Since 1946, the work of CLWR has been possible because of churches in Canada partnering in mission. Your efforts to help your congregation engage with our work are so important—thank you! Please use these resources however you’re able, and let us know what else would help your church join together in the work of compassion and justice.
Heidi Van Schaik, the Church Relations Manager at CLWR, is working with congregations across Canada in finding ways for members to engage with CLWR’s mission. Feel free to reach out to her with questions or comments at heidi@clwr.org or 204-631-0504 or 1-800-661-2597 ext 204.
Here are some ways congregations across Canada are supporting and being part of CLWR’s mission: Church Engagement Ideas (PDF)
If you’re a church planning a fundraiser, you can create a fundraising page for your event. Click here to start your fundraiser now!
If you’d like us to send you print copies of brochures, posters or other resources listed below, please email us at clwr@clwr.org!
Regional ambassadors
We’re expanding our church relations work by welcoming regional ambassadors to strengthen connections with congregations across Canada. These passionate individuals, with deep ties to their local church communities, will play a vital role in keeping congregations engaged with CLWR’s mission and work.
Our five ambassadors and their regions are: Carmen Ewles (Interior BC & Southern Alberta), Hanne Kuhnert (Waterloo Region), Ryan Smart (Vancouver), Sheilagh McGlynn (Toronto), and Wendy Ilott (Edmonton).
If your congregation is in any one of these areas and you’re interested in connecting with one of our ambassadors, please reach out to heidi@clwr.org to organize a visit.
Educational activities & resources
Use these resources in your classroom or church to help people stay connected to our work:
CLWR’s Journey through Lent – A Lenten journey of reflection, action, and hope
Stained Glass Lent Activity – Track your journey through Lent with our stained glass window activity
Vacation Bible School (VBS) Resources – Supplementary resources for VBS activities
CLWR Bible Studies – Designed to help congregations delve deeper into the challenges leading to injustices around the world
Make Room at the Table – A group activity for World Refugee Day
Refugee Experience Youth Resource – Sunday School lesson: refugee life
Forced to Flee – A group simulation on forced migration from our partners at Canadian Foodgrains Bank (Click to download from the CFGB website)
CLWR’s Advent Calendar of Kindness – Spread kindness this Advent season with CLWR
Liturgical resources
Want to dedicate a Sunday to engaging with global issues, or need to fill a Sunday on the calendar? Feel free to integrate some of these liturgical resources:
Blessing of the Animals resources
Worship resources from Canadian Foodgrains Bank (link to CFGB website)
CLWR 75th Anniversary Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving
Recent emergency appeals
Thank you for sharing our emergency appeals with your congregation. Your congregation’s support is providing real help and hope to those affected. Below, you’ll find impact reports and other resources which you may wish to share with your congregation:
Gaza Humanitarian Emergency Appeal Resources
Resources for Crisis in East Africa
Promotional materials
Use these resources in your classroom or church building to help people stay connected to our work!
Project Map Placemat 2024-25 – An 11″×17″ placemat/poster showing where your support is making a difference
New Year’s Thank You Video – January 2025
PDF of the CLWR Annual Report 2023-24
Special Issues of Synergy Newsletters for 2024 ELCIC Synod Conventions:
Alberta and the Territories | British Columbia | Eastern Synod | Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario | Saskatchewan
Partnership Newsletter – Winter 2024 – Double issue that includes updates on ongoing response in Ukraine, Haiti and other locations, and a feature story on a church’s Sharecropper Project
Partnership Newsletter – Fall 2023 – Includes updates on Chad, Cameroon and South Sudan and features a story about an artist using her craft to fundraise for CLWR
Partnership Newsletter – Spring 2023 – Includes updates on Syria and Turkiye, Burundi and Nicaragua and features a refugee resettlement story
Impact reports
Here are some specific examples of what your congregation’s giving has accomplished recently!
Providing shelter, protection and psycho-social support to vulnerable women in Ethiopia
Impact of your gift to fight hunger this Lent – 2024
Ongoing support in Ukraine for Advent – 2023
Supporting alternative livelihoods in South Sudan
Providing psycho-social support to earthquake victims in Syria
Gifts from the Heart
Thank you for helping us promote our 2024 Gifts from the Heart Christmas catalogue within your congregation. We’ve created resources to help you spread the word:
Gifts from the Heart church resources
Gifts from the Heart web store