Oct. 28, 2012 - 22nd Sunday after Pentecost - All Saints Sunday

Worship


This Sunday is the Sunday before Halloween, which means it is also the Sunday before All Saints Day. The Scripture Readings are actually for All Saints Day. For the children I will be talking about what saints look like and with the adults I will be looking at whole Halloween/All Saints package – where it comes from, where the church has taken it, what do we do with it today.

From the Scriptures we will hear from the Revelation: Revelation 21: 1-6a, and from the Gospels: Matthew 5: 1-12

The story for all ages is “Have you ever seen a Saint?”

The sermon title is “Halloween and Halos”

Annual Stewardship Campaign

This Sunday also marks the start of the Annual Stewardship Campaign during which we will be highlighting ways in which you can support your church with your time, talents and treasure. Shortly you will be receiving by email and/or Canada Post your Stewardship Package, which will include the proposed Narrative Budget for 2013 and a Pledge Form. Please carefully consider the ways in which you can keep Spirit West alive and well.

Sunday School

This week we encourage children to wear their Halloween costumes. We will be having our own all-ages gathering. We will see who "Calmed the Storm" as we cook our own storm

Book Study

The book study “A Conversations with God” (an uncommon dialogue) Book 1 by Neale Donald Walsch, will continue each Wednesday at 1:30pm in the Lounge. If there is enough interest I will also offer an evening study. There are copies of this book at Chapters: Gateway, West Edmonton Mall, and Kingsway Mall. You may also check second hand book stores or Amazon. Please phone Anne Dingwell with enquiries. 780-244-9525.

Youth

The next Youth of Edmonton United event is the Hallowe’en Dance on Saturday, Oct 27, 7:30pm, hosted by Riverbend, but being held at Knox-Metropolitan (8307 109 St.). Check out Youth of Edmonton United on Facebook.

Movie Night

Friday, October 26, North Edmonton Cineplex, 14231-137 Ave.

To see CLOUD ATLAS at 6:40 P.M. Starring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Ben Whishow & the list goes on.

“ An exploration of how the actions & consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the presence & the future. Action, mystery & romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero & single act of kindness ripples centuries to inspire in the distance future.” All invited back to Marian’s after the show for refrreshments & socializing.(Beverages are provided. If you wish to bring some nibbles feel free to do so.) Sounds like this one will bring on a lively discussion. Directions available at the theatre from Marian.

Important Dates and Youth Events (Y)

• Friday, October 26 - Movie Night, North Edmonton Cineplex, 14231-137 Ave. to see CLOUD ATLAS at 6:40 P.M.
• Saturday, Oct 27, - Men’s Breakfast, 8:00 am, Lower Hall
• (Y) Saturday, October 27 – Halloween Dance. Knox-Metropolitan (8307 - 109 St.), 7:30pm $5/person
• Wednesday, Oct 31 – Book Study, 1:30 in the Lounge, “Conversations with God”
• Sunday, Nov. 4 – Rodeo Sunday and Communion

Thanks for reading,

See you Sunday,

Larry
(Rev.) Larry K. Wright, CD, BA, MDiv
Minister
Spirit West United Church
phone: 780-481-1406
email: spiritwest.minister@telus.net
website: spiritwest.org

Oct. 21, 2012 - 21st after Pentecost and Word Food Day

Worship
This Sunday we will be looking at three passages from Scripture. The first, from Job, is part of God’s answer to Job’s complaints, the second from Hebrews focuses on Jesus as High Priest, and the third, from Mark shows us a couple of disciples arguing about who will sit next to Jesus in heaven. All three passages are unique, but each one offers us a challenge. How do we really view ourselves, our neighbours and our relationship with God? Believe it or not, the answers to these questions are not simple or simplistic.

From the Scriptures we will hear from the Prophets: Job 38: 1-7, from the Letters: Hebrews 5: 1-10 and from the Gospels: Mark 10: 35-45

The story for all ages is “Screaming Me-mes!”

The sermon title is “It’s not all about you!”

The Service will be followed by a Congregational Meeting where we will be electing and confirming our Church Board for 2013. It is important that you give your time to be part of the decisions affecting your church.


Sunday School

"Tending the Garden". This week we will discover whose garden this is and who is to look after it.

Will our Garden look like God's?

Book Study

The book study “A Conversations with God” (an uncommon dialogue) Book 1 by Neale Donald Walsch, will continue each Wednesday at 1:30pm in the Lounge. If there is enough interest I will also offer an evening study. There are copies of this book at Chapters: Gateway, West Edmonton Mall, and Kingsway Mall. You may also check second hand book stores or Amazon. Please phone Anne Dingwell with enquiries. 780-244-9525.

Soul Circle

SOUL CIRCLE starts Friday, Oct. 19 (tomorrow) at 1:30 in the lounge. Bring an art or craft to work on. Newcomers welcome. Call Lou at 780-481-4991 for more info.

Youth

The next Youth of Edmonton United event is the Hallowe’en Dance on Saturday, Oct 27, 7:30pm, hosted by Riverbend, but being held at Knox-Metropolitan (8307 109 St.). Check out Youth of Edmonton United on Facebook.

Important Dates and Youth Events (Y)

Friday, Oct 19 – Soul Circle, 1:30 in the Lounge

Saturday, October 20 – Fall Supper and Silent Auction. Starting at 5:30pm, $25/person, $60/family $15/student. We are looking for donations of new goods and services from individuals or businesses for the Silent Auction. Folks can contact either Cathy or Dave.

Sunday, Oct 21 – Congregational Meeting with Election of Officers for 2013, after Church. Without people there is no church. If you consider Spirit West to be your Church, please make every effort to attend this important meeting.

