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December 23, 2021 - Christmas Eve

12/23/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Greetings!
 
YouTube Videos and Live-streaming Worship Services
Now that we are live-streaming our services and you wish to watch online, you will need to:
  • click on this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrJQ5ljHCSPBV3F8TmIhvVA OR
  • go to YouTube and google Spirit West United Church.
Either action will bring you to the Spirit West United Church YouTube page.  There you will see all of our services that have been posted to YouTube.  The live-stream will also show there. 
 
CHRISTMAS EVE – 6:30 PM
 At the Christmas Eve service, we will be hearing the Nativity Story (Luke 2:1-20). This may be a good time to read a little more of the story. The first chapter of the Gospel provides some historical and spiritual context for the birth of Jesus. The author weaves together the birth stories of Jesus and his cousin John the Baptist.
 
January 6 is observed as Epiphany, with the reading of the visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12). This Gospel offers a very different view of the Nativity Story, although we usually try to blend the two together. Again, you might want to read the context for this passage.
 
Our next worship service will be on Sunday, January 9, 2022. Perhaps you can use this time for personal reflection as we begin a new year together.
 
Stuart

 
“The CPR Santa” by Jim Taylor (Wood Lake Books)
This really happened. It was in the mid-1960s, says Gord Rutherford, who was a warden in Yoho National Park at the time. Back in those days, the CPR housed most of its workers in Field, but a few lived in isolated “section houses” where they tended their particular sections of track.
          Every year, two of the residents of Field became Santa for the surrounding areas. Art Davis put on the full Santa suit, complete with beard and large round belly, “that shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.” Glen Brooks was always Santa’s helper, complete with a little green elf’s hat.
          They distributed gifts to each of the children in Field, at a special party. But during the evenings before, they drove over often dangerous roads through the park system to drop in on isolated families, so that no one missed a visit from Santa.
          This particular evening, Art and Glen were going to the section house at the east end of Wapta Lake. To get from the Trans-Canada Highway to the section house, they had to cross the main CPR line. And at that moment, the passenger train came through.
          Art and Glen waited, thinking they might wave at the passengers as the train roared by. But the engineer saw them. And he did the unthinkable,– he stopped the train. And for half an hour, the passengers enjoyed a visit with Santa…
          So here’s to spontaneity. Especially at Christmas.

 
 IN-PERSON WORSHIP - SUNDAY 10:30am
 Remember that the following conditions will apply:
1.      Worship will be on a first come first served basis in order to keep to the physical distancing required under government regulation.
2.      You will be asked to provide proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the worship service; you will be given a “vaccine registry number” card which you can then use for subsequent Sundays instead of having to show your proof of vaccination   
3.      Masks are to be worn at all times
4.      Not attending when feeling unwell
5.      Answering the Covid questions and signing in upon entry;
6.      Following the patterns of movement within the church
7.      Maintaining physical distance at all times from others who are not members of your household or cohort
8.      Bringing your own food or beverage
9.      Listening to the music presented but not singing
10.    Leaving immediately after the service ends

 
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 continues to be active.  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. 
Please remember to have people removed from the prayer chain if the prayers are no longer needed. 

 
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. NW 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, 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.   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.  However, we will close today and reopen on January 4, 2022 at 10:00 am.
 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


0 Comments

December 16, 2021 - The Fourth Sunday in Advent - Love

12/16/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Greetings!
 
YouTube Videos and Live-streaming Worship Services
Now that we are live-streaming our services and you wish to watch online, you will need to:
  • click on this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrJQ5ljHCSPBV3F8TmIhvVA OR
  • go to YouTube and google Spirit West United Church.
Either action will bring you to the Spirit West United Church YouTube page.  There you will see all of our services that have been posted to YouTube.  The live-stream will also show there. 
 
