Greetings,
Today sing Happy Birthday to the United Church of Canada. It was 96 years ago today that the United Church of Canada was inaugurated at a Service at the Mutual Street Arena in Toronto.
This Sunday – THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – ORDINARY TIME
This Sunday is the Third Sunday after Pentecost, and the focus is on growth and potential. The reading from the Prophets is the story of the anointing of David as the future King of Israel. At the beginning of the story, David seems like an odd choice. He is the “little brother.” That something important involving a prophet would have anything to do David seemed so unlikely to his father and brothers that he was left out in the field looking after the sheep. But as Samuel says, “the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” So David is called in and anointed. The parables Jesus tells in the Gospel reading are directed at a people familiar with agriculture. Jesus talks about seeds and growing. Jesus also points out that when a seed grows there is a lot that we don’t see, as a small seed becomes something much bigger. For me these parables can go in two directions. On the one hand, these parables provide encouragement to do the simple necessary act, and greater things may come of it than we could have imagined. But for me these parables also offer a word of caution about being careful and thoughtful about what we “plant.” Earlier this week, we learned that a young man deliberately drove his new truck into a Muslim family. Only one member of the family survived, a nine year old boy. My question is, what seed was planted and nurtured in that young drivers mind or heart, that grew into such a hatred that attempting to kill an entire family was a choice he could make. Sometimes the smallest thing can grow. June is both Pride Month and Indigenous Awareness Month. We are called to think about or own relationships with people in the LGBTQIA2S+ community and with people of the First Nations. In fact, we should be thoughtful about all our relationships, with those we love, and with those we see as different. Are we planting seeds that will grow into the tree whose branches provide a protective home for everyone?
The Scripture readings for Sunday are 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13,and Mark 4:26-34. In the Time for All Ages I will talk about how “It starts with a seed” and my sermon is titled, “You have to start somewhere.”
THERE WILL BE A ZOOM COFFEE HOUR (this is the Link for May and June!)
Join Zoom Coffee on Sunday at 11:30
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82877953866?pwd=REZSamRsRU0ybENRREdEaGR4bVFGUT09
Meeting ID: 828 7795 3866 Passcode: 738328
FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
Last week our congregation’s Living Faith Story, our church “biography” was approved by Northern Spirit Regional Council Executive. This is an important step in our search for a new minister. The actual search can begin shortly.
FROM THE SUPPLY SEARCH COMMITTEE
We are pleased to announce that Rev. Stuart Jackson has accepted the invitation for part-time ministry at Spirit West United Church, beginning July 12, through to Dec. 31, 2021. Rev. Jackson is known by several members of our congregation as he has served in the ministry in the Edmonton area for 34 years. He will work from the church office for approximately 15 hours per week preparing for and leading us in worship and will assist with Pastoral Care as the need arises. Rev. Jackson will preach 3 Sundays per month, and David Faber, a student of theology who has led worship previously at SWUC, will preach one Sunday per month. Many thanks to Colleen Fox, Margaret Benson and John Punko for being on this committee. (by Bonnie Cannam)
SPIRIT WEST WORSHIP VIDEOS
Greeters
You may have gotten (or will get) a call from Diane H. our “Greeter Co-ordinator,” asking you if you would record a greeting for our Sunday Worship videos. If at all possible, please say yes. Recorded greetings should be sent to our “Recording technician” (Paul W.) at paulwright38d@gmail.com or you can come into the church and we will record your greeting. Video greetings need to be sent in or recorded by the Friday before “your” Sunday.
Scripture Readers
Using the list of those who have volunteered to be Scripture readers, Norma has drawn up and sent out a schedule of readers for the next couple of months. If you have read scripture for one of the worship videos, you will be on the schedule and will have received a copy. Please confirm with Norma as soon as possible that you are available to do your reading. Readings can 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 swm@telus.net or phone the church. (must be sent in before noon on Thursday for inclusion on the Sunday) During the opening section or our Worship Video, I will announce celebrations that have been shared with me.
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. 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.
