A Moment with your Mission Centre President Team

Written by Gwyn Beer
Canada West Mission Centre Co-President

​We are entering a period of time that we are being asked to focus on generosity.

Generosity comes in many forms. 
Financial generosity is always welcomed and giving can be done in many ways.  You can set up a PAT (pre authorized transaction) deposit and every month your donation will be done automatically.  You can put your offering in an envelope and put in the offering plate or you can go on line whenever you want and do an e-transfer. Financial generosity allows for continued programs and services like the Worship Resources and missionary outreach.  Your financial generosity allows your church to be maintained and the doors opened for both church and community events.

Generosity of time is something that can actually fill your soul as well as help others.  Volunteering can come unexpectedly or be planned.  My neighbour peaked my interest one morning when I met her coming home at 7 a.m. as I was leaving for work.  She volunteered at our local hospice and had spent the night sitting by someone’s bedside as their earthly life ended.  I have retired and my friend Mary invited me to a luncheon to learn about the local hospice society.  I am signing up to volunteer for the hospice.   So many of you volunteer for different groups and in different ways and you all are impacting the world you live in! 

Generosity of talents while allowing you to grow as you hone your talents, give you the opportunity to share your talents.   A few years back, World Accord asked for help with a Women’s group in India.  Teena, a friend of Shonnet Allen’s read her newsletter from World Accord and said “We could help them”.  The “Soup in a Bowl” fundraiser came into being.  The 2 of them started making pottery bowls.  They picked a date, advertised, and the event happened.  People made soup and biscuits and the doors to the church opened with 3 tables of bowls to purchase. Buy a bowl and get soup to enjoy.  These 2 talented ladies supported a very worthy cause on the other side of the world.

Generosity of spirit is when we share our Joys and Concerns.  Prayer is a part of that generosity.  While you may never know if your prayers and thoughts have made a difference, I know that God shares all this with you.

Generosity of resources happen when a decision is made to help refugees.  Many congregations have come together to help refugees find a new home.  Over the years, congregations have chosen to step up and help find accommodation, clothing, furniture and food to establish a new home for refugee families.  Commitment is made to be the generous benefactor for a period of time to allow these families to become part of this new country.

We are a generous people.  Doctrine & Covenants Sec 163: 2B & 3A reads;

2B. Generously share the invitation, ministries, and sacraments through which people can encounter the Living Christ who heals and reconciles through redemptive relationships in sacred community. The restoring of persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others, themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the purpose of your journey as a people of faith.   3A. You are called to create pathways in the world for peace in Christ to be relationally and culturally incarnate. The hope of Zion is realized when the vision of Christ is embodied in communities of generosity, justice, and peacefulness.
​
Where are you being called to open your generous heart?