April 28, 2013 - 5th Sunday of Easter

Greetings.

 Worship
Rev. Larry is on a well-deserved holiday this week.  We are fortunate to have talented people who can lead the worship service during his absence.  This Sunday, Anne Dingwell will lead the service. 

 The three scripture readings are :

John 13: 31-35
Acts of the Apostles: 11: 1-18
Revelation 21: 1-6

The Sermon title is “A New Way to be.”

Church Photo Directory

Save the dates of Friday, May 3 and 4 to get your picture taken and be part of the pictorial history of the church!  There is no cost to the church or to you (unless you want to get additional photos taken).  Everyone who participates gets a free directory and a free 8 X 10 portrait.  There will be sign-up sheets in the church so you can book appointments.  You can also call or email the church to set up appointments 780-481-1406 or spiritw@telus.net). Hurry – appointments are going fast!  We have 6 time slots left on Friday and 8 on Saturday. Each appointment will be 30 to 45 minutes long – 15 minutes for the photo session , then 15 to 30 minutes for you to choose the portrait to go in the directory.  You will be able to choose and purchase additional portraits, if desired. 

Spring Plant Sale

Plans for our "Annual Plant Sale" are underway!  Be sure to mark May 17 and 18 on your calendars and let your friends and neighbours know about our sale.  Any plants left over on Sunday the 19th will also be available for purchase by church members.  Bonnie Cannam is looking for volunteers to assist with this project.  We're also asking you to collect flats from pop or beer cans -- we'll need lots of them for buyers to transfer plants to their cars.

Messy Church: Pilot – June 1^st

Messy Church is an innovative way to be the Church in a way that appeals to all ages, particularly young families.  It is an opportunity to experience the stories of faith in a different way and time from the typical Sunday morning.  It is an experience of community time involving story and music, a variety of “messy” hands-on crafts and activities, a celebration and dinner.  We will be piloting “Messy Church” on Saturday, June 1st at 4:00pm.  Please spread the word to others who might enjoy this experience.  On June 1^st we will share the story of Noah in a number of ways.  If you want to know more about Messy Church, check our website www.spiritwest.org

Upcoming Movie Nites:

The next few movie nights are Friday, May 3, Friday, May 31 and Friday, June 28.                                 

If anyone has a suggestion of movies to see or wants more information, please call Marian at 780-487-2851 or church office at 780-481-1406.

Important Dates and Youth Events (Y)

Ø  April 30 – Board Meeting

Ø  May 3-4 – Pictorial Directory picture taking in the church

Ø  May 17-18 – Spring Plant Sale

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

 Norma Balcombe

Office Administrator

Spirit West United Church

7003 - 199st. Edmonton, AB T5T 3A8

phone:     (780) 481-1406

email:     spiritw@telus.net

website: www.spiritwest.org

 

April 21, 2013 - 4th Sunday of Easter

Greetings.

 

Worship
As the Easter Season continues, we look at the disciples of Jesus as they begin to understand what Christ’s resurrection means for them individually and for the people around them.  We are beginning to see the first signs of that developing community that will one day be the Church.

 

The Biblical stories we are going to hear are an account of Peter calling someone by name with amazing results  (Acts 9: 36-43), and a reflection on Jesus as the Shepherd whose sheep know his voice (John 10: 22-30).

The Sermon title is “Called by Name.”

 

We will also be welcoming Julia Bliss and Paul Graham into the family of God as their parents present them for baptism. 

 

Church Photo Directory

Save the dates of May 3 and 4 to get your picture taken and be part of the pictorial history of the church!  There is no cost to the church or to you (unless you want to get additional photos taken).  Everyone who participates gets a free directory.  There will be sing-up sheets in the church for the next two Sundays so you can book appointments.  You can also call or email the church to set up appointments 780-481-1406 or spiritw@telus.net). Each appointment will be 30 to 45 minutes long – 15 minutes for the photo session , then 15 to 30 minutes for you to choose the portrait to go in the directory.  You will be able to choose and purchase additional portraits, if desired. 

 

Follow up to the rEvolve Concert:

A big thank you goes out to Bonnie Cannam and the members of rEvolve for a wonderful concert last Sunday night.  About 120 people attended.

 

Messy Church: Pilot – June 1^st

Messy Church is an innovative way to be the Church in a way that appeals to all ages, particularly young families.  It is an opportunity to experience the stories of faith in a different way and time from the typical Sunday morning.  It is an experience of community time involving story and music, a variety of “messy” hands-on crafts and activities, a celebration and dinner.  We will be piloting “Messy Church” on Saturday, June 1st at 4:00pm.  Please spread the word to others who might enjoy this experience.  On June 1^st we will share the story of Noah in a number of ways.  If you want to know more about Messy Church, check our website www.spiritwest.org

 

Upcoming Movie Nites:

The next few movie nights are Friday, May 3, Friday, May 31 and Friday, June 28.                                        

If anyone has a suggestion of movies to see or wants more information, please call Marian at 780-487-2851 or church office at 780-481-1406.

