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May 26th, 2016 - Second Sunday after Pentecost

5/26/2016

Greetings
This Sunday, the Second after Pentecost, focuses on faith. Now in our society faith is viewed with some skepticism. It is seen as unscientific, perhaps emotional way of looking at the world. A phrase we sometimes hear is “blind faith.” But there is a Christian understanding of faith that is much more nuanced. It recognizes that we cannot see, and know and measure all of the world around us. Paul in his Letter to the Hebrews says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1)   It is a wonderful definition. It points out that every day we act by faith. My favourite is example, as some of you know, is a belief in the existence of Australia if you have never been there. You accept that Australia exists because you have faith in the sources (books, teachers, friends, Wikipedia) that tell you Australia exists, the conviction of things not seen. Where it gets complicated is when we talk about God and faith in the same sentence. Then all of a sudden we are irrational. In the readings for Sunday, we will hear stories of people who acted on faith (one of them is a Roman soldier) and what that faith accomplished.
The readings for Sunday are 1 Kings 18:20-21, 30-39 and Luke 7:1-10.   In the Time for All Ages I will be sharing the story of Mary Jones’ Bible.” I have called the Sermon, “Faith of a Soldier”

SPIRIT WEST PLANT SALE – thank you!
A big thank you to all those of you helped out at the Plant Sale, especially Bonnie C., Margery W. and Margaret B. And a big thank you to all those who bought plants. We did make a profit in spite of the less that glorious weather, but the final numbers are not in yet.

Spirit West Movie Friday - Money Monster
On the last Friday of each month, a group of people from Spirit West gather to see a move together, after the movie there is usually an informal time of fellowship, discussion and food at someone’s home. This Friday (tomorrow, May 27) the group will gather to see Monster Money at 6:30 pm at the Cineplex Odeon Windemere, 6151 Currents Drive (take the Terwilligar exit west off the Anthony Henday) Anyone interested is welcome to attend!
After the movie, you are welcome to come to John P.’s home (780-481-4991) for fellowship and a snack.

Celebration of Ministry Service – Alberta and Northwest Conference
Everyone from all the Edmonton United Churches and beyond are invited to the 2016 Celebration of Ministry service on Sunday, June 5th at 10 a.m. at McDougall United Church, 10025 101 Street, Edmonton. This Service includes the Ordination and Commissioning of new ministers and the welcoming of ministers coming into the United Church from other denominations. A reception to follow.”

Free Drop-In Bike Safety Program – June 8
The Glastonbury Community League is offering a Free Drop-In Bike Safety Program which will take place in the Spirit West parking lot on Wednesday, June 8, 4:00-7:00 pm. Free and fun basic bike safety skills are the focus for participants of all ages on 2 wheels or 4 wheels! Children 5 and under require a parent or guardian to attend the program. Families are encouraged to participate. Participants must have their own bikes. A CSA approved helmet is mandatory for participation.

FIRES IN FORT MCMURRAY AND ELSEWHERE IN ALBERTA
We continue to follow the news from Fort McMurray and elsewhere in Alberta about the devastating fires that have swept through, destroying homes, business and the natural environment. Many lives have been radically altered by the events of the past week. A question that may have come into your mind: “How can I help?” There are many ways. Donating to the Red Cross is one, and your donation will be doubled by the federal government. The United Church of Canada is also involved in relief efforts through Alberta and North West Conference (ANWC). Check out the Conference response at this link:
http://albertanorthwestconference.ca/14283-assistance-fort-mcmurray/
On behalf of Spirit West, a donation of $750 was made to the ANWC Fire Appeal from the money raised for Outreach at the “Hope Springs Forth” Concert.

RIDE TO CHURCH? From time to time we encounter people who would like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because they do not have means of transportation. Can you give a ride? If you would be willing to make yourself available to provide a ride to church please call the church office. Do you need a ride? Would you like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because you have no ride, please call the church office.

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 the church office at 780-481-1406 and be referred to someone.

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 => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Monday to Thursday
- Larry => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday

Larry

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May 19, 2016 - Trinity Sunday

