Gift Giving Catalogues

Every year we receive gift giving catalogues from non-profit organizations. The Anglican Church of Canada has announced that the ACC will “launch” a similar catalogue in 2010. The announcement is as follows, and is to be commended.

Anglican gift catalogue to be launched in 2010
Marites N. Sison - staff writer - Apr 22, 2009

The Anglican Church of Canada will launch a gift catalogue next year as part of a fundraising program that will allow donors to select items for their own purchase or designate them as gifts for recipients.

Archdeacon Michael Pollesel, general secretary of the Anglican Church of Canada, told the house of bishops that the catalogue would benefit the Anglican Appeal, the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, the Anglican Journal Appeal, the Anglican Foundation, and Council of the North.

“It’s something to look forward to,” said Archdeacon Pollesel, adding that staff responsible for catalogue are crafting creative ideas for it.

The gift catalogue system has been an increasingly popular fundraising tool for not-for-profit corporations, which taps into a growing number of people’s desire for alternative gifts in lieu of the usual material things.

Many individuals look for ways to give a gift without giving another dust collector. Hopefully this will give Anglicans an opportunity to give such gifts, as we continue to learn what it is to give to the “Giver.”
All our ACWs sponsor a child through a non-profit organization, as well, a number of families as sponsor a child. It has recently been acknowledged that children were also being supported as they received an education in residential schools, and this as early as the 1920s. (Read the article at the Anglican Journal)

Trust in God - an Ecumenical Theme

We have just concluded our Ecumenical Lenten Services for 2009. Throughout Lent Trust in God has been a consistent theme that was expressed by the clergy.
Rev'd Betty Harbin summarized it quite clearly:

We are here tonight and we gather as disciples of Jesus and to reflect on what it means to let go of the branch. In one way or another our readings and reflections for these ecumenical worship services this year have been about trust. Father Dino spoke about the trust he placed in God in coming to Canada to minister to the flock in this part of God’s kingdom. Captain Karen spoke about looking up at the stars, as Abraham did, to reflect on God’s promises. Rev’d Paul Vardy talked about trust when he told us about his son’s swimming lessons and the lessons he himself learned through this experience. Father Paul Thoms spoke about trusting God to the extent that we are even able to get angry with him at times. In these Tuesday night ecumenical services we have listened to God’s love song, calling us to trust him and calling us bring others to this relationship of trust. The name of the love song is the covenant and the words are: I will be your God and you shall be my people.

Now we prepare to move towards the Cross on our Lenten journey, into Easter and the joy of Resurrection.