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September 30, 2021 - World Wide Communion Sunday

9/30/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Greetings!
 
This Sunday
 What value do we put on human beings? How do we relate to each other?
 Here are the readings we’ll hear in this week’s service:
•        The Letter to the Hebrews 2:6-12
 The author of Hebrews is never named in the book, but had a Jewish background, and was well-educated. The book interprets Jewish history in light of the Christian faith.
 
•        The Gospel of Mark 10:2-16
 Our Gospel reading is yet another confrontation between Jesus and the religious authorities. In the time of Jesus, the Pharisees were part of the religious establishment. As a group they upheld strict observation of the Jewish traditions. They saw Jesus as a challenge to their authority, and to those traditions. Under those traditions, gender relationships were extremely one-sided. Women were treated as possessions of men, and had no status on their own.
 
Perhaps, at the heart, the two parts of this passage are ultimately about God’s Shalom (a Hebrew concept of peace and well-being);– the trust, innocence and openness that should be the core of loving relationships between people, and in our relationship with God.
 
This is World Communion Sunday, so have something to eat and drink on hand. Try something new for Communion, like pita, naan, bannock or tortilla.
 
Stuart

 
THERE WILL BE A ZOOM COFFEE HOUR (this is the link for September and October)
 Join Zoom Coffee on Sunday at 11:30
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84737199288?pwd=aWNNSjhBWGlFY1RaVTFIbkdrdzBjQT09
 Meeting ID: 847 3719 9288
Passcode: 189072
 The plan is that this is a no-host gathering.  Anyone with the meeting ID and Passcode can join.  If there are any problems, please let Norma know on Monday.

 
Drive & Drop for the Food Bank.  Saturday 16 October.  1-3 PM
In keeping with COVID-19 requested social distancing guidelines, we will offer a drive-up service for donations so you don’t have to leave your vehicle.  Kindly place your donations in your trunk or back seat and we will unload for you.  
 
Some suggestions of items the food bank is looking for: 
  • Beans, Canned meat or fish, Baby formula, Peanut Butter, Canned soups, Canned Vegetables, Canned fruit, Granola Bars, Pasta, Pasta Sauce.  Monetary donations (cash only) will also be collected into a large envelope and delivered directly to the food bank.
 
If you have any questions please contact Lori or Bill Walkhouse. 780-221-7729.
If you are interested in volunteering for this event (2-3 people required) please let me know as well.  

 
ZOOM SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Spirit West Sunday School is looking forward to welcoming children and teachers to another session of ZOOM Sunday School classes. The time is 10:00am and after registration (confirmation of attendance) an email will be sent to each home with a link to connect to the classes on Sunday mornings.
 
If you have children that would like to enroll in these classes, please email:
          Cathy Sutherland cathysutherland@shaw.ca OR Norma Balcombe at the office spiritw@telus.net
 
If you are interested in teaching Sunday School, we have a wonderful curriculum that is online that we use and an easy to follow format.  Please email Cathy at cathysutherland@shaw.ca OR Sheila Hoy at sheilajh20@gmail.com for more information.
 
Thank you so much for your attention.  The experience last year was so good, that we’re excited to get going again

 
SPIRIT WEST CRABAPPLE JELLY
Spirit West Crabapple Jelly 2021 is now available at the church (during office hours).  As in past years, the cost of the jelly is a donation of $5 per jar to Spirit West United Church.  (If you have empty jars from previous years, could you return them to the church for reuse)
  
 
SPIRIT WEST WORSHIP VIDEOS

 Scripture Readers
Using the list of those who have volunteered to be Scripture readers, I have sent out a schedule of readers for July 18 to September 26. If you have read scripture for one of the worship videos, you will be on the schedule and will have received a copy.  Readings can be done during the worship service on Sundays, once we are back to in-person worship. Readings can also be recorded well in advance of the date required.
Your reading can also be recorded at the church between 3:30 and 4:30 on Thursday afternoons.
 
