Greetings,
A new church year is starting and lots of things are happening at Spirit West!
This Sunday – The First Sunday of Advent
This is the first Sunday of the new Christian year, the first Sunday of Advent. As many of you know I use the United Church periodical Gathering – Resources for Worship Planners as a source for ideas for worship. In the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany 2019-2020 edition, there is a suggestion for a slightly different sermon series for Advent this year. The suggestion is for four “biographical” sermons that highlight the lives of four people who are important in the Advent story. The four are the prophet Isaiah, John the Baptist, Mary and finally Joseph. This Sunday we will look at Isaiah, whose prophecies the church has connected with the coming of Christ since the early days of Christianity. Who was Isaiah, when did he live? Why have his prophesies been connected with Christ’s coming?
The readings for Sunday are Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14 and Matthew 24:36-44. In the Time for All Ages we will ask, “How many sleeps?” The title of the Sermon is “Isaiah”
At this Service we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
Please remember that our church is a “scent-free” zone because of some severe allergies and sensitives. We would ask that you refrain from using scented beauty or grooming products such as perfume, after-shave, etc. when attending services and programs at Spirit West.
LADIES’ GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Spirit West Ladies’ Group Christmas Party will be held Mon, Dec 2nd at 5:30 pm in the Lower Hall of the Church. There will be dinner priced at $20.00 per person. And there will be laughs, games and a wacky gift exchange. All women are welcome - feel free to bring a friend! There is a sign- up sheet for the evening, and money can be paid to Margery Wright or Carol Callas. For those who want to participate in the gift exchange, bring a wrapped gift with an approximate value of $15.00 (or something homemade, including Christmas baking!).
POINSETTIAS
Spirit West is selling poinsettias again this year to beautify the church at Christmas, and as a small fundraiser. The plants are being purchased from Salisbury Greenhouse in Sherwood Park, which provided us excellent plants last year. The poinsettias will be placed in the church for the service on Sunday, Dec. 15. We hope you will leave your poinsettia on display and pick it up after the Christmas Eve service, but you can take it home sooner if that doesn't work out for you.
Prices: 6.5" pot: $14; 8" pot: $28; 10" Christmas garden: $28. (The Christmas garden is a low, rectangular container with one poinsettia and tropical plants. It would make a lovely centerpiece.) This Sunday is the last Sunday to order your Poinsettia! You can contact Margery W. at 780 419 3224, or wrightlk@telus.net before Sunday to place an order.
CHOIR CONCERT – GREAT JOY!
Please join us on Sunday, Dec. 8th at 6:30 for our annual Christmas concert entitled GREAT JOY! This year’s concert is about God’s many gifts, particularly the one of joy. By receiving God’s love and sharing it with those around us we can spread the joy and make this world a better place. There will be song, piano, drums, flute and harps! Please invite your family and friends for this special occasion. Donations gratefully accepted for our sound system. We remind you that we are a scent-free zone!
ADVENT BIBLE STUDY 2019
There will be an Advent Bible Study at Spirit West on the Wednesday afternoons before Christmas (Dec 4, 11, and 18) and probably one Wednesday ( Jan 8 ) in the New Year. I had ordered an Advent study from the United Church, but it has not arrived yet. If it arrives we will use it, if not we will follow the lead of Gathering and take a more in depth look at Isaiah, John the Baptist, Mary, and Joseph. The studies will take place from 1:30 to 3:00 pm on Wednesdays. A sign-up sheet is by the office, or call Larry at the church if you are interested.
Stewardship Drive for 2020
Although last Sunday was the “official” end of our Stewardship Campaign for 2020, we will still accept your pledge forms. They can be scanned and emailed to spirit@telus.net if you are not able bring them in
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
• Seasonal items are now being collected for the Jasper Place Wellness Center and the Bissell Center – underwear, socks, scarves, mitts, refillable water bottles, hand warmers, etc. These can be left at the “Giving Tree” (in the sanctuary by the lounge windows) for distribution.
• Bissell Festive Wishlist – Pick up a Bissell Festive Wishlist from the back table or from under the “Giving Tree”, fill a stocking with items from the list or purchase a gift for a child; bring them to church on Dec 15. They will then be delivered to Bissell.
COMMUNION SERVERS
At Spirit West we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion, (or the Lord’s Supper, or the Eucharist) once a month, normally on the first Sunday. Serving communion involves the minister and at least three people from the congregation who assist. We are seeking out those who would like to be Communion Servers. This is not a perpetual commitment. Glenna W. has made up a schedule for the next twelve months (i.e twelve services). You will find it with the other sign-up sheets by the office. You can pick which date(s) you would like to be part of serving team. If you have any questions about the role of a Communion Server, speak to Larry or Glenna.
Your Favourite Hymn
Do you have a favourite hymn that you’d like to hear included in one of our worship services? Please let Bonnie C. know your choice and she will make sure it is sung within the month.
A WAY TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY
You don’t have offering envelopes, you are not on PAR, and you don’t get to church as often as you would like, but you want to make a financial contribution to work of Spirit West, and receive a tax receipt. Now you can! Check out the online donation option on our website spiritwest.org and click on the Donate tab in the navigation bar.
RIDE TO CHURCH?
From time to time we encounter people who would like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because they do not have means of transportation. Can you give a ride? If you would be willing to make yourself available to provide a ride to church please call the church office. Do you need a ride? Would you like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because you have no ride, please call the church office. (780-481-1406)
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 the church.
SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Website: www.spiritwest.org
Facebook: Spirit West United Church
Instagram: spiritwestyeg
Office hours
- Norma => 11:00 am to 4:00 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
A new church year is starting and lots of things are happening at Spirit West!