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
 Plans are being made for the in-person service on Christmas Eve.  Due to the physical distancing restrictions we have to follow, we only have a limited number of people who can attend in-person worship.  In order to facilitate that, a registration process will be required for the in-person Christmas Eve service.
There are 2 ways that people can do that beginning the week of December 5.
1.  Sign up on the Christmas Eve signup sheet available at church on Sunday morning  OR
2. Call in to the church office and leave your name and phone number.
Please indicate the number of people that wish to attend
It may be that we cannot accommodate everyone at the in-person service, but there will also be a virtual service for Christmas Eve.
Thank you, Margaret Benson on behalf of worship and re-opening committees

 
THIS SUNDAY – FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT - LOVE
 How can we encourage each other as we proclaim the reign of God in word and deed?
 These are the readings we will hear in this week’s worship service, for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.
•        The Book of the Prophet Micah 5:2-5
David, the shepherd boy who became king of Israel and Judah about 1000 years before Christ, was a revered national hero. When the Assyrians were threatening Jerusalem in the 8th Century BC, people began to hope that God would send a new king like David. The prophet Micah expresses this hope.
 
•        The Gospel of Luke 1:39-45
The first chapter of the Gospel of Luke weaves together the birth stories of Jesus and his cousin John the Baptist. After the angel Gabriel tells Mary she will give birth to Jesus, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is expecting the birth of John.
 
•        The Gospel of Luke 1:46-55, sung, More Voices No. 120 (Canticle of the Turning)
Mary responds to Elizabeth’s greeting with a song we know as “The Magnificat”. This may be based on the song Hannah sang when she learned she would give birth to the prophet Samuel about 1000 years earlier (see First Samuel 2:1-10).
 
Advent preparations draw to a close on this last Sunday in the season. Or do they only now begin? The child whose birth we prepare to celebrate comes to change everything,– and us,– for the good.
 
In what ways might Mary’s song move us to trust, to go, and to do? What words or activities, what rituals or projects, help Mary’s ancient song take on new life for you in this season? How will we live out the message of Mary’s song?
 
Stuart

 
IN-PERSON WORSHIP - SUNDAY 10:30am
 Remember that the following conditions will apply:
1.      Worship will be on a first come first served basis in order to keep to the physical distancing required under government regulation.
2.      You will be asked to provide proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the worship service; you will be given a “vaccine registry number” card which you can then use for subsequent Sundays instead of having to show your proof of vaccination   
3.      Masks are to be worn at all times
4.      Not attending when feeling unwell
5.      Answering the Covid questions and signing in upon entry;
6.      Following the patterns of movement within the church
7.      Maintaining physical distance at all times from others who are not members of your household or cohort
8.      Bringing your own food or beverage
9.      Listening to the music presented but not singing
10.    Leaving immediately after the service ends
 

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 continues to be active.  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. 
Please remember to have people removed from the prayer chain if the prayers are no longer needed. 

 
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. NW 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, 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.   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.  However, we will close on  December 24 and reopen on January 4, 2022 at 10:00 am.
 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

 

0 Comments

December 09th, 2021 - The Third Sunday of Advent - Joy

12/9/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Greetings!
 

YouTube Videos and Live-streaming Worship Services
Now that we are live-streaming our services and you wish to watch online, you will need to:
  • click on this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrJQ5ljHCSPBV3F8TmIhvVA OR
  • go to YouTube and google Spirit West United Church.
Either action will bring you to the Spirit West United Church YouTube page.  There you will see all of our services that have been posted to YouTube.  The live-stream will also show there. 
 
THIS SUNDAY – THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT - JOY
 David Faber will be leading us in worship on Sunday, December 12.  In the Theme conversation, David will be discussing “walk the walk”. David’s sermon is entitled “Mentorship – Leading by Example”.
 These are the readings we will hear in this week’s worship service, for the Third Sunday of Advent.
  •  From the Epistles: Philippians 4:4-7
  • From the Gospels:  Luke 3: 7-18
 
IN-PERSON WORSHIP - SUNDAY 10:30am
 Remember that the following conditions will apply:
1.      Worship will be on a first come first served basis in order to keep to the physical distancing required under government regulation.
2.      You will be asked to provide proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the worship service; you will be given a “vaccine registry number” card which you can then use for subsequent Sundays instead of having to show your proof of vaccination   
3.      Masks are to be worn at all times
4.      Not attending when feeling unwell
5.      Answering the Covid questions and signing in upon entry;
6.      Following the patterns of movement within the church
7.      Maintaining physical distance at all times from others who are not members of your household or cohort
8.      Bringing your own food or beverage
9.      Listening to the music presented but not singing
10.    Leaving immediately after the service ends