Sharing our Celebrations 
In this time when it is important for us to look for signs of hope and joy, opportunity is being given for you to share your celebrations (birthdays, anniversaries, new grandchildren etc.) with the wider community.  If you have a celebration you want to share please email spiritw@telus.net or phone the church. (must be sent in before  noon on Wednesday for inclusion on the Sunday) During the opening section or our Worship Video, we will announce celebrations that have been shared with us.

 
SPIRIT WEST PRAYER CHAIN
Prayer is important. We know that  people still face challenges and difficulties not related to Covid-19, and we cannot forget them.  Our Prayer Chain will continue to be active.  Dave S has agreed to send out the request for prayers to the Prayer Chain group. He will do this as his schedule permits which may not be every Tuesday as in the past.
If you have a prayer request, please send it to spiritwest.prayerchain@gmail.com.  These requests will be shared regularly with the prayer chain and will form part of the Prayers of the People in our Sunday Worship videos. 
Please remember to have people removed from the prayer chain if the prayers are no longer needed.  Our chain is quite lengthy at present so we will cleanse the list in a month’s time and start to repopulate it from scratch

 
YOUR BOTTLES FOR THE CHURCH
You may have bottles piling up for recycling.  You can bring them to the church (or you can call for pick up).  If you want to bring your bottles (and any other recyclable beverage containers) in during our office hours and put them directly in the Bottle Shed (by the garage), give us a call, and we can have the shed open for you.  All money raised from the return of bottles goes towards paying down the principal and interest on our mortgage
. 
 
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
We can now accept donations by eTransfer.  The contact name for the eTransfer is Spirit West United Church, and the email address is spiritw@telus.net .  If you include a security question with your eTransfer, please notify Norma at the church office by phone or email.  And remember that if you are not on PAR(Pre-Authorized Remittance), you can also mail in cheques to the church office (Spirit West United Church, 7003 – 199 St. Edmonton, AB  T5T 3A8, include your envelope number if you have one.) The church office is open and you can drop off your offering/donation in the offering plate just inside the front doors.  You can also donate online, see below…

                    
ANOTHER  WAY TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY TO SPIRIT WEST DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
You are stuck home, Spirit West is not holding services, you are not on PAR, but you want to make a financial contribution to the  work of Spirit West, because the church has bills to pay even when we are not gathering on Sunday.   Check out the online donation option on our website spiritwest.org and click on the Donate tab in the navigation bar. 

 
SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Website:  www.spiritwest.org 
Facebook: Spirit West United Church and Friends of Spirit West Outreach
Instagram: spiritwestyeg
 YouTube:  Spirt West United Church, Edmonton
  
CHURCH OFFICE
The Spirit West Church office remains open.
 Office hours 
-  Stuart => 9:30am to 2:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday
-  Norma => Noon to 5:00pm, Monday to Thursday

 
Norma Balcombe
Office Administrator
Spirit West United Church
7003 - 199st.NW Edmonton, AB T5T 3A8
phone:     (780) 481-1406
email:     spiritw@telus.net
website: www.spiritwest.org
0 Comments

September 25, 2021 - The 3rd Sunday in Creaation Time in the Season after Pentecost - Blessing of the Animals

9/25/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Greetings!
 
This Sunday

 
Which of your gifts and qualities could be revealed and claimed for God’s work in this time and place?
 
Here are the readings we’ll hear in this week’s service:
•        The Letter from James 5:13-20
The Letter from James is generally attributed to James, the brother of Jesus, and the first Bishop of Jerusalem. The letter uses the classical style of diatribe, or instructional teaching. In this passage, the audience is reminded of the importance of the community of faith for the health and well-being of its members.
 
