Announcements
Faith in the Time of Covid – Join a bible study/discussion group to reflect and connect about our experience of this difficult time. We will meet in person for 5 weeks beginning Tuesday October 6 at 10 am. Please register as numbers are limited and familiarize yourself with the policies and protocols for groups using the lower hall. Contact Susan Chivers (chiverss@telus.net or 403-247-4011) for more information and to register.
Evening Prayer – For a time of quiet reflection, attend a traditional (BCP), spoken service of Evening Prayer on Wednesdays at 4 pm, beginning Oct. 7.
Please familiarize yourself with the policies and protocols for attending in-person worship by clicking here.
NOTE: To ensure your spot, register by phone (403-282-3234) or email (standrw1@telus.net) by 3pm Tuesday. We cannot exceed Covid capacity, so you could be turned away if you have not RSVP’d.
We are in need of volunteer ushers and greeters for this (and future) services. Please contact Pat Kover (pakover@telus.net; 403-968-0520)
for information about training.
Before you come by St. Andrew’s, for any reason, please self-monitor for possible symptoms of Covid-19 by reviewing this document.
Zoom Choir!
Nancy will be holding Zoom singing practice on Thursday evenings at 7pm from October 1st so all can join in from the comfort of home! This is for choir members and all others who have missed singing and wish to join in.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81994349811?pwd=M3daZUxScFltRERqOTRuc1VRZVMvQT09
Meeting ID: 819 9434 9811
Passcode: 794463
Message from the Bishop
The Diocese has released guidelines and timeline for parishes wishing to seek permission to resume in-person worship. Parish leadership will be reviewing it, so stay tuned for more information about how we plan to proceed. The Archbishop’s letter and parish checklist can be read by clicking here.
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.
St. Andrew’s Basement Light Replacement Project – November
Can you work off ladders? Do you like to tear down old light fixtures and paint ceilings, then put up new light fixtures?
Well thanks to a donation of newer LED lights by Paul Fritz and the construction of new support boxes by Pat Mosca, we can now proceed with replacing the old fluorescent light fixtures in the basement.
So If you can help, then sign up by sending Kate an email at standrw1@telus.net and we will form work teams and arrange for an installation day where we all work safely together observing Covid protocols.
Dave and Dick
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.
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.
Wisdom Centre:
Wednesdays, September 30 – October 28, 2020 1:30 – 3:00 pm
The Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee and The Rev. Christine Conkin will be joined (through short videos) by some of the biggest voices in the theological/religious landscape today to struggle and laugh our way towards theology to see us through the spiritual, political, cultural, and ecological challenges the 2020s promise to bring.
Please register by emailing Kelly at St. Laurence
All sessions will be online and there is no fee for registration.
Videos of sessions are now available. Click here for session #1.
Click here for session #2. Click here for session #3.
Bowness Food Network: Free Lunch Program!
Help us continue to connect kids in Calgary with a stable source of food – daily bagged lunches! 100% of funds raised will go directly to students, families and individuals in need.
On March 16, 2020 Alberta schools were forced to close due to COVID-19. Within the community of Bowness, a uniquely socioeconomically diverse area of the city, this closure resulted in the loss of up to two meals a day for many students and their families, many of whom relied on accessing breakfast and lunch at school each day. With this sudden loss in food stability, teachers in Bowness jumped into action to organize food access to impacted families. To learn more about this group and to donate go to https://ca.gofundme.com/f/yyc-lunches-distribution.
Drop In Centre
The Donation/Recycling Centre at 3640 11thA St. N.E. is still open (reduced hours and staff) and is accepting clothing, bottles/cans and furniture (no electronics at this time). It is open Mon.-Fri. , 8:30 to 3:30.
If you have clothing/bottle/can donations but are unable to transport them, Carole and Dave T are able to transport for you.
Donations
Church operations are obviously much different than they were just a few months ago, but we’re not closed! We are most grateful for your continued donations. If you normally donate by cheque, you can send it by mail. Pre-authorized debit continues and you can join or make adjustments by contacting John MacKinnon (johnm9@telus.net). We also have an “account” with CanadaHelps you can access here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/129209680RR0001-st-andrews-anglican-church/
Praying with PWRDF
This is an excellent opportunity for us to make connections during this time of isolation. We can come together by praying with each other from parishes across the county, with PWRDF staff and most importantly with and for our partners.
All the recordings from the past few weeks of prayers can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoQP475xxXQAyzjoXtC0ykA
To register for upcoming sessions, please click the following link: https://bit.ly/PWRDFPrayers
