Retirement:

After forty years of ordained ministry, seven years of serving as Incumbent at Holy Nativity, and almost three years serving as Archdeacon of Bow Valley, The Ven. Brian Vickers will be retiring from full time ministry at the end of June, with his last service at Holy Nativity being June 28.  Please pray for Brian and his family as he enters retirement, and the parish of Holy Nativity as they discern their way forward.

Website Updates:

With summer coming, we can expect visitors to our parishes.  Please check the information on our website for your parish to ensure that we are displaying the correct service times and liturgy for those services.  Any updates can be sent to the Diocese Office.

June 21 - Confirmation Service at St. Luke, Red Deer, at 10:00 am

June 23 - Diocesan Council Meeting, St. Edmund's House & Zoom, at 10:00 am

June 28 - Confirmation Service at St. Leonard-on-the-Hill, Red Deer, at 10:00 am

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

Parish Members of Diocesan Synod, both Clergy and Lay, may be called upon to put their name forward for the following nominations:

Provincial Synod Delegate: We may send three Clergy and three Lay Persons - one of whom is a youth (a person between the ages of 16 and 25 inclusive as of the first day of May of the year of the regular session of the Synod for which the delegate is chosen.)

General Synod Delegate: We may send two Clergy (apart from the Archbishop), two Lay Persons and one Youth.

Diocesan Council: From each of our five Deaneries, we elect one Clergy and one Lay Person, and one Youth.

If you are nominated or wish to stand for these elections, we will need a biography to be shared in the Convening Circular, submitted prior to the middle of August.  Nominees are invited to submit a paragraph of no more than 60 words outlining their experience in the Church, and intention to serve as a representative.  Biographies are to be sent to the Chair of the Nominating Committee, The Rev. Kersi Bird.

Members of Synod are invited to submit notices of motions to Synod, in care of the Diocese Office. Notices should be submitted as early as possible but must be received by September 9, 2026

Ministry leaders will be asked to write up a report of their committee or ministry work which will be included in the Convening Circular and must be submitted to the Synod Office by August 20, 2026. Please submit reports electronically to the Diocese Office. Written reports will be received as a single motion at Synod.

Parishes in the Diocese are reminded that, under the Income Tax Act, every registered charity (parish) must file a Registered Charity Information Return (T3010) each year, and it must be filed no later than six months after the end of the charity's fiscal period.  For example, for a charity with a fiscal period ending on December 31, the return is due by June 30.  Failure to submit a Registered Charity Return may result in your Parish losing its Registered Charity status, leaving your parish unable to issue tax receipts or apply for GST rebates for the period that it is without a Registered Charity number.

The process of re-applying for Charitable status is long and arduous, so please submit your Registered Charity Information Return on time.

Who We Are:

Holy Cross Anglican Church is a welcoming Christian family parish in Northwest Calgary.  Our community is made up of longstanding members and newcomers, with a variety of ages and cultural backgrounds.

We seek a part-time contract Organist and Music Director to join us in the fall of 2026.

Working under the direction of our Rector, you will plan and lead a growing music ministry.

We have a vocal choir of between 8 and 10 members, an ALLEN Renaissance Quantum Organ and a Kawai Grand Piano.  As well, we have a set of handbells and tone chimes with a group of enthusiastic volunteers, and an extensive music library.

Application Requirements:

A Cover Letter and Resume, to be sent to office@holycrosscalgary.org, prior to June 30, 2026.

We will review applications on a rolling basis in July and August, until the position is filled.  If you are selected for an interview and audition, we will be in touch with more information.

The successful candidate will be required to submit a background check and take the Diocesan SafeFaith Training Course.

Position Details:

- 30 hours per week 

- Combines parish administration with coordination of Banff Food & Friends

- Compensation: $20.00 per hour

- Based in Banff, Alberta

The Anglican expression of Christianity is rooted in the rich and unique position it has in the history of the Church and in broader Christian experience.  This course will give students the opportunity to explore the history of Anglican origins and the unique character of Anglicanism.  In particular, this course will cover the Anglican understanding of unity and diversity, the spirituality of Anglican structures and governance, the orders of ministry (Lay, Bishop, Priest, Deacon), the centrality of liturgy ("Common Prayer") and a brief overview of the sacraments.