•        The Gospel of Mark 9:38-50
The Gospel reading takes place as Jesus and the disciples head through Galilee towards Jerusalem. The disciples learn more about the cost of following Jesus.
Author Jim Taylor of Wood Lake Books wrote about this passage:
 
Jesus is indulging in wild exaggeration. If we took his instructions literally, we’d all be hobbling around on one leg, squinting with one eye, and shaking hands left-handed. Despite my jaundiced views, surgery is a valid analogy for Jesus’ message. I’m better off without an inflamed appendix. Others have lost a gall bladder, kidney, uterus, lump, tonsils, brain tumours...
But this is not really about body parts. I think it’s more about breaking bad habits. When you realize that smoking or drinking, sugar or caffeine, are not good for you, how do you quit? What kind of self-discipline does quitting demand? Where do you get the strength to swim against the cultural stream, to be different, to resist social pressures?
As Jesus assures us, life becomes fuller when we excise anything that causes our innate goodness, our godliness, to shrivel within us.
 

Looking Ahead
Next Sunday is World Communion Sunday. Try something new for Communion! Look for bread recipes from around the world! If you don’t bake, you could pick up something different, like pita, naan, bannock or tortilla.


Stuart
 
THERE WILL BE A ZOOM COFFEE HOUR (this is the link for September and October)
 
Join Zoom Coffee on Sunday at 11:30
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84737199288?pwd=aWNNSjhBWGlFY1RaVTFIbkdrdzBjQT09
 Meeting ID: 847 3719 9288
Passcode: 189072
 The plan is that this is a no-host gathering.  Anyone with the meeting ID and Passcode can join.  If there are any problems, please let Norma know on Monday.

 
ReOpening – It’s coming but not right now:
As was communicated by email earlier this week, the re-opening committee has made the very difficult decision to postpone our in-person worship.  We will NOT be opening for in-person worship on September 12. The main reason for this decision is for the safety of all. The committee continues to monitor the situation and will make new recommendations as warranted. 

 
 SPIRIT WEST CRABAPPLE JELLY
Spirit West Crabapple Jelly 2021 is now available at the church (during office hours).  As in past years, the cost of the jelly is a donation of $5 per jar to Spirit West United Church.  (If you have empty jars from previous years, could you return them to the church for reuse)

 
 FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
 The Pastoral Search Committee has worked diligently to complete all the required documentation for Spirit West on Church Hub.  Church Hub is the central information sharing site for the United Church of Canada, and access is restricted.  But now with the approval of the Northern Spirit Regional Council Executive, the position for minister at Spirit West United Church is now being advertised on Church Hub.  This information is available  to any minister who is looking, and the names of ministers who are looking are now available to the Spirit West Search Committee.  The search is on!

 
SPIRIT WEST WORSHIP VIDEOS
 Scripture Readers
Using the list of those who have volunteered to be Scripture readers, I have sent out a schedule of readers for July 18 to September 26. If you have read scripture for one of the worship videos, you will be on the schedule and will have received a copy.  Readings can be done during the worship service on Sundays, once we are back to in-person worship. Readings can also be recorded well in advance of the date required.
Your reading can also be recorded at the church between 3:30 and 4:30 on Thursday afternoons.
 
Sharing our Celebrations 
In this time when it is important for us to look for signs of hope and joy, opportunity is being given for you to share your celebrations (birthdays, anniversaries, new grandchildren etc.) with the wider community.  If you have a celebration you want to share please email spiritw@telus.net or phone the church. (must be sent in before  noon on Wednesday for inclusion on the Sunday) During the opening section or our Worship Video, we will announce celebrations that have been shared with us.

 
SPIRIT WEST PRAYER CHAIN
Prayer is important. We know that  people still face challenges and difficulties not related to Covid-19, and we cannot forget them.  Our Prayer Chain will continue to be active.  Dave S has agreed to send out the request for prayers to the Prayer Chain group. He will do this as his schedule permits which may not be every Tuesday as in the past.
If you have a prayer request, please send it to spiritwest.prayerchain@gmail.com.  These requests will be shared regularly with the prayer chain and will form part of the Prayers of the People in our Sunday Worship videos. 
Please remember to have people removed from the prayer chain if the prayers are no longer needed.  Our chain is quite lengthy at present so we will cleanse the list in a month’s time and start to repopulate it from scratch

 
YOUR BOTTLES FOR THE CHURCH
You may have bottles piling up for recycling.  You can bring them to the church (or you can call for pick up).  If you want to bring your bottles (and any other recyclable beverage containers) in during our office hours and put them directly in the Bottle Shed (by the garage), give us a call, and we can have the shed open for you.  All money raised from the return of bottles goes towards paying down the principal and interest on our mortgage
. 
 
