If your parish has participated in a Foundations workshop, the process may have led you to ponder how you and your parish can be more Missional.

These thoughts may have stemmed from points made from:

• the Angus Reid poll (80% of Canadians are open to discussing faith),
• the healing of Namaan & the slave girl scripture (2 Kings 5, how the slave girl shared her faith),
• the explanation of a Technical problem vs an Adaptive problem (identifying and problem solving),
• making a Mindset shift (changing our culture & attitude).

A skill or gift that is identified and utilized in considering these points is “listening."

I would like to share a story I heard about at a church we attended while on vacation this summer.  This parish has a garden called ‘The Gift Garden’ and is an example of listening…listening to the needs, to the skills and to the opportunities around them. From this garden, vegetables and fruit that are harvested are shared with those experiencing food insecurity either inside the church or with other similar neighborhood efforts.

What I thought was really interesting was how it came about.   In a Zoom meeting during Covid, parish members, old & new, had an opportunity to share their skills. A couple new to the parish shared that their pre-retirement vocation was organic gardening and now they were looking for somewhere to “play in the dirt” to continue utilizing their skills and doing what they loved.  An example of listening here was people offering suggestions & then exploring possibilities (asking around & contacting potential contacts).  Once land was secured (from a local farmer), training in how to prepare, plant & nurture took place. Enthusiasm and excitement took off within the congregation by getting involved with the work of the garden such as weeding, harvesting, cleaning the produce & sorting. This new endeavour was now a form of outreach to the community - by using their gifts, they were also addressing the very real issue of food insecurity in their community. Over the past few years, other community groups have gotten involved; for example, a local grade 2 class had excursions that included creating named stakes for rows of plants and a joint effort of sharing produce with another church's food bank was formed. 

We were blessed with the opportunity to have a tour of this garden and saw first hand the outcome of work of many hands coming together to being more Missional in their community.

This month's Missional Minute contribution comes from Debbie Bradley, Holy Trinity, Calgary.

Induction:

Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson will be inducting The Rev. Dr. Pilar Gateman as Incumbent of St. Benedict, High River on Sunday, September 7 at 10:30 am.  Please pray for Pilar and the people of St. Benedict as they move forward in faith together. 

Clergy Changes:

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce, in consultation with the parish wardens and search committee, the hiring of a new priest.  The Rev. Daniel Hughes has been appointed as the new Incumbent for Church of the Epiphany, Rimbey as of September 11.  His first service will be September 14.  Please pray for Daniel and the parish as they journey together in faith. 

The Rev. Deacon Eldean Parnell, who served as Deacon-in-Charge of the parish of St. Ambrose, Redcliff since 2018, retired on August 31, 2025.  Services going forward will be covered by The Rev. John Willems.  We ask for prayers for Eldean as she begins her retirement, and for John and the parish members as they journey forward together.

Executive Officer Emails and Phone Messages:

Our Interim Executive Officer, The Rev. Charmaine Evans, has had her email address at registrar@calgary.anglican.ca hacked.  If you sent an email to this address, it is no longer available.  Please RESEND your email to her new address.  Also, the office phone number for her is not working at this time, and she asks that calls be directed to her cell number.  If there is no response when you call, please leave a message and she will get back to you.  Her phone number and email address can be found here.

Our next Clergy Day will be held on Thursday, October 9 at Holy Cross, Calgary.

Gathering will begin at 9:00, and a service of morning prayer will begin at 9:30 am.

Also, please mark your calendar: the dates for the Clergy Retreat are November 17 to 20, 2025, at the Sanctum Retreat Centre at Caroline, Alberta.

September 7 - Induction Service for the Rev. Dr. Pilar Gateman at St. Benedict, High River at 10:30 am

September 10 - Admin & Finance Committee, Diocese Office

September 11 - Legislative Committee via Zoom

September 11 - Synod Steering Committee, Diocese Office 

September 12 & 13 - Consecration of new Bishop of Rupert's Land in Winnipeg

September 14 - Confirmation Service at St. Francis of Assisi, Airdrie at 10:30 am

September 15 to 19 - The Living Church: Gathering of Leaders, Oxford, UK

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

Annual Women's Auxiliary & Silver Cross Recipients Meeting and Luncheon: Saturday, September 20 at St. Peter Anglican Church, Calgary, with registration at 10:30 am, Eucharist beginning at 11:00, Lunch and a speaker at 12:00 noon.  Cost is $15.00.  If you are planning to attend, please contact Mary Dymond at (403) 278-0317 or Ann Bright at (403) 249-4875.

