Greetings
This Sunday is the Third Sunday in Lent.  If you have been by the church recently, you will have seen the new message on the sign:  “Lent 3   Eat What is Good.”  This is not an advertisement for the “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” fund raiser (see below) although I suppose it could be.  But my original intention was to reflect the message in the Scripture readings for Sunday, particularly the passage from Isaiah.  In fact the phrase “eat what is good” comes from Isaiah 55:2, and is part of Isaiah’s request “Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good.”  It sounds like a phrase that your mother would say.  But Isaiah goes farther than that, because he is not just talking about diet, he speaks of  everything that we might chose to nourish ourselves, body, mind and spirit.  And he asks about our choices.  His concerns seem remarkably contemporary.  In the Gospel reading, Jesus tells of a fig tree that seems to be suffering from a poor environment, and the disagreement between the owner and the gardener about what should be done.
 The passages that will be read on Sunday are Isaiah 55: 1-9 and Luke 13: 1-9.  In the Time for All Ages we will talk about how “A Tree Grows.”   The Sermon is titled  “Eat what is good.”
We will also be seeing another video response to our Moderator’s Lenten #NotAlone challenge. 

The ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held immediately after the worship service this Sunday.  At the meeting, we will review the Annual Report that was sent to you via email earlier this week.  Please plan to stay for this important meeting about the work and life of our church.
​
  SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED
Our Sunday School is GROWING and it is important that we provide the children with a positive experience in their time together.  We are looking for people who are willing to share some time with the children on Sunday.  We have a great curriculum called Seasons of the Spirit which is quite adaptable and easy to use (you do need a computer and internet access for the preparation).  If you are not sure, consider joining the class for a couple of weeks and learning with the children.  If you have any questions, call Margery W. At 780-419-3224.  A signup sheet is on the cabinet by the office.
 
AFTERNOON LENTEN STUDY – The Trinity & Everyday Spirituality
The third session of our study will be this coming Wednesday, March 2 at 1:30 in the Lounge.  The topic for this session is “To Share in Community”  The opening question is “What is your favourite Bible story/verse, perhaps one that is present to you now, or had an influence on you earlier in life?   The scripture for reflection during the week is John 17: 20-23.
 
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Join us in using  cunning stealth and covert organization to surprise our phenomenal Spirit West chefs.  Only at the ring of their doorbell should the hosts discover who will join them for dinner on their chosen night of gastronomical delights!!  This fund-raiser for the church will take place during the months of February and March!  It is a terrific time to enjoy a fabulous meal and fellowship.  Those who wish to host a dinner are asked to contact Bill C. at 780-481-2662.  Hosts need to indicate the date and time of their dinner and the number of guests they are able to host.  If there is a theme for the evening, this should be provided. Guests will have the opportunity to select where they will dine.  Diners should provide the conveners with information on allergies and dietary restrictions (this information will be discreetly passed to the hosts)  Diners will be provided  ahead of time with directions to their chosen dinner and with an offering envelope for a free-will offering which will be collected by the hosts and returned to the church.  A minimum donation of $25 per person is suggested.  Please plan on attending one of these sensational dinners and generously supporting the ongoing work of Spirit West.  See the display board at the back of the church for a list of dinner opportunities.
 
 MESSY EASTER- April 9 ??
 I have decided to pick a date for Messy Easter, Saturday April 9.  If you are interested in becoming involved or have any questions please call me at the church office as soon as possible.  It’s work, but it is also so much fun.   Give me a call!
JUST IN! – MESSY CHUCH WORKSHOP
Holy Trinity Anglican Church is hosting a MESSY CHURCH WORKSHOP on Saturday, April 9 (same day as our Messy Church) from 10:00 am to 3:00.  We could go right from the Workshop to our Messy Church all enthused!  The workshop is advertised on the Alberta and Northwest Conference website http://albertanorthwestconference.ca/14057-messy-church-workshop-to-be-offered-in-edmonton/
 
Emergency Food Hampers  The Jasper Place Wellness Centre supplies basic emergency food hampers.  At the present time their stocks are very low.  A bin will be by the front door where you can leave donations of dry pasta, rice, canned beans, canned meat or fish, soup, crackers, peanut butter, hot chocolate,  and tea bags.  Your donations will be taken by Doreen to JPWC on Mondays.  Your support of the work of Spirit West at the JPWC is greatly appreciated.
 
