Blog Archives

October 30, 2016 - Pentecost 24 - Reformation Sunday and All Saint's Day

10/27/2016

Greetings,
I did not received many responses to the “survey” with regard to options for a Service on/around Sunday, January 1, 2017. However, the results are that there will no service on Sunday, January 1st, 2017. The first Service of 2017 will be Cinnamon Bun Sunday on January 8.
There is also some more information about our Messy Church in Faith Formation and Education.

This SUNDAY – October 30
There is a lot going on with the calendar this Sunday. Almost everyone knows that this is the Sunday closest to Hallowe’en, every store I have been in lately has some sort of display involving Jack-o-lanterns and ghosts. But Hallowe’en is just the eve of All Hallows Day, or to give it its more common name, All Saints Day. I don’t remember seeing any All Saints displays in the stores. And to make things just a bit more complicated, October 31 is also Reformation Day, commemorating Martin Luther’s actions in Wittenberg. So this Sunday is also Reformation Sunday. Now some might ask why Martin Luther would chose Hallowe’en to post his 95 Theses, his concerns about what he saw as abuses in the Church, on door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg in 1517. The answer is that there would be big crowds at church the next day for All Saints. Now the fact that he wrote his 95 Theses in Latin would have limited his reading audience, but that’s how the story goes. So this Sunday, using the Lectionary readings for All Saints, I am going to try to combine these celebrations and commemorations. The scriptures point to what it means to be a saint in the biblical understanding. A saint in the understanding of someone like St. Paul is not someone who is unusually holy or particularly well behaved. Saints are those who have committed themselves to living out their faith in their daily lives. On the Feast of All Saints we remember those in the Church and in our lives who were examples of living faith. This ties into the commemoration of the Reformation as we think about those who felt that the Church was not living out the faith it proclaimed. If you did the math earlier you will realise that Martin Luther’s actions in Wittenberg, which are seen as the spark that ignited the Reformation, were 499 years ago. As a final note, with 2017 being the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, there are plans to mark this event worldwide. Among the most active in preparing for this commemoration are the World Lutheran Federation working with the Roman Catholic Church in a program called, “From Conflict to Communion.”
The readings for Sunday are Ephesians 1: 11-23, and Luke 6: 20-31. In the time for all ages I will talk about “The people the light shines through,” and I have titled the sermon, “Blessed are you who…”

FAITH FORMATION AND EDUCATION Fall Programs

Sunday School: Our Sunday School is up and running with teachers until the beginning of January, but we continue to look for adults who would like to teach or help. Look for a signup sheet at church. This Sunday the children will be having a Hallowe’en party and may wear costumes to church if they wish.

Adult Study: The eight session video study called The Good Shepherd – A Theological Journey of 1,000 years continues on Wednesday, Nov 2 at 1:30 pm in the Lounge. The study continues until November 23.


Messy Church is Saturday Nov. 19, We will be looking at “Messy Advent - a time to get ready.” Edina T. is the coordinator. If you want to be involved look for the signup sheet or call Edina at 780-481-3508.

If your family is coming to Messy Church send us an email to spirit@telus.net or phone the church office.


Croissants and Cinnamon Buns – orders are due this Sunday.
The Spirit West Women’s Group is once again selling unbaked Croissants and Cinnamon Buns. You can pick up an order form at the church. To place an order, call Margery at 780-419-3224 or talk to her on Sunday. Please have your orders to Diane L. or Margery W. by Sunday, October 30th.   Due to an increase in costs by our supplier, we have raised our prices slightly. Our price this year is $8.00/dozen for the croissants and $8.00/half dozen for the cinnamon buns. The date of packaging and pick-up will be Wednesday November 23rd after 3 pm if possible.

The Seniors' Health & Wellness Forum - Saturday, October 29, 2016
Presented by Age Friendly Edmonton, is an opportunity for seniors, their families and caregivers to obtain information and resources pertaining to health, wellness and social supports vital to aging in place.
There will be information sessions on a variety of topics related to health, wellness and aging in place. For event information, timeline and list of concurrent session topics, please click (or ctrl+click) here. Participants enjoy free parking, lunch and door prizes! It will held at the Central Lions Seniors Recreation Centre, 11113 113 Street, Edmonton, Alberta

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 or call Shannon F. at 780-481-5262

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

October 23, 2016 - Pentecost 23

10/20/2016

Greetings,
Norma is back from Africa. But I would like to say of word of thanks to Edina T., Doreen O., Helen B., and Karen B. gave of their time and talents to help out in the office during Norma’s absence.

I did not received many responses to the “survey” with regard to options for a Service on/around Sunday, January 1, 2017. However, the results are that there will no service for New Year’s. The first Service of 2017 will be Cinnamon Bun Sunday on January 8, 2017.

This SUNDAY – October 23
Paul’s writes his second letter to Timothy with a heavy heart. He recounts how he has been abandoned and betrayed. But he also acknowledges that he ran the race that was before him. He has fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. And, as he says, “From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness.” In the race that is the Christian life, no one comes in first. All who run the race get the prize. In the Gospel, we see the contrast between a Pharisee who thinks he is coming in first in life, and a tax collector who knows that he is not running the race as well. His call to God is “God be merciful.”
The readings for Sunday are 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18 and Luke 18: 9-14. In the time for all ages I will talk about “God’s Pleasure,” with reference to the story of Eric Liddell and I have titled the sermon, “God be merciful”

FAITH FORMATION AND EDUCATION Fall Programs

Sunday School: Our Sunday School is up and running with teachers until the beginning of January, but we continue to look for adults who would like to teach or help. Look for a signup sheet at church.

Adult Study: The eight session video study called The Good Shepherd – A Theological Journey of 1,000 years continues on Wednesday, October 26 at 1:30 pm in the Lounge. The study continues until November 23.

Messy Church: We have set a date for Messy Church, Saturday Nov. 19, Edina T. is the coordinator. If you want to be involved look for the signup sheet (there is one this week, Norma’s back) or call Edina T.


ITALIAN SUPPER AND SILENT AUCTION – Sunday, October 23.
TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT! If you have tickets, you can look forward to a great supper and an amazing variety of top quality items in the Silent Auction.

Croissants and Cinnamon Buns
The Spirit West Women’s Group is once again selling unbaked Croissants and Cinnamon Buns. You can pick up an order form at the church. To place an order, call Margery W or talk to her on Sunday. Please have your orders to Diane L. or Margery W. by Sunday, October 30th.   Due to an increase in costs by our supplier, we have raised our prices slightly. Our price this year is $8.00/dozen for the croissants and $8.00/half dozen for the cinnamon buns. The date of packaging and pick-up will be Wednesday November 23rd after 3 pm if possible.

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 or call Shannon F.

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