This course, led by Facilitator The Rev. Deacon Elizabeth Short, MTS, will run for six weeks beginning September 22 at 7:00 pm, via Zoom.

Starting in September 2025, the Ministry Development team will be offering time for lay ministers from around the diocese to gather once a month for discussion and conversation around the opportunities, challenges and needs of lay ministry. It is also a great opportunity to create connections and fellowship with other lay ministers in the diocese. 

In the third week of each month, we will be producing a podcast with a different guest and topic for discussion. The Round Table will be held on the fourth Thursday of the month on Zoom in the afternoons, where the podcast and any other issues are on the table for discussion!

Please join us for our first sessions in September:
Sept. 18 – Podcast with Most Rev. Gregory Kerr Wilson
Sept. 25 – Round Table Discussion on Zoom @ 2pm
Please contact Br. Jason Carroll for more information (jcarroll@calgary.anglican.ca)

These workshops will give students a basic understanding of the theology, structure and purpose of the Daily Office, the Eucharist and the associated rite of the Reserved Sacrament. Students will be trained to organize appropriate services from the Book of Alternative Services (BAS), the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), and locally developed service books approved by the Bishop. Students will be able to plan a service of worship effectively, taking into account the sacramental context and liturgical season, and selecting appropriate Propers, readings, hymns, prayers and collects. The course will also cover practical matters such as appropriate strategies to navigate unexpected events in worship and the use of appropriate postures for leading worship. 

Please plan to join us for an Anglican Fellowship of Prayer Healing Service, being held at St. Benedict, High River, on Saturday, September 27 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

For more information or to register please contact The Rev. Joan Schellenberger.

The Commissioning Service for the Fall Teams will happen on Saturday, September 20 at Christ Church, Fort Macleod.

Plan to visit this historic community and wonderful church built in 1885, and support those planning and serving on the Fall's teams.  Gathering at 9:00 am and Service beginning at 9:30.

Now is a great time to sponsor someone to experience a Cursillo Weekend.  Men's Weekend will be October 30 to November 2, and the Women's Weekend will be November 6 to 9.

For Application and Sponsorship forms, email Stew Perram or call (403) 818-9676.

The Calgary Council of Christians and Jews is planning two special events on Tuesday, September 16.  Guest Speakers will be Dr. Norman C. Tobias with The Very Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Ready.

Lunchtime Event:  The Re-establishment of National Christian Jewish Dialogue in Canada

More than ever, the relationship between Christians and Jews is crucial in times of growing polarization around the world.  Clergy, scholars and everyone are invited to hear about the current and growing state of dialogue in Canada.

Location: Paperny Family JCC at 1607 - 90 Avenue SW, Calgary

A modest registration fee of $15 will apply to cover the cost of the kosher lunch.

Evening Lecture: Jewish Conscience of the Church: Jules Isaac and the Second Vatican Council

In the ever-important relationship between Christians and Jews in our world, this lecture explores the pivotal time when the Catholic Church, and all Churches, explored and re-examined their relationship with the Jewish people and Judaism.

Location: Temple B'Nai Tikvah at 900 - 47 Avenue SW, Calgary, 7:00 pm, free admission

Further event details will follow in the coming weeks.  

For more information about these events or the CCCJ, please go to their website.

Do you long to deepen your understanding of the Christian faith?  Would you like to live your faith more fully in word and deed in your daily life?  Do you enjoy meaningful conversation, engaging diverse viewpoints, and exploring differing interpretations? 

For more information or to register, please contact Jennifer Solem (Mentor)

If it has been a while since you took EfM or are new to EfM, now may be the time to join a group.  EfM can now be experienced in two ways: EfM: Classic (the program people have known and loved for 50 years) and now EfM: Wide Angle (a one-year taste of EfM: Classic's four years).

This new voice - EFM: Wide Angle takes a narrative approach and introduces participants to the EfM: Classic by touching on elements of all four years of the classic program in one year.  Anyone can take Wide Angle at any time.