Instructor: The Rev. Greg Clark

To register, contact Barbara Labrecque.

This course is required to acquire and maintain all licenses (A, B & C) with the Diocese of Calgary.

The Ministry Development team offers time for lay ministers from around the diocese (new and locally ordained too!)  to gather each week to discuss and reflect upon the readings for the week in preparation for preaching. Academic resources (commentaries, etc) will be made available for participants, and it will be a great opportunity to share ideas and resources for lay ministers who are preaching in their local services.  

Time: Tuesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Location: on Zoom

Please contact Br. Jason Carroll to sign up or for more information. 

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. 

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! 

This month's conversation is with Michael Harvey and his ACORN method of sharing our faith .  Tune in to the Podcast here.

To find previous Podcasts, click here.

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

A Service of Morning Prayer for AFP members will be held via Zoom on Saturday, June 20.

Also, please mark your calendars for the Blue Christmas Service to be held on Saturday, December 5, at St. Peter Anglican Church, Calgary.

Annual Garage Sale Fundraiser:

Saturday, June 27 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  Proceeds from the Garage Sale are used for the day-to-day operation of the Foodbank.

We welcome the donation of clean and working order household items, small appliances, bedding, towels, shoes and purses.  

Donations can be dropped off on Mondays or Thursdays between 9:00 am and 11:45 am.  We are unable to accept larger items until Friday, June 26.  Please contact us at (403) 288-6330 if you have any questions.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We are looking for strong volunteers for:

- Putting up the tents on Friday evening (June 26) beginning at 6:00 pm;

- Set up and moving boxes from the Mission Hall to the tents on Saturday morning (June 27) beginning at 7:30 am;

- Take down and packing, beginning at 3:00 pm (June 27);

- Clean up, beginning at 3:00 pm (June 27).

If you could lend a hand and help out, please contact Marilyn at (403) 681-5726.  It would be greatly appreciated!

Creator God,
from you every family in heaven and earth takes its name.
You have rooted and grounded us
in your covenant love,
and empowered us by your Spirit
to speak the truth in love,
and to walk in your way towards justice and wholeness.
Mercifully grant that your people,
journeying together in partnership,
may be strengthened and guided
to help one another to grow into the full stature of Christ,
who is our light and our life. Amen

The Anglican Church of Canada offers liturgical resources for honoring this day.

Jesus calls us to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25) and care for our neighbours (Luke 10).

As of June 11, 2026, there are: 117.8 million forcibly displaced people worldwide; 68.7 million internally displaced people (within their own country); 9 million people seeking asylum; and 6 million Palestinian refugees.

The Diocese of Calgary Refugee Committee has been sponsoring refugees for almost 50 years under the Privately Sponsored Refugee Program.  Through this program and thanks to the generous and dedicated support of many in the diocese, we have made and continue to make a lasting and powerful impact on the lives of countless people we have sponsored.

We have been greatly blessed to see so many newcomer individuals and families thrive, enrich our communities, contribute to our labor force and economy and help us to see the world that God has created through the eyes of others.

We recognize the efforts of our parishes, parishioners, co-sponsors and former refugees who make the ministry of welcoming the stranger possible.

But our work is not done.  In these times of so much instability and hostility in the world, our work is even more critical!  We continue to invite you to join this valuable ministry.

How Can You Help?

Pray for the work of the Refugee Committee.  Donate funds to support the work.  Sponsor a refugee through your parish.  Become a volunteer with our Committee.  Provide volunteer support in the community to help settle refugees.

If you or your parish would like to learn more about ways to participate in refugee ministry, please contact Sofia Berumen, Coordinator, or Joanne Lavergne, Chair of the Refugee Committee.

On Sunday, June 7, in Airdrie's Nose Creek Park, the sounds of worship music drifted across the downtown as hundreds of people gathered for Praise in the Park 2026 - an ecumenical celebration of faith, music, and community made possible in part through a $2,000 Community Ministries grant from the Anglican Foundation of Canada.

Led by St. Francis of Assisi, Airdrie in our Diocese, the annual event brought together seven local churches, Airdrie Christian Academy, community volunteers, youth worship groups, a children's entertainer, and special guests for nearly seven hours of music, prayer, and fellowship in one of the city's most visible public spaces.

