The Diocese Office HAS MOVED to the church building of the former parish of St. Edmund, King & Martyr in the community of Bowness. 

Renovations are still underway, so the staff will be working from home for the next little while.

The new address is: 8336 - 34 Avenue NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 1R2.  Email addresses and phone numbers will remain the same.  Please take a moment to add this in your contacts or mail out lists.

We are grateful to this Diocese for your patience and prayers.  Once the dust has settled, we will be planning an open house for folks to come see our new office home.

This week, as the move to the new Diocesan Office space takes place, some of the staff are experiencing computer issues as we work from home.  The server is now in place and working fine.  However, a couple of the computers are not able to connect to the server.    

And this brings to mind a spiritual comparison.

Our missional work for building the Kingdom is always for God, inspired by God and sometimes directed behind the scenes by God.  We receive our inspiration and “nudges” for service by maintaining a close connection to our Lord.  This is done through Bible study, devotion, worship and prayer.  We as Christians need to take daily action to keep that connection intact.

However, sometimes we can lose that connection to God.  We fail or are unwilling to take actions to reconnect – we may disregard our Bible reading, or choose to serve our own interests, beg off opportunites to gather to worship or put aside prayer or quiet devotion.

But God is always “up and running.”  He desires us to seek a pathway back to Him.  He is always there for us.  He wants to be in close relationship with us and reaches out to us constantly.  It is up to us to take action to stay connected.  When we have a daily walk with our God and receive His messages of love and inspiration, we can then carry out His missional work in the world.

The Diocese Office asks that any inquiries regarding clergy or parish concerns that would normally have gone to the Executive Officer be forwarded to The Rev. Deacon Charmaine Evans, our Registrar.  This includes questions regarding the upcoming Clergy Conference, the office move, vacation notification or clergy changes.

Clergy Changes: 

The Rev. David Holmes, who has served faithfully in many parishes throughout the Diocese of Qu'Appelle and Calgary, including Church of the Epiphany in Rimbey, St. George, Stettler and the Parkland parishes, has moved to Regina as of the end of April to be closer to his children.

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce that he has appointed The Rev. Dr. Pilar Gateman to be the new Incumbent for the Parish of St. Benedict, High River as of August 1.  We ask for your prayers for Pilar as she transitions to this new role, and ask God to bless the parish as they journey together.

The Rev. Giovanni di Vincenzo has retired and moved to British Columbia.  We are grateful for his ministry in areas of parish life, chaplaincy and Sunday supply.  We wish him all the best in his retirement.

Disestablishments

The Parish of St. Michael & All Angels, Strathmore held their final service on Sunday, April 27.  The Rev. Malcolm Kern will be resigning as their Incumbent and the parish has requested to disestablish.

The Parish of St. John the Evangelist, Pincher Creek has voted to disestablish as a parish, and Archbishop Greg has notified Diocesan Council of his intention to close this parish. 

Ordinations

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce his intention to ordain, God willing, four deacons to the Order of Priests, and two candidates to the Order of Deacons.  We ask for your prayers for: The Rev. Deacon Michael Black of St. Martin, Calgary; The Rev. Deacon Grace Elgersma of St. Leonard-on-the-Hill, Red Deer; The Rev. Deacon David Smith of St. Barnabas, Three Hills and The Rev. Deacon Christopher Wall of St. Aldhelm, Vulcan, as well as Mr. Luke Lima of Grace Anglican United, Crowsnest Pass; and Mr. Daylon Tilitzky of Christ Church, Calgary.  The Ordination Service will be held at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Calgary on Sunday, June 15 at 4:30 pm.  Because it is Trinity Sunday, color for clergy vesting for this service will be WHITE.

On Sunday, April 27, the final service for the Parish of St. Michael & All Angels Anglican Church in Strathmore took place.  In attendance were fifty-five people, representing current and former parishioners, current and former clergy, lay and clergy representatives of area churches, and representatives of our Indigenous Anglican parishes. The service included a retrospective on the past 116 years, and concluded with carrying the light of Christ out into the world.  

May 8 to 12 - Electoral Synod of the Diocese of the Arctic, in Edmonton

May 14 - Deacons' Day, at All Saints, Cochrane (gathering at 9:30 am)

May 15 - Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, 10:00 am

May 15 - Admin & Finance Committee, 11:00 am

May 18 - 120th Anniversary Service of St. Peter, Okotoks

May 19 to 23 - Visit to the Diocese of Missinipi

May 24 - Diocesan Council meeting, 10:00 am

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

Occasionally lay people in our parishes, as well as ordained clergy, will be called on to lead funeral services in their church or community.  This workshop will give you a basic understanding of the theology, structure and use of the Funeral Rites from the Book of Alternative Services (BAS). You will be taught how to plan and lead a Funeral service effectively, taking into account the sacramental context, while selecting appropriate readings, hymns, and prayers. The course will also cover practical matters such as appropriate strategies to navigate the delicate context of the death of loved ones, and pastoral ways of helping those who are grieving to plan the service with them. This course will help lay people and locally ordained ministers become familiar with the Anglican rite of the burial of the dead.

Date: June 7, 2025

Location: On Zoom

Time: 9:00-12:00am

Instructors: Rev. Chris Roth

Cost: $40.00

To register, please contact Barbara Labrecque.

What:  An Encounter Weekend with God—as we experience God in word & sacrament, communing with Jesus in the fellowship of the saints through the Holy Spirit.