5/19/2016

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Greetings
This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, the celebration of a concept or doctrine rather than an event. The United Church of Canada is part of that vast community of faith know as the Christian Church. Although divided, the Christian Church shares some beliefs almost universally. One of the beliefs is that God is a triune God. We say that God self-revealed in three ways or three “persons”, but remains one God. (The original formulation of this was in Greek and translation is tricky) We have named our understanding of this The Trinity, and have traditionally named the “persons” of the Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. But, the term Trinity is not found in Scripture.    The chief Trinitarian text in the Gospels is the baptismal formula in Matthew 28:19. This late post-resurrection saying, not found in any other Gospel or anywhere else in the NT, has been viewed by some scholars as an addition into Matthew. It has also been pointed out that the idea of making disciples is continued in teaching them, so that the intervening reference to baptism with its “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” formula was perhaps a later insertion into the saying. The term Trias was first used by Theophilus of Antioch around AD 180. Of course the challenge comes when we realize that as we have shared the stories of Scripture through the year, we have encountered God as Creator (Father), as Jesus (Son) and as recently as last Sunday, the Advocate or Comforter (Holy Spirit). But we acknowledge one God.   So as some of us learned at our Lenten Study on the Trinity, the concept of Trinity is the best way to describe incompletely something indescribable. Dr. Rob Fennell, who provided the background talks for our study said, “The doctrine of the Trinity was developed (and continues to be utilized) not in order to be “right” about God, but to describe the reality of God as revealed in Scripture and as experienced by God’s people in the Church and in the world.”
The readings for Sunday are Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 and John 16:12-15.   In the Time for All Ages I will be sharing a story called “The Turnip.” I have called the Sermon, “Holy Wisdom”

SPIRIT WEST PLANT SALE
The Spirit West Plant Sale starts tomorrow. Come out tomorrow, May 20, 11:00 am to 7:30 pm or Saturday, May 21, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm to get your spring plants. There will be a BBQ Lunch available on Saturday

FIRES IN FORT MCMURRAY AND ELSEWHERE IN ALBERTA
We continue to follow the news from Fort McMurray and elsewhere in Alberta about the devastating fires that have swept through, destroying homes, business and the natural environment. Many lives have been radically altered by the events of the past week. A question that may have come into your mind: “How can I help?” There are many ways. Donating to the Red Cross is one, and your donation will be doubled by the federal government. The United Church of Canada is also involved in relief efforts through Alberta and North West Conference (ANWC). Check out the Conference response at this link:
http://albertanorthwestconference.ca/14283-assistance-fort-mcmurray/
On behalf of Spirit West, a donation of $750 is being made to the ANWC Fire Appeal from the money raised for Outreach at the “Hope Springs Forth” Concert.

MEN’S BREAKFAST
The Men of Spirit West will be gathering for Breakfast on Saturday, May 21 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.

RIDE TO CHURCH? From time to time we encounter people who would like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because they do not have means of transportation. Can you give a ride? If you would be willing to make yourself available to provide a ride to church please call the church office. Do you need a ride? Would you like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because you have no ride, please call the church office.

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 the church office at 780-481-1406 t be referred to someone.

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 => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Monday to Thursday
- Larry => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday

Larry

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May 12, 2016 - Pentecost with transfer of memberships

5/12/2016

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Greetings
Kαι επλησθησαν παντες πνευματος αγιου και ηρξαντο λαλειν ετεραις γλωσσαις καθως το πνευμα εδιδου αποφθεγγεσθαι αυτοις. I suspect that for most (all) of you, your response to the first line of this paragraph might be, “It’s Greek to me,” which of course it is, Koine or New Testament Greek. It is a verse from Acts, and I started that way because this Sunday is Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Easter and the commemoration of a very important event in the life of the Christian community. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles, which scholars believe was written by the Gospel writer Luke, records that on the day of Pentecost amazing things happened. The disciples were gathered at the festival of Shavuot, a Jewish festival celebrating the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses. In Greek Shavuot is called Pentecost. It occurs forty-nine days after the first day of Passover, so if you add that day you get fifty. While the disciples were gathered in one place “there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind,” and “divided tongues, as if of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.” Now for many in our province lately, images of violent wind and fire are not positive images at all! But the writer of Acts continues with the verse in Greek that I quoted earlier. “And all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” This is important because it means that the Gospel is to be shared in ways that overcome barriers of language and culture. We don’t have to middle-eastern Greek speakers to hear and share the stories of Jesus and the early church, and be moved to respond. God meets us where we are.
During the Service we will be welcoming some people to our congregation who have been members of other congregations of the United Church of Canada, and are now transferring their membership to Spirit West.
The readings for Sunday are John 14: 8-17, 25-27 and Acts 2: 1-21. I have called the Sermon, “In Our Own Languages”

Farewell Luncheon for Anne Dingwell
This Sunday, May 15, we will be having a farewell pot-luck lunch after church for Anne Dingwell who is moving to Bonneville in May. The card will be out for those who had not had an opportunity to sign it. Please come to show your appreciation for all the Anne has contributed to Spirit West.

SPIRIT WEST PLANT SALE
The Spirit West Plant Sale is just around the corner. Come out on Friday, May 20, 11:00 am to 7:30 pm or Saturday, May 21, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm to get your spring plants. There will be a BBQ Lunch available on Saturday
We are still in need of some volunteers to help with set up, sales and clean up.

