In the Community

Many elderly and some younger people in our society live in Long Term Care institutions when they are no longer able to live independently. Many have reason to be downhearted and lose optimism and faith. Some miss their old church communities where they worshipped and were spiritually nourished. Some were not churchgoers at all, but everyone is in need of hope and encouragement each day.

St. Andrew’s holds a monthly service at Brentwood including a welcome, a collect, a short reading or psalm, a few prayers and several well-known older hymns. The residents appreciate the music and spending time with the volunteers. Some have requested prayer for friends or relatives for whom they have concerns. In turn, we enjoy getting to know the residents individually and worshipping together.

Once or twice a year, St. Andrew’s holds focused discussions around topics which are important to society or to the church. In the past, we have discussed and debated issues such as physician-assisted dying, same-sex marriage and what ancient heresies can teach the modern Christian. We generally ask experts in the topic at issue to offer their thoughts and encourage the community to weigh in with their ideas. For more information on past topics, see here .

In Alberta, one in ten individuals experience food insecurity, with 17% of children living in food-insecure households. In Calgary, 47% of Calgary Food Bank clients are families with children. The Calgary Food Bank is the first line of emergency food support for families and individuals facing crisis.

St. Andrew’s organizes a regular monthly drive to collect food and money for the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank. In 2017, St. Andrew’s donated $300 in cash and over 1000lbs of food (of which almost 200lbs was baby food). Please contact Carole Thomson for more information.

Services are conducted at Foothills Hospital on a twice yearly basis. Anyone can attend and we enjoy fellowship with several patients and their families. Volunteers are welcome.  Contact Susan Chivers.

The members of the prayer chain offer up prayer for those who request it either for themselves or on behalf of others. If you feel that you can offer yourself for this ministry please contact Susan Chivers.

Sometimes all a person needs is a hot meal to get them through the day. For over a decade, St. Andrew’s has been serving meals on a monthly basis at the Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre. In this way, we support the Centre’s mission of providing shelter, housing, and wrap-around supports to Calgary’s most vulnerable people. Volunteers are always welcome! Please contact Carole Thomson.

The prayer shawl ministry is a group of eight creative ladies who lovingly knit or crochet prayer shawls for friends, family, and member of the congregation. Shawls are made for those in need as well as baptismal candidates.  To join this group please contact Hilda Cox or Pauline Booth.