February 1, 2015 - Fourth Sunday in Epiphany with communion

Greetings

Sunday Worship

This Sunday we begin looking at Jesus’ ministry.  The Gospel reading recounts the story of Jesus healing a man at the Synagogue in Capernaum.  In the reading, the healing takes the form of what we might call an “exorcism.”  The man is freed from the tormenting grip of an evil spirit.  At one point the spirit becomes quite angry with Jesus, it challenges Jesus’ purpose and authority and says, “What have you to do with us?”   I would like to explore the call of God to challenge the evil we see in the world, to call it out, even if our purpose and authority as the Church is challenged.  Think about the criticism leveled at Pope Francis when he suggests that the way the world or the church are working may not be in line with the Gospel.

The readings for Sunday are Deuteronomy 18: 15-20  and Mark 1: 21-28.   In the Time for all Ages will talk about bullying as a type of evil control with “..made me do it.” The Sermon is titled “What have you to do with us?”

We will be celebrating Communion at this Service.

Congregational Meetings

There will be a Congregational Budget Meeting on Sunday, February 8, 2015, immediately following the Service.  At this meeting we will approve the 2015 budget for Spirit West. 

The Congregational General Meeting will follow the Service on Sunday February 22, 2015.  At this meeting we will review the Annual Report and take any actions necessary to guide the work of our congregation for the coming year.

MESSY CHURCH

We hope to hold a Messy Church based on the story of Jonah within the next month or so.  Watch this space for more details.  If you are interested in helping with it please let me know as soon as possible. 

 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

Remember to check us out on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/SpirtWestUnitedChurch

See you on Sunday!

Larry

January 25, 2015 - Third Sunday in Epiphany

Greetings

Sunday Worship

Again this Sunday, the readings focus on “call.”  The first reading comes from the book of Jonah.  Now most of us remember Jonah as the one who was swallowed by the whale (or big fish.)    Jonah was trying to run away from God, an action which apparently was neither smart or effective.  But, I am not sure how many of us remember or know what happened to Jonah after the whale incident.  God still wanted the original mission accomplished.  Sunday’s reading speaks to that.  We will also hear a brief passage recounting the call by Jesus to four who became disciples.

The readings for Sunday are Jonah 3: 1-10  and Mark 1: 43-51.   In the Time for all Ages will look talk about the fact that “Jonah had a job to do.” The Sermon is titled “Reluctant prophet”

The Job’s Daughters of the Edmonton area will be with us and taking part in the service.

Congregational Meetings

There will be a Congregational Budget Meeting on Sunday, February 8, 2015, immediately following the Service.  At this meeting we will approve the 2015 budget for Spirit West. 

The Congregational General Meeting will follow the Service on Sunday February 22, 2015.  At this meeting we will review the Annual Report and take any actions necessary to guide the work of our congregation for the coming year.

MESSY CHURCH

We hope to hold a Messy Church based on the story of Jonah within the next month or so.  Watch this space for more details.  If you are interested in helping with it please let me know as soon as possible. 

 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

Remember to check us out on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/SpirtWestUnitedChurch

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

January 18, 2015 - Second Sunday in Epiphany and the start of the week of Prayer for Chrisitan Unity

Greetings

Sunday Worship

Having moved quickly from Christmas, through Epiphany to the Baptism of Jesus, this Sunday we will begin looking at Jesus earthly ministry.  We will start by looking  at Jesus "calling" his first disciples.  And this week we will look at the call to two rather less well know disciples, Phillip and Nathanael.   Nathanael has a rather unique response to Phillip's assertion that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah.  He basically says, "Nazareth,eh.  Does anything good ever come from Nazareth?”  We will also look at a previous call to another prophet, Samuel, who is confused by what he hears.  What is God's call like?  

The readings for Sunday are I Samuel 3:1-10 and John 1: 43-51.   The Sermon is titled “When God Calls”

We will also welcoming Caiden, son of Ryan and Alissa into the family of God through Baptism.

MESSY CHURCH

We hope to hold a Messy Church based on the story of Jonah within the next month or so.  Watch this space for more details.  If you are interested in helping with it please let me know as soon as possible. 

MEN’S BREAKFAST

The men of Spirit West will be joining for breakfast this Saturday, Jan 17 at 8:00 am in the lower hall.

 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

 

Remember to check us out on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/SpirtWestUnitedChurch

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

January 11, 2015 - Baptism of Jesus

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I figure I can say that as the year is only a week old, and this is the first eMessage of 2015

Sunday Worship

This Sunday is called Baptism of the Lord Sunday.  There is not very much in the Bible about Jesus as a boy growing up. (exactly one story, Luke 2: 41-52) and in this year’s lectionary we don’t get that one.  So this Sunday we make the rapid leap from the Magi visiting the baby to Jesus’ baptism as an adult by John.  We have jumped about thirty years.  But this Sunday, I am going to take a look at John the Baptist.  All the gospels see John as the forerunner of the Messiah fulfilling a passage in Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3): “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”(Matt. 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4 and John 1:23)  To see that unanimity among all four gospels is unusual.  Not only is he mentioned in the Gospels, he is also mentioned by the first century Jewish/Roman historian Flavius Josephus.  So, who was John?  I will explore who John was, and his impact and influence on the followers of Jesus, then and now.

The readings for Sunday are Acts 19: 1-7 and Mark 1: 4-11.  The Time for All Ages is called “Wash before you...”* and the Sermon is titled “John the Baptizer appeared.”

*this discussion is going to centre on Baptism, and I would ask that if you can bring in photos of your/your child’s baptism, that would be great.

MESSY CHURCH

We hope to hold a Messy Church based on the story of Jonah within the next month or so.  Watch this space for more details.  If you are interested in helping with it please let me know as soon as possible. 

MEN’S BREAKFAST

The men of Spirit West will be joining for breakfast on Saturday, Jan 17 at 8:00 am in the lower hall.

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CONGREGATION

An exciting new rental! The Seventh Day Adventists are starting a new worship group in our area.  We have successfully negotiated with them to start renting our church every Saturday for 1 year beginning on January 24^th.  The group will use the sanctuary and lounge from 9 am to 12:30 pm, then move downstairs for lunch and meetings until 3:00 pm.  This rental will contribute greatly to our church finances.

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

  Remember to check us out on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/SpirtWestUnitedChurch

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