FIRES IN FORT MCMURRAY AND ELSEWHERE IN ALBERTA
I expect that all of you are following the news from Fort McMurray and elsewhere in Alberta about the devastating fires that have swept through, destroying homes, business and the natural environment. Many lives have been radically altered by the events of the past week. A question that may have come into your mind: “How can I help?” There are many ways. Donating to the Red Cross is one, and your donation will be doubled by the federal government. The United Church of Canada is also involved in relief efforts through Alberta and North West Conference (ANWC). Check out the Conference response at this link:
http://albertanorthwestconference.ca/14283-assistance-fort-mcmurray/
On behalf of Spirit West, a donation of $750 is being made to the ANWC Fire Appeal from the money raised for Outreach at the “Hope Springs Forth” Concert.
As part of the support being offered to evacuees from the fires who are staying at Evacuation Centre at Northlands, volunteer chaplains from various faith communities are present on site in five hour shifts throughout the day from 8 am to 11 pm. I was part of a five chaplain team (2 United, 2 Muslim, 1 Anglican) on the 6-11 pm shift last night.

MEN’S BREAKFAST
The Men of Spirit West will be gathering for Breakfast on Saturday, May 21 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.

RIDE TO CHURCH? From time to time we encounter people who would like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because they do not have means of transportation. Can you give a ride? If you would be willing to make yourself available to provide a ride to church please call the church office. Do you need a ride? Would you like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because you have no ride, please call the church office.

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 => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Monday to Thursday
- 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

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May 5, 2016 - Ascension Sunday being also Mother's Day and Christian Family Sunday

5/5/2016

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Greetings
This Sunday is a busy Sunday on the calendar. It is the seventh and last Sunday of the Easter Season. It is Ascension Sunday. Today is actually the Feast of the Ascension, forty days after Easter, the commemoration of Jesus’ final moments on earth with the disciples and his somewhat dramatic departure. But because I did not think that having a service this morning would really work; and following the tradition of the United Church and many other Christian communities, we will mark the commemoration of the Ascension on Sunday. The Feast of the Ascension is a very ancient celebration in the Christian church having been recorded as far back as the 4th century, but probably existing earlier. Following the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples on numerous occasions, confirming his teachings about a new relationship with God. But how long could this go on? Although the significance of Jesus’ post-resurrection ministry cannot be downplayed, his presence was still confined to a small group of people in a backwater of the Roman Empire. The events recorded in the two versions of the story of the Ascension, one from Acts and one from Luke, opened up a new perspective for the fledgling community. Jesus’ presence and the mission of Jesus’ followers was and is no longer bound by the physical and geographical. The community, the church, now has a mission without borders.
Sunday is also Mother’s Day in the secular calendar, and during the service we will honour our mothers and other women in our lives.
We will be celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism at this Service, as we welcome Ethan, son of Michael and Rebecca G., into the household of faith.
The readings for Sunday are Acts 1: 1-11 and Luke 24: 44-53. I have called the Sermon, “A New Perspective”

Farewell Luncheon for Anne Dingwell
On Sunday, May 15, we will be having a farewell pot-luck lunch after church for Anne Dingwell who is moving to Bonneville in May. There is a sign-up sheet on the cabinet by the church office to indicate if you will be attending and if you would like to bring something to contribute to the lunch. A card is there to sign as well. Please come to show your appreciation for all the Anne has contributed to Spirit West.

SPIRIT WEST PLANT SALE
The Spirit West Plant Sale is just around the corner. Come out on Friday, May 20, 11:00 am to 7:30 pm or Saturday, May 21, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm to get your spring plants. There will be a BBQ Lunch available on Saturday

FIRES IN FORT MCMURRAY AND ELSEWHERE IN ALBERTA
I expect that all of you are following the news from Fort McMurray and elsewhere in Alberta about the devastating fires that have swept through, destroying homes, business and the natural environment. Many lives have been radically altered by the events of the past week. A question that may have come into your mind: “How can I help?” There are many ways. Donating to the Red Cross is one, and your donation will be doubled by the federal government. The United Church of Canada is also involved in relief efforts through Alberta and North West Conference. Check out the Conference response at this link:
http://albertanorthwestconference.ca/14283-assistance-fort-mcmurray/
And through all of this continue to pray for all those involved

RIDE TO CHURCH? From time to time we encounter people who would like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because they do not have means of transportation. Can you give a ride? If you would be willing to make yourself available to provide a ride to church please call the church office. Do you need a ride? Would you like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because you have no ride, please call the church 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.

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. , Marian T. or Bonnie C.

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 => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Monday to Thursday
- 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

2 Comments

May 26th, 2016 - Second Sunday after Pentecost

May 19, 2016 - Trinity Sunday

May 12, 2016 - Pentecost with transfer of memberships

May 5, 2016 - Ascension Sunday being also Mother's Day and Christian Family Sunday

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