Happy Pentecost,
For those of you who were not at church last Sunday, or could not stay for the Congregational Meeting, I thought I should bring you up to date. At the meeting, the Congregation voted to accept the recommendation of the Joint Search Committee to call the Rev. Larry Wright (that’s me) to the position of Minister at Spirit West United Church. Pending the approval of Edmonton Presbytery, this call takes effect on 1 July 2012 (the day after my current Presbytery appointment ends). So, in a nutshell, the congregation has voted to keep me for the foreseeable future. There will be a Covenanting Service to mark this new relationship sometime in the early fall. I am looking forward to this ministry with you!
This Sunday is Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Easter. The Scripture readings speak of the power of the Spirit of God to enliven the people of God. Pentecost is also seen as the “birthday” of the Church, marking the change in the followers of Jesus from learners to doers, from students to teachers.
The Readings are Ezekiel 37: 1-14, John 15: 26-27 and Acts 2: 1-21.
The sermon title is “The Church Comes Alive”
See you Sunday,
Blessings,
Larry Wright
And now a word from your Stewardship and Finance Committee
The Stewardship and Finance Committee feels that it is important to provide you with periodic updates as to our Church finances and is therefore providing the following information on our financial status as of April 30, 2012.
2012 projected budget deficit for the year as presented in our budget $7,700.00
2012 actual deficit as of April 30, 2012 is $12,041.29
As a congregation we need to pull together to reduce our mortgage and grow revenues by continued fund raising and givings, particularly over the upcoming summer months.
Yours in Faith
The Stewardship Committee
As well, please note the Important Dates and the Youth Event below. If you have any questions about any of the events, please contact the church.
Important Dates
Sunday, June 2 – Sacrament of Baptism
Sunday, June 10 – Communion - Anniversary of the Formation of the United Church of Canada (formed June 10, 1925 by an act of the Parliament of Canada)
Sunday, June 17 – after church, Family Picnic
Youth
Future Quest Program for Youth 14-17, Aug 4-18, 2012 at Queen's School of Religion, Kingston ON
For more information see the Pamphlet on the Info Table or http://www.queensu.ca/theology/leadership/futurequest/summer.html
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
May 20 - Seventh Sunday of Easter
Greetings,
This Sunday is the last Sunday of the “Easter” Season of the Christian year. The Scripture readings show us Jesus as he prepares his followers for his final departure. Jesus knows he is going away, and tries to get his disciples to understand the vision he has for them. In the Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of a desire that his followers be as one. I am going to have a look at unity in the Church. History shows that we have not been very good at it. What does unity in Christ mean? What does it look like? Perhaps, more especially, what should it look like.
The Readings are 1 John 5: 9-13 and John 17: 6-19.
The sermon title is “That They May Be One”
See you Sunday,
Blessings,
Larry Wright
As well, please note the Important Dates and the Youth Events below. If you have any questions about any of the events, please contact the church.
Important Dates
Sunday, May 20 – 12:00 noon, Congregational Meeting. The Joint Search Committee will be reporting to the Congregation for approval the results of their search to find a Minister to call for Spirit West United Church. Following the presentation of their Report, the Committee will be presenting three motions:
That Spirit West United Church call (name provided in Report) to the position of Minister at Spirit West United Church.
That the call be issued according to the terms (pay, benefits, etc.) negotiated between the Joint Search Committee and (name provided in Report), upon the approval of Edmonton Presbytery (Presbytery has to review the terms of a call to make sure that they are within the guidelines set out by the General Council of the United Church of Canada).
And, (if the first two pass) that the Joint Search Committee be disbanded with the grateful appreciation of the Congregation.
Sunday, May 27 – Pentecost , the “Birthday” of the Christian Church.
Sunday, June 2 – Sacrament of Baptism
Sunday, June 10 – Anniversary of the Formation of the United Church of Canada (formed June 10, 1925 by an act of the Parliament of Canada)
Sunday, June 17 – after church, Family Picnic
Youth
Future Quest Program for Youth 14-17, Aug 4-18, 2012 at Queen's School of Religion, Kingston ON
For more information see the Pamphlet on the Info Table or http://www.queensu.ca/theology/leadership/futurequest/summer.html
This Sunday is the last Sunday of the “Easter” Season of the Christian year. The Scripture readings show us Jesus as he prepares his followers for his final departure. Jesus knows he is going away, and tries to get his disciples to understand the vision he has for them. In the Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of a desire that his followers be as one. I am going to have a look at unity in the Church. History shows that we have not been very good at it. What does unity in Christ mean? What does it look like? Perhaps, more especially, what should it look like.
The Readings are 1 John 5: 9-13 and John 17: 6-19.
The sermon title is “That They May Be One”
See you Sunday,
Blessings,
Larry Wright
As well, please note the Important Dates and the Youth Events below. If you have any questions about any of the events, please contact the church.
Important Dates
Sunday, May 20 – 12:00 noon, Congregational Meeting. The Joint Search Committee will be reporting to the Congregation for approval the results of their search to find a Minister to call for Spirit West United Church. Following the presentation of their Report, the Committee will be presenting three motions:
That Spirit West United Church call (name provided in Report) to the position of Minister at Spirit West United Church.
That the call be issued according to the terms (pay, benefits, etc.) negotiated between the Joint Search Committee and (name provided in Report), upon the approval of Edmonton Presbytery (Presbytery has to review the terms of a call to make sure that they are within the guidelines set out by the General Council of the United Church of Canada).
And, (if the first two pass) that the Joint Search Committee be disbanded with the grateful appreciation of the Congregation.
Sunday, May 27 – Pentecost , the “Birthday” of the Christian Church.
