worried about being painted...
Author: Natalie Matkovsky
An update from Rev. Roger Janes Our Latest Stewardship Blog – Vicki Nelson helps us remember that stewardship is not about the budget! How I Stopping Worrying and Learned to Ignore the Budget. Gifts with Vision – Here is the latest: First of all, great news – the current catalogue and website will continue until the end of December 2024! That means there’s more time to support your favourites, especially for Christmas giving. For the remainder of 2024 you can see all the gifts on the...
Over the past few months, many EOORC communities of faith have received a visit from a “Mystery Guest.” The Mystery Guest appears as a visitor in your community of faith. This special visitor can give you feedback about his/her/their experience at your community of faith. Did anyone say hello to the visitor? Could the visitor find your service time? The Mystery Guest will report back about these and more questions, helping you to customise your welcome to future visitors. I sat down with one...
When have you experienced a wonderful welcome at church? How can we provide a warm welcome to those who visit our congregations? What are some practical steps we can take? These are questions that we have been exploring in EOORC. Our winter educational event had a theme of "Strengthening the Invitation." The Regional Council produced a helpful checklist for communities of faith to complete. A "mystery visitor" will be visiting each and every congregation in EOORC to help give feedback...
