How can grief help us be missional? How could our pain be helpful to someone else’s faith or deepening of that faith? Have you ever been part of a conversation with someone where they were telling you about a difficult or sad situation? There is a lot of pain or challenge for them and you are listening intently. You know that you are able to listen but feel a wee bit helpless perhaps at helping them come to a conclusion that will bring them peace.

Then they say something that reminds you of a difficult situation of your own. You recognize the pain, the challenge, perhaps the sadness or even despair you felt in that same situation.

As Christians, we have a ‘suffering Saviour’ who understands the difficult walk of suffering and even death. We get comfort and courage from knowing that Jesus understands whatever difficulties we face. So when we sit with another and in their grief share the wisdom and comfort of how Jesus came to us in those moments, we are being missional.

Your challenge in these difficult times, as we are all faced with difficulties in different ways, is to consider how your grief/challenge/despair, and how you managed to hold on to your faith in the midst of it, can help someone else. You can be a wounded healer.

This week, Archbishop Greg offers his reflections on Journeying through Lent, with this week's Theme of Christ's call to us to take up our cross and follow Him.

St. Martin, Calgary:

The Rev. Natasha Brubaker-Garrison has stepped down as Incumbent of St. Martin's as of the end of February.  She has been priest there since 2011.  We thank Natasha for her dedicated service to this parish for the past ten years and we ask for prayers as she discerns the next steps in her ministry.

Parishes are canonically required to hold Annual Meetings of Parishioners.  Following these, the Diocesan Office requests that all the forms of the Annual Returns for the year ending 2020, be submitted as soon as possible.  Thank you to the parishes who have already sent theirs in.

As host for area churches in 2021, St Andrew’s Anglican Church will be holding a virtual (Zoom) meeting to view the one hour service video prepared by the women of Vanuatu and the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada (WICC) on Friday, March 5 at 1:00 pm MST.  The video will be followed by discussion and fellowship. All are welcome to join us.  Please contact Susan for Zoom details. For further information about the World Day of Prayer, please go to www.wicc.org.

On Friday, March 12 at 7:30 pm, please join the Diocese of Calgary Cursillo Movement for its Zoom Ultreya.  This is an opportunity for Cursillistas from all parts of the Diocese to come together.  We will be having music, a Witness Talk, a Spiritual Response and Floating Group Reunions online.  Please click here to request the Zoom link.  

Beginning in January, Fr. Jerrod McCormack will be offering the Rosary Gathering via Zoom on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, coming up next Saturday, March 13, at 2:00 pm.  This is open to all who wish to participate.  For the Zoom link or more information, please email Fr Jerrod.

Should we consider church planting when many churches are struggling and cannot hold physical meetings during the current pandemic?

Listen to our panelists hosted by Rt Rev Datuk Ng Moon Hing with Rev Canon John Ganapathy and Rev Canon Fred David.

Join us in the following three 30 minute sessions:

Session 1: Principles of Church Planting
Session 2: Methodology of Church Planting: Rural Contexts
Session 3: Methodology of Church Planting: Mixed mode church planting

Date: Tuesday, 23 March 2021

Time: 8.00-9.30pm (GMT+8) (local MST 11:00 am to 12:30 pm)

Click here for more details and to register.

Three new postings for jobs within our Diocese have been added to our Job Postings, which you can find here.  Two are administration positions (St. James, Calgary and St. Barnabas, Medicine Hat) and one is for an Associate Priest at St. James, Calgary.  Information on how to apply for any of these positions can be found under their posting.

After receiving a number of requests, we are offering a Spiritual Autobiography Workshop. Sometimes called a spiritual memoir, this is an opportunity to explore our life story and the places where God interacts with us. It is a beautiful exercise where we explore the themes of our lives and work with others to discern the working of the Spirit.  The workshop will take place over 2 Saturdays (April 10 and April 24 from 9:00 - 12:00 noon). Please contact Cathy to register.  When registering, please include a contact phone number and the name of your parish.

Another Pastoral Care course will be offered beginning Wednesday, April 14 for seven consecutive Wednesday evenings. The course will run from 6:30-8:45 pm by Zoom. It will be limited to approximately 20 participants. The topics covered will in part be: pastoral theology, ministry of presence, the practicality of visiting – how, where and when, ethics, confidentiality, communication, boundaries and self care as well as some resources.  This course will be open to anyone who is interested, on a first come, first served basis. There may have already been someone in your parish that has taken the course and can give their reflection. Any questions can be directed to The Rev. Tracey Stagg at pastoralcare@calgary.anglican.ca. 

Another course is targeted for January 2022.

What kind of life do you want to live? What would exist in your dream neighbourhood? What if building deep connections, developing your leadership skills and creating a better world could all start on your neighbourhood block? If you are interested in building your leadership skills while connecting to your neighbours to create the neighbourhood you want to be a part of, join our Creating Abundant Communities Neighbourhood Block Program to develop your leadership skills and create a deeper culture of care where you live. For more information, click here. 

A recent article written by Jane Harris of our Diocese features feedback from folks (both clergy and lay) about how these pandemic times that we are living in have affected them, their ministry and their faith.  Please follow this link.

We are interested in what is happening in your parish and would love to highlight those events and news in our newsfeed.

We look forward to your contributions - feel free to forward your event announcements, your parish news, your stories.  Send in your details and pictures to ctubman@calgary.anglican.ca.

Please remember in your prayers:

- our clergy and churches as we find our way forward in these strange days;

- those who are sick, suffering, fearful or in need, remembering those suffering from the Coronavirus and their caregivers, those feeling isolated and those who are vulnerable;  

- for Michelle, Myrna, Paige, Monica, Amelia and Eric, and Tim;

- those who have died and those who mourn;

- the victims of violence and natural disasters;   

- our Companion Diocese of the Windward Islands, and their Bishop Leopold Friday.

Request a prayer:

Send prayer requests to ctubman@calgary.anglican.ca to let us know how we can pray for you.  We will only use first names which will be removed after two or three weeks.  We will also pray for you during our regular Chapel services each week.  Please ensure that you have permission from those whose names you are submitting for prayer, and that they understand their name will be made public to all who subscribe to the Newsletter.