Wednesday, Oct 24 – Book Study, 1:30 in the Lounge, “Conversations with God”

Friday, Oct. 26 - Movie Night

Saturday, Oct. 27 - Men's breakfast

(Y) Saturday, October 27 – Halloween Dance. 7:30pm $5/person


Thanks for reading,


See you Sunday,


Larry

(Rev.) Larry K. Wright, CD, BA, MDiv

Minister

Spirit West United Church

phone: 780-481-1406

email: spiritwest.minister@telus.net

website: spiritwest.org

OCT. 14, 2012 - 20th Sunday after Pentecost

Worship


There are no “extras” in the Service this Sunday. We are simply gathering to worship, pray and listen for what God is saying to us. One thing I am very aware of is that what I think I have said to you on a Sunday, may not be what you hear. On a few occasions I have had people thank me for saying something that they needed to hear. Don’t thank me, thank God. Of course there are other occasions when people have shared with me that a particular sermon or reflection just did not speak to them, and perhaps they even disagreed with what they heard. That’s okay, as long as I am not missing the mark with too many people too much of the time. We all are there on Sunday to listen for what God might be saying to each of us. I may be sparked by something I say, it might be the words of a hymn that for some reason you hear differently. It might even occur over coffee (tea) before or after the service. But we need to be open to the possibility. One of the ways to be open is to ask questions. Now, I am not sure how asking questions in the middle of the service would go over. It might throw me off my stride, but we might try it sometime. Often in our current society, the church is criticised for being an institution that works on simple blind faith and that’s it. Faith is at the core of who we are, but I hope our faith is not blind. True Christian faith is not about obedience to some distant rule maker, it is about a relationship with Source of life, and relationships are about dialogue. The scripture readings for this Sunday point to people who did not just pose questions about God, they posed questions to God.

From the Scriptures we will hear from the Prophets: Job 23: 1-9, 16-17 and from the Gospels: Mark 10: 17-31

The sermon title is “God, I have a question!”


Book Study

The book study “A Conversations with God” (an uncommon dialogue) Book 1 by Neale Donald Walsch, will begin on October 17th at 1:30pm in the Lounge. If there is enough interest I will also offer an evening study. There are copies of this book at Chapters: Gateway, West Edmonton Mall, and Kingsway Mall. You may also check second hand book stores or Amazon. Please phone Anne Dingwell with enquiries. 780-244-9525.

Soul Circle

SOUL CIRCLE starts Oct. 19 at 1:30 in the lounge. Bring an art or craft to work on. Newcomers welcome. Call Lou at 780-481-4991 for more info.

Youth

The next Youth of Edmonton United event is the Hallowe’en Dance on Saturday, Oct 27, 7:30pm at a Church to be confirmed. Check out Youth of Edmonton United on Facebook.


Important Dates and Youth Events (Y)

Wednesday, Oct 17 – Book Study, 1:30 in the Lounge, “Conversations with God”

Friday, Oct 19 – Soul Circle, 1:30 in the Lounge

Saturday, October 20 – Fall Supper and Silent Auction. Starting at 5:30pm, $25/person, $60/family $15/student. We are looking for donations of new goods and services from individuals or businesses for the Silent Auction. Folks can contact either Cathy or Dave.

Sunday, Oct 21 – Congregational Meeting with Election of Officers for 2013, after Church. Without people there is no church. If you consider Spirit West to be your Church, please make every effort to attend this important meeting.

(Y) Saturday, October 27 – Halloween Dance. 7:30pm $5/person


Thanks for reading,

See you Sunday,

Larry

(Rev.) Larry K. Wright, CD, BA, MDiv

Minister

Spirit West United Church

phone: 780-481-1406

email: spiritwest.minister@telus.net

website: spiritwest.org

Oct. 7, 2012 - Thanksgiving and World Wide Communion

Here is the weekly message from Spirit West.

 

See you Sunday,

Blessings,

Larry Wright

Worship

This is Thanksgiving and Worldwide Communion.  We all know what Thanksgiving is about (or do we?).  But what about World Communion?  In much of the Protestant tradition, Communion or the Lord’s Supper is not celebrated every Sunday as it is in some traditions.  The minister of a Presbyterian Church in the US started a movement to have the different Protestant churches in his community come to the Table together, if not in the same place, at least at the same time or same day.  This idea spread, so we can know that as we gather on Sunday, others will have and will be gathering at the Table.  This link gives a brief history and reflection on World Communion. http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/civil-religion/christopher-keating/world-communion-sunday-draws-christians-to-one-table-one-bread/article_9592d7a0-eb0a-11e0-b374-001a4bcf6878.html

From the Scriptures we will hear from the Prophets: Joel 2: 21-27 and from the Gospels: Luke 12: 13-21

The sermon title, Ευχαριστώ, is the Greek work for Thanks and is also the word that gives us the English word Eucharist.  Thanksgiving and Communion are closely related.

 

Youth

The next Youth of Edmonton United event is the Hallowe’en Dance on Saturday, Oct 27, 7:30pm at a Church to be confirmed.  Check out  Youth of Edmonton United on Facebook.

 

Soul Circle

SOUL CIRCLE starts Oct. 19 at 1:30 in the lounge.  Bring an art or craft to work on.  Newcomers welcome.  Call Lou at 780-481-4991 for more info.

Important Dates and Youth Events (Y)

Sunday, October 7 – Thanksgiving and Worldwide Communion

 

Saturday, October 20 – Fall Supper and Silent Auction.  Starting at 5:30pm, $25/person, $60/family $15/student.  We are looking for donations of new goods and services from individuals or businesses for the Silent Auction. Folks can contact either Cathy or Dave.

 

(Y) Saturday, October 27 – Halloween Dance.  7:30pm $5/person