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Ralph Connor Memorial United Church Weekly
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SECTIONS
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Greetings!
We hope to
see you at Church on Sunday February 3
, 2019
CONTRIBUTING TO SUNDAY 10:00 AM WORSHIP
Greeters: Margaret Claveau & Karen Parmiter
Worship Leader: Ian Schofield
Children's Church: Joan VonEngelbrechten
Fellowship/Coffee Time: Jan Dougall
Musical Director: Tanya Sullivan
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NEWS & COMING EVENTS
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THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd
We welcome Rev. Bill Millar to the Pulpit for three months. Bill will be the Supervising Minister of RCMUC during this time, attending to pastoral care needs and all aspects of Church life as well as Sunday services.
Rev. Greg Wooley will be on Sabbatical from February 1 returning to the Church on May 1.
Come to Worship and meet Bill and welcome him to our Church.
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DOOR CODE CHANGE
Last week, we changed the code on the side door of the church. If you are a code holder you would have received an email with the new code. If you did not receive this email and need to be added to the list and receive the new code please contact the office at [email protected]
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SABBATICAL PLANS
Greg's sabbatical begins on February 1. For the first few weeks, he will be "around town" (and, he hopes, on skis or snowshoes) before heading south for some baseball & a Richard Rohr event. In April he'll be on a Holy Week retreat, then back to RCMUC on May 1.
If you have Church-related emails during this time, please send them to the Office or to Bill Millar at
[email protected]
If you'd like to contact Greg his new email is
[email protected]
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WEDDING SHOWER FOR SEVAN
*A note to the Women of our congregation & community.
As mentioned at the annual meeting, Sevan Kahkejian, one of the family of six Syrian refugees sponsored by the Bow Valley Syria Refugee Project, an outreach Ministry of RCMUC, is getting married in March!!
A wedding shower for Sevan to celebrate this important event will take place at RCMUC in Gordon Hall,
this Saturday, February 2 at 4:00 pm.
Should you wish to attend, please bring a light fare savoury or sweet dish to share.
Sevan (and her new husband) will not be establishing a new household but will continue to reside with her parents Eklas and Srkis. For those who wish to give a gift, it is suggested that personal items, cash, gift cards, or items related to travel would be appropriate and particularly welcome. The couple have future hopes of visiting Stevan's sister in Armenia and Leon's mother in Australia.
Should you be unable to attend but wish to send cards and good wishes, please leave these with Sondy at the office.
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THANK YOU
Thank you to all who participated in the Annual General Meeting held after church service on Sunday, January 27, 2019.
Thank you to all for the support and encouragement who have extended to me as Chair and to the other elected members of Council. We will strive to continue the life and mission of Ralph Connor and stand on the shoulders of all who have come before. I especially want to thank Paul Elfner for his service as Co-Chair of Council. As junior co-chair I have appreciated his mentorship and knowledge during the past year and feel ready to assume the role of Chair. Thankfully, Paul will continue his commitment to Council and to the Church and serve as Vice-Chair. He will be involved in several major initiatives that will occupy Council and the congregation in 2019. Paul will continue as Chair of the Building / Heritage Committee as we develop and implement a program of exploration and consultation on reimaging our physical space. Paul will be active with the Affirm Process as we head to a possible vote later this year. Council will be exploring Clusters and Networks as we adapt to the new structure of the United Church of Canada. Paul will be involved with Affirm Calgary, a cluster of church congregations involved in the affirming process. However, I do want to take the time now to thank Paul for his continuing leadership.
Yes, 2019 will be an active year in the life of Ralph Connor. As we continue our existing programs and missions, we are open to new opportunities to serve the Church and the wider communities. To that end we will be exploring the issues of intercultural ministry with our Sabbatical Supply Minister, Bill Millar during the months of February, March and April. Join us after Church service on Sunday for an introduction to a 3 week program on Sundays after service tentatively call Open Out. What else can we do to better serve the Church and the wider community. If you have a thought, do not keep it to yourself. If you wish to share your talents, please step forward and volunteer. All of us on Council extend a welcome hand.
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CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
Children's Church and Toddler care for Sunday Services are key ways that we support the faith development of children, and hospitality to young families.
Children may go to Children's Church after the first hymn and return later in the service in time for the anthem. We are making a couple of adjustments to the Sunday service to give a bit more time for the Children's Church lesson, and a bit less back-in-the service time.
Easy to lead lessons are ready for use, in the upstairs cupboard.
Please sign up on the Sunday clipboard to help!
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CHOIR REHEARSAL
Choir rehearsal each
Thursday at 7:30 pm.
New members are welcome to join us!
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Evensong, our contemplative mid-week service. Join us each
Wednesday at 7:15 for this contemplative service.
We hope to see you there!
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ALPINE VOICES THRESHOLD CHOIR
Rehearses the second and fourth Monday of each month from 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the sanctuary. Threshold Choir singing is described as "kindness made audible".
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CYAN - Canmore Young Adult Network
Wednesdays 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm until May 29 -
CYAN YOGA NIGHT - at the Canmore Opera House
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BVSRP UPDATE
Great news from the Bow Valley Syria Refugee Project! The application process for Waill and Dana Tatari (in Malaysia) has actually begun to move forward after over a year of waiting - a big interview is coming up next month.
