Did you know that the Diocese of Calgary has a Vision Statement?:

To be a church that is inwardly transformed by Jesus; a church that reflects the virtue and grace of Jesus; a church reaching out to proclaim God's love to a broken world.

As God sent Jesus into the world, God sends us!

To read Archbishop Greg's letter with his reflections on General Synod 2019, please click here.

Ordinations:

Archbishop Greg will ordain Jennifer Ingram of St. Francis, Airdrie, and Keith Bird of St. Luke, Calgary to the Order of Deacons on Sunday, October 6, at St. Francis of Assisi, Airdrie at 2:00 pm.  Please pray for Jennifer and Keith as they begin their ministries.  

This monthly Prayer gathering will happen the second Friday of each month at a different location each time.

All are welcome!

Join us on Friday, October 11 for our first Prayer at Holy Cross Anglican Church (2828 - 19th Street NW).  On this evening, there will be an optional free "Thanksgiving Dinner" at 5:30 pm (RSVP here if planning to attend).  Also optional is an open Song Practice (no experience needed!) at 6:15 pm.  Silence begins at 7:00 pm.  Taize Prayer is from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.

November's Prayer will be on Friday, November 8 at Hope Lutheran Church (3527 Boulton Rd. NW).  

Follow us for the location of future Taize Prayers: Facebook: TaizeYYC; Instagram: taize_calgary; Eventbrite: TaizeYYC.eventbrite.ca

New Website: The Diocesan Rural Ministry Team is pleased to announce the launch of their new website -- The Uncollared Cooperative, focused on equipping and encouraging the non-ordained folks of our Diocese.  You'll find great resources, suggestions and links to relevant programs for lay readers.  It is also the new home of the popular Lay Preacher's Bulletin, now in its third year!  Check it out at www.UncollaredAnglican.ca

The Diocesan Rural Ministry Team is also pleased to announce that Brother Jason Carroll will join the team as Ministry Developer, who started October 1.  We pray blessings upon him as he begins this exciting new work in the Diocese.

Number One: A Trial Run of the first courses for the Licensed Lay Ministry Program will take place November 7 to 9 at the FCJ Retreat Centre.  This will allow our instructors and logistics team to have a practice run at providing a great program.  A small group of lay people have been asked to take part to give us feedback.  Please pray for this trial run that we can learn what we need to do to provide a great official start.

Number Two: First Courses to Students will be happening June 18 to 20, 2020.  If you are interested in being part of this first weekend, please contact csmm@calgary.anglican.ca for applications and registration steps.  Applications for the School will be available online (via the Diocesan Website) on October 1, 2019.  Apply by December 31, 2019 to be eligible for the June programming.

You are invited to a Women's Fall Retreat Day, hosted by the Anglican Church Women.  The theme will be, "An Eye To See" led by the Rev. Dr. Norman Knowles, in a Visio Divina format using the Saint John's Bible.  Visio Divina shares roots with the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, inviting one to encounter the Divine through images.  The Saint John's Bible invites readers of the Word to "listen...with the ear of your heart" and to "see with the eyes of faith."  Saturday, October 19 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at St. Peter's, Okotoks.  Please bring a bag lunch.  To register, click here or text/call 1 (403) 678-1163. 

Archbishop Greg will be the keynote speaker and Celebrant at a full-day Healing Conference, to be held at St. Luke, Calgary, on Saturday, October 19, beginning at 8:30 am.  Three workshops include Finding Healing Through the Power of Prayer; The Healing Gift of Presence; and Forgiveness.  Everyone is invited.  To register, obtain a brochure/poster, or for more information, please click here.  Information for Clergy can be found here.  The deadline for early-bird registration has been extended to October 12.

While a quilt is typically defined as three layers stitched together, the result is vastly more than the sum of the materials.  There is a myriad of layers of meaning, memory and connection that at first don't seem visible, but are often transmitted by the visual and tactile experience.  Such is the power of cloth.  As quilters, weavers, fibre artists and lovers of textiles, we know this.  Imagine opening that experience up to a community to (re)discover together.  Join Vancouver textile artist Thomas Roach to hear about his experience leading large textile-based community projects and how it has changed his approach to textile artmaking.  

