December 2014
Dear friends and family of Third Avenue United Church,
The past year has been our year of revival. After much hard work
by the Board, Vision Committee and our staff, and the cooperation
of River Bend Presbytery, we have managed to achieve the
financial stability that we have so long sought. It has been a long
road, but it is not yet the end.
To ensure our future, we must now concentrate on a growth
strategy for our congregation and, in doing so, focus on our role as
a caring church in our downtown community. And that is my theme
for this year’s Christmas letter.
Thanks to the proceeds we have set aside, our Community Fund is
an important element of our community commitment and, just as
importantly, our engagement with our community.
In thinking about our fund, I am reminded of my favourite lines composed by J.S.
Woodsworth, a Methodist minister in the first half of the last century who became an
influential progressive politician in the inter-war years. Some of you may be familiar
with the Woodsworth Grace. We say it every night at dinner, but the lines I am thinking
of reach beyond thanks for what is on table before us:
What we desire for ourselves, we wish for all. To this end may we take our share in the
world’s work and the world’s struggles.
Nevertheless, in considering those lines, the contributions through our Community Fund
raise a dilemma.
That is, the Fund provides us a new opportunity to take our share in the work and
struggles in our community – we may not have the ability to provide many volunteers for
this work but we can contribute financially which is often the greatest need. But what of
the wish for others to have what we desire for ourselves? And is there a contradiction in
letting our society off the hook by filling in for social services that have been
downloaded by governments onto the volunteer and charitable sector?
The answer, of course, is that, while we are giving to groups that work to provide basic
needs and opportunities for those without or with limited resources, such as the Food
Bank or support for the homeless, we should continue to advocate for social justice in
the elimination of food banks or homelessness in our community. I hope we, as
individuals, as a congregation, and as a United Church will continue to do so. We must
assist in meeting immediate needs, but not accept that this is a permanent or
acceptable long-term response to the injustices in our society.
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Let me conclude on the subject of the Community Fund by noting the contributions we
have made since the Fund was endorsed by River Bend Presbytery as part of our
Revised Operational Plan, with a start-up of $500,000:
 United Church Mission & Services
$100,000
 St. Andrew’s College
$100,000
 United Church Northern Saskatchewan Hospital Chaplaincy
$125,000
(over five years)
 United Church Integrated Community Ministries
$ 75,000
(over five years)
 Friendship Inn
$ 5,000
(“Buy a Meal Program”)
 Crocus Co-Operative
$ 1,000
(providing work opportunities for those with mental disabilities)
 Elizabeth Fry Society
$ 1,000
(Christmas assistance with Saskatoon women in justice system)
 St. Thomas Wesley United Church
$ 1,000
(Christmas Westside hamper program)
 Hope Cancer Centre
$ 1,000
(Christmas assistance for cancer patients and families in need)
 CHEP Good Food
$ 1.000
(providing good food alternatives for children and families)
 Dress for Success
$ 1,000
(supporting clothing for disadvantaged women in job interviews and jobs)
We have received 43 requests for funding so far and committed or contributed
$411,000. The Community Fund has benefited from investment interest of $7,000 so
we have close to $100,000 available for further contributions, programs and
partnerships in the New Year. However, the Community Fund is intended to be a
continuing fund as it will receive further funds from the interest in our Principal Fund
account (the $2.1 million investment fund from the building sale proceeds).
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Community Fund Committee members will be meeting with the boards or executive
committees of those who are seeking funding greater than a $1,000 contribution. The
purpose of such meetings is not just to provide/receive information, as we could do that
by e-mail, but to engage with these community organizations in order to put a human
face on our Fund and, hopefully, along the way, stimulate interest in us as a church.
Turning to our congregation, we mourn the passing of Peter Hrynewich, Lawrence
Litvenenko, Keith Douglas and Tish Braun yet we celebrate their lives among us. I
hope all of us will be able to rejoice this season in the presence of loved ones and with
thoughts of those who have left us. Christmas, as always, is a time of memories and for
making new ones as well.
We also keep in our hearts and minds those of us who are not well, including our
longtime friends and colleagues Rosanna, Roger and Helen. We also hold in prayer all
of those in our congregation who are dealing with serious illness.
To conclude, some words of thanks: to Reverend Donna, Michelle, Philip, Raycine and
Crystal - we can have no greater a dedicated ministry and staff. Thanks to all members
of our church committees, board of trustees and members of the Unified Board who
give so much of their time and effort to TAUC.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Peter Barnacle
TAUC Board Chair