Ralph Connor Memorial
United Church
Weekly
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Friday, January 29, 2021
by Thursday at 11:00 AM
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FOR THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP Sunday, January 31, 2021
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
As usual, there will be online worship on YouTube at 10:00 AM Sunday, posted at the Ralph Connor Canmore YouTube channel,
This week’s gospel reading is Mark 1: 14-20 click here~
Worship will be followed by the 2020 RCMUC Annual General Meeting, on Zoom at 11:00 AM, Sunday January 31st. (Zoom login was emailed by Rev. Greg Wed Jan 27th. The AGM report is available for download click here~. |
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“Tuesday at Two”, an online Coffee and Conversation time, resumes this Tuesday afternoon, February 2nd at 2:00 PM (Groundhog Day!), regardless of what Wiarton Willie, Balzac Billie or Punxsutawney Phil have to say about this or any other matter!!
Zoom link will be sent out today, Jan 29th.
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FUNDING OUR MISSION
a Message from your Stewardship Committee
The mission of Ralph Connor Memorial United Church is:
• to nurture the spiritual exploration and growth of all our members and adherents;
• to be an intentionally inviting Christian community that seeks, welcomes and embraces new members;
• to reach out and become an agent for social justice in our neighborhood and in the global community.
We are grateful for the generous donations to support our local church, and for donations to Mission & Service to reach out to others in our community and around the world.
You can donate by:
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Evensong continues its 20th year, with a virtual gathering each Wednesday night at 7:15 PM. The weekly Evensong email invitation will include the Zoom link for this week's Evensong. If you are not on the Evensong email list, and would like to be, please email request to jan.tissandier@gmail.com. |
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To share a prayer concern with our Tuesday "Morning Prayer" and our Mon-Fri Healing Pathway Prayer Circle, please email Val Goodrow at v.goodrow@me.com and Rev. Greg Wooley at minister@ralphconnor.ca.
We request that the person gives consent to have their name mentioned in prayer as privacy/confidentiality is of utmost importance. We also would appreciate knowing when the situation changes and we can release them from our prayers or update the prayer to a changing need.
If you would like to join our Tuesday Morning Prayer group, which gathers on Zoom each Tuesday at 9 AM, please email Rev. Greg.
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We remember with gratitude the life of Helen Emery, who died on January 21st in her 103rd year.
We extend our sympathy to Rick, Trevor and Jeanette Davison, and all of Helen’s family and friends from here to Nova Scotia.
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Interrupting Bias
- artsPlace Online Cultural Learning Circle
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Wed. Feb. 3 at 6 pm FREE
We all have biases. Consider how your personal bias affects your perceptions and treatment of others and how to interrupt bias to create positive change. Facilitated by Diversity, Equity & Inclusion experts Harmony@Work, in collaboration with artsPlace staff, this event is not to be missed. Register now at https://artsplacecanmore.com/programs/details/interrupting-bias
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The Green Exodus: The Canmore Series |
· Are you astonished by the beauty of the world – especially the Bow Valley corridor? Perhaps you have a Spiritual/Religious connection with nature?
· Are you wanting to join with others in restoring this planet to health?
The Green Exodus: The Canmore Series - will use contemplation, creativity, community and a fresh look at the Cosmos to refresh and realign our relationship with the Earth.
Twenty-two people attended the “Soft Launch” last Friday, learning more about this new venture and building connections with others. Roughly half of the participants were from the Bow Valley – Canmore, Morley, Banff, Lac des Arcs - while the rest were from further afield.
Green Exodus online gatherings will be from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM on the Fridays of February: February 5 and 19 – “empty cup”; February 12 and 26 – “full cup”
· In “empty cup” gatherings, time is spent in silence, and in words of contemplative prayer, song, readings, reflections… acknowledging the sacredness of this wonderful home (Bow Valley, wilderness places, planet earth).
· In “full cup” gatherings, we share the ways that we are actively engaged in restoring health to this beloved home, planet earth, particularly here in the Bow Valley.
Please feel free to join us for one or two or all four of these sessions! The registration link is at https://greenexodus.ca/.
If you have friends & neighbours you’d like to invite, please pass the word along to them as well – this is not an “in-house” group at all, it is a place to build connections within the Bow Valley community and beyond!
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FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
There will likely be online gatherings/educational events provided by the United Church during this month - watch this space for listings as they come available.
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Ongoing Ministries
& Community Programs
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Canmore Young Adult Network - CYAN
A personal message from Tara Koenig: Thank you to everyone at RCMUC who welcomed me and provided essential guidance and support to both myself and CYAN over the past few years. This was a great experience and while I am sad to be leaving the CYAN team I am very excited about my new role. I also do feel that this is an opportunity for me to pass the torch. CYAN's motto has been "for young adults, by young adults" and as I am slowly aging out of that category. Now, we get to invite in someone new with their fresh take on ways to support and amplify the voices of the young adults in Canmore.
