DEACON'S CORNER FOR CONSCIENTIOUS GIVING

                                                                                     September 2025

Please prayerfully consider how you can support this month's offering causes and consciously plan your donation

“First Bag” Collection Causes   

September 7: Rehoboth Christian Ministries -- Rehoboth's vision is that, "by the grace of God, all persons with disabilities have a meaningful and dignified place in society where they can live, contribute and fellowship with others." To that end, Rehoboth conveys God’s love to persons with disabilities and their families by “making room” for them through personal support, advocacy, and public education, as well as by providing them with opportunities for personal growth and meaningful participation in society. Through its programs Rehoboth offers residential support, vocational training, supported employment and respite services.

September 14: Seafarers/Harbour Ministry Vancouver --The Ministry to Seafarers in Vancouver is a chaplaincy ministry focused on support for and outreach to seafarers who pass through the Port of Vancouver, BC. At present one full-time chaplain is employed throughout the year and in most years an intern is also hired to serve during the summer months. Starting in 2023, Classis BCNW began the incremental reduction of their support for this ministry, and those reductions will continue in the coming years. Classis support is less than 50% of our total budget. At the same time, the Ministry to Seafarers has been incorporated as an independent charitable organization in Canada. This means that the funding will no longer flow through classis but will now be managed independently and the support from individual congregations and private donations needs to grow. Your gifts will support the Ministry to Seafarers as they visit as many ships as possible which pass through the Port of Vancouver, in order to share the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ with seafarers in Word and deed, by providing literature and other resources, by serving them in practical ways at the seafarers’ centres, and by engaging in quality Christian dialogue whenever and however possible.

September 21: Mustard Seed: Founded in 1984, The Mustard Seed is a Christian organization that serves people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Calgary and Edmonton. Its mission is to “build hope and well being for our most vulnerable citizens through Jesus “Love.” In Edmonton, Mustard Seed provides food, shelter, clothing, counselling, housing assistance, employment coaching, and spiritual care to people with low income, and its kitchen serves between 250-300 meals daily. Over 7,000 clients are helped each year through these programs. The Mustard Seed also operates Westwood Manor, a 20-unit affordable housing program delivered to chronically homeless men and women. Clients at Westwood Manor have access to on site housing support workers 24/7. The Mosaic Centre opened in 2009 as a resource centre in Northeast Edmonton and merged with the Mustard Seed in 2017, serving people affected by poverty, hunger, and homelessness. The Mustard Seed anticipates reaching more individuals in need because of this merger.

September 28: Cornerstone Counselling Centre - is a faith-based, non-profit, interdenominational counselling centre which strives to ...extend the hand of compassion and “demonstrate the love of Christ by providing affordable, professional counselling services to help people become renewed and whole.” Services are provided to individuals, families, and couples in need, regardless of their level of income (through subsidies) and with sensitivity to individual physical, emotional, cultural and spiritual dimensions. Because counselling is largely uncovered by Alberta Health Care, and because mental health issues have long been overlooked or covered in shame and secrecy, Cornerstone Counselling has recently developed programs to promote mental health and wellness. These include a Mental Health First Aid Course, as well as a student counselling program which allows disadvantaged community members to receive counselling for a very low fee.

“Second Bag” (blue bag) collection is for the church budget – We as a congregation are committed to Inglewood's annual church budget which includes:

Salaries and Benefits – for ministry staff: Pastor, Worship Director, and Church Administrator.

General Expenses – which includes the cost of congregational programs, children and youth ministry programs, worship services, outreach activities, office supplies, hospitality, janitorial care and supplies, and telephone, internet, live streaming and utilities services.

Ministry Shares – which is a proven, cost-sharing method for Churches to work together to support a variety of Denominational and Classical ministries.

Building Projects – which includes computer related costs, and building maintenance and repair costs.

Please give generously so that we will be able to honour our financial commitments to Inglewood CRC, Classis Alberta North and the Christian Reformed denomination.