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
- Norma => Noon to 5:00 pm, Monday to Thursday
- Larry => 10:00 am to 5:00 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
Today sing Happy Birthday to the United Church of Canada. It was 96 years ago today that the United Church of Canada was inaugurated at a Service at the Mutual Street Arena in Toronto.
This Sunday – THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – ORDINARY TIME
This Sunday is the Third Sunday after Pentecost, and the focus is on growth and potential. The reading from the Prophets is the story of the anointing of David as the future King of Israel. At the beginning of the story, David seems like an odd choice. He is the “little brother.” That something important involving a prophet would have anything to do David seemed so unlikely to his father and brothers that he was left out in the field looking after the sheep. But as Samuel says, “the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” So David is called in and anointed. The parables Jesus tells in the Gospel reading are directed at a people familiar with agriculture. Jesus talks about seeds and growing. Jesus also points out that when a seed grows there is a lot that we don’t see, as a small seed becomes something much bigger. For me these parables can go in two directions. On the one hand, these parables provide encouragement to do the simple necessary act, and greater things may come of it than we could have imagined. But for me these parables also offer a word of caution about being careful and thoughtful about what we “plant.” Earlier this week, we learned that a young man deliberately drove his new truck into a Muslim family. Only one member of the family survived, a nine year old boy. My question is, what seed was planted and nurtured in that young drivers mind or heart, that grew into such a hatred that attempting to kill an entire family was a choice he could make. Sometimes the smallest thing can grow. June is both Pride Month and Indigenous Awareness Month. We are called to think about or own relationships with people in the LGBTQIA2S+ community and with people of the First Nations. In fact, we should be thoughtful about all our relationships, with those we love, and with those we see as different. Are we planting seeds that will grow into the tree whose branches provide a protective home for everyone?
The Scripture readings for Sunday are 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13,and Mark 4:26-34. In the Time for All Ages I will talk about how “It starts with a seed” and my sermon is titled, “You have to start somewhere.”
THERE WILL BE A ZOOM COFFEE HOUR (this is the Link for May and June!)
Join Zoom Coffee on Sunday at 11:30
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82877953866?pwd=REZSamRsRU0ybENRREdEaGR4bVFGUT09
Meeting ID: 828 7795 3866 Passcode: 738328
FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
Last week our congregation’s Living Faith Story, our church “biography” was approved by Northern Spirit Regional Council Executive. This is an important step in our search for a new minister. The actual search can begin shortly.
FROM THE SUPPLY SEARCH COMMITTEE
We are pleased to announce that Rev. Stuart Jackson has accepted the invitation for part-time ministry at Spirit West United Church, beginning July 12, through to Dec. 31, 2021. Rev. Jackson is known by several members of our congregation as he has served in the ministry in the Edmonton area for 34 years. He will work from the church office for approximately 15 hours per week preparing for and leading us in worship and will assist with Pastoral Care as the need arises. Rev. Jackson will preach 3 Sundays per month, and David Faber, a student of theology who has led worship previously at SWUC, will preach one Sunday per month. Many thanks to Colleen Fox, Margaret Benson and John Punko for being on this committee. (by Bonnie Cannam)
SPIRIT WEST WORSHIP VIDEOS
Greeters
You may have gotten (or will get) a call from Diane H. our “Greeter Co-ordinator,” asking you if you would record a greeting for our Sunday Worship videos. If at all possible, please say yes. Recorded greetings should be sent to our “Recording technician” (Paul W.) at paulwright38d@gmail.com or you can come into the church and we will record your greeting. Video greetings need to be sent in or recorded by the Friday before “your” Sunday.
Scripture Readers
Using the list of those who have volunteered to be Scripture readers, Norma has drawn up and sent out a schedule of readers for the next couple of months. If you have read scripture for one of the worship videos, you will be on the schedule and will have received a copy. Please confirm with Norma as soon as possible that you are available to do your reading. Readings can 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 swm@telus.net or phone the church. (must be sent in before noon on Thursday for inclusion on the Sunday) During the opening section or our Worship Video, I will announce celebrations that have been shared with me.
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. 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.
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
- Norma => Noon to 5:00 pm, Monday to Thursday
- Larry => 10:00 am to 5:00 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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