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I am now the Harmony Project Coordinator at the YWCA Banff. The Harmony Project works with a committee of stakeholders in the community with the goal of eradicating sexual assault. We will create a culture of consent in our community, providing trainings, programs and events to anyone who is keen to become an active bystander and educate on the programs and support services that exist to support survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Please feel free to reach out to me at my new job at tara@ywcabanff.ca
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"A Message from Rev. Greg Wooley"
As noted above, Tara Koenig has moved on to an exciting new opportunity. We thank her so much for the connections that she has built for and with young adults in Canmore.
CYAN is continuing its young adult networking. Check out CYAN links below.
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Canmore Young Adult Network - CYAN
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Three Communities...One Valley
The number of friends and neighbors in isolation due to Covid are growing exponentially every day in the Bow Valley. Many people want to help, and many people need some support. A few volunteers from across the Valley have gathered together with the help of Roam Transit to create the beginnings of a human chain from Canmore to Banff to Lake Louise so we can ensure people across the valley can get their necessities.
Will you help as a volunteer? Do you need support? Either way, please email bowvalleyisolations@gmail.com Or text 403-679-3340 and we will get you signed up to help, or will do what we can to get you what you need. Coordinators: Brenda Stanton (Canmore) - Aurora Borin (Banff) - Danielle Morine (Lake Louise)
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Community Food & Friends
Every Monday from 5 PM to 7 PM, Food & Friends operates from St. Michael's Hall (709-7th Street) for TAKE-OUT only. If you are symptom free, bring your mask and takeout container and come get dinner to take with you. We will be practicing safe distancing and requiring everyone to wear a mask and sanitize your hands upon entry. If you don't have a take out container then we have some. There will no longer be any deliveries. If you can't get to Food & Friends yourself, then please arrange someone to pick-up your dinner for you and bring it to you.
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Canmore Food Recovery Barn
The Food Recovery Barn, housed at the Lutheran Church (by Canmore Hospital), is a community initiative that provides affordable food while also reducing the amount of foodstuffs that end up in compost or landfill. Due to COVID regulations, they have returned to a bag pick-up system. Pre-filled bags will be available for those who have booked a pick-up time. A $5 per bag donation is appreciated. Pickup times are Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30, 5:45 or 6:00 PM, sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080f44afad22a2f85-food
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Our gratitude to Robin Slater for offering the following feature in our weekly Newsletter, as part of our efforts to be a more broadly inclusive, and affirming, Community of Faith.
ROBIN'S WEB
CONNECTING DIVERSITY
“People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them, haven't you?” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables Snuggle up and enjoy some big words and even bigger ideas from these important sources.
The University of Alberta offers a free 12-week online course covering historical and cultural issues from an Indigenous perspective. Learn more~.
The Government of Canada has curated a reading list for people to discover Indigenous voices through poetry, fiction and non-fiction for all ages click here~.
Citizens for Public Justice recently published Busting Myths about Poverty in Canada, debunking some common misconceptions about poverty. Click here~.
According to a study published by Statistics Canada, approximately one in seven Canadians lived in a household that has experienced some level of food insecurity since the pandemic started. “Food insecurity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic” assesses the co-relation between these stressors. Read here~.
The UN General Assembly has designated 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables. Click here~.
To mark the occasion of UNHCR’s 70th anniversary, the UN Refugee Agency in Canada has launched its first cookbook: "Tastes from Home: Recipes from the Refugee Community.” It’s filled with more than 100 pages of photos, stories, and recipes from former refugees who are now living in Canada. Read here~.
To commemorate Human Rights Day, Oxford University Press has collected a selection of new and authoritative content on human rights law from across academic books, reference works and journal articles. Featured content is free to access until February 28. Read here~.
Amanda Gorman made history on Jan 20, 2021 when she became the youngest inaugural poet during President Joe Biden's swearing-in ceremony in Washington. Read the full text of Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem 'The Hill We Climb' here: Click here~.
Brené Brown talks about the need for accountability—and how bad we are at holding one another accountable on both a personal and national level. We often resort to shaming tactics instead, which have a dehumanizing effect. "Dehumanization is the most significant driver of insurrection and it always starts with language". Click here~.
It seems that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders took a tour through Canada's North recently. The U.S. senator popped up in a series of spoof photos this week that showed him in front of Iqaluit's post office, at a handgames tournament, watching the Northern Lights and all the way to Yukon, in front of the SS Klondike. “Whatever the meme may be at the moment, Indigenous people always put the best spin on it,” says Thaidene Paulette in Fort Smith, N.W.T. Click here~.
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OFFICE CONTACTS
Note: The church offices are closed in compliance with Alberta Covid mandatory office workers Work At Home restriction. The mail, email and phone messages will be picked up regularly between Tuesday to Thursdays.
Administration: Trish Campney
Minister: Rev. Greg Wooley
Music Director: Tanya Sullivan
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Ralph Connor Memorial United Church
617 Main Street, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 2B1
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