 

 

Important Dates and Youth Events (Y)

Ø  April 23 – Operations Meeting

Ø  April 25 – Hospitality Meeting

Ø  April 30 – Board Meeting

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

 Larry

April 14, 2013 - 3rd Sunday of Easter

Greetings.

Worship
Now that we are in the Season of Easter, the scripture readings tell of encounters with the Risen Christ.  This Sunday we are looking at the call of two very different followers of Jesus.  One is Peter, who after the crucifixion decides to go back to what he knows, fishing.  His plans are changed by an encounter with Christ.  The other is Paul, formerly the Christian-hating Saul of Tarsus, who has an encounter with Christ on his way to Damascus to round up Christians.  Both these men were significant in the development of the early church.  But they were very different, and their experiences of the risen Christ were very different.  At times the two men did not even agree on what was best for the developing community of believers.  But they were both called to be apostles, “sent out” by God through Christ to proclaim the Gospel.  It takes all kinds to make a church.

The Biblical stories we are going to hear are that of Saul/Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 9: 1-20), and Peter’s encounter with Christ on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Tiberius) (John 21: 1-19).

With the children, I will be looking at what it means to grow and change, with the help of an old friend of mine, the Winky-Blinky Fire Truck.  The Sermon title is “You’ve got a call!”

For those of you who were in church last Sunday and watched as Glenna and I tried to find the missing Scripture reading, it was Mark 3: 16.

Sunday School

This week we learn of Peter's betrayal denying Jesus as his friend.  Do we do that to our friends?  We also learn of a crow's bellow.  Bring your happy faces.

rEvolve Concert:  Music to Renew the Soul

The Edmonton/United Church based group  rEvolve will play in concert at Spirit West United Church this Sunday, April 14 at 7:00pm.  Bring your whole family, your friends, your neighbours! 

Messy Church: Pilot – June 1^st

Messy Church is an innovative way to be the Church in a way that appeals to all ages, particularly young families.  It is an opportunity to experience the stories of faith in a different way and time from the typical Sunday morning.  It is an experience of community time involving story and music, a variety of “messy” hands-on crafts and activities, a celebration and dinner.  We will be piloting “Messy Church” on Saturday, June 1st at 4:00pm.  Please spread the word to others who might enjoy this experience.  On June 1^st we will share the story of Noah in a number of ways.  If you want to know more about Messy Church, check our website www.spiritwest.org

 Important Dates and Youth Events (Y)

F Sunday, April  14 – rEvolve Concert – Music to renew the Soul, 7:00 pm

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

 Larry

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

Minister
Spirit West United Church
780-481-1406
Spiritwest.minister@telus.net
Spiritwest.org

April 7, 2013 - 2nd Sunday of Easter; Holy Humour Sunday

Greetings.

We are now in the Easter Season.  The “Hallelujahs” are back!

Worship
This Sunday is Holy Humour Sunday.  Now there are a number of people who don’t think the Bible, faith or religion are the subjects for levity, but I think they are wrong.  God has given us the ability to laugh, and we need to know that God laughs (and why).  The order of Service this Sunday will be a bit different, more like Cinnamon Bun Sunday, but we will be upstairs and there will be Sunday School for the children.  The Hot Cross Buns will be served after the Service.  But rather than one Sermon, there will be three stories from the Bible where there is laughter with a short reflection on each.  The music will be very upbeat.

The three Biblical stories I am going to look at are the Promise and Birth of Isaac to Sarah (Genesis 18: 9-15, 21: 1-3, 6-7), Psalm 126, and the naming of Peter (Mark 1: 40-42, Matthew 16: 15-18)

rEvolve Concert:  Music to Renew the Soul

The Edmonton/United Church based group  rEvolve will play in concert at Spirit West United Church on Sunday, April 14 at 7:00pm.  Mark it on your calendar.  This concert will be the launch for rEvolve’s new CD.  Bring your whole family, your friends, your neighbours!  To help you share the news of this event, posters are available in the Church Office that you can put up in your area.

Messy Church: Pilot – June 1^st

Messy Church is an innovative way to be the Church in a way that appeals to all ages, particularly young families.  It is an opportunity to experience the stories of faith in a different way and time from the typical Sunday morning.  It is an experience of community time involving story and music, a variety of “messy” hands-on crafts and activities, a celebration and dinner.  We will be piloting “Messy Church” on Saturday, June 1st at 4:00pm.  Please spread the word to others who might enjoy this experience.  On June 1^st we will share the story of Noah in a number of ways.  If you want to know more about Messy Church, check our website www.spiritwest.org

Hunger Games Foodraising

Today I delivered 71 kg of food (and some personal care items) to the Edmonton Food Bank from our Hunger Games Foodraising Bin.  Way to go, Spirit West! Don’t forget to bring in your food.  The drive goes until June of this year.

 Important Dates and Youth Events (Y)

Other Dates

F Sunday, April  7 – Heavenly Humour Sunday  – The Joy of Salvation, 10:30am
F Sunday, April  14 – rEvolve Concert – Music to renew the Soul, 7:00 pm

  Thank you for taking the time to read this,

 God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me (Genesis 21: 6)

 Larry

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

Minister

Spirit West United Church

780-481-1406

Spiritwest.minister@telus.net

Spiritwest.org