April 1 - Palm Sunday

Greetings,


This Sunday is Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week. In some traditions, this Sunday is also called Passion Sunday, and as part of the Service a very long portion of John's Gospel is read detailing the events from Jesus' entry into Jerusalem to the Crucifixion. We are not doing this, because you have opportunity during Holy Week (Maundy Thurday and Good Friday) to hear the parts of the story which are really important to an good understanding of the Resurrection. On Sunday we will concetrate on the story of Jesus' final entry into Jerusalem as Mark tells it. The Service opens with a Palm Procession around the Church. Come and join in! We will also be welcoming six adults who have decided to make Spirit West their church home. One is being baptised and confirmed, one is being confirmed and four are transfered their memberships from other congregations. It will be an exciting service.

The Readings are Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 and Mark 11: 1-11

The Sermon is "Palms to Crosses"

See you Sunday
Larry Wright

As well as the Important Dates below please note the two events for Youth

Important Dates

• Tuesdays of Lent, 7:00 pm- The Gospel of Mark - note this Study will not meet again until Tuesday 10 April.
• Youth Events
• Easter Vigil for Youth (Edmonton Presbytery) - Robertson-Wesley United Church, 10209 - 123 St. Meet at the Robertson-Wesley on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 7:00pm, the event concludes with a 7:00am Sunrise Service and Breakfast on Easter Sunday, April 8. Youth are invited to come for the whole vigil or may join for an hour on the Saturday at 11:00pm. Youth wishing to stay for the whole vigil are asked to bring sleeping items. RSVP by April 4 to Karen at 780-975-4368.
• Future Quest Program for Youth 14-17, Aug 4-18, 2012 at Queen's School of Religion, Kingston ON For more information see http://www.queensu.ca/theology/leadership/futurequest/summer.html
  
• Holy Week Services
• Palm Sunday, 1 April, 10:30 - Worship with Palm Procession.
• Maundy Thursday, 5 April, 6:00 pm - A Seder for Christians Experience the special Passover Meal that became Communion for the Church. Our Spirit West Seder will be a Pot-luck Supper set in the midst of the Passover remembrance. This is an experience for the whole family. Come join us. In order to set tables for the right number, you are asked to sign up for the Seder on the sheet that will be available this Sunday or email the chuch. spiritw@telus.net
• Good Friday, 6 April, 10:30 am - The Way of the Cross. With Prayer, Readings and Music contemplate the journey to Calvary as you view scenes of Christ's Passion as it has been depicted by artists through the centuries.
• Easter Sunday, 8 April, 10:00 - The Celebration of the Resurrection. Come join the joyful celebration of the central story of our Christian faith. If you wish to add to the beauty of the Church for this special time by lending us plants or floral arrangements, please bring them, if you can, to the Church on Good Friday. You can also bring them Easter Sunday morning.

March 15, 2012

Greetings,


As some of your heard last Sunday, the Joint Needs Assesment Committee Report for Spirit West United Church was accepted by the Ministry Support Committee of Edmonton Presbytery and a full-time vacancy for order of mininsty was declare effective 1 May 2012. Spirit West is now officially looking for a minister. The Joint Search Committee is in place with Mary Jean Young and Bonnie Cannam as Co-chairs. If you know of any ministers who you think would be a good fit for Spirit West United Church, let Mary Jean or Bonnie know as soon as possible.

This Sunday falls just after St. Patrick's Day, so for Spirit West it is Celtic Sunday. The music and the prayers are all inspired by Celtic Christianity, particularly as it was and is found in Ireland. We will be celebrating Communion (we missed it on the first Sunday of March as I was away) For the Communion Prayer, I will be using an English translation of an Irish prayer from seventh century. The service will also include (in English translation) prayers thought to have been written by St. Patrick. You will also hear the Celtic echos in the special music that has been chosen for this Sunday.

And as a special salute to the Irish this Sunday, why not add a bit of Green to you wardrobe.

The readings for this Sunday include what many call the Football Verse, as reference to this verse is often seen on signs in the stands at American football games: John 3:16.

In the sermon I will look at this verse in its context in John's Gospel.

The Readings are Numbers: 21: 4-9 and John 3:14-21.

The Sermon is "John 3:16"

Céad Míle Fáilte

Larry Wright

Important Dates

• Tuesdays of Lent, 7:00 pm- The Gospel of Mark
• Because the organizer of the event didn't get the information to us in time for last Sunday's bulletin, I have included the annoucement here:
• Friday, 16 March, 7:00 - McDougall United Church (10025-101 St.
• Jeffery Straker Concert to raise funds for "Living Positive," an organization supporting people living with HIV and AIDS. Tickets $15 from TIX on the Square
• Holy Week
• Palm Sunday, 1 April, 10:30 - Worship with Palm Procession.
• Maundy Thursday, 5 April, 6:00 pm - A Seder for Christians Experience the special Passover Meal that became Communion for the Church. Our Spirit West Seder will be a Pot-luck Supper set in the midst of the Passover remembrance. This is an experience for the whole family. Come join us.
• Good Friday, 6 April, 10:30 am - The Way of the Cross. With Prayer, Readings and Music contemplate the journey to Calvary as you view scenes of Christ's Passion as it has been depicted by artists through the centuries.
• Easter Sunday, 8 April, 10:00 - The Celebration of the Resurrection. Come join the joyful celebration of the central story of our Christian faith.