This Sunday – The First Sunday of Advent
This is the first Sunday of the new Christian year, the first Sunday of Advent. As many of you know I use the United Church periodical Gathering – Resources for Worship Planners as a source for ideas for worship. In the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany 2019-2020 edition, there is a suggestion for a slightly different sermon series for Advent this year. The suggestion is for four “biographical” sermons that highlight the lives of four people who are important in the Advent story. The four are the prophet Isaiah, John the Baptist, Mary and finally Joseph. This Sunday we will look at Isaiah, whose prophecies the church has connected with the coming of Christ since the early days of Christianity. Who was Isaiah, when did he live? Why have his prophesies been connected with Christ’s coming?
The readings for Sunday are Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14 and Matthew 24:36-44. In the Time for All Ages we will ask, “How many sleeps?” The title of the Sermon is “Isaiah”
At this Service we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
Please remember that our church is a “scent-free” zone because of some severe allergies and sensitives. We would ask that you refrain from using scented beauty or grooming products such as perfume, after-shave, etc. when attending services and programs at Spirit West.
LADIES’ GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Spirit West Ladies’ Group Christmas Party will be held Mon, Dec 2nd at 5:30 pm in the Lower Hall of the Church. There will be dinner priced at $20.00 per person. And there will be laughs, games and a wacky gift exchange. All women are welcome - feel free to bring a friend! There is a sign- up sheet for the evening, and money can be paid to Margery Wright or Carol Callas. For those who want to participate in the gift exchange, bring a wrapped gift with an approximate value of $15.00 (or something homemade, including Christmas baking!).
POINSETTIAS
Spirit West is selling poinsettias again this year to beautify the church at Christmas, and as a small fundraiser. The plants are being purchased from Salisbury Greenhouse in Sherwood Park, which provided us excellent plants last year. The poinsettias will be placed in the church for the service on Sunday, Dec. 15. We hope you will leave your poinsettia on display and pick it up after the Christmas Eve service, but you can take it home sooner if that doesn't work out for you.
Prices: 6.5" pot: $14; 8" pot: $28; 10" Christmas garden: $28. (The Christmas garden is a low, rectangular container with one poinsettia and tropical plants. It would make a lovely centerpiece.) This Sunday is the last Sunday to order your Poinsettia! You can contact Margery W. at 780 419 3224, or wrightlk@telus.net before Sunday to place an order.
CHOIR CONCERT – GREAT JOY!
Please join us on Sunday, Dec. 8th at 6:30 for our annual Christmas concert entitled GREAT JOY! This year’s concert is about God’s many gifts, particularly the one of joy. By receiving God’s love and sharing it with those around us we can spread the joy and make this world a better place. There will be song, piano, drums, flute and harps! Please invite your family and friends for this special occasion. Donations gratefully accepted for our sound system. We remind you that we are a scent-free zone!
ADVENT BIBLE STUDY 2019
There will be an Advent Bible Study at Spirit West on the Wednesday afternoons before Christmas (Dec 4, 11, and 18) and probably one Wednesday ( Jan 8 ) in the New Year. I had ordered an Advent study from the United Church, but it has not arrived yet. If it arrives we will use it, if not we will follow the lead of Gathering and take a more in depth look at Isaiah, John the Baptist, Mary, and Joseph. The studies will take place from 1:30 to 3:00 pm on Wednesdays. A sign-up sheet is by the office, or call Larry at the church if you are interested.
Stewardship Drive for 2020
Although last Sunday was the “official” end of our Stewardship Campaign for 2020, we will still accept your pledge forms. They can be scanned and emailed to spirit@telus.net if you are not able bring them in
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
• Seasonal items are now being collected for the Jasper Place Wellness Center and the Bissell Center – underwear, socks, scarves, mitts, refillable water bottles, hand warmers, etc. These can be left at the “Giving Tree” (in the sanctuary by the lounge windows) for distribution.
• Bissell Festive Wishlist – Pick up a Bissell Festive Wishlist from the back table or from under the “Giving Tree”, fill a stocking with items from the list or purchase a gift for a child; bring them to church on Dec 15. They will then be delivered to Bissell.
COMMUNION SERVERS
At Spirit West we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion, (or the Lord’s Supper, or the Eucharist) once a month, normally on the first Sunday. Serving communion involves the minister and at least three people from the congregation who assist. We are seeking out those who would like to be Communion Servers. This is not a perpetual commitment. Glenna W. has made up a schedule for the next twelve months (i.e twelve services). You will find it with the other sign-up sheets by the office. You can pick which date(s) you would like to be part of serving team. If you have any questions about the role of a Communion Server, speak to Larry or Glenna.
Your Favourite Hymn
Do you have a favourite hymn that you’d like to hear included in one of our worship services? Please let Bonnie C. know your choice and she will make sure it is sung within the month.
A WAY TO CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY
You don’t have offering envelopes, you are not on PAR, and you don’t get to church as often as you would like, but you want to make a financial contribution to work of Spirit West, and receive a tax receipt. Now you can! Check out the online donation option on our website spiritwest.org and click on the Donate tab in the navigation bar.
RIDE TO CHURCH?
From time to time we encounter people who would like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because they do not have means of transportation. Can you give a ride? If you would be willing to make yourself available to provide a ride to church please call the church office. Do you need a ride? Would you like to come to church at Spirit West, but are unable to because you have no ride, please call the church office. (780-481-1406)
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 the church.
SPIRIT WEST ONLINE!
Website: www.spiritwest.org
Facebook: Spirit West United Church
Instagram: spiritwestyeg
Office hours
- Norma => 11:00 am to 4:00 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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