At a Glance – Sunday, November 22, 2020

Diocesan Update on In-Person Worship
The Diocese has informed us that all in-person activities and worship services are cancelled until further notice. The letter from the Covid Task Force can be read here.

ADVENT begins soon – Sunday, November 29. That means it’s time to find your advent wreath, or collect items to create one at home for the first time. In addition to our regular Sunday morning Zoom worship, you can expect to receive daily devotions “first thing” each morning in your inbox.

The church remains open for regular office hours. There is a visitor sign-in log at the front table that we ask you sign upon entry, once you have sanitized.

Before you come by St. Andrew’s, for any reason, please self-monitor for possible symptoms of Covid-19 by reviewing this document.

Vegetables!
Steve Cebuliak has stopped by to drop off the last batch of vegetables for this season from his farm. Feel free to pick some up from the church narthex. (byob – bring your own bag!) Thank you Steve!!

Fall Stewardship Update
St Andrew’s continues to be financially sound at the end of September with slightly more income than expenses due to grant money. Parishioner donations have been lower this year ($25,000 below planned budget and $10,000 less than 2019), however we have received two grants from the diocese this year and also the Federal Government Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy. This kept our income stable, while we reduced our expenses.

We continue to work toward getting roof repairs done, but it has been difficult to get bidders given the extensive repair work in NE Calgary due to the severe hail storm there earlier this year. Depending on what the cost estimate is, we expect to use money from the building fund. If costs exceed that, we will approach the parish for financial contributions to ensure the roof work is completed.

If you need assistance with anything or know someone who does, please don’t hesitate to contact Christine or the Wardens.

Christine, Dick and Dave

Create:Church
As the fall season deepens in October, we turn (with the leaves) to reflect on the many losses we are experiencing this year. Guided by the ancient poetry of psalms, we will Create:Church in Queen’s Park Cemetery with an hour of discussion and contemplation in community, ending with night prayers.
Join us Wednesdays in October beginning at 7pm and then we’ll commemorate All Hallows Eve at 4pm on Sat. Oct 31. We will meet in the parking lot of the Calgary Crematorium (3219 4 St. NW) and then gather nearby. Please dress for the weather and bring your own chair (if desired) and light source. In this time of Covid, we will gather with physical distance.

Attention Knitters!
St Edmund’s needs knitted children’s mittens for their Christmas hampers. If you can knit some mittens  – or even donate – they would be most welcome.
Mittens can be brought to the church or you can arrange for them to be picked up. Please contact Hilda Cox or Carole Thomson for more information.

Christmas Outreach In the Time of Covid
St. Edmunds Food Bank has continued to provide food hampers for those in need during this difficult time.  Shopping for the Christmas Hampers will start in three weeks and monetary donations would greatly help that endeavour.  Cheques need to be made out to St. Edmunds Church with a memo that the donation be directed to the Food Bank ( 8336 34 Ave NW, Calgary,AB T3B 1R2).  St. Ed’s is also short on kids mitts for the hampers as well.
Aventa continues to run at full capacity during Covid and clients have not been allowed visitors, so staff have worked creatively to keep clients busy during what would have been visiting times.  Since we are not able to have our Women’s Dinner this year, there will be a donation box in the narthex for Aventa.  Unwrapped gifts of toiletries, gloves, hats, slippers, craft supplies etc have been given in the past.  If you would like to donate but cannot travel to the church, Carole Thomson can do pick ups.
Drop In Centre  The DI meal/kitchen process is changed and very structured due to Covid.  The best way to gift the DI Kitchen this year is through their online donation portal  CalgaryDropIn.ca (in the comment section put Hunger Relief), or by a cheque made out to the Calgary Drop In Centre/Hunger Relief (1 Dermot Baldwin Way SE, Calgary AB T2G 0P8).  By adding “Hunger Relief” the donation will be designated to the kitchen.

Adopt-a-Plant
Wendy Taylor needs to find a home for this little Hoya plant.  If you would like to adopt please contact the office at standrw1@telus.net.

PWRDF
On Saturday, August 8, 2020 the Government of Canada launched a dedicated Matching Fund for the Lebanon crisis that will double the contributions of Canadians and support the relief work of the members of Canada’s Humanitarian Coalition, including the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Through its membership in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, PWRDF will be participating in the Humanitarian Coalition appeal to support people of Lebanon through this crisis. Please go to the link below to read the update and to donate.

https://pwrdf.org/donations-for-lebanon-eligible-for-humanitarian-coalition-
match-through-membership-in-foodgrains-bank

PWRDF World of Gifts
World of Gifts will be coming soon to Journal subscribers! In the meantime, please browse the gift guide online at pwrdf.org/worldofgifts? Gifts can be made online anytime!

Did You Know…?
We have copies of the personal devotions “Our Daily Bread” at the church for  for September through to November.  They can be picked up in the narthex if you’re at the church or we can drop one in the mail for you if you contact us!

Society of Saint John the Evangelist
Short reflections are published weekly. The latest is about “enlarging your perspective.” It can be found here.

Stolen Words: The Nazi Plunder of Jewish Books
On Wednesday evening, November 25, Rabbi Mark Glickman of Temple B’Nai Tikvah will share the story told in his book, Stolen Words: The Nazi Plunder of Jewish Books, at 7:00 pm via Zoom.

Turbulent 2020s: A Theological Field Guide had its last session earlier this week. Videos of sessions are still available.
Session #1.
Session #2.
Session #3.
Session #4.
Session #5.