This Sunday – 24th Sunday after Pentecost
For Remembrance Sunday, our readings depart from the Lectionary.
• The Book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
The Book of Ecclesiastes is presented as the words of the “Teacher”, who reflects on God’s ways in the face of day-to-day living. Although the book suggests that the Teacher is King Solomon, it most likely was written much later, after the Exile in Babylon (which ended around 530 BCE). The passage was turned into a popular folk song by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s.
• The Gospel of Matthew 5:1-9
In Matthew’s Gospel, several important teachings of Jesus are gathered into “The Sermon on the Mount”. In a scene reminding us of Moses going up Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, Jesus teaches his followers with the words we know as The Beatitudes.
On Thursday, November 11, starting at 10:30 AM, watch the Remembrance Day Service from the National Cenotaph. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the remembrance poppy in Canada. Also, the ETS Pipes and Drums posted a video last year, including the reading of “In Flanders Fields”, which can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxJyJZcXQhE
Time Change: Don’t forget to set your clocks back on Saturday night. Enjoy the extra hour of sleep!
Stuart
Drive & Drop for the Food Bank.
We had about 6 people show up at the church, and I had several others who came by my house with donations. We didn’t get the truckfull that we did last year, but what we did collect in food and monetary donations was appreciated very much.
It is different and difficult times we are living in right now and as always the generosity of our congregation warms my soul. We DO make a difference to others. My thanks again. Lori Walkhouse
THERE WILL BE A ZOOM COFFEE HOUR (this is the link for November)
Join Zoom Coffee on Sunday at 11:30
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88292803777?pwd=b3JDT2pMRWd2VkgxSFFiVC8zQmdaQT09
Meeting ID: 882 9280 3777
Passcode: 723567
The plan is that this is a no-host gathering. Anyone with the meeting ID and Passcode can join. If there are any problems, please let Norma know on Monday.
FROM THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE *** UPDATE ***
We have completed the first round of interviews and will be holding second interviews with specific candidates this week.
ZOOM SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Spirit West Sunday School is looking forward to welcoming children and teachers to another session of ZOOM Sunday School classes. The time is 10:00am and after registration (confirmation of attendance) an email will be sent to each home with a link to connect to the classes on Sunday mornings.
If you have children that would like to enroll in these classes, please email:
Cathy Sutherland cathysutherland@shaw.ca OR Norma Balcombe at the office spiritw@telus.net
If you are interested in teaching Sunday School, we have a wonderful curriculum that is online that we use and an easy to follow format. Please email Cathy at cathysutherland@shaw.ca OR Sheila Hoy at sheilajh20@gmail.com for more information.
Thank you so much for your attention. The experience last year was so good, that we’re excited to get going again
SPIRIT WEST WORSHIP VIDEOS
Greeters
You may have gotten (or will get) a call from Diane H. our new “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, I have sent out a schedule of readers for July 18 to September 26. If you have read scripture for one of the worship videos, you will be on the schedule and will have received a copy. Readings can be done during the worship service on Sundays, once we are back to in-person worship. Readings can also 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 spiritw@telus.net or phone the church. (must be sent in before noon on Wednesday for inclusion on the Sunday) During the opening section or our Worship Video, we will announce celebrations that have been shared with us.
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. Dave S will send out the request for prayers to the Prayer Chain group, as his schedule permits which may not be every Tuesday as in the past.
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.
Please remember to have people removed from the prayer chain if the prayers are no longer needed. Our chain is quite lengthy at present so we will cleanse the list in a month’s time and start to repopulate it from scratch
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
- Stuart => 9:30am to 2:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday
- Norma => Noon to 5:00pm, Monday to Thursday
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