Dear Pastor and Council Members:

Empowered by God! Shepherding the Church! Serving the World!

This is how the DVD, which has been prepared for each MNO Synod congregation, begins. By now, your council will have been contacted by a representative from Synod Council to make a visit and to deliver this DVD to your congregation. Some of those visits are already complete. Some are still to be made in the near future.

The DVD is Synod Council’s way of saying “Thank You” for both benevolence and Mission as Hope giving in 2009. It is a kind of Synod Annual Report, sharing just few things that we have been able to do together as an MNO Synod because of it.

Why Mission as Hope (second mile giving) as well as benevolence? Synod Council takes seriously the research that different projects appeal to different people, which means that when given an opportunity to support something special that individuals are passionate about,  God’s people give “out of a different pocket” so to speak. In 2009, the Mission as Hope giving was focused on two missional directions, namely:

1. Renewing and empowering congregations for Mission(local and global)
2. Strengthening lay and rostered leaders

Thank you for the more than $49,000 that was raised through the 2009 Mission as Hope appeal.

In 2010, Synod Council has prayerfully decided that the Mission as Hope Appeal will concentrate on two different missional directions, namely:
            a) Answering the spiritual hunger of our communities
            b) Fostering hope in rural setting

In the Mission as Hope Information Sheet included in this packet, you will see where Synod Council plans to direct our resources from the 2010 Mission as Hope Appeal. Of the hoped for $60,000, two thirds ($ 40,000) will assist in ongoing initiatives and one third ($20,000) will assist in new and dreamed for initiatives. 

Just as in 2009, I am once again asking you to give leadership to the 2010 Appeal. Synod Council, at their March meeting, heard the call to lead by example and have already given personal commitments in the amount of $1725.00 for the 2010 Mission as Hope Appeal. I want to challenge your council and rostered leader(s) to do the same as a way to lead by example, before taking this appeal to your congregation.

At your May or June Council meeting, here is what I ask you to do:

1. Share this letter, along with the 2010 Mission as Hope Information Sheet.
2. Invite members of your council to make a personal commitment to support 2010 Mission as Hope Appeal by an immediate gift, or through the Council Member Estimate Form. (photocopy as necessary)
3. As a Council, talk about how you might highlight this appeal for your people (temple talk, newsletter, bulletin announcement). Make certain to include in your communication how much is already committed from council leadership.
4. Decide when you will emphasize the 2010 Mission as Hope Appeal in your congregation. This may be done on one or two Sundays, perhaps one in May/June and one in October/November or though a special event with music and food, or whatever will fit best in your congregational setting.
5. Make envelopes available to individuals (pew, tract racks or in bulletins). Use the 2010 Mission as Hope Information Sheet as bulletin inserts (camera ready as a half page insert), and clearly indicate in your communications to the congregation how they can make this second mile gift (either mark a line on your existing envelope or using the envelopes provided).  

(Note: The Mission as Hope envelopes that you have received in this packet are either the number you requested in the Every Council Visit, or what we estimate should be sufficient to place in your bulletins for one Sunday, along with a few extras to put in your pews or tract rack. Additional envelopes can be provided for you on request.)

1. Report to the synod office your congregation’s strategy for implementing the 2010 Mission as Hope Appeal on the provided form by June 30, 2010, either by regular mail or email mnosynod@elcic.ca

Thanks again for your partnership, as together we take seriously our mission to partner with God to love and bless our world.

Yours in Christ,
Bishop Elaine