Please send your stories and pictures!!

Hi I'm Pam Harrison - just returned from China where I met this lady farmer. (she is only 51 but very aged from her very hard work to support her family) I want to tell you that when you give to The United Church of Canada, to support their international causes, it makes a BIG difference.
The "United for Peace" money is going to another part of the world but it will help greatly as we work with our many partners.
Please continue to send your stories and pictures to this blog so we can share with others. Pam

Ideas from Saskatchewan!!

Birch Hills, Crystal Springs,

Kinistino Pastoral Charge:

Birch Hills, Saskatchewan

* In November 2007 the United Church of Canada launched a two-year "United for Peace" campaign. We began our Pastoral Charge "United for Peace "campaign by selling wooden pins made in Bethlehem. We asked for a donation of $15.00 for each pin and a tax receipt of $10.00 was given.
* The second step of our campaign involves the free cookie cutters that have been given out. This step does not involve payment or collecting money. WE ASK EACH PERSON WHO HAS A COOKIE CUTTER TO MAKE SOME "PEACE DOVE"COOKIES FOR EASTER. The number you make is up to you. Then GIVE, a few cookies, along with an Easter card, (which we will supply), to FIVE people- friends, relatives, co-workers,- you decide who. We will deliver 5 special Easter cards to each one who has a cookie cutter by Sunday, March 9. We ask you to do the rest. Our purpose is simply to take our message of Easter Joy and Peace to those who receive the cards and cookies.
* Two more steps of this campaign are left to complete: a letter writing campaign in the fall of 2008; and a money donation in the spring of 2009.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!!

Trinity United Church, Lively, Ontario
If you're looking for news on "United for Peace," between a book sale and a (highly successful) pizza sale, our congregation has probably raised about $2700 for United for Peace. We're introducing the pins at the May 4th worship service, with the help of your excellent video!

THANK YOU

FOR YOUR GREAT IDEAS

Palgrave United Church, Caledon, Ontario

We are a small congregation, about 50 people, including children, gather weekly for worship. Last year we sold the pins ($10.00 each), as well as the cookie cutters and bags. We are a mostly young congregation, not much into making cookies, but we suggested the cutters themselves would make great ornaments when tied with a red ribbon and our Sunday School made wonderful "play-doh" dove Christmas ornaments covered with silver glitter using the cutters which we gave to all at Christmas.
This year (2008) we are collecting pennies on the last Sunday of each month - our "casual" Sunday when we do not wear choir robes or gowns - instead jeans, shorts, sweat pants, etc. are welcomed. We have a large glass container at the front and people were given small glass containers with United for Peace "tags" - (the thank you business size card that is available) that they fill each month with pennies - we have over $100. from our pennies by end of March so will continue to collect all year.
Hope these ideas help - we have encouraged the project at presbytery and presbyterial UCW as well and noted that it could be included as part of one's PAR givings.

A GREAT IDEA !!!

(cookies with sight and made with Splenda!)

The Bird of Paradise

is Coming to

Chignecto Presbytery …..

Dove of Peace cookies will be available for purchase
All proceeds go to "United For Peace" Campaign

Individual cookies …
splendid, SPLENDA doves homemade by June MacEachern and sold individually for a minimum donation of $0.50 each – supplies are limited……
flightless sugar doves handmade by the Cook Nook Bakery, Richibucto sold individually for a minimum donation of $0.50 each –

Buy by the Dozen … pre-ordered ONLY ($4.00/dozen)
flightless sugar doves handmade by the Cook Nook Bakery, Richibucto
could be available by the dozen if pre-ordered. You can sell them on Sunday, April 20th at your church without baking and make a local contribution to the United For Peace Campaign

Orders taken by e-mail to Gr8fulSoul@aol.com or 785-4643

– Betty-Jean Friedman … no later than FRIDAY, April 11, 2008

See you April 16th at St. Paul’s United Church, Riverview, NB …..

(The above notice was sent to all members of Chignecto Presbyter in Maritime Conference. )

UNITED FOR PEACE

This week I visited St. Andrews United Church in Truro, Nova Scotia and saw this lovely banner hanging in their entrance way with many other beautiful banners. I'm inspired to share this, as an idea, to enhance the United for Peace campaign. People express their concerns for peace in many ways - maybe making a special "UNITED FOR PEACE" banner would work in your pastoral charge.

Click on the banner, note the wording and the special peace greetings on every bird. Please show this to people who use their creative gifts of design to make our world a more beautiful place.

We will establish a special place on this blog called BANNERS, the purpose will be to display all banners. May I suggest that we show the banners, one picture of the individuals involved and a brief story of each banner.

Let's make it a banner year for " UNITED FOR PEACE ".

UNITED FOR PEACE

Staff at the General Council Office in Toronto launched the United for Peace campaign on Wednesday, November 7, 2007. A chapel service included an inspiring reflection from Nora Carmi, visiting from Sabeel, a partner organization working for a just peace in Palestine.

The chapel service was followed by a gathering in the dining room, where people sang peace songs, decorated dove cookies, and talked more with Nora and each other. Nora Sanders and Bruce Gregersen joined in the action - results below!!!!
"Hey, hey good lookin, What's ya got cookin?" remember that song. From shore to shore to shore, United Church people are making 'peace dove cookies' as part of the United for Peace gatherings. Mary Francis Denis gets into the action.

Sarah Shepherd bakes 30 cookies to a sheet and invites others to decorate in a creative and fun manner. They look like sugar cookies, please share your favourite recipes!!

RESULTS - great looking cookies !!!!!

Thanks for your inspiration!!!!