Sunday, June 2 – Sacrament of Baptism
Sunday, June 10 – Anniversary of the Formation of the United Church of Canada (formed June 10, 1925 by an act of the Parliament of Canada)
Sunday, June 17 – after church, Family Picnic
Youth
Future Quest Program for Youth 14-17, Aug 4-18, 2012 at Queen's School of Religion, Kingston ON
For more information see the Pamphlet on the Info Table or http://www.queensu.ca/theology/leadership/futurequest/summer.html
Thursday, May 3, 2012
May 6 - Fifth Sunday after Easter
Greetings everyone!
In this world today we all seem to have really branched out. Many of us are on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn and other Social media. We can post our status for all our "friends" to see. I found out the other day from his Facebook post that a friend of mine in the Netherlands was looking for a router to finish his kitchen cabinets. (it took me a bit to figure this out because his posts are in Dutch and I have to Google translate them, and then try to figure out what the translation means.) We can reach around the world in seconds. We get email (like this one) givng us information and asking for information. But in all this reaching out, are we rooted? To use a plant image, (because it is spring, we have our plant sale coming up, and it is reflected in the gospel reading this Sunday) from where do we get our nourishment, support, inspiration, our grounding? What supports all this reaching out? We know that some of a plant’s nourishment comes from the leaves, but without roots...? I have to be careful that I do not go too far with the plant imagery and make us all sound like runner beans, but the gospel reading for this Sunday uses the image that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. It's an image that would be very familiar in an agricultural world, but I am going to explore it in light of where we have been planted.
The readings are 1 John 4: 7-21, and John 15: 1-8.
I have titled the sermon: "Are You Rooted?"
Blessings,
Larry Wright
As well, please note the Important Dates and the Youth Events below. If you have any questions about any of the events, please contact the church.
As of next Monday, you will be getting an email from Spirit West that will let you know all the events that are happening at Church for the coming week. We want you to have all the information you need about what is going on, so you that you are more able to become involved in the activities that interest you.
Important Dates
Saturday, May 5 – Hampton Community Craft Sale and Spirit West “New to You” Sale at the Church. Volunteers are needed to staff the “Chili Stand” snack counter.
Saturday, May 5, 7:30 pm and Sunday, May 6, 9:00 & 10:30 am, Riverbend United Church – An Abandoned Place-A Cantata presented by Riverbend United Church Youth. There is no charge for this, but free-will offerings will be welcomed.
Friday, May 11 – Sunday, May 13 – Spirit West Spring Plant Sale Come and pick up your beautiful hanging baskets and spring plants. This event is a fundraiser for Sprit West.
Saturday, June 2 – “4 Churches” Inter-Faith Walk. Talk to Bonnie Lowen or Anne Dingwell to get pledge sheets and more information.
Youth
An Abandoned Place-A Cantata (see above) – the Youth of Edmonton Presbytery are encouraged to attend the performance on Saturday night, May 5.
Future Quest Program for Youth 14-17, Aug 4-18, 2012 at Queen's School of Religion, Kingston ON
For more information see the Pamphlet on the Info Table or http://www.queensu.ca/theology/leadership/futurequest/summer.html
In this world today we all seem to have really branched out. Many of us are on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn and other Social media. We can post our status for all our "friends" to see. I found out the other day from his Facebook post that a friend of mine in the Netherlands was looking for a router to finish his kitchen cabinets. (it took me a bit to figure this out because his posts are in Dutch and I have to Google translate them, and then try to figure out what the translation means.) We can reach around the world in seconds. We get email (like this one) givng us information and asking for information. But in all this reaching out, are we rooted? To use a plant image, (because it is spring, we have our plant sale coming up, and it is reflected in the gospel reading this Sunday) from where do we get our nourishment, support, inspiration, our grounding? What supports all this reaching out? We know that some of a plant’s nourishment comes from the leaves, but without roots...? I have to be careful that I do not go too far with the plant imagery and make us all sound like runner beans, but the gospel reading for this Sunday uses the image that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. It's an image that would be very familiar in an agricultural world, but I am going to explore it in light of where we have been planted.
The readings are 1 John 4: 7-21, and John 15: 1-8.
I have titled the sermon: "Are You Rooted?"
Blessings,
Larry Wright
As well, please note the Important Dates and the Youth Events below. If you have any questions about any of the events, please contact the church.
As of next Monday, you will be getting an email from Spirit West that will let you know all the events that are happening at Church for the coming week. We want you to have all the information you need about what is going on, so you that you are more able to become involved in the activities that interest you.
Important Dates
Saturday, May 5 – Hampton Community Craft Sale and Spirit West “New to You” Sale at the Church. Volunteers are needed to staff the “Chili Stand” snack counter.
Saturday, May 5, 7:30 pm and Sunday, May 6, 9:00 & 10:30 am, Riverbend United Church – An Abandoned Place-A Cantata presented by Riverbend United Church Youth. There is no charge for this, but free-will offerings will be welcomed.
Friday, May 11 – Sunday, May 13 – Spirit West Spring Plant Sale Come and pick up your beautiful hanging baskets and spring plants. This event is a fundraiser for Sprit West.
Saturday, June 2 – “4 Churches” Inter-Faith Walk. Talk to Bonnie Lowen or Anne Dingwell to get pledge sheets and more information.
Youth
An Abandoned Place-A Cantata (see above) – the Youth of Edmonton Presbytery are encouraged to attend the performance on Saturday night, May 5.
Future Quest Program for Youth 14-17, Aug 4-18, 2012 at Queen's School of Religion, Kingston ON
For more information see the Pamphlet on the Info Table or http://www.queensu.ca/theology/leadership/futurequest/summer.html
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