How do participants experience the four years in one year?

- Through Rachael Held Evans' book Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again, participants learn about the stories of the Old and New Testaments and their impact on Christianity.

- Winnie Varghese introduces participants to the development of the church's teachings and how they have evolved for our present day in the book, Church Meets World: Church's Teachings for a Changing World.

- Joan Chittister's wisdom from The Monastic Heart: 50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life is sprinkled throughout the year.

- Ladder to the Light: An Indigenous Elder's Meditations on Hope and Courage from Steven Charleston introduces theological thinking.

- Being Disciples: Essentials of the Christian Life by Rowan Williams provides guidance for living a Christian-based life.

- All core tests are supplemented by Bible readings, podcasts, videos, and other media.

How do participants experience the Wide Angle offering?

Both EfM: Classic and EfM: Wide Angle are delivered through an EfM mentor-led seminar group.  Both offerings can be combined into one seminar group and approached as five voices, or Wide Angle and Classic can be kept in separate seminar groups.  There is no pre-requisite for taking Wide Angle.

How do mentors and pariticipants access the Wide Angle offering?

Participants will access assignments through an online platform which also provides access to the multi-media content.  EfM: Wide Angle assignments are delivered alongside EfM: Classic content each week.  Everyone in the seminar has access to all assignments for every year of the program.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Solem.

Please join us for this one-day symposium, connecting the Old Testament Prophets with the Book of Revelation.

Guest Speakers will be The Rev. Deacon Dr. Megan Roberts and Dr. James Neumann, from Prairie College.

Saturday, September 27 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at St. Leonard-on-the-Hill Anglican Church.  

The day will include a Morning Service, a Midday Prayer and an Evening Prayer time, ending by 4:00 pm.  This is a time of worship, where we can enter into the riches of the Word of God in a deeper, more informed way.

To register, contact Mary McCambley.

Taste and see...

We are inviting photo submissions for the 2027 calendar and would love to see contributions from your diocese. Note that the deadline is earlier than usual this year: November 1, 2025. Submission guidelines and details are available at anglican.ca/about/calendar/submit-photos.

Are you interested in using your communications and administration skills to organize communities to act for our common good?  Do you know someone who would be an excellent fit for this position?

The communications organizer will be responsible for using digital and communications tools to support the community organizing work of the Calgary Alliance.  This role will also provide administrative support.  This is a half-time position.

A job description can be found by clicking here.

Applications and questions can be sent to Ryan Anderson.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse that delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world in Jesus' name with toys, hygiene items, and school supplies.  This is a tangible expression of God's love through the hands of local ministry partners as they share the Good News of Jesus Christ, God's Greatest Gift.

In 2024, over 11.9 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide.  Of those, 436,290 came from Canada.

Many shoebox recipients participate in our 12-lesson discipleship program called The Greatest Journey.  Children learn who Jesus is, how to have a relationship with Him, and how to tell others about Him.  After completing The Greatest Journey, children attend a graduation celebration where they receive a certificate and a colorful illustrated New Testament in their own language.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is shared with all attending the event.

Shoebox materials will begin shipping in September.  Each box requires a label on the top, indicating if it is for a boy or a girl and their age (2-4 years, 5-9 years, or 10-14 years).

Shoeboxes will be collected from November 17 to 23, 2025 at a designated drop off location (on their website).

Operation Christmas Child delivers not only the joy of what for many children is their first gift ever but also gives them a tangible expression of God's love.

St. Gregorios Worship Centre at Holy Trinity Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in the neighbourhood of Bowness, Calgary, offers a free compassionate lunch every Saturday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm, as a response to the hunger in this city.  Lots of poor, homeless and needy people benefit from this ministry.  

Their address is 8007 Bowness Road NW, Calgary and they can be reached at (403) 926-4433.

Please consider supporting this group with offers of volunteering or donations.

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 students and teachers returning to schools this fall;

- for the Anglican Communion, and for the selection of a new Archbishop of Canterbury;

- for the work of the General Synod, and for our new Primate, The Most Rev. Shane Parker;

- for our Companion Diocese of the Windward Islands;

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

- for those who have died and those who mourn, praying for the family of Jose Francisco Simoes and the family of Sheila;

- 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.