This month's Missional Minute contribution comes from Karen Larsen of St. Augustine, Lethbridge.

A number of years ago, I became very aware that as a Christian, my attendance at church on Sunday was necessary to fill my spiritual resources for another week.  I also realized that acknowledging people I meet in my day was important.  Having been doing this for years, I realized I have been quite complacent and almost on autopilot as to what happens to people I meet, greet, or simply smile at.  Two weeks ago, I had an experience that made me realize that some of these encounters were sowing seeds.

I was at my normal Tuesday night aqua Zumba class and had smiled and said hi to a lady I had not seen at class before.  As I was leaving the pool, she asked me if I could answer a couple of questions for her.  I agreed and she asked me if I knew anything about the lift chair at the side of the pool.  I said that I had seen it used many times and all that one had to do was to ask a lifeguard for assistance.  She said thanks and shared that she wanted to bring her husband to exercise but he would need assistance as he had Parkinson’s.  She then said it might not work as he needed help in the change room, too.  I replied that the pool had family change/washrooms available for use.

On Wednesday evening, I was once again at the pool doing aqua fit when I saw her on the pool deck with her husband, who was being assisted to get into the pool. During the class she jogged towards me and introduced me to her husband, sister and brother-in-law.  She told them that I was the friendly person who had answered her questions about the pool.  I said hi and went on my way across the pool.

Later that evening I told this story to my husband and he said he was not surprised as he has seen it many times before.  He then said, “After all, being friendly has become your ministry.”

Thanks be to God!

Diocesan Comptroller:

At the end of April, we will be saying goodbye to Blake Bolton as our outgoing Comptroller, and we welcome Rob Sutherland as our incoming Comptroller.  These two gentlemen will be working together throughout the month of April to bring Rob up to speed.  We are thankful for Blake's hard work in the past, and we look forward to working with Rob in the future.

If you need to be in touch with the Comptroller, the new email is comptroller@calgary.anglican.ca starting April 4^th. 

Clergy Conference in May:

The Clergy Conference this Spring will take place in Waterton Park from May 14 to 16.  Our theme this year will be "Preaching Missionally" and we are delighted to announce that our guest speaker will be The Right Rev. Susan Bell, Bishop of the Diocese of Niagara.

April 5 - 8: Provincial House of Bishops in Toronto, ON

April 8 - 12: National House of Bishops in Niagara, ON

April 14: Baptism and Confirmation Service - Christ Church, Calgary

April 14: Afternoon Eucharist Service - Mission of St. Edmund, Calgary

April 16: Diocesan Council meeting (hybrid)

April 17: BARDs meeting (hybrid)

April 17: Admin & Finance Committee meeting (hybrid)

April 18: Clergy Day at St. Benedict, High River

Please hold Archbishop Greg in your prayers as he serves as our Bishop and Metropolitan.

Brain Games: Finding the connection between brain, body and behaviour

Do you know someone who behaves "differently" but looks "normal"?

Our aim is to unlock some of the mysteries and dispel some myths about how brains and bodies influence behaviour.

We will introduce you to the challenges and misunderstandings experienced by the neurodivergent in our parishes and beyond where we are called as Christ's disciples.

Presented by Danna Ormstrup (Executive Director, Foothills Fetal Alcohol Society) and Pam Henheffer (Program Director)

We are getting excited and making plans for hosting the Provincial Synod in our Diocese next month.

Thank you to those who have volunteered to help with greeting and hosting our visitors. We know they will be given wonderful hospitality.

All Things Made New!

Come join us at the Anglican Laity Retreat at Mount St. Francis, Cochrane.  The silence starts after Friday's dinner and continues through Sunday morning.  The retreat directors lead us through five meditations on the theme through Saturday and Sunday, concluding in a service led by The Ven. Dr. Pilar Gateman.  More details are available at the Mount St. Francis website.

To register or for more information, contact Patti or John Sinclair by email or call (403) 650-1491.

Please join us at King's Fold Retreat & Renewal Centre for a time of spiritual reflection and retreat led by The Rev. Chris Roth.

More information and how to register can be found at the St. Leonard's Anglican Church Facebook page.

The next Ultreya will be Friday, April 12 at Holy Trinity, Calgary, starting at 7:30 pm.

To attend by Zoom, please watch for the email to Cursillistas, or send an email request to the Diocese Office. 

Hope to see you there!

Taste and see...