What began several years ago as a local outreach initiative has continued to grow.  According to organizer Rick Sweet, attendance this year was estimated between 500-600 people over the course of the day, making it the largest gathering yet.  Sweet says, "Our primary focus has always been to bring the Gospel message to the community and to remind Airdrie that we are, indeed, a Christian community."

For AFC, the project illustrates how relatively small grants can help congregations create meaningful opportunities for community engagement and partnership. The Foundation’s contribution supported event costs including signage, equipment rentals, hospitality, insurance, volunteer resources, and family programming.

The Radiance Family Society, in collaboration with the Canadian Poverty Institute at Ambrose University, is leading a research project: "THRIVE - Supporting Healing and Accountability in Faith Communities."  The research focuses on the causes of family violence within the Christian faith community, with an aim to prevent and/or interrupt family violence.

The Canadian Poverty Institute and Radiance Family Society are inviting you to participate in this research as a survey participant.  You will be able to share your views or experiences on the causes of family violence, the role of biblical teachings in family violence, how community support can be harnessed to break the silence around family violence and stop family violence within the church.

You are invited to take part in a roughly 30-minute online survey.  The researchers will not link your responses to you individually.  Participants must be 18 years or older, living in the greater Calgary area, and practice in a faith community in these communities.  Click here to take the survey and follow the prompts.  Should you wish, at the end of the survey, you may provide your email address to receive a $25 gift card from the research team.

Direct questions or concerns to Rita Yembilah or Derek Cook.

Looking for a way to deepen your understanding of the Christian faith and enhance the connection between what you believe and how you live your daily life?  The Education for Ministry (EfM) program combines independent study and weekly small group discussions to provide a basic grounding in theology to Christian laypeople. The EfM curriculum explores the content and origins of Scripture, follows Church history from its earliest days, and examines issues in Christian theology. Group members engage in individual and group theological reflection throughout their studies to bring our different life experiences and perspectives into conversation with our faith, helping to discern God’s call to each of us. EfM is an extension program of an Episcopal theological school; there is a lot to read (including the whole Bible) but there are no exams. Students commit to one year at a time and those completing all four years of the program receive a certificate of completion.   

For more information on this program or registration, please contact Jennifer Solem at efmcalgary@outlook.com. 

All are invited to join Bishop Anna Greenwood-Lee, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Islands and Inlets, and The Rev. Christine Conkin, Incumbent of St. George, Cadboro Bay, for a summer retreat on beautiful Salt Spring Island.

"We will spend time reflecting together on our call to be the salt of the earth amidst the very real challenges of these turbulent 2020s.  We'll talk about power and empires and how the church needs to organize and mobilize in order to incarnate God's love and justice."

This Retreat will run from August 4 to 6, 2026.

The Diocese of Islands and Inlets looks forward to hosting a national event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Priesting of Women in Canada on November 24 and 25 in Victoria, BC.  Programming and a celebratory Eucharist will be held on these days.

Registration is now open.

The registration fee is $210.00.  Participants are expected to make their own travel and hotel arrangements. 

Light for St. Luke’s: Every watt counts

We’d like to tell you about St. Luke’s Hospital in Nablus (the West Bank). Unreliable and costly power sources make health care a challenge during the best of times, or a crisis during the worst of times. 

That’s where solar power comes in. Solar energy helps keep the lights on, keeps medical equipment working, and helps doctors care for patients safely.

Alongside Hope is partnering with the Diocese of Jerusalem to purchase and install solar panels for the roof of the hospital. Learn about the many ways to support and donate to this campaign at alongsidehope.org/light-for-st-lukes.  Together, we will keep the light shining.

Let us pray. 
God of light and life, 
we give thanks for caregivers who bring healing in difficult places. 
Bless the work of St. Luke’s Hospital, 
strengthen all who serve there, 
and let your steady light shine where it is most needed. 
Help our small movements here 
become lasting hope for others. 
Amen 

Please remember in your prayers:

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

- for the Anglican Communion, and our Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. Sarah Mullally;

- for the work of the General Synod, and for our 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, Joan, James, Beth, Janis, Faten, John and Lucille, Ronalynn and Chris, John, Sandra, and Andy;

- 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.

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