Ralph Connor Memorial United Church
Weekly
Friday, September 3, 2021

Kindly submit your Newsletter items to [email protected]
by Thursday at 11:00 AM

We will have a simplified Newsletter for the summer, with fresh content each week ~ please refer to the June 25th Newsletter click here~.
ONLINE WORSHIP
~THIS SUNDAY~
Sunday, September 5, 2021

This Sunday’s service is online only, at the Ralph Connor Canmore YouTube channel,

We will be sharing the sacrament of communion, so have your bread and wine/juice handy when you watch this service! The scripture reading with be Jesus' controversial encounter with a Syro-Phoenecian woman, as recounted in the 7th chapter of Mark: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%207%3A24-37&version=NRSV

We had another wonderful gathering at the Ball Diamond on August 29 and on Sept 12 we are planning to be outdoors again at the Diamond – 11 AM.

THANK YOU to everyone who helped out on August 15th and 29th.

Helpers needed for September 12 Outdoor Service
Volunteers are needed on September 12th for a wide range of tasks – if you can help, please contact Greg, [email protected]

At this week's meeting, RCMUC Council revisited our COVID Guidelines for building usage. The current version is posted here.
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. 

THANK YOU to all who brought donations to the Outdoor Service last week!

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:
  
EVERY CHILD MATTERS
For several weeks, our Friday newsletter has featured calls of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We will resume this practice in the fall, and in the meantime would like to announce the following initiative...
Join the Orange Shirt Day Team
Help is needed before we open the booth. Please choose one the the following jobs and …… cfontact Mary Shearer for materials and timing. 
1. Help with take down on Thursday,  Sept. 30.
2. Prepare orange ribbons that people can take away.
RCMUC Prayer Circles
We have two prayer groups at RCMUC: The Healing Pathway Prayer which meets on Wednesdays and Fridays, and Tuesday's “Morning Prayer” group. 

To share a prayer concern, please email Val Goodrow at [email protected] and Rev Greg Wooley at [email protected].

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.
A memorial service was held for Jean Clipperton, who died in November 2020, on Tuesday, August 31. At that time, in-sanctuary gatherings were limited to 45 attendees, so only the family and a few friends/neighbours were able to be in attendance. A recording of the service has been posted to the Ralph Connor Canmore YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/kDzJh4Euf9I. We offer our thanks for all that Jean brought to the Canmore and Ralph Connor communities.
Pastoral Care Committee Benevolent Fundraiser
Thank you photographers for submitting many beautiful images! The first five images have been selected and printed.

The balance of the "Members Only Trial" packets will be available for purchase at the September 12th outdoor service. Bring your $10 cash and go home with five notecards. Proceeds to Benevolent Fund. If you miss out we will accept orders and print more of this first series.
Green Exodus
EARTH JAM - and GREEN EXODUS - are initiatives linking our concern for this planet with our spirituality. Ralph Connor is pleased to be one of the partner organizations in Canmore, Calgary and Lethbridge who are bringing the EARTH JAM event to our communities.
 
Due to concerns regarding indoor, in-person gatherings at this time, EARTH JAM is transitioning to being an online-only event.  There will still be weekend retreats (now on Zoom rather than in-person) as well as daily contemplative "sits" and other events throughout September and early October.
 
It all starts with an opening ceremony this Wednesday September 8 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.

Please register here and check here for the full schedule of events and registration links!
AFFIRMING MINISTRY
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
How do we gear up from the summer’s rest, relaxation and lack of activity? We dive into arming ourselves with information about issues and taking it to the upcoming election candidates. And afterwards we continue to agitate for justice.

The United Church of Canada's election resources are now available online, for church members who want to engage candidates in the upcoming election on September 20, 2021. Issues close to the heart of the church—Anti-racism, Guaranteed Livable Income, Indigenous Justice, and Vaccine Equity are featured in core resources here.
  
As you may be aware, the government recently passed legislation to make September 30th a federal statutory holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. A time for all Canadians to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools. The provision came into force on August 3, 2021, instituting this new Federal Statutory Holiday: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Click here for details~.
  
Shamefully, this will not be applicable in Alberta. Click here for details~.

And, even more indefensibly, after all the government pats-on-the-back to our health care professionals, our frontline “heroes” won’t be allowed the day off. Click here for the story.

It’s way past time to implement the TRC Calls to Action into law and realize that Canada needs the ‘Every Child Matters Act’. Click here for more.

Calgary's Affirming Network presents the third annual Citywide Pride Service, Sept 5 at 10 am MT Online. It will be live on Affirming Connections Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.
Becoming Nakuset is the Story of a Sixties Scoop Survivor. Nakuset, a Cree woman from Lac la Ronge, Saskatchewan, is a well-known Indigenous activist and Executive Director of the Native Women's Shelter of Montréal. As a young child, she was taken from her home in Thompson, Manitoba and adopted into a Jewish family in Montreal. September 8, 5 pm MT. After a screening of the short film, Tony Snow (Indigenous Minister, Chinook Winds Region), will guide us through a Listening Circle with both Nakuset and Dan Milner, also a survivor of the Sixties Scoop agenda. Find out more and register. Find out more and register here.

People Over Profits: Holding Up Human Values Over Market Values. A special video event with former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and Fr. Raymond de Souza at this Cardus Coffee House. They'll navigate the integration of economics and society, as well as the role of values in creating value. Register at this link to watch their conversation about Mark's latest book, Value(s): Building a Better World for All. September 10, 11:30 am MST.

From the UNHCR
Your support is urgently needed to help Afghans fleeing for safety.

Escalating violence has forced hundreds of thousands of Afghans from their homes, and more are being forced to flee every day. People are leaving with nothing in search of safety.

Now, fifty percent of the population requires critical, lifesaving humanitarian assistance and support.

Thanks to a generous donation match from BMO, when you give today, your gift will go twice as far to help those in need. To learn more or to donate, click here~.

Ralph Connor Memorial
United Church (RCMUC)
CONTACTS

Administration: Trish Campney
Ph. 403-678-5354 - [email protected]
Trish is on vacation from August 27-September 20, though friendly volunteers will fill in when they can

Minister: Rev. Greg Wooley
Ph. 403-493-4923 - [email protected]

Music Director: Tanya Sullivan
Tanya was on holidays for the month of August,
Rundle's Aurora Borin stepped in, and Dave Somerville at the Aug 15 outdoor service - thank you talented musicians!
Please send all Office emails to [email protected]

The old [email protected] and [email protected] addresses are now defunct.
Incoming: [email protected]
New Outgoing: [email protected]

Please also note: if you are sending letter mail to RCMUC, please include “Box 8901” in the address to make things easier for the folks at Canada Post. 
Rundle Memorial
United Church (RMUC) Contacts
The mail, email and phone messages will be picked up regularly.

Administration: Nancy Murray
Ph. 403-762-2075 - [email protected]

Mailing address: P.O. Box 1086
Street address: 102 Banff Ave
Banff, Alberta, Canada T1L 1B1

To volunteer at Banff Thrift Store - [email protected]

RMUC Website: http://rundleunited.ca/
Ralph Connor Memorial United Church
Mailing address: P.O. Box 8901
Street Address: 617 Main Street
Canmore, Alberta, T1W 2B1
403-678-5354 | [email protected]