A Financial Stewardship Initiative of St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church and the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa
What is GIFT?
Between now and the end of June, you’ll be hearing a lot about Growing in Faith Together (GIFT), a joint fundraising campaign by the Diocese of Ottawa and its parishes. Every St. Michael’s parishioner will be visited by a GIFT ambassador, who will deliver a detailed information package. You’ll be hearing from various speakers throughout the campaign, including some of our own parish members and guest speakers from the Diocese.
St. Michael and All Angels’ fundraising goal is $200,000. With our share of those funds, we plan to focus on the following initiatives that came out of the parish visioning:
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Increasing our outreach for the community, including ministries for the poor, youth and seniors
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Continuing the formation for spiritual growth, including a growing youth ministry, workshops, study groups and prayer and healing ministries
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Using our building to its maximum potential, exploring the property development possibilities and obtaining some professional assistance, such as special event and volunteer coordination
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Improving accessibility for worship, from transportation to the use of technology and creating more flexible worship spaces.
With its share of the funds raised by GIFT, the diocese will bolster its work in parishes, the community and beyond. Among the diocese’s plans for the funds:
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Expanding its community organizations, including Cornerstone, (for vulnerable women), Centre 454 (for the homeless);
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Supporting churches struggling with declining membership;
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Fighting child poverty;
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Educating church leaders, including lay people in parishes, students and curates;
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Supporting church work in the North, particularly to fight suicide.
Visit the GIFT Web site at http://www.growinginfaithtogether.ca or contact Laura Dallas at lauradallas@sympatico.ca.