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
We can now accept donations by eTransfer.  The contact name for the eTransfer is Spirit West United Church, and the email address is spiritw@telus.net .  If you include a security question with your eTransfer, please notify Norma at the church office by phone or email.  And remember that if you are not on PAR(Pre-Authorized Remittance), you can also mail in cheques to the church office (Spirit West United Church, 7003 – 199 St. Edmonton, AB  T5T 3A8, include your envelope number if you have one.) The church office is open and you can drop off your offering/donation in the offering plate just inside the front doors.  You can also donate online, see below…
                    
ANOTHER  WAY TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY TO SPIRIT WEST DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
You are stuck home, Spirit West is not holding services, you are not on PAR, but you want to make a financial contribution to the  work of Spirit West, because the church has bills to pay even when we are not gathering on Sunday.   Check out the online donation option on our website spiritwest.org and click on the Donate tab in the navigation bar. 

 
SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Website:  www.spiritwest.org 
Facebook: Spirit West United Church and Friends of Spirit West Outreach
Instagram: spiritwestyeg
 YouTube:  Spirt West United Church, Edmonton
 
 CHURCH OFFICE
The Spirit West Church office remains open.
 Office hours 
-  Stuart => 9:30am to 2:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday – Stuart is now on vacation, returning to the office on September 21.
-  Norma => Noon to 5:00pm, Monday to Thursday
 
Norma Balcombe
Office Administrator
Spirit West United Church
7003 - 199st.NW Edmonton, AB T5T 3A8

phone:     (780) 481-1406
email:     spiritw@telus.net
website: www.spiritwest.org

 


0 Comments

September 16, 2021 - The 17th Sunday after Pentecost and the 2nd Sunday in Creation Time

9/16/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Greetings!
 

This Sunday
Sunday, September 19, is the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost and the Second Sunday in Creation Time.  David Faber, a candidate for Ordination, will once again be our worship leader. 
 Here are the readings we’ll hear in this week’s service:
 
From the Epistle:         James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
  • From the Gospel:         Mark 9:30-37
David’s sermon is entitled “Humility: the First must be Last”. In the Theme Conversation, he will talk about “Helping One Another”.
 

Mark your calendars. The service for Sunday, September 26, will include the Blessing of the Animals. If you wish to have a pet(s) included in the service, please email Stuart (swm@telus.net) photos of your pet(s). Stuart will need the names of pets and owners too. The deadline for submissions is 9 pm, Wednesday, September 22. Thanks!

 
THERE WILL BE A ZOOM COFFEE HOUR (this is the link for September and October)
 Join Zoom Coffee on Sunday at 11:30
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84737199288?pwd=aWNNSjhBWGlFY1RaVTFIbkdrdzBjQT09
 Meeting ID: 847 3719 9288
Passcode: 189072
 
The plan is that this is a no-host gathering.  Anyone with the meeting ID and Passcode can join.  If there are any problems, please let Norma know on Monday.

 
ReOpening – It’s coming but not right now:
As was communicated by email earlier this week, the re-opening committee has made the very difficult decision to postpone our in-person worship.  We will NOT be opening for in-person worship on September 12. The main reason for this decision is for the safety of all. The committee continues to monitor the situation and will make new recommendations as warranted. 

  
SPIRIT WEST CRABAPPLE JELLY
Spirit West Crabapple Jelly 2021 is now available at the church (during office hours).  As in past years, the cost of the jelly is a donation of $5 per jar to Spirit West United Church.  (If you have empty jars from previous years, could you return them to the church for reuse)

 
 FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
 The Pastoral Search Committee has worked diligently to complete all the required documentation for Spirit West on Church Hub.  Church Hub is the central information sharing site for the United Church of Canada, and access is restricted.  But now with the approval of the Northern Spirit Regional Council Executive, the position for minister at Spirit West United Church is now being advertised on Church Hub.  This information is available  to any minister who is looking, and the names of ministers who are looking are now available to the Spirit West Search Committee.  The search is on!

