YouTube Videos Worship Services – March 6 – in person)
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.
Sunday, March 6, 2022 – The First Sunday in Lent
When have you been tempted lately? Who or what helps us resist those temptations?
These are the readings we will hear in this week’s worship service, for the First Sunday in the Season of Lent.
The Season of Lent is intended to be a time of solemn reflection, repentance and preparation building up to the celebration of resurrection on Easter morning. The season consists of the 40 days before Easter, excluding Sundays, which are meant to be rest stops (think “oasis”) in the wilderness.
• From the Torah: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (Instructions for Thanksgiving)
The Book of Deuteronomy is literally “the Book of the Second Law.” It is presented as the final speeches of Moses to the people of Israel at the end of the Exodus. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the people prepare to enter the Promised Land.
Jim Taylor wrote, “In the ongoing battle against temptation that every one of us fights every day of our lives, this passage offers one useful antidote: the first fruits. The practice of giving the first of everything,– the first harvest, the first part of the paycheck, the first expression of thanks,– giving the first fruits to God’s work is one useful way to help us keep a focus on our call. Just one of many ways.”
• From the Gospels: Luke 4:1-13 (The Temptation of Jesus)
The First Sunday in Lent includes the reading of the Temptation of Jesus. This takes place immediately after Jesus is baptised in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. The wilderness becomes a place of cleansing and preparation for his future ministry. Jesus answers each temptation with a quote from Deuteronomy.
Some traditions include “giving up something for Lent” as a spiritual discipline. The intent is to sacrifice a luxury, and use the savings for charity, over and above regular givings. But what about “adding on” a spiritual practice to deepen your faith life?
How will you prepare yourself for the celebration of Resurrection? How can you deepen your faith life this Lent?
Stuart
ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Our annual meeting will be held at 7pm on Wednesday, March 16 via ZOOM. At this meeting, we will review the 2021 Annual Report which was sent to you via email on March 1. There are a few copies of the report at the church. I will send out the ZOOM invitation on March 15. I hope you can attend.
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 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 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 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
CHURCH OFFICE
The Spirit West Church office remains open.
- 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