I recently did a Prayer Walk in my neighbourhood.  As I prayed, I started to see not just houses I drive by all the time, but homes with people just like me living in them!  My prayers took on a new depth of desire for each one to know the love of Jesus.  I felt a deeper connection.  They were ALL people just like me with struggles and joys and dreams.  And just like me, they needed Jesus.  What an "Aha" moment!

Why, though, did this desire to share the love of Jesus not happen more often?  I started pondering about my fears, my inadequacies, excuses about my time and my comfort areas.  Then the Holy Spirit asked, "Is it a Heart issue?  How much of your heart are you willing to allow Jesus to use?"

The Missional Workshops talk about needing a Mindset Shift.  From my prayer walk experience, though, could it be that before our minds need to be shifted, it is our hearts that need the shift?  For the two travellers on the road to Emmaus, the heart shift in them caused hopeless hearts to shift to hearts that were "burning within us."  All their other fears, inadequacies and excuses faded away and they ran out into the dark, dangerous night, excited to share the news!  Could this be you?  Could this be your church family?  What could happen if our first approach to being more missional was not about problems or about what needs to be done, but about a heart shift?

This month's Missional Minute contribution comes from Pam Matsumiya of Holy Trinity, Calgary.

New Clergy:

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce, in consultation with the parish wardens and search committees, the hiring of two new clergy.  The Rev. David Matthews has been appointed as the new Incumbent for Holy Trinity, Calgary as of December 1.  As well, The Rev. Jesse Holland has been appointed as the new Incumbent for St. Michael, Canmore, also as of December 1.  We welcome these new clergy to our Diocese and look forward to their ministry within their respective parishes.

Please mark your calendars for the two Induction Services:

God willing, Archbishop Greg will induct Rev. Jesse as Incumbent of St. Michael, Canmore on Sunday evening, December 1 at 7:00 pm.  Color will be red.

God willing, Archbishop Greg will induct Rev. David as Incumbent of Holy Trinity, Calgary on Tuesday, December 3 at 7:00 pm.  Color will be red.

Retirement:

After fifteen years as Deacon and as Incumbent since 2018 with Grace Anglican United, Blairmore, The Rev. Nicky Keyworth will be stepping down as of December 31.  Please pray for Nicky as she enters retirement, and the parish of Grace Anglican United as they discern their way forward.

November 10 - Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Confirmation Service

November 11 to 25 - Holidays

Please hold Archbishop Greg in your prayers as he serves as our Bishop and Metropolitan, and takes some time away to relax.

St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Medicine Hat seeks an efficient, organized and hospitable person who is self-motivated and can work independently as our administrative assistant.  This individual plays an important role in the day-to-day operations of the parish, especially in providing a ministry of hospitality to all parishioners and community users.  The main responsibilities are managing the church office (such as filing, correspondence, inquiries, facility use/rentals), preparing the weekly worship service programs, and putting updates on the website/social media.  Given the central role this individual plays, a Christian character, personable communication skills, honesty, confidentiality and discretion are essential attributes for the position.  

The position is half-time (Monday to Friday, 20 hours/week).

Consideration of applications will begin immediately.

For more information or to forward a resume, please contact The Rev. Dr. Oz Lorentzen.

Please join us this Advent for an exploration and conversation around the Incarnation of Jesus.  We will have four unique sessions focusing on different aspects of the Incarnation and Jesus' entrance into creation and human experience.  We are excited, as well, to have each session led by a different person from the Diocese - The Rev. Elizabeth Short, The Rev. Chris Roth, The Ven. Dr. Pilar Gateman and The Rev. Br. Jason Carroll.  This study will enrich your Advent journey.  We'll gather via Zoom on Sunday evenings throughout Advent (December 1, 8, 15 and 22) from 7:00 - 8:30 pm.  

Please contact Br. Jason Carroll at the Diocesan Office to register for the study.

Cost is free.

