Office Hours
New item – Men’s Breakfast
Greetings
Sunday, December 11, 2022 – Advent 3 - Joy
Where do we find our joy?
Mary of Nazareth proclaims her joy this week after her encounter with the angel and the greeting of her supportive relative Elizabeth. My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour the song begins. Why is she so happy? What is it that God has done that is so wonderful?
o you remember how her song goes?
God lifts up the lowly and feeds the hungry, confuses the powerful, and brings about a whole new (renewed) way of being. (Luke 1 26-56 – though we only have her song as our reading)
Our other reading comes from the Gospel of Matthew and is a question from the disciples of John the Baptist wondering if Jesus really is the chosen one? (Matthew 11: 2-11) With what proof are they sent back? Jesus caring for those who need it most. The choir will also sing about the question “When will Messiah Come?”.
Where do we look for God? In our scriptures today we see the place to find God is amongst the lowly, the forgotten, the sick and the poor. How do we train our eyes to see God in these unexpected places? How do we find God’s joy? With the children I am going to read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” because I think that it tells a wonderful story about joy.
It can feel like we are all chasing some kind of Christmas high – the feeling that God really has come near to us this year. I think over the past two “pandemic Christmases” we have missed so many of the experiences of where we are used to feeling those moments when heaven and earth seem closer than ever, that God is with us, Emanuel – is present amongst us. Have you felt God’s presence in unexpected places?
Have your past two Christmases given you new experiences of where to look for those holy moments where you can see the potential of heaven and nature singing? Are there old traditions that might feel new again?
Remember that your Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect – the first one certainly wasn’t – a borrowed feed trough, shepherds, strangers from a far off land who unwittingly bring the rage of an insecure despot. But God was with us, in flesh with us that first Christmas and will be with us now, may we be blessed with the eyes enough to see. As you do whatever it is you do to prepare, may God show up in unexpected ways to bring you comfort and cheer.
(Rev) Eli Carter-Morgan (they/them)
Spirit West United Church
Proud to share the land through Treaty 6
LIVING NATIVITY - A four week Advent small group study. Take a closer look at the figures in your Nativity Set and draw closer to the Mystery of the Incarnation. Join just once or for all four sessions. Each will be offered twice – Wednesday afternoon at 2 and Saturday Morning at 10. Coffee and snack provided. Please allow 90 minutes so we can enjoy our time together.
Session 3 - At the Edge of the Creche Sat Dec 10 and Wed Dec 14
Session 4 – Is Everybody Here? Sat Dec 17 and Wed Dec 21
BISSELL CENTRE APPEAL - CHRISTMAS GIVINGS – in previous years the churches of Edmonton have supported the Bissell Center with White Gift Sunday offerings during Advent. This year the Inner City Pastoral Ministry (ICPM) has sent us an letter appealing for our help in other ways. Edmonton’s most vulnerable are growing in numbers and more are being forced to live in make shift tents on our snowy streets and many are dealing with the current painful shingella outbreak. As we all know the rising cost of food and utilities is difficult to manage and some of these folks are having to make decisions regarding a warm place to live or food on the table.
On the Advent Sundays of the 11th and 18th of December I will be collecting the following needed items from those of you that are able to give, and I will deliver them to the Bissell Center on the 20th of December.
As we have in the past because of your generosity with Outreach donations, Spirit West will also be making a monetary donation to the Bissell Centre and the Food Bank to help where they see fit during this difficult time.
Lori Walkhouse, Outreach Chair
MEN’S BREAKFAST, 8:30 am, Sat, Dec 17
Gather with other men of the congregation in the Lower Hall for fellowship and a breakfast of pancakes, sausages and eggs. Come a few minutes early and help cook if you would like. All men welcome!
DATES TO REMEMBER:
LEADERS for Dec 11
LEADERS for Dec 18
YouTube Videos Worship Services – December 11 – also, in person worship service
To watch online, you will need to go to YouTube and google “Spirit West United Church”. This action will bring you to the Spirit West United Church YouTube page.
SPIRIT WEST PRAYER CHAIN
Prayer is important. We know that people face challenges and difficulties 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 may 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 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 of the answer.
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
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
- Norma => Mon & Wed – noon to 5pm, Tues – 9 to 11 am (I will be attending the Northern Spirit Region Church Administrator’s lunch) and Thurs 7:30am to 12:30pm
- Eli => working Hours (subject to change) Wed-Thurs. 11-9, Saturday-Sunday 9-4 (Off Friday in Lieu for working a Monday earlier in the month) – Eli is trying to get to know members of the congregation and they would love to meet with you in your homes, their office, or a favourite coffee shop. They are hoping to meet with a few each week.
New item – Men’s Breakfast
Greetings
Sunday, December 11, 2022 – Advent 3 - Joy
Where do we find our joy?
Mary of Nazareth proclaims her joy this week after her encounter with the angel and the greeting of her supportive relative Elizabeth. My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour the song begins. Why is she so happy? What is it that God has done that is so wonderful?
o you remember how her song goes?