The BVSRP (an outreach Ministry of RCMUC with terrific community participation) is working on a number of fundraising initiatives, and always welcome monetary donations at
http://bowvalleysyria.ca/donate/
To see a lovely Christmas video from Dana and Waill, see
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from our AFFIRMING MINISTRY COMMITTEE ...
Simply Having a Gay Straight Alliance Reduces Suicide Risk for All Students
In schools with GSA's heterosexual boys were half as likely to attempt suicide.
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NEW PAGE ON THE WEBSITE
The Affirming Committee now has their own page on the Ralph Connor website.
This features upcoming events in the community and they are
excited to be offering some new events and programs over the course of 2019 celebrating our diversity and inclusion.
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CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITH BILL MILLAR
Bill Millar, your gap minister while Greg is on sabbatical, has been doing research for the United Church on helping out church communities open themselves to the increasing cultural diversity of Canada.
This process includes opening to newcomer populations, but also indigenous, LGBTQ+, youth and others.
Bill is hoping that RCMUC will help shape that research and resource and is inviting everyone to share in a conversation following worship on Sunday February 3rd (Bill's first Sunday at RCMUC). You can also check out some of this research at enmeso.ca or on Facebook
[En Meso Intercultural Research]."
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HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED AS A SUNDAY HELPER?
Help us weekly and contribute to our Sunday Service, it is easy!
Just sign up on the clipboard during Sunday Worship or after at Coffee time, then go to our website at
http://ralphconnor.ca/volunteering/ and
view or download the duty sheet for the position you have selected for instructions.
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click on the image to go to the webpage
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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
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UKULELE
Uke class each Thursday in the Sanctuary.
Newbie class starts at 5:00 pm and Vets are at 6:00 pm. If you would like to join and learn the Ukulele just show up at 5:00 pm.
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SEE CATHY ROBINSON AT THE OPERA "EVEREST"
Cathy Robinson will be performing with the Calgary Opera in this ground breaking new Opera "Everest"
Robin Slater has secured a 20% discount for those interested in attending event o
n Wednesday February 6 at 7:30 pm
. If you wish to attend
call the Jubilee Auditorium Box office at 403 262-7286 and get your tickets.
Use the discount code "Mountain20".
This Opera will also be performed on Feb 2 and 8 - but please note that the code is good for the Feb 6 performance only.
In 1996 a group of mountain climbers sets out to conquer the world's highest peak, but their adventure takes a tragic turn when a surprise storm traps them in one of the most dangerous places on earth.
Chronicling the events of the 1996 Mount Everest tragedy made famous by Jon Krakauer's bestselling book Into Thin Air and the recent blockbuster film, this daring musical odyssey is equal parts suspenseful thriller and a moving tribute to the sport of mountaineering and the brave men and women whose drive and ambition push them to extraordinary heights.
EVEREST PRELUDE
The Calgary Opera is also having an evening of music and conversation with "Everest" composer Joby Talbot tormorrow, Friday Feb 1, at 7:30 pm at the Jubilee Auditorium.
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NEED A HOUSESITTER WHILE YOU ARE ON VACATION?
One of our Choir members and Greeters Karen Parmiter has returned to Canmore this past year and working P/T plus exchanging House/Pet Sitting Services for negotiable Accommodations.
Has References and needs next place by
February 15th. To work out arrangement, call Karen's cell at 604-250-6982 or see her at coffee after church.
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INTERCULTURAL CHURCH SURVEY
Share your views! Can you spare a few minutes for an important new survey from the United Church? We want to know how the church is doing at becoming intercultural.
Our intercultural vision calls us to be radically welcoming, living together with a respectful awareness of our diversity. We are hoping for input from all the varied voices that make up our church. Reflect on your experience of church, good and bad, and offer suggestions for the future. The survey is open to anyone who is a part of a United Church congregation or community of faith.
You can find the survey online until February 22. Your experiences and suggestions are important for us! Please consider participating, and encourage others in your community of faith to participate as well.
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UN WORLD INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK
Feb 1-7 is the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week! In Calgary, the following events are planned:
- Opening Ceremony- January 31st at 6:30 pm at City Hall Atrium devoted to the theme of "I Choose Civility: Listening, Caring, and Engaging."
- Interfaith Prayer Breakfast- February 5th at 8:00 am at Beth Tzedec Congregation. Keynote speaker- Mayor Naheed Nenshi, on Civil Discourse.
- Closing Dinner- February 7th at 6:30 pm at the Church of Latter-Day Saints on 17th Ave. featuring dialogue, YYC Drummers, and launch of the Civility Pledge
The "Civility Pledge" information is posted on our bulletin board at RCMUC
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NEW UNITED CHURCH ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The new organizational structure of The United Church of Canada became official on January 1, 2019. Find out more about the new changes, including names of the regional councils, on the United Church website.
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NARAMATA PROGRAMS
Naramata (United Church Educational Centre in the Okanagan) has released their spring and summer programs list.
For all the programming visit the following pages.
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NARAMATA CENTRE'S YOUNG ADULT SUMMER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Naramata Centre's Young Adult Summer Leadership Program is now open for applications.
Youth and young adult leadership development is an integral part of
Naramata Centre's
mission in action. Our Young Adult Summer Leadership Program provides opportunities for young adults aged 18-30 to learn and grow in a paid live-in work setting. Through direct training, mentorship, and supported opportunities to lead, Young Adult Summer Leaders will have a chance to experience a range of functions and aspects of life at the Centre, while learning more about their own leadership and gifts.
Applications close February 17, 2019.
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