Thomas recently managed the (in)finite: spiritual conversations in cloth exhibition at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver.  He created the Prayers of the Church Project in 2016, and co-led the Common Threads Indigo Quilt Project (2012-2014).  He is currently engaged in a similar project with the community of St. George, Calgary.

St. Andrew's is at 1611 St. Andrew's Place NW (across 29 Street from Foothills Hospital. Feel free to park anywhere on the street, as we have a "parking relaxation.")

Bow Valley - St. Michael, Canmore and St. George-in-the-Pines, Banff: Associate Priest, full time contract position

St. James, Calgary: Incumbent, full time, application closing date is November 1

For more information on these positions, please contact pgateman@calgary.anglican.ca. 

Please pray for the parishes of St. Luke, Calgary and St. Stephen, Calgary as they discern new Incumbents.

The Diocese is seeking a Communications Officer (half-time).  This person will work with the Executive Officer, the Archbishop and the Strategic Communications Committee to create and curate the Mission and Vision of the Diocese.  This person will work to create consistent messaging, maximize social media use and proactively communicate good news from parishes and the Diocese.  Familiarity with Anglican liturgy and polity is a plus.  The full Job Description can be found here.  Please send inquiries to pgateman@calgary.anglican.ca.  Deadline to apply: October 31, 2019.

Upcoming Men's and Women's Cursillo Weekends

The Fall Cursillo Weekend for Men will be held from Thursday, October 24 to Sunday, October 27.  The Weekend for Women will be held from Thursday, October 31 to Sunday, November 3.  Please consider sponsoring someone to attend, and pray for both teams and candidates.  For more information, click here.

October 4 & 5 - Diocesan Council Retreat, FCJ Centre

October 9 - Calgary School for Mission & Ministry, Holy Nativity, 4:00 pm

October 15 - Investment Committee, 1:00 pm

October 16 - Apportionment & Budget Committee, 12:30 pm, St. Francis, Airdrie

October 17 - AFP Committee, 9:30 am

A look at Archbishop Greg's activities over the next few weeks:

October 6 - Ordination of Jennifer Ingram and Keith Bird, St. Francis of Assisi, Airdrie, 2:00 pm

October 6 - Farewell Service for Rev. Chris Nojonen, Holy Trinity, Rocky Mountain House, 6:30 pm

October 7 - Companions of the Bishop Dinner, The Ranchmen's Club, 6:00 pm

October 8 to 12 - Windward Islands visit

October 13 - Reception Service, St. Aldhelm, Vulcan

October 17 - Calgary Alliance for the Common Good Founding Assembly, Knox United Church, 7:00 pm

Cathedral Church of the Redeemer:

Blessing of the Animals: The Cathedral and St. Martin Anglican Church welcome all to this special service to bless the animals that share their lives with us!  Children are especially invited to bring their favorite stuffed animals to be blessed.  The Service, on Saturday, October 5 at 11:00 am, includes a moment of remembrance for pets who have died.  Event beneficiaries are ARF, Meow Foundation and Four Feet.  For more information, contact St. Martin Anglican Church at (403) 249-3014.

Holy Cross, Calgary: 

Lectio Divina: All are invited to The Anglican Parish of Holy Cross for an evening of silence, prayer and biblical meditation.  An Evening of Lectio Divina will be held on the second Tuesday of every month, starting at 6:30 pm, next on October 8.  Everyone is welcome.

This week, we focus on the parish of St. George, Calgary, and their good work in Mission and Ministry.

In the past two years, St. George has invested considerable time and resources into inviting and welcoming people.  The congregation created a new Host Ministry, developed a suite of materials aimed at newcomers, and dropped flyers and brochures around the neighbourhood.  This has resulted in a new attitude of welcoming newcomers and listening to their stories of why they need Jesus in their lives.  The people of St. George have taken the Gospel call to hospitality and welcoming the stranger seriously.  People are profoundly open-hearted in their welcome.  

