Greetings
This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday, the last Sunday before the start of Lent. As I said in another post, Easter (in the western church) is early this year. The Orthodox are still finishing up their Christmas celebrations. So, on this Sunday we will hear a passage from the Law recounting an encounter between Moses and God on a mountain. The story of the Transfiguration in Sunday's Gospel tells of an experience that three of Jesus' disciples had with Jesus on a mountain top. It was a very significant experience for them, and one that they didn't really understand at the time. One of the disciples, Peter, was so impressed and captivated by the experience that he wanted to stay on the mountain. But they all had to go back down, back to the "real world." But they went down from the mountain changed, with a new understanding of whom it was they were following.
The passages that will be read on Sunday are Exodus 34: 29-35 and Luke 9: 28-43. In the Time for Ages we will look at shining for God. The Sermon title is “Ups and Downs”
LENT
Lent, the forty day period that leads us to Easter is coming up fast this year. The first day of Lent in Ash Wednesday, February 10. There are a number of activities that will or could take place at Spirit West in connection with Lent. If there is a “??” beside the activity, it indicates that your help/response is needed to make it happen.
PANCAKE LUNCH
The last day before Lent, Shrove Tuesday, is marked in many communities with a Pancake Supper. A number of churches in Edmonton have them. The eating of pancakes often with fried meats (bacon, sausage) was a way to use up the last remaining fat and meat in your pantry before the meatless days of Lent. In our United Church tradition, the giving up of meat for Lent has never been a “requirement,” but pancakes still taste good. We will mark the beginning of Lent with a Pancake Lunch after church on Sunday.
AFTERNOON LENTEN STUDY – The Trinity & Everyday Spirituality
This will be a six session Lenten Study beginning on Wednesday, February 17, at 1:30 pm in the Church Lounge. The study will run weekly, with the last session on March 23. This small group study has been created by The Prayer Bench and was recommended on the United Church of Canada Facebook page. There is no book to buy this year. The sessions include a short recorded talk by a professor at the Atlantic School of Theology and a guided discussion using a weekly participant sheet that will be given to all attending. The sessions include: To Tell Ourselves about God; To Be Alone with God; To Share in Community; To Live in the World God Loves; To Celebrate Trinity in Art, Song and Poetry; and To Celebrate Trinity in a Celtic Liturgy. It looks like an interesting study. Sign up on the “Afternoon” sheet by the office, or send an email to the office.
EVENING LENTEN STUDY – The Trinity & Everyday Spirituality ??
Same study as the above, but in the evening based on interest. Indicate your interest by signing up on the “Evening” sheet by the office, or send an email to the office with your available evenings.
MESSY LENT / EASTER ??
I would like to celebrate a Messy Church – Lent/Easter in early March (Easter is March 27) If you are interested in becoming involve or have any questions please call me at the church office as soon as possible. It’s work, but it is also so much fun. For those of you who were involved with or attended Messy Advent in November, we will have not have the problems with the dinner timing. Give me a call!
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED
Although at the moment we have a relatively small number of children in our Sunday School, it is important that we provide them with a positive experience of their time together. We are looking for people who are willing to share some time with the children on Sunday. We have a great curriculum called Seasons of the Spirit which is quite adaptable and easy to use (you do need a computer and internet access for the preparation). If you are not sure, considering joining the class for a couple of weeks and learning with the children. A signup sheet is on the cabinet by the office.
COMMUNITY DINNERS
On a regular basis a group of six churches in the West End including Spirit West cook and serve dinner to folks in need at the Jasper Place Wellness Centre. Two churches work together on a dinner, one church cooks and the other church provides servers. On the cabinet by the church office is a signup sheet with the dates for the dinners that Spirit West is helping with. There are opportunities for cooks and servers. If you want to know more about this, talk to Doreen O.
Hampers The Jasper Place Wellness Centre also 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.
Ladies Group Valentine Social and Meeting – Ladies, mark your calendars for out annual Valentine Luncheon at 11:30 am on Sat, Feb. 13th at the Homefire Grill Restaurant, 18210 – 100 ave. Cost is $20.00 per person. Good food and valentine surprises! All women welcome!
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Join us in using cunning stealth and covert organization to surprise our phenomenal Spirit West chefs. Only at the ring of their doorbell should the discover who will join them for dinner on their chosen night of gastronomical delights!! This fund-raiser for the church will take place during the months of February and March! It is a terrific time to enjoy a fabulous meal and fellowship. Those who wish to host a dinner are asked to contact Bill C. at 780-481-2662. Hosts need to indicate the date and time of their dinner and the number of guests they are able to host. If there is a theme for the evening, this should be provided. Guests will have the opportunity to select where they will dine. Diners should provide the conveners with information on allergies and dietary restrictions (this information will be discreetly passed to the hosts) Diners will be provided ahead of time with directions to their chosen dinner and with an offering envelope for a free-will offering which will be collected by the hosts and returned to the church. A minimum donation of $25 per person is suggested. Please plan on attending one of these sensational dinners and generously supporting the ongoing work of Spirit West. See the display board at the back of the church for a list of dinner opportunities.