 
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
 Plans are being made for the in-person service on Christmas Eve.  Due to the physical distancing restrictions we have to follow, we only have a limited number of people who can attend in-person worship.  In order to facilitate that, a registration process will be required for the in-person Christmas Eve service.
There are 2 ways that people can do that beginning the week of December 5.
1.  Sign up on the Christmas Eve signup sheet available at church on Sunday morning  OR
2. Call in to the church office and leave your name and phone number
         Please indicate the number of people that wish to attend
It may be that we cannot accommodate everyone at the in-person service, but there will also be a virtual service for Christmas Eve.
Thank you, Margaret Benson on behalf of worship and re-opening committees

 
FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
 We are continuing our second two round of interviews and discussing the results of the interviews.
 

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 continues to be active.  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. 
Please remember to have people removed from the prayer chain if the prayers are no longer needed. 
 

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. NW 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 at home, 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.   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

December 5, 2021 - Rhe Second Sunday of Advent - Peace

12/2/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Greetings!
 
YouTube Videos and Live-streaming Worship Services
Now that we are live-streaming our services and you wish to watch online, you will need to:
  • click on this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrJQ5ljHCSPBV3F8TmIhvVA OR
  • go to YouTube and google Spirit West United Church.
Either action will bring you to the Spirit West United Church YouTube page.  There you will see all of our services that has been posted to YouTube.  The live-stream will also show there. 
 
THIS SUNDAY – SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT - PEACE
How do people of faith help prepare the way for God’s saving love? What barriers need to be removed?
 
These are the readings we will hear in this week’s worship service, for the Second Sunday of Advent.
 
•        The Book of the Prophet Malachi 3:1-4
The Book of Malachi is the last book of our Old Testament, and probably dates from the time at the end of the Exile in Babylon, about 5 centuries BC. The name Malachi means, “My Messenger.”
 
•        The Gospel of Luke 3:1-6
All of the Gospels portray John the Baptist as the one sent by God to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus. But the Gospel of Luke takes great care to provide the historical framework in which John appeared.
 
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself humming bits of Handel’s Messiah. The text of the oratorio (composed in 1741) was compiled from the King James Version of The Bible by Charles Jennens, using many phrases from our readings during this Season of Advent.
 
But that kind of familiarity may distract us from truly hearing what the biblical messengers are saying to us. As a rule, biblical prophets aren’t so much about predicting the future as they are about calling the people back to faithful living. Hence the question for this week: How do we prepare the way for God’s saving love?
 
Stuart

 
IN-PERSON WORSHIP - SUNDAY 10:30am
 Remember that the following conditions will apply:
1.      Worship will be on a first come first served basis in order to keep to the physical distancing required under government regulation.
2.      You will be asked to provide proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the worship service; you will be given a “vaccine registry number” card which you can then use for subsequent Sundays instead of having to show your proof of vaccination   
3.      Masks are to be worn at all times
4.      Not attending when feeling unwell
5.      Answering the Covid questions and signing in upon entry;
6.      Following the patterns of movement within the church
7.      Maintaining physical distance at all times from others who are not members of your household or cohort
8.      Bringing your own food or beverage
9.      Listening to the music presented but not singing
10.    Leaving immediately after the service ends

 
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
 Plans are being made for the in-person service on Christmas Eve.  Due to the physical distancing restrictions we have to follow, we only have a limited number of people who can attend in-person worship.  In order to facilitate that, a registration process will be required for the in-person Christmas Eve service.
There are 2 ways that people can do that beginning the week of December 5.
1.  Sign up on the Christmas Eve signup sheet available at church on Sunday morning  OR
2. Call in to the church office and leave your name and phone number
         Please indicate the number of people that wish to attend
It may be that we cannot accommodate everyone at the in-person service, but there will also be a virtual service for Christmas Eve.
Thank you
Margaret Benson on behalf of worship and re-opening committees

 
FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
 We are continuing our second two round of interviews and discussing the results of the interviews.

 
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 continues to be active.  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. 
Please remember to have people removed from the prayer chain if the prayers are no longer needed. 

 
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. NW 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, 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.   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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