 
SPIRIT WEST WORSHIP VIDEOS

 Scripture Readers
Using the list of those who have volunteered to be Scripture readers, I have sent out a schedule of readers for July 18 to September 26. If you have read scripture for one of the worship videos, you will be on the schedule and will have received a copy.  Readings can be done during the worship service on Sundays, once we are back to in-person worship. Readings can also be recorded well in advance of the date required. Your reading can also be recorded at the church between 3:30 and 4:30 on Thursday afternoons.
 
Sharing our Celebrations 
In this time when it is important for us to look for signs of hope and joy, opportunity is being given for you to share your celebrations (birthdays, anniversaries, new grandchildren etc.) with the wider community.  If you have a celebration you want to share please email spiritw@telus.net or phone the church. (must be sent in before  noon on Wednesday for inclusion on the Sunday) During the opening section or our Worship Video, we will announce celebrations that have been shared with us.
 

SPIRIT WEST PRAYER CHAIN
Prayer is important. We know that  people still face challenges and difficulties not related to Covid-19, and we cannot forget them.  Our Prayer Chain will continue to be active.  Dave S has agreed to send out the request for prayers to the Prayer Chain group. He will do this as his schedule permits which may not be every Tuesday as in the past.
If you have a prayer request, please send it to spiritwest.prayerchain@gmail.com.  These requests will be shared regularly with the prayer chain and will form part of the Prayers of the People in our Sunday Worship videos. 
Please remember to have people removed from the prayer chain if the prayers are no longer needed.  Our chain is quite lengthy at present so we will cleanse the list in a month’s time and start to repopulate it from scratch
 

YOUR BOTTLES FOR THE CHURCH
You may have bottles piling up for recycling.  You can bring them to the church (or you can call for pick up).  If you want to bring your bottles (and any other recyclable beverage containers) in during our office hours and put them directly in the Bottle Shed (by the garage), give us a call, and we can have the shed open for you.  All money raised from the return of bottles goes towards paying down the principal and interest on our mortgage
. 
 
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
We can now accept donations by eTransfer.  The contact name for the eTransfer is Spirit West United Church, and the email address is spiritw@telus.net .  If you include a security question with your eTransfer, please notify Norma at the church office by phone or email.  And remember that if you are not on PAR(Pre-Authorized Remittance), you can also mail in cheques to the church office (Spirit West United Church, 7003 – 199 St. Edmonton, AB  T5T 3A8, include your envelope number if you have one.) The church office is open and you can drop off your offering/donation in the offering plate just inside the front doors.  You can also donate online, see below…
                    
ANOTHER  WAY TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY TO SPIRIT WEST DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
You are stuck home, Spirit West is not holding services, you are not on PAR, but you want to make a financial contribution to the  work of Spirit West, because the church has bills to pay even when we are not gathering on Sunday.   Check out the online donation option on our website spiritwest.org and click on the Donate tab in the navigation bar. 
 

SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Website:  www.spiritwest.org 
Facebook: Spirit West United Church and Friends of Spirit West Outreach
Instagram: spiritwestyeg
 YouTube:  Spirt West United Church, Edmonton
 
 CHURCH OFFICE
The Spirit West Church office remains open.
 Office hours 
-  Stuart => 9:30am to 2:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday – Stuart is now on vacation, returning to the office on September 21.
-  Norma => Noon to 5:00pm, Monday to Thursday

 
Norma Balcombe
Office Administrator
Spirit West United Church
7003 - 199st.NW Edmonton, AB T5T 3A8
phone:     (780) 481-1406
email:     spiritw@telus.net
website: www.spiritwest.org
0 Comments

September 12, 2021 - The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost and the Fiirst Sunday in Creation Time

9/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Greetings!
 
