Thanksgiving is a time to pause and count our blessings, and the greatest is Jesus, our Saviour and Redeemer! So why then can it often be so hard to be missional, to share or talk about Jesus with those who do not believe? After all, it was Jesus himself who commissioned believers to go into all the world, to be His messengers, and to bring others to the knowledge of Him. (Matthew 28:16-20).
I ponder…could it be that:
- I don’t really think evangelism is distasteful. I applaud those who do it but I personally do not feel the need. So what’s the problem?
- yes, I need Jesus in my life and am willing to pray for others if they have a need, but is it my place to tell others they need Jesus?
- I think that by telling others they need Jesus, I am saying that they are wrong and I am right putting up a dividing wall of me and them?
- I am not sure that Jesus is my living water and the daily bread that sustains me?
- I have not really taken time to ponder my faith journey so am unsure how to share it? (Taking the “Personal Sharing of Faith” Missional Workshop may be beneficial).
In the Missional Workshops, we talk about making a mindset shift. This means shifting our mindset so that everything we do has a missional perspective - rethinking or shifting the different ways we present our faith so it all helps draw non-believers into the love and knowledge of Jesus.
But I wonder, in this case, if the first shift that needs to happen is not the mindset but the heart? I think when our hearts are shifted more to God’s love, a deeper love for others to know Jesus comes, and then the mindset shift follows.
Okay, now how can I foster a heart and mindset shift?
Well, I could:
- ask God to shift my heart closer to His.
- cooperate with the Holy Spirit and when He sends those nudges, lean into God and act on them.
- actively ask God to bless others, and to give me opportunities to love and serve them.
- nurture a deeper heart for people by showing compassion, listen to them and seek to understand their needs.
- embrace opportunities that show up in my daily life and community.
- live out my faith by making prayer, Bible study and community part of my daily life.
- remind myself that I am not alone in my journey. Jesus walks beside me and He has surrounded me with a loving family of Christians that uphold me.
Heavenly and loving Father, I am so thankful for the precious gift of your Son, Jesus. Thank you that you have commissioned us to be your messengers. Shift our hearts and our mindset to focus more on your mission for our lives. Strengthen us to be your servants that bring the message and gift of Jesus to others! Amen.

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

All are invited to our St. Edmund's House Open House, taking place on Saturday, November 1 from 1:30 to 5:00 pm.  There will be a Eucharist Service followed by a Wine & Cheese.

For the former parishioners of St. Edmund, King and Martyr, there will be a Service to thank God and honor the memory of the ministry of the parish, on Sunday, November 23, beginning at 3:00 pm.  This will be a Eucharist Service followed by tea, cake and goodies.

Any questions about either event can be directed to The Rev. Charmaine Evans.

Retirement:

The Rev. Tim Webster, who served as Incumbent of the Parish of St. John the Evangelist, Claresholm since 2021, retired as of September 30, 2025. His final service at St. John's was held on September 28.  We ask for prayers for Tim as he begins his retirement.

Clergy Moves:

We are pleased to announce that Archbishop Greg has appointed The Rev. John Willems as Priest-in-Charge for the Parish of St. Ambrose, Redcliff.  

We are pleased to announce that Archbishop Greg has appointed The Rev. Christopher Wall as Incumbent for the Parish of Christ Church, Nanton.

We ask for your prayers for these priests and their congregations as they begin their journeys of faith together.

The Rev. Rafiq Masih begins his ministry with the Parish of Harbor Grace in the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador this month.  We are so sorry to see him go, and ask God to be with him and his family, and to bless him in this new ministry.

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. Her phone number and email address can be found here.

Morning Prayer Services at St. Edmund's House:

The Diocese Office has resumed holding Morning Prayer services each Wednesday morning at 9:00 am.  All are welcome to drop by and join us.

Scam Emails:

Once again, there have been scammers sending out emails that ask for funds or information.  Please be aware that our Archbishop, clergy, Officers of Synod or Diocesan Office staff would never send emails soliciting funds or information from "church directories."  Always check the email address carefully and if it looks suspicious, please delete the email.

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.

October 4 - Gathering of Diocesan Indigenous Leadership

October 5 - Bishop's Visit to All Saints, Medicine Hat, 11:00 am

October 7 - Diocesan Council, 10:00 am

October 8 - Anglican Fellowship of Prayer, 2:00 pm

October 9 - Clergy Day at Holy Cross, 9:30 am.

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

St. Barnabas Anglican Church 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 (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, excellent personable communication skills, honesty, confidentiality and discretion are essential attributes for this position.  The position is half time (Monday to Friday, 20 hours/week).

Consideration of all applications will begin immediately.

For more information, please contact The Rev. Oz Lorentzen.

The Diocesan Refugee Committee is pleased to announce that we are now taking Expressions of Interest for possible sponsorships of refugees in 2026.

If your parish or a group of parishioners is interested in sponsoring an individual, family or several individuals to come to Canada, please go to the Refugee Committee webpage on our Website and complete the Expression of Interest Form, or contact the SAH staff at refugee-inquiries@calgary.anglican.ca.

The window for completing an Expression of Interest for 2026 is 16 September to 15 October, 2025.

If you do not have a case yet, but your parish might be interested in forming a sponsoring group and would like more information, we can assist you.  Please email us.