To register, please contact Margaret Newton or call (403) 734-0031.

It's that time of year again!  Our annual Candy Cane Tea and Bazaar where you will find crafts, plus delicous baking and canning for sale. Stay for lunch in the Glad Tidings Tea Room!

We welcome donations of the following items: crafts, baking, and home canned jams, jellies, and pickles.

This event features the sale of donated Christmas items: decorations and trimmings, as well as a sandwich luncheon.  We are in need of help to price the sale items prior to the event and to assist at the sale to set up, and after, to pack up unsold items.  

St. Michael & All Angels Anglican Church in Strathmore has long enjoyed the display of liturgical banners lovingly created by parish members of the past. While our current worship setting means we cannot utilize these banners, we would like them to see regular use somewhere. Therefore we are offering them to any parish who will put them to use in worship. Banners are suspended on wooden dowels mostly 38” long, with a few extending to 48”. Individual photos of each banner can be viewed at Banners. For more information, please contact Rev. Malcolm Kern or ph: (587) 727-0649.

In addition to the banners, we also have a four drawer legal size lateral file cabinet (although it can be configured to hold letter size files as well). It is constructed of a heavy grade grey steel, without a lock. Free to anyone who will pick it up in Strathmore. For more information, please contact our People’s Warden, Jay Beaman, or ph: (403) 983-9384.

Are you a skilled and experienced cook looking to bring your culinary talents to a supportive environment? Mount St. Francis Retreat Center is seeking a dedicated Full-Time Cook to join our team.

Interested candidates are invited to send their resume and a brief cover letter detailing their experience and why they are interested in the Full-Time Cook position. Include Full-Time Cook in the subject line of your email to executivedirector@mountstfrancis.ca. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Looking for a wonderfully uplifting way to spend a Saturday night?  Join us for our concert on Saturday, November 16 at Cochrane Alliance Church and Sunday, December 1 at Bow Valley Christian Church.  Enjoy an evening of joy- and hope-filled music.  This is a free event, but opportunities to give to New West will be presented.  Please consider bringing new, small, children's toys or Tim Hortons or McDonalds gift cards to donate to our upcoming Gifts Back Christmas Concert!

Our Diocesan Comptroller is in the chorus, and we are excited to hear him join the other 85 member choir and orchestra!

Please mark your calendars for the 35th annual Images of Spirituality gathering!  Join us for a weekend filled with celebrating God's great gift of creation, how it can enable us to connect more meaningfully to God, listen more clearly for God's purpose in our lives and experience God's peace more fully.

This year's theme is Psalm 23: 2-3: "He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.  He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for His name's sake."

Information on the weekend speaker and worship leader will be forthcoming.

Early Registration Fee: $280 double occupancy, $300 single occupancy (before March 7, 2025)

Invite a friend!  We look forward to seeing you once again, or for the first time!

The Diocese of Central Newfoundland has collaborated with St. George's College in Jerusalem to create resources for the season of Advent.  A document containing letters and devotions along with Eucharistic prayers developed in Jerusalem is available.

Please let the Diocese Office know if you would like a copy of this document.

The Diocese Office has two desks available to a good home.  Both are dark brown in color, and measure 60" x 30".  

Please contact the Office if you are interested in acquiring one or both of these desks.

Please remember in your prayers:

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

- for the Windward Islands recovering from Hurricane Beryl;

- for the people of the Parish of St. Mary & St. George, Jasper, suffering the loss of their church home;

- for those who are sick, suffering, isolated or in need.  We ask for prayers for Barbara, Karen, Maureen, Ruth and James, Kate, Rosemary, Patricia, John, and Wendy;

- for those who have died and those who mourn, remembering at this time Rev. Bonnie and family;

- 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.

The views and opinions contained in Newsletter items provided by individuals or groups for advertisement belong solely to those individuals/groups and do not reflect the views, opinions or beliefs of the Anglican Diocese of Calgary.