This Sunday

 Sunday, September 12, is the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost and the First Sunday in Creation Time.  David Faber, a candidate for Ordination, will once again be our worship leader. 
 
Here are the readings we’ll hear in this week’s service:
 •        Psalm 19 - God’s Glory in Creation and the Law -  A Psalm of David.
•        James 3: 1-12 - Taming the Tongue
 
David’s sermon is entitled “From the Head to the Heart and Back Again”. In the Theme Conversation he will talk about “Words of my mouth, Meditation of my heart”.

 
Mark your calendars. The service for Sunday, September 26, will include the Blessing of the Animals
 
THERE WILL BE A ZOOM COFFEE HOUR (this is the link for September and October)
 Join Zoom Coffee on Sunday at 11:30
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84737199288?pwd=aWNNSjhBWGlFY1RaVTFIbkdrdzBjQT09
 
Meeting ID: 847 3719 9288
Passcode: 189072

 
The plan is that this is a no-host gathering.  Anyone with the meeting ID and Passcode can join.  If there are any problems, please let Norma know on Monday.
 
Re-Opening – It’s coming but not right now:
As was communicated by email earlier this week, the re-opening committee has made the very difficult decision to postpone our in-person worship.  We will NOT be opening for in-person worship on September 12. The main reason for this decision is for the safety of all. The committee continues to monitor the situation and will make new recommendations as warranted. 
 
 
FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
 The Pastoral Search Committee has worked diligently to complete all the required documentation for Spirit West on Church Hub.  Church Hub is the central information sharing site for the United Church of Canada, and access is restricted.  But now with the approval of the Northern Spirit Regional Council Executive, the position for minister at Spirit West United Church is now being advertised on Church Hub.  This information is available  to any minister who is looking, and the names of ministers who are looking are now available to the Spirit West Search Committee.  The search is on!

 
SPIRIT WEST WORSHIP VIDEOS
 Scripture Readers
Using the list of those who have volunteered to be Scripture readers, I have sent out a schedule of readers for July 18 to September 26. If you have read scripture for one of the worship videos, you will be on the schedule and will have received a copy.  Readings can be done during the worship service on Sundays, once we are back to in-person worship. Readings can also be recorded well in advance of the date required.
Your reading can also be recorded at the church between 3:30 and 4:30 on Thursday afternoons.
 
Sharing our Celebrations 
In this time when it is important for us to look for signs of hope and joy, opportunity is being given for you to share your celebrations (birthdays, anniversaries, new grandchildren etc.) with the wider community.  If you have a celebration you want to share please email spiritw@telus.net or phone the church. (must be sent in before  noon on Wednesday for inclusion on the Sunday) During the opening section or our Worship Video, we will announce celebrations that have been shared with us.

 
SPIRIT WEST PRAYER CHAIN
Prayer is important. We know that  people still face challenges and difficulties not related to Covid-19, and we cannot forget them.  Our Prayer Chain will continue to be active.  Dave S has agreed to send out the request for prayers to the Prayer Chain group. He will do this as his schedule permits which may not be every Tuesday as in the past.
If you have a prayer request, please send it to spiritwest.prayerchain@gmail.com.  These requests will be shared regularly with the prayer chain and will form part of the Prayers of the People in our Sunday Worship videos. 
Please remember to have people removed from the prayer chain if the prayers are no longer needed.  Our chain is quite lengthy at present so we will cleanse the list in a month’s time and start to repopulate it from scratch

 
YOUR BOTTLES FOR THE CHURCH
You may have bottles piling up for recycling.  You can bring them to the church (or you can call for pick up).  If you want to bring your bottles (and any other recyclable beverage containers) in during our office hours and put them directly in the Bottle Shed (by the garage), give us a call, and we can have the shed open for you.  All money raised from the return of bottles goes towards paying down the principal and interest on our mortgage
. 
 
