When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.” John 21: 15-19
The above account of Jesus’ post-crucifixion appearance in Galilee from John’s Gospel is the source of the title for the current Care+Share initiative. Although there is much room for interpretation, this passage is generally seen as a metaphor for Jesus requesting that his disciples carry on his ministry. The Mission and Ministry team of the Diocese of New Westminster have back engineered this concept somewhat as this new phase of Care+Share really is about feeding people.
Throughout the history of the Diocese of New Westminster there's been fundraising for projects that are diocesan in their planning and implementation. Care+Share is the most recent version. It was established following a resolution at Synod 2011. Ministries included in Care+Share do not receive “funding,” instead they receive financial contributions made by parishes and individuals, sent to the Synod ThOffice finance department which forwards funds several times a year to the current recipients. Recipients are selected every two years at Diocesan Synod. One hundred percent of the donations go to the groups that are supported. These donations come in and go out under the Diocese of New Westminster’s charitable tax status but the overhead for fundraising and administration is included in the Diocesan Budget, and not taken from donations. Donations may be directed to all ministries or to individual ministries in any combination or amount. Parish and individual gifts are encouraged. For 2022-2023 there are nine recipient groups, for 2020-2021 there was one. Historically, Care+Share recipients per term have numbered three or four.
Food insecurity has risen in most of the regions that make up the Diocese of New Westminster. There is a deep desire to help alleviate this problem and now thanks to Care+Share, people from our diocese can make a significant coordinated impact.
Here are the recipient ministries for 2022-2023:
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St. Thomas, Chilliwack – Food Ministry
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St. Dunstan’s, Aldergrove – Thursday Community Meal
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Holy Trinity Cathedral, New Westminster – The Breakfast Club
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St. Barnabas, New Westminster – Grab and Go
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St. Alban’s, Richmond – The Lunch Box
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St. Augustine, Marpole – St. Augustine’s Community Meals & Marpole Food Hub
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St. Mary’s, Kerrisdale – Food Ministry
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St. Agnes, North Vancouver – Sharing Abundance
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St. David and St. Paul, Powell River – Sycamore Commons Vegetable Garden Community Partnership
The above list contains nine food ministries from a large cross-section of the diocese, from Chilliwack to Powell River that have been selected to help meet the need. These ministries are as diverse as the communities they serve. Care+Share is a way to put our dollars into action. A way to offer in abundance, food security, food literacy, access to social services, shared experiences, and more.
To make a gift online please use this link to one of the two "Give" buttons on this website. For giving options and information please call 604.684.6306 ext 220.
The Mission and Ministry team at the Diocese of New Westminster working closely with the Mission and Ministry Committee of the diocese developed printed materials for display and distribution in every parish and worshipping community. These materials were distributed in late March and early April of 2022. Please look at the materials, share them with friends and consider your gift to Care+Share’s “Feed my sheep.”