 Spirit West Prayer Chain
The Spirit West Prayer Chain is a group of people who have committed to continue our prayers of concern from Sunday through the week.  To be part of this ministry, email your request to spiritwest.prayerchain@gmail.com .  You may also email a request for prayer to the same email address.  If you would prefer to talk to someone, you can call Shannon F. at 780-481-5262, Marian T. at 780-487-2851 or Bonnie C. at 780-444-2230.
SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Our Website is at www.spiritwest.org .
Our  Facebook page is  https://www.facebook.com/SpirtWestUnitedChurch
 
Office hours 
-  Monday to Friday 9:30 – 2:30
-  Norma => 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Monday to Friday
-  Larry => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday

Larry
(Rev.) Larry K. Wright, CD, BA, MDiv
Minister
Spirit West United Church
780-481-1406
Spiritwest.minister@telus.net
Spiritwest.org
​

Greetings
This Sunday is the Second Sunday in Lent.  It is a Sunday in Lent but not of Lent because of the decision made centuries ago for Christians to observe their “Holy Day” on Sunday rather that continuing with the Saturday Sabbath. According to the Gospels, the Resurrection took place the day after the Sabbath, on Sunday, so Sundays became a weekly “Feast of the Resurrection.”   As a Feast of the Resurrection, Sunday can never be a fast or have the full sombre or penitential character of the days of Lent.  When counting the 40 days of Lent, Sundays are not included.  However, Sundays still point to the character of Lent and point us toward that search for God which should mark our Lenten journey of faith.  This Sunday the focus comes from Psalm 27, where the writer seeks God’s face.  It is an interesting way of describing the search, but one that might leave some a bit baffled.  Does God have a face?  If you are seeking something, you usually have an idea of what it is you will find so that you know when you have found it.  So, what is the Psalmist expecting to find?  Leonardo da Vinci always seemed to imagine the face of God as that of a stern or grumpy old man with a beard.  (The attached image is from da Vinci’s “Creation of Adam” in the Sistine Chapel)  This is an image that no longer “speaks” to many in the church, and has been used by some as the reason that they don’t believe in God.  So if someone says to you that they are seeking the face of God, what images come to your mind?  Are the images helpful for your search for or journey with God?  If they are not helpful, what needs to change?
The passages that will be read on Sunday are Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18 and Luke 13: 31-15.    We will sing together portions of Psalm 27. In the Time for we will look at “Pictures of God.”   The Sermon is titled  “Lord, I seek your face.”
We will also be hearing a response to our Moderator’s Lenten #NotAlone challenge. 

  SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED
Our Sunday School is GROWING and it is important that we provide the children with a positive experience in their time together.  We are looking for people who are willing to share some time with the children on Sunday.  We have a great curriculum called Seasons of the Spirit which is quite adaptable and easy to use (you do need a computer and internet access for the preparation).  If you are not sure, consider joining the class for a couple of weeks and learning with the children.  If you have any questions, call Margery W. At 780-419-3224.  A signup sheet is on the cabinet by the office.
 
MEN’S BREAKFAST
The Men of Spirit West will be gathering for Breakfast this Saturday, February 20 at 8:00 am in the Lower Hall.  Breakfast is open to any man who wants to come out for a great breakfast.  As a note,  each man usually put in $10 dollars, this covers the breakfast supplies and the surplus is put into a fund that offsets the cost of minor repairs around the church. 
 

AFTERNOON LENTEN STUDY – The Trinity & Everyday Spirituality
The second session of our study will be this coming Wednesday, Feb 24 at 1:30 in the Lounge.  The topic for this session is “To Be Alone with God.”  There will be opportunity during this session to share with the group your poem/prayer from session one, if you wish to do so.  The scripture for reflection during the week is 1 John 4: 7-9.
 
 MESSY EASTER- April 9 ??
 I have decided to pick a date for Messy Easter, Saturday April 9.  If you are interested in becoming involved or have any questions please call me at the church office as soon as possible.  It’s work, but it is also so much fun.  For those of you who were involved with or attended Messy Advent in November, we will have not have the problems with the dinner timing.  Give me a call!
 
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Join us in using cunning stealth and covert organization to surprise our phenomenal Spirit West chefs.  Only at the ring of their doorbell should the hosts discover who will join them for dinner on their chosen night of gastronomical delights!!  This fund-raiser for the church will take place during the months of February and March!  It is a terrific time to enjoy a fabulous meal and fellowship.  Those who wish to host a dinner are asked to contact Bill C. at 780-481-2662.  Hosts need to indicate the date and time of their dinner and the number of guests they are able to host.  If there is a theme for the evening, this should be provided. Guests will have the opportunity to select where they will dine.  Diners should provide the conveners with information on allergies and dietary restrictions (this information will be discreetly passed to the hosts)  Diners will be provided  ahead of time with directions to their chosen dinner and with an offering envelope for a free-will offering which will be collected by the hosts and returned to the church.  A minimum donation of $25 per person is suggested.  Please plan on attending one of these sensational dinners and generously supporting the ongoing work of Spirit West.  See the display board at the back of the church for a list of dinner opportunities.
 