More information on our Refugee Committee and the Expressions of Interest Form can be found by clicking the link below, and scrolling to the bottom of the Refugee Committee webpage.

The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer will be hosting Evensong Services this Fall on the following dates:

Sundays on October 26 and November 16, beginning at 4:30 pm.

Please join us for any or all of these traditional and inspiring services.

The Ministry Development team offers 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!

Listen to the Podcast from Sept. 18 – Podcast with Most Rev. Gregory Kerr Wilson

Please contact Br. Jason Carroll for more information (jcarroll@calgary.anglican.ca)

The Parish of St. Luke, Calgary is moving to a new location, and past parishioners and friends of St. Luke's are invited to join us for the following special services:

October 12 at 10:00 am - Holy Communion Service of Thanksgiving, with The Rev. Joan Schellenberger presiding.  This is an opportunity to give thanks and share our many memories of the past 47 years of worship and ministry at our 26 Avenue SE location.  Coffee and fellowship to follow service.

October 19 at 10:00 am - Final Service and De-consecration of building at 2951 - 26 Avenue SE, followed by potluck lunch.  Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson will preside.

October 26 at 9:00 am - Holy Communion Service.  St. Luke's first service at our new location - 3008 - 28 Street SE (Emmanuel Community Church), with Rev. Deacon Keith Bird presiding.

In addition, the Parish is offering a St Luke's Souvenir Package for $20 which includes:

A beautiful MUG with photo and inscription; High Quality Pen with dates on 26 Ave and Address of Emmanuel location; and a foldable pocket Magnifying Glass

Send $20 and your name and telephone number by bank transfer to: St. Lukes Calgary email address.  Pickup dates will be announced

The Parish of St. Andrew's, Calgary is inviting anyone with talent to show it off!  Come sing/juggle/play the tuba/perform magic...whatever you're good at, on Friday October 17th at 5:30 pm.  Bring a dish to share and join us to see what our parishioners excel in.  Bring your talent to life!

Four workshops are being offered, open to all interested persons and are free of charge.  All will be held at the Coaldale Public Library (2014 - 18th Street, Coaldale), except for the final workshop of February 28, 2026, which will be held at the Anglican Church of the Ascension, Coaldale.  Registration is required as space is limited.  To register, Click Here.

1. St. John Ambulance Intermediate First Aid Training: Saturday, October 18, October 25, November 1, November 8, 12:00 - 4:00 pm.  These four afternoons will cover the St. John Ambulance's Intermediate First Aid.

2. Mental Health First Aid: Saturday, November 22 and 29, 12:00 - 4:00 pm.  Taught by trainer Jason Schluchten

3. Creative Problem Solving: Saturday, January 31, 12:00 - 4:00 pm.  Facilitated by Jonathan Legg, artist and educator.

4. Spiritual Practices and Healing: Saturday, February 28, 12:00 - 4:00 pm.  Facilitated by educator and musician Helen Raczuk and chaplain and musician Reno Guyon

For more information, the poster or the brochure, please be in touch with The Rev. Canon Erin Phillips.

Sponsored by the Anglican Church of the Ascension, Coaldale with financial support from the Anglican Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians.

Anglican Fellowship of Prayer will be hosting a Morning Prayer Service on Zoom

October 18, 2025 beginning at 8:30 am.

Meeting ID: 880 7535 3503
Passcode: 635239

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. 

To register, contact priest@stmartinschurch.ca

For the past two years, The Rev. Clara King has been travelling across Canada, developing a cutting-edge workshop for clergy on adaptive leadership as part of her PhD.  Now that the study is complete, she can offer it for the clergy of Calgary and area.  Join 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.

Doors open for coffee and treats at 8:30 am; workshop from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm (lunch and snacks included).  The FCJ Centre is located at 219 - 19 Avenue SW.  Should you require overnight accommodation, please contact the FCJ Centre directly at (403) 228-4215.

Register by October 19 to confirm your attendance:

Ambrose University will be offering two lectures by Dr. Ellen Davis:

Lecture 1: October 29 - The Sacred Mystery of Exegetical Preaching

Lecture 2:; October 30 - A Theology for the Wilderness

Dr. Davis, the Amos Ragan Distinguished professor of Bible and Practical Theology at Duke Divinity School, is the author of twelve books and many articles.  Her research interests focus on how biblical interpretation bears on the life of faith communities and their response to urgent public issues.

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.

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.

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.

Greetings from the 2026 Images of Spirituality Planning Committee!

The 36th annual Images of Spirituality gathering will take place from April 10 to 12, 2026 at the beautiful Entheos Retreat and Conference Centre.  Join us for a weekend enjoying God's great gift of creation, learning how we might connect more meaningfully to God and to one another, listening more clearly for God's purpose in our lives and experiencing God's peace more fully.

This year's theme is continuing the five-year themes of Psalm 23: Finding Comfort in the Valley (Psalm 23, v. 4).

The Guest Speaker will be The Rev. Deacon Elizabeth Short from All Saints, Cochrane.  She works for the Anglican Diocese of Calgary as the Parish Health Facilitator, and has been facilitating groups for over 25 years, specializing in the nature of transition, working through major life changes and losses of every kind.

Come, take time away in a space of openness, freedom, creativity and love, where women journey together exploring their life of faith through reflection, worship and community.

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, 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, Beth, Janis, Faten and Jean;

- for those who have died and those who mourn, especially this week the Borle 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.

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