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 => 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Monday to Friday
- 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
Greetings
This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday, the last Sunday before the start of Lent. As I said in another post, Easter (in the western church) is early this year. The Orthodox are still finishing up their Christmas celebrations. So, on this Sunday we will hear a passage from the Law recounting an encounter between Moses and God on a mountain. The story of the Transfiguration in Sunday's Gospel tells of an experience that three of Jesus' disciples had with Jesus on a mountain top. It was a very significant experience for them, and one that they didn't really understand at the time. One of the disciples, Peter, was so impressed and captivated by the experience that he wanted to stay on the mountain. But they all had to go back down, back to the "real world." But they went down from the mountain changed, with a new understanding of whom it was they were following.
The passages that will be read on Sunday are Exodus 34: 29-35 and Luke 9: 28-43. In the Time for Ages we will look at shining for God. The Sermon title is “Ups and Downs”
LENT
Lent, the forty day period that leads us to Easter is coming up fast this year. The first day of Lent in Ash Wednesday, February 10. There are a number of activities that will or could take place at Spirit West in connection with Lent. If there is a “??” beside the activity, it indicates that your help/response is needed to make it happen.
PANCAKE LUNCH
The last day before Lent, Shrove Tuesday, is marked in many communities with a Pancake Supper. A number of churches in Edmonton have them. The eating of pancakes often with fried meats (bacon, sausage) was a way to use up the last remaining fat and meat in your pantry before the meatless days of Lent. In our United Church tradition, the giving up of meat for Lent has never been a “requirement,” but pancakes still taste good. We will mark the beginning of Lent with a Pancake Lunch after church on Sunday.
AFTERNOON LENTEN STUDY – The Trinity & Everyday Spirituality
This will be a six session Lenten Study beginning on Wednesday, February 17, at 1:30 pm in the Church Lounge. The study will run weekly, with the last session on March 23. This small group study has been created by The Prayer Bench and was recommended on the United Church of Canada Facebook page. There is no book to buy this year. The sessions include a short recorded talk by a professor at the Atlantic School of Theology and a guided discussion using a weekly participant sheet that will be given to all attending. The sessions include: To Tell Ourselves about God; To Be Alone with God; To Share in Community; To Live in the World God Loves; To Celebrate Trinity in Art, Song and Poetry; and To Celebrate Trinity in a Celtic Liturgy. It looks like an interesting study. Sign up on the “Afternoon” sheet by the office, or send an email to the office.
EVENING LENTEN STUDY – The Trinity & Everyday Spirituality ??
Same study as the above, but in the evening based on interest. Indicate your interest by signing up on the “Evening” sheet by the office, or send an email to the office with your available evenings.
MESSY LENT / EASTER ??
I would like to celebrate a Messy Church – Lent/Easter in early March (Easter is March 27) If you are interested in becoming involve or have any questions please call me at the church office as soon as possible. It’s work, but it is also so much fun. For those of you who were involved with or attended Messy Advent in November, we will have not have the problems with the dinner timing. Give me a call!
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED
Although at the moment we have a relatively small number of children in our Sunday School, it is important that we provide them with a positive experience of their time together. We are looking for people who are willing to share some time with the children on Sunday. We have a great curriculum called Seasons of the Spirit which is quite adaptable and easy to use (you do need a computer and internet access for the preparation). If you are not sure, considering joining the class for a couple of weeks and learning with the children. A signup sheet is on the cabinet by the office.
COMMUNITY DINNERS
On a regular basis a group of six churches in the West End including Spirit West cook and serve dinner to folks in need at the Jasper Place Wellness Centre. Two churches work together on a dinner, one church cooks and the other church provides servers. On the cabinet by the church office is a signup sheet with the dates for the dinners that Spirit West is helping with. There are opportunities for cooks and servers. If you want to know more about this, talk to Doreen O.
Hampers The Jasper Place Wellness Centre also 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.
Ladies Group Valentine Social and Meeting – Ladies, mark your calendars for out annual Valentine Luncheon at 11:30 am on Sat, Feb. 13th at the Homefire Grill Restaurant, 18210 – 100 ave. Cost is $20.00 per person. Good food and valentine surprises! All women welcome!
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Join us in using cunning stealth and covert organization to surprise our phenomenal Spirit West chefs. Only at the ring of their doorbell should the discover who will join them for dinner on their chosen night of gastronomical delights!! This fund-raiser for the church will take place during the months of February and March! It is a terrific time to enjoy a fabulous meal and fellowship. Those who wish to host a dinner are asked to contact Bill C. at 780-481-2662. Hosts need to indicate the date and time of their dinner and the number of guests they are able to host. If there is a theme for the evening, this should be provided. Guests will have the opportunity to select where they will dine. Diners should provide the conveners with information on allergies and dietary restrictions (this information will be discreetly passed to the hosts) Diners will be provided ahead of time with directions to their chosen dinner and with an offering envelope for a free-will offering which will be collected by the hosts and returned to the church. A minimum donation of $25 per person is suggested. Please plan on attending one of these sensational dinners and generously supporting the ongoing work of Spirit West. See the display board at the back of the church for a list of dinner opportunities.
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 => 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Monday to Friday
- 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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