Emergency Food Hampers  The Jasper Place Wellness Centre supplies basic emergency food hampers.  At the present time their stocks are very low.  A bin will be by the front door where you can leave donations of dry pasta, rice, canned beans, canned meat or fish, soup, crackers, peanut butter, hot chocolate,  and tea bags.  Your donations will be taken by Doreen to JPWC on Mondays.  Your support of the work of Spirit West at the JPWC is greatly appreciated.
 
 Spirit West Prayer Chain
The Spirit West Prayer Chain is a group of people who have committed to continue our prayers of concern from Sunday through the week.  To be part of this ministry, email your request to spiritwest.prayerchain@gmail.com .  You may also email a request for prayer to the same email address.  If you would prefer to talk to someone, you can call Shannon F. at 780-481-5262, Marian T. at 780-487-2851 or Bonnie C. at 780-444-2230.
​
SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Our Website is at www.spiritwest.org .
Our  Facebook page is  https://www.facebook.com/SpirtWestUnitedChurch
 
Office hours 
-  Monday to Friday 9:30 – 2:30
-  Norma => 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Monday to Friday
-  Larry => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday

Larry
(Rev.) Larry K. Wright, CD, BA, MDiv
Minister
Spirit West United Church
780-481-1406
Spiritwest.minister@telus.net
Spiritwest.org

​
​Greetings
​
Well, we’re in Lent now.  It started on Wednesday, February 10.  This is the period of forty days (not counting Sundays) that precedes our celebration of the Resurrection at Easter.  Much of the imagery for Lent comes from the story of Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, a time that immediately followed his baptism.  You will hear more about this on Sunday and in the coming weeks.

I am going to be away this weekend at the DeMolay Workshop (with a whole bunch of teenage boys).  The Service on Sunday will be led by Anne Dingwell, our very own in-house Licenced Lay Worship Leader. 
 The passages that will be read on Sunday are Isaiah 58:1-12, Romans 10:8-13 and Luke 4:1-13.    In the Time for Ages Anne will look at the question, “Where does Love Live?”.   Anne’s Reflection is titled  “Struggles and Triumphs”

We will also be hearing a brief Lenten message from our Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Jordan Cantwell, and we will also here about the Moderator’s Lenten #NotAlone (say “hash tag not alone”) challenge.  Now the Moderator will not be at Spirit West in person, but her messages are available to us via YouTube.

LENT
There are a number of activities that will or could take place at Spirit West in connection with Lent.  If there is a “??” beside the activity, it indicates that your help/response is needed to make it happen.
 
AFTERNOON LENTEN STUDY – The Trinity & Everyday Spirituality
This will be a six session Lenten Study beginning on Wednesday, February 17, at 1:30 pm in the Church Lounge.  The study will run weekly, with the last session  on March 23. This small group study has been created by The Prayer Bench and was recommended on the United Church of Canada Facebook page.  There is no book to buy this year.  The sessions include a short recorded talk by a professor at the Atlantic School of Theology and a guided discussion using a weekly participant sheet that will be given to all attending.  The sessions include: To Tell Ourselves about God; To Be Alone with God; To Share in Community; To Live in the World God Loves; To Celebrate Trinity in Art, Song and Poetry; and To Celebrate Trinity in a Celtic Liturgy.  It looks like an interesting study.  Sign up on the “Afternoon” sheet by the office, or send an email to the office.
EVENING LENTEN STUDY – The Trinity & Everyday Spirituality ??
As of Sunday, no one has expressed interest in an evening study.
 
 MESSY LENT / EASTER ??
 I would like to celebrate a Messy Church – Lent/Easter in early March (Easter is March 27) or perhaps in early April.  If you are interested in becoming involve or have any questions please call me at the church office as soon as possible.  It’s work, but it is also so much fun.  For those of you who were involved with or attended Messy Advent in November, we will have not have the problems with the dinner timing.  Give me a call!
 
  SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED
Our Sunday School is GROWING and it is important that we provide the children with a positive experience in their time together.  We are looking for people who are willing to share some time with the children on Sunday.  We have a great curriculum called Seasons of the Spirit which is quite adaptable and easy to use (you do need a computer and internet access for the preparation).  If you are not sure, consider joining the class for a couple of weeks and learning with the children.  If you have any questions, call Margery W. At 780-419-3224.  A signup sheet is also on the cabinet by the office.
 
