Thursday August 10, 2023

Scripture Summary

Matthew 14:22-33 

The storm clouds have arisen onto the lives of Jesus and the disciples. John the Baptist has been killed in a vicious attack. Accusations against John were that “miraculous powers were at work in him.” In the end, it became evident that miraculous powers were now at work through Jesus. He gave spiritual food to thousands, healed all the sick that were brought to Him, and held out his hand to save Peter. 

Humour Corner 

A little boy was kneeling beside his bed with his mother and grandmother and softly saying his prayers, "Dear God, please bless Mummy and Daddy and all the family and please give me a good night's sleep."

Suddenly he looked up and shouted, "And don't forget to give me a bicycle for my birthday!!" "There is no need to shout like that," said his mother. "God isn't deaf." "No," said the little boy, "but Grandma is."

Membership Announcements

Membership Notes:

If you have milestones you are celebrating, let us know and we will make sure it gets in the Enews (significant birthdays, anniversaries, births, graduations, weddings).

We are still looking for people to sign up to serve refreshments after worship in August. Please sign up with the sign up sheets by th sanctuary door.

SAFE FOOD HANDLING PROGRAM

Our certification needs to be updated this fall and if we have minimum of 10 people we can write the exam at St. Andrew’s for a fee of $10.00 per person. Anyone dealing with organizations that hold community dinners or the like that need to be certified may attend. We can accommodate 10-20 people.

I need to know how many are interested before Sept. and I will send the link to the manual. This is pretty much common sense material and the multiple choice exam usually takes no longer than an hour. We are looking at a Wednesday in October perhaps over the lunch hour to accommodate any who are working. 

Contact the St. Andrew’s office if you wish to participate.

St. Andrew's Announcements

Community Announcements

Your Generosity Settles Families

“They opened the gate for me; I have no words"

Credit: Provided by Almaz Fesshaye

When Almaz Fesshaye and her two young children arrived in Canada in 1991, they did not know what to expect. None of them knew the language or culture but hoped and prayed that Canada would be a safer place than Eritrea, a war-torn country in Eastern Africa.

Leaving Eritrea could have meant the difference between life and death. “Everyone had to be a soldier,” Almaz describes, before sharing the sombre note that “people have died trying to escape.” She was devastated to have to flee her home and frightened by not knowing what would come next.

When Almaz and her two children—then aged four and six—arrived in Alberta, they were greeted with warmth and love by members of Gaetz Memorial United Church. “They opened the gate for me; I have no words,” she says with gratitude. “They changed my life, starting from getting furniture, renting a place to live, helping me with the language, and support for my kids.”

Almaz describes the congregation and community as “selfless and kind.” The church was one block from the family’s new home, and Almaz says, “My son was very forgetful, so I gave the church secretary an extra key.”

Now settled in Red Deer, Alberta, Almaz is joyfully giving back to her community. She works in social services and offers her time as a volunteer with local programs that help people experiencing homelessness and poverty. She is also passionate about helping other refugees learn the local culture and language.

Your gifts to Mission and Service help support life-changing programming and staffing to support families seeking safety.

Almaz has some words for anyone considering supporting refugee programs through Mission and Service: “Don’t think twice! It doesn’t have to be millions—whatever you give means a lot. If it is financial, educational, time, knowledge, it means a lot. You are saving the lives of human beings and making the world better.”