Archbishop Gregory Kerr-Wilson is the presenter and facilitator for our weekend.

When: June 6: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm and June 7: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Lunch is provided on June 7^th. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions

Cost: A freewill offering will be taken.

Schedule:

June 6: 7:00 to 9:00 pm - Opening Session and Eucharist   

June 7:

9-10:30 Session 2

10:30-10:45 Coffee Break

10:45-12:00 Session 3

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:30 Session 4

2:30-2:45 Coffee Break

2:45-4:00 Session 5

To Register or for additional information, contact 403 526 3725 or office@stbmh.ca

Our annual garage sale fundraiser will take place on Saturday, June 21 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  Proceeds from the garage sale are used for the day-to-day operation of the Foodbank.

At this time of year, spring cleaning comes to mind and we would welcome donations of household items, small appliances, bedding, towels, shoes and purses.

Donations can be dropped off on Monday or Thursday between 9:00 and 11:45 am.  We are unable to accept larger items until Friday, June 20.  Please call us at (403) 288-6330 if you have any questions and also to let us know if you have larger items to donate and/or to make alternate arrangements for drop off.

The Diocese Office still has three boxes of used Book of Alternative Services books.  Some of the spines have been mended with green book tape, so they look almost new.

If your parish is in need of extra BASs, please be in touch with our office.

A gentleman from Halifax, NS is arriving in Calgary to be with his dying mother.  He is seeking accomodation; he states, "It would be nice to be in a community of prayer in this difficult time."  He is seeking a bed, and willing to volunteer in a church setting or undertake some repair work, maintenance or baking bread in return.  He describes himself as "a youthful 55 years, soft-spoken, thoughtful, reliable and detail oriented."  He is also considering discernment for the diaconate.

If you have a room which this gentleman could use, please be in touch directly with Marc Comeau.

This fully functional Yamaha organ is in excellent condition and free to a good home.  

Please arrange pick up with Rev. Dean Hartung.

A large gathering of students, staff, faculty, alumni, volunteers, and members of our congregations gathered in Markin Hall on April 12th to celebrate 30 years of ministry by ECM on our two campuses. The hall was beautifully decorated, the food was delicious, and the speeches were wonderful! We laughed and we cried and we gave thanks for everyone who has made these 30 years possible!

The ECM Spring 2025 Newsletter is now up on our website.

For the past year, Rev. Clara King, a priest in our Diocese, has been travelling across the country, developing a cutting-edge workshop for clergy on adaptive leadership as part of her PhD.  Now that the study is complete, she can finally offer it for the home crowd.  Join Rev. Clara and local clergy from other denominations to experience this transformational one-day workshop.  Learn to perceive adaptive challenges in a new way, how to lead adaptively in your congregation, and how to respond in a new way to God's invitation to be transformed.  This workshop is offered for clergy and congregation-leading lay leaders for free as part of the Adaptive Leadership Pedagogy Study.  More details to follow.

Contact Rev. Clara for more information or to register.

Donor to match gifts to Resilience Fund up to a quarter million dollars

In the wake of massive cuts to international development assistance by the U.S. Government and some European governments, Alongside Hope partners are reporting that progress is being undone, programs are being forced to shut down, and families and communities are living in uncertainty about their futures. To maintain as many vital programs as possible, Alongside Hope is launching an urgent appeal to donors, the Resilience Fund.

Thanks to an extremely generous donor, all gifts made to the Resilience Fund by June 30, 2025 will be matched, up to $250,000.

Say Yes! to Kids is back—and bigger than ever! This year, 30 teams from across Canada are stepping up to raise $150,000 in support of youth-focused ministries and outreach in their communities.

Since 2021, this grassroots campaign has raised over $755,000, empowering more than 150 church-led initiatives to invest in:

• Faith formation
• Arts and education
• Outdoor recreation
• Food security and poverty reduction
• Reconciliation
• Health and well-being

These are programs that are making a real difference—from youth retreats and summer camps, to music lessons, mentoring, Indigenous youth gatherings, and so much more.

Find a Team. Fuel a Dream!

Taste and See...

Anglican Renewal Ministries is dedicated to bringing the life and power of the Holy Spirit to all Christians.   This year, 2025, ARM gives thanks to God for having served the Anglican Church of Canada for 40 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. 

Hope Mission’s annual No Child Hungry Walk takes place on June 7, beginning at 10:00 am, in support of hungry and hurting kids and youth in our Calgary communities. Sign up as a Team Captain, join a team, or donate to one of the teams! It’s a wonderful morning walk through the community with family and friends, and it’s in support of a great cause… providing meals for kids and youth! Join us… because no child deserves to go hungry.

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 Anglican Communion, for the selection of a new Archbishop of Canterbury, and for healing and direction moving forward;

- for the upcoming General Synod in June.  Please pray for all who are organizing, and all delegates and volunteers, especially the delegates attending from our Diocese;

- for the Windward Islands recovering from Hurricane Beryl;

- for members of the Filipino community in Vancouver who were affected by the Lapu Lapu Day tragic act of violence;

- for those who are sick, suffering, isolated or in need.  We ask for prayers for Barbara, Maureen, Ruth and James, Kate, Rosemary, Patricia, Rob, Alan, Gloria, Joan, James, Jason, and Barb;

- for those who have died and those who mourn, remembering the family and friends of Michelle and Selma;

- 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.