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MISSION: Who we are?
Our Mission is to assist people of the Semiahmoo Peninsula in living a full Christian life by providing innovative programs and a place where people of all ages including young families, build their lives on Christian values and all participate together in a friendly, supportive, worshipping and serving community.
VISION: What God calls us to be.
God’s spirit reaching out.
VALUES:
As followers of Christ we are committed to:
1) being an inclusive community appreciating and reaching out to all peoples as we are all part of God’s creation
2) being a loving church community that nurtures, cares for and is respectful of “our neighbours as ourselves”
3) being a community and individuals who are learning, growing, maturing in our faith, spirituality and mission, building up the “body of Christ”
4) being a “sending out” people who partner with God in creating a better world
5) being innovative, creative and risk taking as known in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
6) praising God always with joyful song and a positive spirit.
HISTORY:
First United Church, White Rock: Celebrating 100 years in our Community
In 2010, First United Church will celebrate its Centenary in the beautiful seaside City of White Rock. Our Church traces its roots back to May 1910, when a baptism was held in the garden of pioneers Henry & Margaret Thrift, signifying the first Protestant worship service in this area.
The church has proudly been an integral part of the community since that time, and continues to live out its motto of “God’s Spirit Reaching Out.”
To read more about the wonderful history of First United Church, please follow this link.
2. Staff - Please see our staff page here
Governance
The primary bodies involved in the governance of First United Church are the Congregation, Church Council, Implementation Team, Board of Trustees and Mission Streams. Their responsibilities are described below.
Congregation
Purpose – To worship and learn together, and to enact God’s spirit within the church, the community and the world.
Structure - The Congregation is responsible for ensuring that it is effectively led, governed and operated. The Congregation accomplishes this as a body through Congregational Meetings, and, as individuals, by participating in the life and work of the Church and its various governing bodies and Mission Streams.
Church Council
Purpose – To lead visioning and strategic planning processes, set overall goals, evaluate progress toward goals, maintain accountability, and develop Church policies.
Structure
Members elected by the Congregation are:
· Chair of Council (two year term)
· Secretary of Council (two year term)
· Five Facilitators, one for each of the five Mission Streams, i.e. Worship, Faith Learning, Administration, Outreach, Healing and Caring (three year terms)
· One Representative to Presbytery (three year term)
· Three Members-at-Large, ideally reflecting the diversity and demographics of the congregation and community (three year terms)
Additional Council members are:
· Past Chair or Chair Elect
· One Representative designated by the Board of Trustees
· Ministry Personnel
Mission Streams
There are five Mission Streams, each addressing a major component of church activity through a cluster of related committees, long-term initiatives and shorter term projects. Each Stream is delegated the authority, and each Stream takes the initiative, to manage its own work within the overall vision provided by Council. Each Stream is accountable to Council through its Facilitator.
Faith Learning Stream
1. Purpose – To enable all ages to learn and grow in their faith
2. Worship Stream – To envision, support, and sustain faithful worship
3. Outreach Stream – To reach out into the neighbourhood and world with compassion and justice
4. Healing and Caring Stream – To provide a spiritual and practical place of healing and caring for the congregation and community
5. Administration Stream – To ensure the financial, physical and personnel resources of the congregation are functioning well to achieve the ministry of the church
Board of Trustees
Purpose – To hold title to all of the Congregation’s real and personal property, and to administer (with the approval of Council and Presbytery) all legal aspects of such property, including selling, mortgaging, or leasing. Also to ensure (through other Church Committees) that Church property is insured and kept in a state of good repair.
A four page newsletter is produced 4 to 5 times a year and is emailed or mailed to people in the congregation. If you would like to be on the mailing list, please contact the Church Administrator if you would like to be on our email list: firstuc@telus.net
The Planned Gifts Fund provides the opportunity for members and friends of First United to continue their support of the life and work of First United Church by way of bequests or other planned gifts.
Donating to the Planned Gifts Fund is a faith statement as well as a practical decision. The disposition of personal resources and assets in this way represents a positive step to helping First United Church meet the challenges of its mission both now and in the future.
For the complete First United Church Planned Gift policy pdf.
The Planned Gifts Fund is used to enhance the ministry of First United Church in the following ways:
Reaching Up- to support education which enables individuals to learn, grow, and mature in Christian faith and service; to develop aspects of worship, including music and drama.
Reaching Out - to support programs and services to our immediate community and the world; to support projects of The United Church of Canada at home and overseas, including the Mission and Service Fund.
Reaching In - to support programs created in response to the needs of children, youth, young families and seniors; and to fund improvements to our Church facility.
Types of Planned Gifts
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Wills and Bequests
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Gift Annuities
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Gift of Life Insurance
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Charitable Remainder Trusts
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Gifts of Residual Interest
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Cash Gifts and Interest-Free Loans
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Gifts of Listed Securities
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Gifts of Stripped Bonds
Information brochures on each of these choices are available through the church office. Consult your Financial Advisor for more details on which gift works best for you.
Free professional consultation and planning for United Church members is available through:
United Church of Canada - Philanthropy Unit, Financial Development Officer
Jane Harding
Cloverdale, B.C. - 778-574-0423 cell: 604 761-1677
Planned Gifts Committee of First United Church
The Planned Gifts Fund is managed and promoted by committee members appointed at a congregational meeting and who in turn report to the congregation through the Church Council.
The Committee members do not offer “financial advice” but encourage those interested to get professional advice through local professionals and/or the United Church
The Budget
First United Church budget is just over $300,000 for local expenses and $45,000 for the Mission and Service Fund.
Our income:
· 70% of the income comes from members and adherents
· 13% of the income comes from “Planned Gifts” and the Manse investment fund
· The rest from rentals, fund raisers
Financial Contributions can be made through envelopes, Preauthorized Remittance (PAR), or on a regular basis through the offering plate.
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