Anglican Renewal Ministries is dedicated to bringing the life and power of the Holy Spirit to all Christians.  ARM has been serving the Anglican Church of Cananda for over 30 years.  In addition to workshops on the person and gifts of the Holy Spirit, we also offer a quarterly magazine called "Taste and See..." with articles to uplift and encourage you in your walk with Christ.  We hope this magazine will be a source of encouragement to all.  Sample articles and a free copy of the magazine are available on our website.

On behalf of the Chair of Christian Thought, on Friday, April 12, Tina Beattie (Professor Emerita, Roehampton University) will give the Swanson lecture in Christian Spirituality on The Art of Creativity: Art, Theology and Ecology.

Join us downtown as we celebrate our work with our partners, the Industrial Areas Foundation Canada, for the common good of our city and raise money to support the next chapter in our Calgary Alliance for the Common Good.

We will have delicious food, generously donated by the Anatolian Turkish Restaurant and community, and have Dr. Deena Hinshaw as our special guest, whom we want to honour for her Uncommonly Good Service for the Common Good.  Dr. Hinshaw will speak on lessons she learned from public leadership and what it will take to build a healthy society.

Tickets are $75 for individuals or $400 for a table of eight.

This is your invitation - come and join with other women to celebrate God's spirit amongst us.

This year's dates are Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 7

Registration opens Friday at 6:00 pm with the program starting at 7:00 pm.  The gathering concludes after lunch on Sunday.

Location will be the Entheos Retreat and Conference Centre.

The Theme this year is Cultivating a Garden of Contentment: "I have everything that I need - the secret of being content."

Session Leader will be The Rev. Faye Reynolds.

The weekend will include sessions with Faye, small group discussions, meal breaks, and some craft time, as well as singing, worship, and fellowship.

After March 5, rates will be $280.00 double or $300.00 single.

Click here to learn more.

Do you know a promising young adult who God might be calling to serve the church - even if they don't know it yet? 

Consider encouraging them to apply to the Ministry Apprenticeship Program (MAP) at St. Paul's Bloor Street: a "discernment gap year" for young people to explore the possibility of ordained service in the Anglican Church of Canada.

This full-time, year-long program combines hands-on service in ministry, including church planting, theological education and spiritual formation.  It's also fully funded so that anyone can participate, regardless of means.  Apprentices receive room and board at Wycliffe College, plus a monthly stipend for living expenses.

The 2024 program starts in September and applications are now open.

For more information, contact The Rev. Dr. Tyler Wigg-Stevenson.

Summer programs at beautiful Sorrento Retreat Centre by Shuswap Lake are now available.  Come for one week, or come for them all.  You will find environmental and nature-based programs, as well as outdoor spirtuality and experiential spiritual teachings, including core Anglican, reconciliation and interfaith offerings.  As always, you will have the opportunity to enrich your heart and soul through arts and craft-based playful creativity.  

We still have the "five for four" promotion -When four individuals or families from the same church book during our five weeks of summer programming, a fifth family receives free accomodation.  It's a great way to help anyone facing challenges experience this wonderful place.  

Start planning here.

Fire Exit Theatre, along with our host, Epic Vineyard, would like to invite creative leaders in the church to gather on Wednesday, April 17, 9:30 to 11:00 am.

Join us for a morning of good community, strong coffee and creative conversation.  We will be sharing some resources we think you will love.  Come ready to be inspired.  Invite someone you feel would benefit from the community.

We believe the church needs to be both a home for artists and a place where art, in all forms, can thrive.  The Gospel has been shared through great storytelling.  We would like to come alongside the storytellers in the church to better equip them and build a community of resources for us all.

Have you ever struggled with where to find scripts, videos, performers, just one more idea of how to do Easter??  Do you wonder how you can communicate more creatively with your congregation?  Do you dream of bringing scripture to life?

Come join the conversation with other creative people in the church community.  Bring your team, staff or lay people who you feel would benefit from this.

Wednesday, April 17, 9:30 am to 11:00 am, Epic Vineyard Church

Please RSVP to Jenn.

Please remember in your prayers:

- for peace within our country, and in the world, for victims of violence and natural disasters, and for areas of unrest and riots.  We ask for wise discernment in our leaders;

- for areas of our world where there is conflict and war, we ask for Your peace;

- for those who are sick, suffering, isolated or in need.  We ask for prayers for Barbara and Elizabeth, Janice and Daniel, Joan, Dan, Karen, Elizabeth, Ruth and James, Kate, Rosemary, Janet, Winnie, David and Gay, and Victoria;

- for those who have died and those who mourn;

- for the poor, the homeless, and the needy in our communities;

- for our Indigenous brothers and sisters, and their leaders in our diocese and country; 

- for refugees, remembering those fleeing regimes around the world.

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.

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.