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Dear friends,
We trust you're experiencing the abundance and grace of the harvest season, and perhaps also feeling the weight and pain of our world.
At James Bay United Church, we create space for the full complexity of the human experience. We strive to be known as a community of hope while acknowledging despair; as a place of abundance while embracing simplicity; and as a place of inclusion while celebrating individuality.
Places like James Bay United Church are rare, and yet the world needs us now more than ever.
Our 2024 Thanksgiving appeal is now underway to ensure we can continue meeting the needs of the world for the next 133 years. Does that sound ambitious? We hope so!
We’ve set a goal of raising $10,000 between Thanksgiving and October 27. That means we have two weeks to connect with our members and friends to inspire a sense of abundance and generosity. Now, that’s ambitious!
The good news is we’re well on our way. Our board members have already pledged their support, and recently our community responded generously to the call for funds to purchase chairs for the sanctuary—we nearly doubled our goal! Perhaps we can do it again.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s take a moment to appreciate some of the many vital ministries we're proud of. Our Sunday mornings are always rich experiences, and our arts ministry, including Tuesday Night Jazz at the Church, regularly packs the house. Our thriving Thrift Shop is at the heart of our neighborhood, and our Thursday lunches nourish and connect the community. We have a dedicated maintenance crew that keeps our building and grounds in top shape. Throughout any given week, many partnerships fill our space with music. Did you know we are the only church on Vancouver Island offering Healing Pathway training?
We're also part of Reconciling with Indigenous Peoples and the Land, an interfaith steering group formed to further the work of reconciliation.
This is the work of hope.
We encourage you to donate in one of three ways: 
- By credit card via CanadaHelps or scan the QR code
- By cheque to James Bay United Church with “Thanksgiving” in the memo
- By cash in a church donation envelope
Our work wouldn’t be possible without supporters like you. This Thanksgiving, please consider increasing your giving to James Bay United Church so hope can continue flowing from the sanctuary into the community.
With deepest gratitude and warmest wishes,
Charlotte Caron, Colleen Nichol, Franklyn Roy, Greg Powell, James Troutman, Joanne Keelen, John Carroll, Karen Halliday, Kim Keinath, and Martin Stewart
James Bay United Church