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Missional MinuteBeing Missional during Covid Mission is not only about introducing our friends and family to the love of Jesus Christ. It is also about reinforcing the message that God is with us, always. It is promised in His word over and over again, that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is with us right now, even in these strange days of isolation and distance. Many of us are participants on parish phone fan-outs, calling a list of names of members of our church community, to check in, to listen, and to encourage one another. Through the blessed technology of social media, Zoom meetings and phone calls, we can reach out to one another and lift the spirits of those whom we know and love. This week, my mother-in-law’s sister, her last remaining sibling, passed away. Isobel was a woman of grace and laughter, generous in hospitality, wisdom and love. My mother-in-law suffers from dementia, and this news made her very sad and confused. During these Covid days, I cannot be with her physically, and I cannot at this time sit with her and hold her hand and help her as she grieves. On a phone call yesterday, I was able to remind her that by faith, we will be reunited, that death here on earth is not the end, that we will rise in Glory to live eternally with our Risen Saviour. This reminder eased her sadness and brought peace, for the moment. In Isaiah 61:1, we are all sent “…to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives (and here, I think of those shut in their homes), and to release the prisoners (of sadness, anxiety, loneliness, or hopelessness). We are each called to serve one another, and these days, this work is essential and life-giving. Let us go forth to love and serve our Lord. |
Easter - Week 1Christ is Risen! A reflection from Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson on this first week after Easter. For more infomation visit:
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Diocesan Announcements
St. Martin, Calgary: On Easter Sunday, April 4, Archbishop Greg consecrated St. Martin's building, at 1009 Prominance Way SW. We thank God that this parish has a new home. St. Martin's has been a pilgrim parish with no official address for many years. They have shown great resilience and perseverance in this time, and we rejoice with them in this new opportunity. We also remember The Rev. Dr. Carmen Maier and the parish leadership in our prayers as they journey forward together.
St. George, Calgary: The Diocesan Office announces that The Rev. Clara King will be stepping down as Rector of St. George, Calgary, Diocesan Rural Missioner and Chair of the Calgary School for Mission and Ministry Board as of the end of May, 2021, to embark on persuing a PhD over the next five years. We wish Clara every success with her studies.
All Saints, Cochrane: The Diocesan Office announces that as of May 30, Fr. Greg Clark, Incumbent of All Saints Cochrane, will be retiring. He has been priest there since 2002. We thank Fr. Greg for his dedicated service to this parish, and pray for him as he looks forward to his retirement. We also announce that beginning June 1, The Rev. Tony Hilling will be Interim Priest-in-Charge for All Saints. Please pray for Tony and the Parish as they prepare for this transition. |
COVID 19 Updates
You can find the latest updated letter from Archbishop Greg here. Please note that the COVID Task Force will be meeting shortly and will be reporting back to the Clergy and Parishes with any recommendations. In the meantime, please remember that we expect all parishes to adhere to the Alberta Government's Phase 1 Restrictions as were officially put back in place Tuesday (April 6) at midnight. Thank you - to all of you who have been faithfully finding ways to bring worship, pastoral care and support to your congregations. - for those who have been praying and supporting many who have been distressed, ill and fearful. - to all of you who are doing so much in real ways to perpetuate the Gospel message of hope and grace in these times. We appreciate all you are doing! May God bless you, keep you, and uphold you. |
New listings under Our Job Postings
Four 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, St. Barnabas, Medicine Hat, and St. Augustine, Lethbridge), and one is for an Associate Priest at St. Augustine, Lethbridge. Information on how to apply for any of these positions can be found under their posting. For more infomation visit: http://calgary.anglican.ca/news/new-listings-under-our-job-postings
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ACW Annual Renewal ConferenceHow to Be Community During COVID - Friday, April 23, 2021 The Anglican Diocese of Calgary ACW invites you to join them for their 2021 Annual Renewal Conference. This year, it will be via Zoom. This year's theme is "How to be Community During COVID." Special guest speaker will be The Rev. Elizabeth Short, Parish Health Facilitator for the Diocese of Calgary. For more information, the ACW website can be found here. To register, please contact Mary Dymond at (403) 278-0137 For more infomation visit: http://calgary.anglican.ca/events/acw-annual-renewal-conference/2021-04-23
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Jewish Holocaust Remembrance Memorial ServiceMonday, April 12 via Zoom In keeping with our tradition of Holocaust Remembrance, the Calgary Council of Christians and Jews will be co-sponsoring a Zoom Ecumenical Holocaust Memorial Service, led by Rev. Kim Holmes-Younger and Hillhurst United Church on Monday evening, April 12, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to join as we stand together in solidarity with victims of hate and violence, and pray for God's peace and hope throughout the world. We will be joined by Ann Dancyger. We are the last generation to hear testimony from Holocaust Survivors first hand. Ann recounts the horrors of her experience from her early days in the Ukraine, spent in hiding with her mother, to her two-year walking trek to West Germany. There wll be an opportunity for a Q & A with Ann following her talk. To register and receive the Zoom link, pleast click on Eventbrite link and then on the Event title. |
Christian Meditation: Essential TeachingsThree sessions: Friday, April 23; Saturday, April 24; Saturday, May 1 Essential Teachings from The World Community for Christian Meditation offer three interactive and informal sessions, to deepen your understanding of the teachings of John Main, OSB, to learn more about the history of meditation in the Christian tradition, to understand the stages of the spiritual journey, to know how to respond to frequently asked questions, and to become confident in discussing Christian meditation. Meditation periods are the heart of these workshops. A $50.00 fee includes the cost of the book, "Sharing the Gift." Register online here. Registration limited to 20 participants. Hosted by the FCJ Centre. |
Anglican Lutheran National Worship Conference (NWC)July 6 to 7, 2021 via Zoom We are writing to invite your participation and support of the upcoming NWC, “Disruption and Grace: Learning Edges in Liminal Times”, July 6-7, 2021. As planners we want this online NWC to provide an important opportunity for those involved in worship and music in our churches and ministries to be able to listen, reflect and talk thoughtfully together about the significant disruption and grace we have all experienced during this pandemic and to glean new learnings and possibilities together. The NWC will include opening and closing worship, the conferral of the Companion of the Worship Arts to the one Anglican and one Lutheran recipient announced last spring in recognition of their local and national contributions to worship in our churches, and lastly, in this 20th anniversary year of the full communion partnership of the ACC and ELCIC, and July 7 being the day of signing the Waterloo Declaration and the NWC being the first national full communion event of our churches, we are hoping to also celebrate this anniversary milestone together. For more information and to register, visit our Website. |
We'd Like to Hear from You
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. |
Prayer Requests
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, Paige, Monica, Tim, Jim, JR, Jane, Wendy, Aus, and Wayne; - 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. |