Thursday, October 23, 2014

October 26, 2014 - Pentecost 20 - Reformation Sunday


Greetings,

Sunday Worship
This Sunday is Reformation Sunday.  It is the Sunday nearest (but before) October 31st, which is not Hallowe’en (well it is, really) but the anniversary in 1517 of Martin Luther’s posting (nailing not downloading) of his 95 Theses (complaints/concerns) against the Roman Church to the door of the Castle Chapel in Wittenberg, Germany.  This date is used to mark the start of what we now call the Protestant Reformation.  As a product of the Reformation, the United Church has often been sensitive to the call to the Church to re-form itself to meet the challenges of the current age.  I will be looking in part at an idea proposed by Bishop Mark Dyer and further developed by theologian Phyllis Tickle, that every 500 years in the history of the Christian community there has been a tremendous shift in how “the Church” is understood by the people who claim the Christian faith.  The Reformation, begun 497 years ago, is considered to have been the most recent of these shifts.  Note the timing.

The readings this Sunday are,  Jeremiah 31: 31-34, Revelation 21:1-3, 5-6 and John 8: 31-36.  The Time for All Ages Story is “Do I have to change?” and the Sermon title is “I am making all things new”
COMING EVENTS
Men’s Breakfast
The men of Spirit West will get together for Breakfast this Saturday at 8:00 am in the Lower Hall.  After breakfast the men will be setting up for the Fall Supper.

Fall Supper and Silent Auction
Our annual Fall Supper and Silent Auction is this Sunday, Oct 26 at 5:30 pm in the Lower Hall.  Come out for a great meal and a fun time for the whole family.  As a Special Treat, dessert will include Apple Pie made from the apples from Spirit West’s own Apple Trees! There are some tickets still available, call the church office to reserve you place. Tickets are Adults - $25, Youth (12-18) - $15, Children (7-11) - $10 and Under 7 – free.  You can purchase tickets from Janice, at church, or by calling the church office to reserve.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Join us in using cunning stealth and covert organization, to surprise our phenomenal Spirit West chefs.  Only at the ring of their doorbell, should they discover who will join them for dinner on their chosen night of gastronomical delights!! This fund-raiser for the church will take place during the month of November! It is a terrific time to enjoy a fabulous meal and fellowship. Those who wish to host a dinner are asked to contact conveners Bill Callas at 780-481-2662 or Sheila Hoy at 780-960-3878. We need at least 3 more hosts!  Hosts need to indicate the dates and times of their dinners and the number of guests they will be hosting. If there is a theme for the evening, this should also be provided.  Guests will have the opportunity on Oct. 26th to select where they will dine and to provide any dietary restrictions to the conveners (who will secretly pass on the information to the hosts).  A free will offering, in envelopes, will be collected by the host.  A minimum offering of $25.00 per person is suggested.  Please plan on attending one of these sensational evening parties and generously supporting our church.

Estate Sale
The generosity of Lou Punko lives on in that she has donated all her fibre and arts materials to raise money so that students of fibre arts can pursue their work. For sale, will be a variety of fabrics, battings, wool, thread, magazines, notions, beads, etc. The estate sale will take place at John Punko’s house, 18540-53 A Ave., on the following dates:
·       Thur., Oct. 23 from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
·       Fri., Oct. 24 from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
·       Sat., Oct. 25 from 10:00 - 5:00 p.m.

The Spirit West Official Board and Committees
At the Congregational Meeting after the Service on Sunday, Nov. 16, we will be electing and confirming those who will serve on the Official Board of Spirit West United Church.  

For the Elective positions, (Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Presbytery Representative) we have had people come forward to let their names stand.  We also try to elect a Vice-chair, who serves as chair of the Operations Committee and is willing to subsequently offer their name as chair.  But the majority of our Church Board is composed of those who represent as chairs/coordinators the various committees that do the work of our church day to day.  While we have had little trouble in getting people to do the work in committee, finding those who will serve as chairs/coordinators has been very difficult. Below is a list of the offices and committees, with the names of the people who are willing to be (or continue as) chair/coordinator for 2015.  You will note that there are significant vacancies.

Chair of the Board – Gerry Maciejko
Vice Chair/Operations - no nominee for 2015
Secretary – Norma Balcombe
Treasurer – Marjorie Hewitt
Presbytery Representative – Edina Tillotson

The committees of our Board are:
Community Care - no nominee for 2015
Operations/Board Vice-Chair - no nominee for 2015
Outreach – no nominee for 2015
Stewardship - no nominee for 2015
Communications – Bonnie Skaalid
Faith Formation and Education – Anne Dingwell and Edina Tillotson
Membership and Hospitality – Bill Callas
Ministry and Personnel – John Punko
Worship – Margaret Benson. 

People are needed for these committees.  If you are currently not on the Board or a committee, please give your prayerful consideration to how you can share your gifts and talents in the congregation.

Spirit West Prayer Chain
Spirit West has a Prayer Chain, a group of people who have committed to continue our prayers of concern from Sunday through the week.  To be part of this ministry, email your request to spiritwest.prayerchain@gmail.com .  You may also email a request for prayer to the same email address.  If you would prefer to talk to someone, you can call Marian T. at 780-487-2851 or Bonnie C. at 780-444-2230.

Office Hours
-  Monday to Friday 9:30 – 2:30
-  Norma => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Monday to Thursday
-  Larry => 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday

See you on Sunday!

Larry

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

 

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