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
We can now accept donations by eTransfer.  The contact name for the eTransfer is Spirit West United Church, and the email address is spiritw@telus.net .  If you include a security question with your eTransfer, please notify Norma at the church office by phone or email.  And remember that if you are not on PAR(Pre-Authorized Remittance), you can also mail in cheques to the church office (Spirit West United Church, 7003 – 199 St. Edmonton, AB  T5T 3A8, include your envelope number if you have one.) The church office is open and you can drop off your offering/donation in the offering plate just inside the front doors.  You can also donate online, see below…
                    
ANOTHER  WAY TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY TO SPIRIT WEST DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
You are stuck home, Spirit West is not holding services, you are not on PAR, but you want to make a financial contribution to the  work of Spirit West, because the church has bills to pay even when we are not gathering on Sunday.   Check out the online donation option on our website spiritwest.org and click on the Donate tab in the navigation bar. 
 

SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Website:  www.spiritwest.org 
Facebook: Spirit West United Church and Friends of Spirit West Outreach
Instagram: spiritwestyeg
 YouTube:  Spirt West United Church, Edmonton
  
CHURCH OFFICE
The Spirit West Church office remains open.
 Office hours 
-  Stuart => 9:30am to 2:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday – Stuart is now on vacation, returning to the office on September 21.
-  Norma => Noon to 5:00pm, Monday to Thursday
 
Thank you,
 
Norma Balcombe
Office Administrator
Spirit West United Church
7003 - 199st.NW Edmonton, AB T5T 3A8
phone:     (780) 481-1406
email:     spiritw@telus.net
website: www.spiritwest.org

0 Comments

September 2, 2021 - the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

9/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Greetings!
 
This Sunday
 
Here are the readings we’ll hear in this week’s service:
 •        James 2:1-10,14-17 (Faith or works?)
 The Letter from James is generally attributed to James, the brother of Jesus, and the first Bishop of Jerusalem. The letter uses the classical style of diatribe, or instructional teaching, and encourages obedience as a response to God’s call. Today’s passage speaks about the importance of good deeds in addition to faith.
 •        Mark 7:24-37 (Jesus heals)
 The reading from Mark’s Gospel is an excerpt from the healing ministry of Jesus. Tyre is on the northwest coast of Palestine. Jewish standards prohibited contact with gentiles, and prohibited men from speaking to women in public.
 Biblical scholars and preachers have debated the troubling aspects to the encounter between Jesus and the Syro-Phoenician mother. At least one commentary claims that Jesus and the woman use different words which are both translated as “dogs” in the New Revised Standard Version. Jesus says it’s not fair to throw the children’s food to the “puppies,” but the woman responds that even the “mutts” get a few crumbs from the table. She seemingly takes his insult and turns it back on Jesus, and her daughter is healed.
 How might these passages influence the ways we become open to others, especially those who may be viewed as “outsiders”?
 Stuart

 
Mark your calendars. The service for Sunday, September 26, will include the Blessing of the Animals. Bring your pets (or their photos) to the 10:30 AM service for this annual blessing.
 
THERE WILL BE A ZOOM COFFEE HOUR
 
Join Zoom Coffee on Sunday at 11:30
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89913383304?pwd=LzZSRG5YYzdJWDdmeUkxcDBma05QUT09
 
Meeting ID: 899 1338 3304
Passcode: 688679
 
The plan is that this is a no-host gathering.  Anyone with the meeting ID and Passcode can join.  If there are any problems, please let Norma know on Monday.

 
ReOpening – It’s coming soon but first …
Celebrate the end of the summer vacation with our first in-person gathering of the year! On Tuesday, September 7 at 7:00 PM, bring your lawn chairs for an informal gathering on the lawn east of the church. Bring your own coffee, pop, water or tea. While Masks are not mandatory for outdoor public spaces, we ask for your support in protecting the vulnerable and cautious among us. Reconnect with the Spirit West family! In case of inclement weather, we’ll reschedule for Thursday, September 2 or Tuesday, September 7.
 
The Church Board is planning to reopen the church building for Sunday, Sept. 12.  The Board continues to monitor the Covid situation in Edmonton and will adjust the opening date, as deemed necessary.
A communication from the Re-opening Committee was sent out earlier outlining the procedures that will be followed. 