The Stampede Breakfast held in July has turned into a free community meal, where leftovers are given away in take-out containers to hungry neighbours.  Also, 2019 was called their "Year of Fellowship" and they have built programming around that theme.  This Fall, Parish Council will begin planning for 2020 as their "Year of Discipleship" as a way to invite old-timers and newcomers alike to participate more deeply in the journey of loving Jesus more dearly and following him more nearly.  

St. George is a great example of the Diocesan vision of "Being Transformed by Christ, Reflecting His Love, and Proclaiming the Good News."

University of Calgary: The Rev. Dr. Carmen Maier and The Rev. Dr. Roy Darcus are our Anglican Chaplains at the University of Calgary.  Any students presently attending the University are welcome to contact the Chaplaincy at carmen.maier1@ucalgary.ca.  Both would be happy to introduce students to the supports, liturgies and community life offered on campus.

Medicine Hat College: The Rev. Kristy Reimers-Loader is the Ecumenical Chaplain at Medicine Hat College.  Current students, as well as those considering attending the College are invited to contact her by phone/text at (403) 581-8199 or email chaplain@mhc.ab.ca.  Chaplain Kristy is proud to represent the Anglican Church of Canada in this ministry and is grateful for the opportunity to welcome students, staff, and faculty members to the growing community of attendees at the Interfaith Centre on campus.

University of Lethbridge: The Rev. Canon Erin Phillips can be contacted at ecm.erin@gmail.com.

Brian McLaren, November 1-3.  Brian is an author, speaker, activist and public theologian.  He is a leader in The Convergence Network, where he is developing an innovative mentoring program for pastors, church planters and lay leaders.  Tickets for Saturday have been sold out but to be put on a wait list, email adminassist@stlaurence.ca.  Friday pre-event and evening lecture tickets are available here.  

In preparation for Brian's visit, a three-evening book study on The Great Spiritual Migration will happen at St. Laurence Anglican Church from 7:30 to 9:00 pm on October 9, 16 and 23.  These evenings are free, there is no need to register and come to as many sessions as you are able.

Save the Dates: Matthew Fox, January 17-19.  Matthew is a spiritual theologian, an Episcopal/Anglican priest and an activist for gender justice and eco-justice.  Author of 37 books, he is one of the most important theologians of our time, and it is a real coup that we have persuaded him to come to Calgary.  More info on Matthew can be found here.  

Dave Hines, March 6-8: Wayfinding as Life: Disorientation and Reorientation.

Matthew Wright, May 5-8: Four-day Retreat at Kingsfold Retreat Centre

Pip Nicolls, September 17-20, 2020: Three-day Retreat at Kingsfold Retreat Centre

For information on tickets for Brian McLaren, Matthew Fox and other Wisdom Centre events, click here.

The All Saints Family Centre Society is a registered non-profit society connected to All Saints Anglican Church in Cochrane, providing community outreach.  We offer a variety of courses, workshops and retreats, as well as space for rent for courses, speakers and retreat days.  For more information or a tour of the facility, please contact Elizabeth Short at (403) 660-5636, or email Karen and Elizabeth at allsaintsretreatcentre@outlook.com

You are invited to celebrate the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good's Founding Assembly & Campaign Launch, on Thursday, October 17 at Knox United Church (506 - 4th St. SW, Calgary).  A Musical Program begins at 6:40 pm, followed by the Formal Program from 7:00 to 9:00.  Please register here.

Please remember in your prayers:

- those who are sick or suffering, especially Joseph 

- those who have died and those who mourn

- the victims of the violence and natural disasters

- our Companion Diocese of the Windward Islands, and their Bishop Leopold Friday

Request a prayer:

Send prayer requests to ctubman@calgary.anglican.ca to let us know how we can pray for you.  We will only use first names which will be removed after two or three weeks.  We will also pray for you during our regular Chapel services each week.  Please ensure that you have permission from those whose names you are submitting for prayer, and that they understand their name will be made public to all who subscribe to the Newsletter.

We are interested in what is happening in your parish and would love to highlight those events and news in our newsfeed.

We look forward to your contributions - feel free to forward your event announcements, your parish news, your stories.  Send in your details and pictures to ctubman@calgary.anglican.ca.