Emergency Food Hampers  The Jasper Place Wellness Centre supplies basic emergency food hampers.  At the present time their stocks are very low.  A bin will be by the front door where you can leave donations of dry pasta, rice, canned beans, canned meat or fish, soup, crackers, peanut butter, hot chocolate,  and tea bags.  Your donations will be taken by Doreen to JPWC on Mondays.  Your support of the work of Spirit West at the JPWC is greatly appreciated.
 
 Ladies Group Valentine Social and Meeting
Ladies, mark your calendars for out annual Valentine Luncheon at 11:30 am on Sat, Feb. 13th at the Homefire Grill Restaurant, 18210 – 100 ave.  Cost is $20.00 per person.  Good food and valentine surprises!  All women welcome!  If you have not indicated your attendance yet, please call Janice at 780-487-6243 as soon as possible.
 
 
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Join us in using  cunning stealth and covert organization to surprise our phenomenal Spirit West chefs.  Only at the ring of their doorbell should the hosts discover who will join them for dinner on their chosen night of gastronomical delights!!  This fund-raiser for the church will take place during the months of February and March!  It is a terrific time to enjoy a fabulous meal and fellowship.  Those who wish to host a dinner are asked to contact Bill C. at 780-481-2662.  Hosts need to indicate the date and time of their dinner and the number of guests they are able to host.  If there is a theme for the evening, this should be provided. Guests will have the opportunity to select where they will dine.  Diners should provide the conveners with information on allergies and dietary restrictions (this information will be discreetly passed to the hosts)  Diners will be provided  ahead of time with directions to their chosen dinner and with an offering envelope for a free-will offering which will be collected by the hosts and returned to the church.  A minimum donation of $25 per person is suggested.  Please plan on attending one of these sensational dinners and generously supporting the ongoing work of Spirit West.  See the display board at the back of the church for a list of dinner opportunities.

 Spirit West Prayer Chain
The Spirit West Prayer Chain is a group of people who have committed to continue our prayers of concern from Sunday through the week.  To be part of this ministry, email your request to spiritwest.prayerchain@gmail.com .  You may also email a request for prayer to the same email address.  If you would prefer to talk to someone, you can call Shannon F. at 780-481-5262, Marian T. at 780-487-2851 or Bonnie C. at 780-444-2230.

SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Our Website is at www.spiritwest.org .
Our  Facebook page is  https://www.facebook.com/SpirtWestUnitedChurch
 
Office hours 
-  Monday to Friday 9:30 – 2:30
-  Norma => 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Monday to Friday
-  Larry => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday

Larry
​(Rev.) Larry K. Wright, CD, BA, MDiv
Minister
Spirit West United Church
780-481-1406
Spiritwest.minister@telus.net
Spiritwest.org
 

​
Greetings
This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday, the last Sunday before the start of Lent.  As I said in another post, Easter (in the western church) is early this year.  The Orthodox are still finishing up their Christmas celebrations.  So, on this Sunday we will hear a passage from the Law recounting an encounter between Moses and God on a mountain.  The story of the Transfiguration in Sunday's Gospel tells of an experience that three of Jesus' disciples had with Jesus on a mountain top.  It was a very significant experience for them, and one that they didn't really understand at the time.  One of the disciples, Peter, was so impressed and captivated by the experience that he wanted to stay on the mountain.  But they all had to go back down, back to the "real world."  But they went down from the mountain changed, with a new understanding of whom it was they were following.  
 The passages that will be read on Sunday are Exodus 34: 29-35 and Luke 9: 28-43.    In the Time for Ages we will look at shining for God.   The Sermon title is “Ups and Downs”

​LENT
Lent, the forty day period that leads us to Easter is coming up fast this year.  The first day of Lent in Ash Wednesday, February 10. There are a number of activities that will or could take place at Spirit West in connection with Lent.  If there is a “??” beside the activity, it indicates that your help/response is needed to make it happen.
​
PANCAKE LUNCH
The last day before Lent, Shrove Tuesday, is marked in many communities with a Pancake Supper.  A number of churches in Edmonton have them.  The eating of pancakes often with fried meats (bacon, sausage) was a way to use up the last remaining fat and meat in your pantry before the meatless days of Lent.  In our United Church tradition, the giving up of meat for Lent has never been a “requirement,” but pancakes still taste good.  We will mark the beginning of Lent with a Pancake Lunch after church on Sunday.
 
