Minute for Mission
Nestled along the Niagara Escarpment, Cave Springs Camp offers children and youth something that can be hard to find in today’s world: space to slow down, explore, and to connect with creation, one another, and God. A child crouching down beside a forest trail suddenly shouts, “I found a salamander!” Within moments, a group gathers around, curious and excited. For a few minutes, nothing else matters. Not phones, schedules, or other distractions that fill our days. Just a small creature, a shared discovery, and a sense of wonder. Moments like these happen every day at United Church camps. Surrounded by towering trees and winding trails, campers spend their days discovering the natural world, sharing meals, singing around campfires, and building friendships. Amidst all the activity, something deeper takes root: camp becomes a place of belonging.
For some children, it may be the first time they feel fully accepted for who they are. For others, it may be the first time they experience the quiet beauty of creation or feel comfortable asking questions about faith. Away from the pressures and distractions of everyday life, campers can be fully present. They get to be themselves in a supportive community, with God’s presence all around them. The lessons learned at camp often stay with them long after summer ends. A love of creation. A sense of confidence. New friendships. A growing faith. These gifts are carried home, and woven into the lives of young people as they continue to grow.
Through Mission and Service, we help make these experiences possible. Together, we support United Church camps that nurture faith, foster community, and invite young people to encounter God’s love in meaningful ways. Let’s give generously to continue helping create spaces where children and youth can discover wonder, belonging, and the joy of being part of God’s creation.
– Thank you –
Refugee Project
Nov 17, 2022
As we watch with disbelief a war waging in the Ukraine and over 600,000 being displaced in under one week fleeing the bombs, we appreciate the greater need that exists to welcome refugees. Our faith calls us to respond and through this ministry, we try to answer this call. Our Lenten Project for this year was our St. Paul’s Refugee Campaign, to raise funds for our work with refugees. As you know, we are working with St. Mark’s Anglican/Lutheran Church to sponsor a family from Syria who just last week arrived here in Canada. We are also working with a local Afghani family in co–sponsoring six members of their family who have fled Afghanistan and the have now arrived. With the invasion of Ukraine, we know that there are now many more refugees who have fled their homes and we have no idea if they will be able to safely return to their own country or not.
To donate to our Refugee fund, please make your cheque payable to St. Paul’s United Church and clearly mark on the memo line of the cheque that is for the Refugee Fund. If you are making an e–transfer or donation online through our website, then please indicate that it is for this fund. Thank you
Scott Warnock, Executive Director of the Huronia Community Foundation, presents a cheque for $2,000 to Ken Woods, of St. Paul’s Refugee Committee.
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St. Paul’s United Church in Midland is in the process of sponsoring a family from Afganistan, and is also assisting St. Mark’s Anglican – Lutheran church as they are sponsoring a family from Syria.
St. Paul’s has a long history of sponsoring refugees going back to the 70s with the sponsorship of a family fleeing Vietnam after the war.
All funds raised will be used to cover the costs of supporting the refugee families once they arrive in Canada, for the sponsorship period of 12 months.
Refugee Programs
We asked Rev Martin Giebel, from St. Mark’s, for an update on the Ismail and Maghrebi families which is included here.
The Ismail family (from Syria): all the children are in school, enjoying it and making progress both in English and academically. The father is employed. Regarding the son who is still in Germany, his application is now at the Vienna visa office – it’s progressing.
The Maghrebi family (from the Ukraine): everyone doing well. They are now in their own apartment.
The Maghrebi family are in touch with the Ismail family and Rev. Martin visits both regularly. The two mothers, Jihan and Svitlana, are forming a friendship even though both hardly speak any English – they ‘understand’ each other.
Everyone takes ESL lessons. Rev Martin is trying to establish in-person ESL in Midland.
We have a Travel Date for the family from Afghanistan; for now, it is for late October (no names and dates are included for their safety). We are making efforts to bring them to Canada as soon as possible as the situation where they are is very dangerous; we are very concerned.
We are all grateful for the safe arrival of all refugees; please pray for those who are still waiting to travel to Canada, and safety.
This family has arrived and more information will be forth coming.