A Foundation for Life
parishes helping parishes

The Archbishop's Letter | 2011 A Foundation for Life pamphlet (PDF) | The Story (28 September 2010) | Donor Card

 

2010 was the launch year for the program 'A Foundation for Life'.

As members of the Diocesan family, we prepare to encourage and receive applications for new funding, we have an opportunity to see some of the initiatives which the 2010 program funded.

The activities mentioned are some of those which received grants from the more than $20,000 collected.
A question for all of us is what initiatives might we be able to undertake in our area with some additional funding from the Foundation? Now is the time to look to the future as we seek to share the Good News of the Kingdom.

The Application for funding is found on this page below.

Introduction

Our vision and goals as the Diocese of Fredericton, expressed by Synod 2009and articulated by Diocesan Council, require a transformational change in our understanding of our church. In John's Gospel, Nicodemus's encounter with Jesus leads him to seek transformation as well. He knows that in order to begin a new life focused on God, he must change his ways. In honour of that faithfulness and with confidence in our own prayerfully revealed priorities, our diocesan pursuit of transformational change will henceforth be called The Nicodemus Project.

Purposely, there is no 'one size fits all' plan for change. No one is going to dictate exactly what should be done differently or what new initiatives need to be undertaken. It will be up to parishes to make their own decisions. We ask ourselves, "What should our priorities be?" The Synod delegates who gathered in archdeaconry groups decided - "we first need to re-learn what it means to be Christian and Anglican" and "we need to prepare, our clergy and lay leaders for a different future." In response to these, Diocesan Council gave its working teams the task of developing programs to support parishes so that we are all able to participate. One such innovative program is 'A Foundation for Life - parishes helping parishes'. This is a wonderfully creative way to live up to the Nicodemus Project and move further towards becoming a mission-shaped Church, to grow and develop as a collective people of God, helping each other understand what living by example as Christ really means.

A Foundation for Life - how does it work?

The way the Foundation works is to build funding. The aim of the fund is to encourage the development of new initiatives - it will enable us to work together as a Diocese enabling ministry to develop in creative ways that will lead to spiritual, numerical and financial growth for the making of disciples. In order to apply to the fund you need to be developing a new ministry project in your area.

Applications can be made on behalf of a single parish, a group of parishes, a deanery, an archdeaconry or another grouping from September 28th to November 28th as deemed appropriate by the fund committee for the following year. The application form which is on the reverse side of this pamphlet will guide you on how to apply to the fund. You will also receive an outline of the criteria which need to be fulfilled in order to apply to the fund. The hope is that each Anglican will be able to make the suggested donations every fall and a self-addressed, stamped envelope will be provided for return to the Synod Office. Donations are $25/adult and $5/child and are over and above your regular offering. You may give more if you are able.

"The grant received from the Foundation For Life has enabled Stone Church to purchase a digital projector. The projector is an asset to a diversity of programs. We use it regularly during our monthly Upper Room Youth Worship Service, our Sunday Morning Kids Church Service, our Ladies Group, and both our junior and senior Youth Groups. We have plans to use the projector during our Messy Church events and our NarniaLand Vacation Kids Klub. Thank you Foundation for Life!" - Catherine Bonham, Family & Community Minister, Stone Church, Parish of St. Mark, Saint John, NB "All Saints, East Saint John, is very grateful to the Foundation for Life for the grant to buy a new projection system. It will be used in worship services to make our worship user-friendly; especially for newcomers unfamiliar with the Liturgy of the day. Also it makes it easier for moms with babes in arms to participate in the worship. There are so many creative possibilities we can explore for our third Sunday Family service." Thank you Foundation for Life! - The Revd. Canon Ed Coleman, Priest-in-Charge All Saints Church, Parish of East Saint John, NB "I am very excited to be able to begin something unique in the parish with the help from the Foundation for Life program. Resources are limited and we share a priest with another parish. The Family Ministry Outreach project is designed to reach out to local families and share Christ's love and to "be" the Gospel by responding to their needs. The project started Feb., 2011, but actually began with the establishment of a prayer support team whose members were committed to praying for this ministry in our parish. I first felt led to focus on meeting families and listening to their concerns. I attended a community parent and child pre-school group and community/school events as well as taking youth on outings and visiting families in the parish including others who attended our summer "Kids Club." With the funding our parish was able to purchase some resources for a lending library plus some Christian books/games to give to the children when we visit." - Deborah Kantor, parishioner Parish of Cambridge and Waterborough, NB "In the Parish of Richmond, St. Mark's Church, in Jackson Falls, has a small congregation that gets even smaller in July and August. Last year we tried some Wednesday night services which proved to be quite successful. This year, as we have no Rector, we needed financial help in order to bring Clergy from other parishes and sometimes a person to help with the music. "We've just had our second Wednesday evening service and we had a good return for attendance. This opportunity has given us the flexibility to adapt to the summer months and provide the parishioners with an option." - Ralph Carpenter, St. Mark's Church, Church Warden, Parish of Richmond, NB

 

What kinds of ideas are there for new ministry projects?

Really, the sky's the limit. Literally! We've been blessed with the gift of creativity and free-thinking. Your ministry project will afford the opportunity for parishes to engage in applying for items like a sound system, digital projector, musical instrument, puppet ministry materials, a parish or regional youth worker, a mode of transportation like a van or bus, Christian education materials, school lunch programs, seniors clubs, family events, a laundry ministry and attracting tourists.

Application 1. Name or type of project for which funds are needed. 2. Name of the group, parish(es), deanery or archdeaconry making the application. 3. Where will the project take place? 4. Describe the project as fully as possible. 5. What is the project intended to achieve? How will this be measured? 6. How much money are you applying for? Is this the whole or part of the cost of the project? 7. Please give a detailed breakdown as to how the money will be spent. 8. Who is overseeing the project? The following information is not relevant for all applications. A. If someone is to be employed using fund monies, please provide a detailed job description. B. If insurance is needed for the project, please state what will be required and the cost. This application must reach the Fund Committee no later than November 28th, 2011 and should include the ... Signature of Applicant Date

 

To encourage parishes, groups of parishes, deaneries and archdeaconries to undertake innovative, risk-taking projects that will lead to spiritual, numerical and financial growth for the making of disciples.

 

For more information on this ministry, please contact:

Archdeacon David Edwards, Rector
St. John's Stone Church
Saint John, NB
(506) 634-1474      sjstone at nbnet.nb.ca

or

Diocesan Synod Office
115 Church Street
Fredericton, NB E3B 4C8
(506) 459-1801

To apply for funding, please return this form to:

Diocesan Synod Office
115 Church Street
Fredericton, NB E3B 4C8

Except the L0RD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.   Ps 127: 1a

30 July 2011

Diocese of Fredericton