 
AFTERNOON LENTEN STUDY – The Trinity & Everyday Spirituality
This will be a six session Lenten Study beginning on Wednesday, February 17, at 1:30 pm in the Church Lounge.  The study will run weekly, with the last session  on March 23. This small group study has been created by The Prayer Bench and was recommended on the United Church of Canada Facebook page.  There is no book to buy this year.  The sessions include a short recorded talk by a professor at the Atlantic School of Theology and a guided discussion using a weekly participant sheet that will be given to all attending.  The sessions include: To Tell Ourselves about God; To Be Alone with God; To Share in Community; To Live in the World God Loves; To Celebrate Trinity in Art, Song and Poetry; and To Celebrate Trinity in a Celtic Liturgy.  It looks like an interesting study.  Sign up on the “Afternoon” sheet by the office, or send an email to the office.
EVENING LENTEN STUDY – The Trinity & Everyday Spirituality ??
Same study as the above, but in the evening based on interest.  Indicate your interest by signing up on the “Evening” sheet by the office, or send an email to the office with your available evenings.
 
MESSY LENT / EASTER ??
 
I would like to celebrate a Messy Church – Lent/Easter in early March (Easter is March 27)  If you are interested in becoming involve or have any questions please call me at the church office as soon as possible.  It’s work, but it is also so much fun.  For those of you who were involved with or attended Messy Advent in November, we will have not have the problems with the dinner timing.  Give me a call!
 
 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED
Although at the moment we have a relatively small number of children in our Sunday School, it is important that we provide them with a positive experience of their time together.  We are looking for people who are willing to share some time with the children on Sunday.  We have a great curriculum called Seasons of the Spirit which is quite adaptable and easy to use (you do need a computer and internet access for the preparation).  If you are not sure, considering joining the class for a couple of weeks and learning with the children.  A signup sheet is on the cabinet by the office.
 
COMMUNITY DINNERS
On a regular basis a group of six churches in the West End including Spirit West cook and serve dinner to folks in need at the Jasper Place Wellness Centre.  Two churches work together on a dinner, one church cooks and the other church provides servers.  On the cabinet by the church office is a signup sheet with the dates for the dinners that Spirit West is helping with.  There are opportunities for cooks and servers.  If you want to know more about this, talk to Doreen O.
Hampers  The Jasper Place Wellness Centre also supplies basic emergency food hampers.  At the present time their stocks are very low.  A bin will be by the front door where you can leave donations of dry pasta, rice, canned beans, canned meat or fish, soup, crackers, peanut butter, hot chocolate,  and tea bags.  Your donations will be taken by Doreen to JPWC on Mondays.  Your support of the work of Spirit West at the JPWC is greatly appreciated.
 
Ladies Group Valentine Social and Meeting – Ladies, mark your calendars for out annual Valentine Luncheon at 11:30 am on Sat, Feb. 13th at the Homefire Grill Restaurant, 18210 – 100 ave.  Cost is $20.00 per person.  Good food and valentine surprises!  All women welcome!
 
 
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Join us in using  cunning stealth and covert organization to surprise our phenomenal Spirit West chefs.  Only at the ring of their doorbell should the discover who will join them for dinner on their chosen night of gastronomical delights!!  This fund-raiser for the church will take place during the months of February and March!  It is a terrific time to enjoy a fabulous meal and fellowship.  Those who wish to host a dinner are asked to contact Bill C. at 780-481-2662.  Hosts need to indicate the date and time of their dinner and the number of guests they are able to host.  If there is a theme for the evening, this should be provided. Guests will have the opportunity to select where they will dine.  Diners should provide the conveners with information on allergies and dietary restrictions (this information will be discreetly passed to the hosts)  Diners will be provided  ahead of time with directions to their chosen dinner and with an offering envelope for a free-will offering which will be collected by the hosts and returned to the church.  A minimum donation of $25 per person is suggested.  Please plan on attending one of these sensational dinners and generously supporting the ongoing work of Spirit West.  See the display board at the back of the church for a list of dinner opportunities.
 
Spirit West Prayer Chain
The Spirit West Prayer Chain is a group of people who have committed to continue our prayers of concern from Sunday through the week.  To be part of this ministry, email your request to spiritwest.prayerchain@gmail.com .  You may also email a request for prayer to the same email address.  If you would prefer to talk to someone, you can call Shannon F. at 780-481-5262, Marian T. at 780-487-2851 or Bonnie C. at 780-444-2230.

SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Our Website is at www.spiritwest.org .
Our  Facebook page is  https://www.facebook.com/SpirtWestUnitedChurch
 
Office hours 
-  Monday to Friday 9:30 – 2:30
-  Norma => 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Monday to Friday
-  Larry => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday

Larry
(Rev.) Larry K. Wright, CD, BA, MDiv
Minister
Spirit West United Church
780-481-1406
Spiritwest.minister@telus.net
Spiritwest.org
​