God lifts up the lowly and feeds the hungry, confuses the powerful, and brings about a whole new (renewed) way of being. (Luke 1 26-56 – though we only have her song as our reading)
Our other reading comes from the Gospel of Matthew and is a question from the disciples of John the Baptist wondering if Jesus really is the chosen one? (Matthew 11: 2-11) With what proof are they sent back? Jesus caring for those who need it most. The choir will also sing about the question “When will Messiah Come?”.
Where do we look for God? In our scriptures today we see the place to find God is amongst the lowly, the forgotten, the sick and the poor. How do we train our eyes to see God in these unexpected places? How do we find God’s joy? With the children I am going to read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” because I think that it tells a wonderful story about joy.
It can feel like we are all chasing some kind of Christmas high – the feeling that God really has come near to us this year. I think over the past two “pandemic Christmases” we have missed so many of the experiences of where we are used to feeling those moments when heaven and earth seem closer than ever, that God is with us, Emanuel – is present amongst us. Have you felt God’s presence in unexpected places?
Have your past two Christmases given you new experiences of where to look for those holy moments where you can see the potential of heaven and nature singing? Are there old traditions that might feel new again?
Remember that your Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect – the first one certainly wasn’t – a borrowed feed trough, shepherds, strangers from a far off land who unwittingly bring the rage of an insecure despot. But God was with us, in flesh with us that first Christmas and will be with us now, may we be blessed with the eyes enough to see. As you do whatever it is you do to prepare, may God show up in unexpected ways to bring you comfort and cheer.
(Rev) Eli Carter-Morgan (they/them)
Spirit West United Church
Proud to share the land through Treaty 6
LIVING NATIVITY - A four week Advent small group study. Take a closer look at the figures in your Nativity Set and draw closer to the Mystery of the Incarnation. Join just once or for all four sessions. Each will be offered twice – Wednesday afternoon at 2 and Saturday Morning at 10. Coffee and snack provided. Please allow 90 minutes so we can enjoy our time together.
Session 3 - At the Edge of the Creche Sat Dec 10 and Wed Dec 14
Session 4 – Is Everybody Here? Sat Dec 17 and Wed Dec 21
BISSELL CENTRE APPEAL - CHRISTMAS GIVINGS – in previous years the churches of Edmonton have supported the Bissell Center with White Gift Sunday offerings during Advent. This year the Inner City Pastoral Ministry (ICPM) has sent us an letter appealing for our help in other ways. Edmonton’s most vulnerable are growing in numbers and more are being forced to live in make shift tents on our snowy streets and many are dealing with the current painful shingella outbreak. As we all know the rising cost of food and utilities is difficult to manage and some of these folks are having to make decisions regarding a warm place to live or food on the table.
On the Advent Sundays of the 11th and 18th of December I will be collecting the following needed items from those of you that are able to give, and I will deliver them to the Bissell Center on the 20th of December.
- Urgent need: Gift Cards for Grocery Stores (Sobeys/Safeway/Superstore/Fresh Co/Walmart, etc.), Bus tickets
- Warm items: Gloves, thick socks, toques, thermal underwear, hand/foot warmers, blankets
- Basic items: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, razors, men’s and ladies underwear
As we have in the past because of your generosity with Outreach donations, Spirit West will also be making a monetary donation to the Bissell Centre and the Food Bank to help where they see fit during this difficult time.
Lori Walkhouse, Outreach Chair
MEN’S BREAKFAST, 8:30 am, Sat, Dec 17
Gather with other men of the congregation in the Lower Hall for fellowship and a breakfast of pancakes, sausages and eggs. Come a few minutes early and help cook if you would like. All men welcome!
DATES TO REMEMBER:
- Men’s Breakfast – 8:30 am, Sat, Dec 17
- Christmas Eve Service – 6:30 pm, Sat, Dec. 24
- No service Dec 25, 2022 and Jan 1, 2023
LEADERS for Dec 11
- Scripture Reader – Bill Callas
- Projectionist – Bruce Corbett
- Hospitality Team – Callas – Carol & Bill, Sue & Gerry
LEADERS for Dec 18
- Scripture Reader – Rhea Olson
- Projectionist – Tiegan Benson
- Hospitality Team – Ludlow – Diane, Norma, Bruce & Carol
YouTube Videos Worship Services – December 11 – also, in person worship service
To watch online, you will need to go to YouTube and google “Spirit West United Church”. This action will bring you to the Spirit West United Church YouTube page.
SPIRIT WEST PRAYER CHAIN
Prayer is important. We know that people face challenges and difficulties 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 may 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 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 of the answer.
- And remember that if you are not on PAR(Pre-Authorized Remittance) or even if you are , you can 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.)
- You can drop off your offering/donation in the offering plate just inside the front doors or place it in the mailbox.
- You can also donate online by checking 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
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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