 
FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
 The Pastoral Search Committee has worked diligently to complete all the required documentation for Spirit West on Church Hub.  Church Hub is the central information sharing site for the United Church of Canada, and access is restricted.  But now with the approval of the Northern Spirit Regional Council Executive, the position for minister at Spirit West United Church is now being advertised on Church Hub.  This information is available  to any minister who is looking, and the names of ministers who are looking are now available to the Spirit West Search Committee.  The search is on!

 
SPIRIT WEST WORSHIP VIDEOS
 Scripture Readers
Using the list of those who have volunteered to be Scripture readers, I have sent out a schedule of readers for July 18 to September 26. If you have read scripture for one of the worship videos, you will be on the schedule and will have received a copy.  Readings can be done during the worship service on Sundays, once we are back to in-person worship. Readings can also be recorded well in advance of the date required.
Your reading can also be recorded at the church between 3:30 and 4:30 on Thursday afternoons.
 
Sharing our Celebrations 
In this time when it is important for us to look for signs of hope and joy, opportunity is being given for you to share your celebrations (birthdays, anniversaries, new grandchildren etc.) with the wider community.  If you have a celebration you want to share please email spiritw@telus.net or phone the church. (must be sent in before  noon on Wednesday for inclusion on the Sunday) During the opening section or our Worship Video, we will announce celebrations that have been shared with us.

 
SPIRIT WEST PRAYER CHAIN
Prayer is important. We know that  people still face challenges and difficulties not related to Covid-19, and we cannot forget them.  Our Prayer Chain will continue to be active.  Dave S has agreed to send out the request for prayers to the Prayer Chain group. He will do this as his schedule permits which may not be every Tuesday as in the past.
If you have a prayer request, please send it to spiritwest.prayerchain@gmail.com.  These requests will be shared regularly with the prayer chain and will form part of the Prayers of the People in our Sunday Worship videos. 
Please remember to have people removed from the prayer chain if the prayers are no longer needed.  Our chain is quite lengthy at present so we will cleanse the list in a month’s time and start to repopulate it from scratch

 
YOUR BOTTLES FOR THE CHURCH
You may have bottles piling up for recycling.  You can bring them to the church (or you can call for pick up).  If you want to bring your bottles (and any other recyclable beverage containers) in during our office hours and put them directly in the Bottle Shed (by the garage), give us a call, and we can have the shed open for you.  All money raised from the return of bottles goes towards paying down the principal and interest on our mortgage
. 
 
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
We can now accept donations by eTransfer.  The contact name for the eTransfer is Spirit West United Church, and the email address is spiritw@telus.net .  If you include a security question with your eTransfer, please notify Norma at the church office by phone or email.  And remember that if you are not on PAR(Pre-Authorized Remittance), you can also mail in cheques to the church office (Spirit West United Church, 7003 – 199 St. Edmonton, AB  T5T 3A8, include your envelope number if you have one.) The church office is open and you can drop off your offering/donation in the offering plate just inside the front doors.  You can also donate online, see below…
                    
ANOTHER  WAY TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY TO SPIRIT WEST DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
You are stuck home, Spirit West is not holding services, you are not on PAR, but you want to make a financial contribution to the  work of Spirit West, because the church has bills to pay even when we are not gathering on Sunday.   Check out the online donation option on our website spiritwest.org and click on the Donate tab in the navigation bar. 
 

SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Website:  www.spiritwest.org 
Facebook: Spirit West United Church and Friends of Spirit West Outreach
Instagram: spiritwestyeg
 YouTube:  Spirt West United Church, Edmonton
  
CHURCH OFFICE
The Spirit West Church office remains open.
 Office hours 
-  Stuart => 9:30am to 2:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday
-  Norma => Noon to 5:00pm, Monday to Thursday
 
Thank you,
 
Norma Balcombe
Office Administrator
Spirit West United Church
7003 - 199st.NW Edmonton, AB T5T 3A8
phone:     (780) 481-1406
email:     spiritw@telus.net
website: www.spiritwest.org

 
 

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