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

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  (Matt. 28:19-20)

If we assume that discipling someone is teaching them the faith and that baptism, in part, is the official entrance into the community of believers – how might we disciple? We can find a course “Christianity 101” or some other program which teaches the basics of what it means to be a Christian. These are good and helpful ways to disciple. Often a missing piece in discipleship is walking alongside someone in their daily life of faith. Having a regular coffee time where you discuss the things happening in their life and using that as an opportunity to help them consider how they might make a decision using prayer or scriptural guidance or discernment. This walking alongside is a vital piece of making disciples.

Who are you walking with? 

Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson along with the Diocesan Council has announced that the 78th Convention of Synod has been called for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 5, 6 and 7, 2020.  Licensed Clergy and Lay Delegates to Synod must attend. 

Each parish needs to ensure that appropriate Lay Delegates are elected at their Annual Meetings of Parishioners. These delegates must meet the criteria detailed in Canon 13.4c, and be willing to commit to the preparation for and attendance at Synod.  Preparation includes the reading and being familiar with all materials sent out prior to Synod. 

Delegates, both Clergy and Lay may be called upon to put their name forward for the following nominations:    Provincial Synod (required: 3 Clergy, 2 Lay, 1 Youth); General Synod (required: 3 Clergy, 3 Lay, 1 Youth); and Diocesan Council (required: 1 Clergy and 1 Lay from each of the 5 Deaneries)

Also, Synod will be held over three days to allow for more time to consider Missional, Financial, and Budget issues, and to avoid rushing the consideration of other issues.  Licensed Clergy will need to ensure their parish is covered either by non-attending clergy or lay ministers on the Sunday morning.  

Any questions or concerns can be forwarded to Mrs. Kim Getty, Registrar of the Diocese (registrar@calgary.anglican.ca) or The Rev. Bob Mummery (calgarylr@gmail.com).

Ordination:

Archbishop Greg will ordain Jacqui Durand of Christ Church, Millarville to the Order of Deacons on Saturday, December 7, at Christ Church, Millarville at 3:00 pm.  Please pray for Jacqui as she begins this new ministry and consider attending to support her. 

Installation:

After heavy snowfall prevented the earlier planned event, The Rev. Nicky Keyworth will be installed on Saturday, December 14, at 4:00 pm at Grace Anglican United, Blairmore.

Retirement:

After forty years of ministry in the Diocese of Calgary, The Rev. Gordon Jackson, currently serving at St. Clement, Balzac, will be retiring as of December 31.  We thank him for his faithful leadership, and pray that his journey forward will be blessed.

Clergy Movement:

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce the appointment of The Rev. Gordon Pontifex as Incumbent (part-time) for the parish of St. Luke, Calgary, beginning January 1, 2020.  Please pray for Gordon as he begins this new ministry.

Hiring:

The Diocese Office is pleased to announce the hiring of Mr. David Allan as our new Communications Facilitator (half-time).  We look forward to working with David and engaging in new and improved means of communicating around the Diocese.  Any news items, events or items for the Newsletter can be directed to him at communications@calgary.anglican.ca.  

Sabbatical:

The Diocese Office announces that Archbishop Greg will be on Sabbatical beginning January 1, until March 31.  Part of that time, he will attending an Ignatician Silent Retreat at St. Beuno's Retreat Centre in Wales.  While he is away from the Diocese, his Commissary will be The Very Rev. Leighton Lee.  We pray that Archbishop Greg's time away will be filled with refreshment and blessing.

St. Stephen, Calgary: Incumbent, full time; Job Posting here, Parish Profile here

Holy Trinity, Calgary: Pastor of Youth Ministries, part time

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

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, December 13 at Foothills Mennonite Church (2115 Urbana Road NW).  You may join us for a meal 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.

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

This summer, there will be a Diocesan pilgrimage to Taizé and Paris for young adults aged 18-35.  Taizé is a Christian community which attracts thousands of young people every week, from all around the world. You don't need to be Anglican to come, or even know what you believe - Taizé is a wonderful place for spiritual seekers!  Spend a week making friends with people from many different languages and cultures. Discover more about yourself, and explore what is most important to you. Meet a God of love and compassion in the beauty of silence and song.  Then spend 5 days with us in Paris, the most beautiful city in the world.  Cost is $2,600 if you register before January 24.  Registration opens December 15: JourneyToTaize.eventbrite.ca.  For more information, check out our YouTube video here.    

Parents & adults: if you've got spiritual young people in your life, help us spread the word over the Christmas holidays!  Parishes and leaders: look around and see if there are young people in your midst!  Invite them, encourage them, fundraise with them!  Going to Taizé can transform a young person's spiritual life, so help us make the invitation open.

A new book written by Wayne Stewart will be introduced to the world after the 10:00 am service at St. Laurence on Sunday, December 8, and will be available for purchase at private book stores, including Shelf Life Books, Pages and Owl's Nest Books, after December 10.  Proceeds from book sales will be allocated to parish outreach ministries.  

The book chronicles the history of St. Laurence and the work of the Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee and the congregation to create a model 'Practicing Congregation," a progressive church for the 21st Century.  The book will make an ideal gift for those looking for ideas to help move their parish along the path to relevance in a changing world.

Join us on December 8 for cake and fake champagne!

December 17 - Calgary School for Mission & Ministry, 4:30 pm

December 19 - Management Committee, 1:00 pm

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

December 7 - Ladies' Retreat, St. Aldhelm, Vulcan

December 7 - Ordination of Jacqui Durand as Deacon, Christ Church, Millarville, 3:00 pm

December 8 - Reception Service, All Saints, Cochrane, 10:00 am

December 14 - Installation of The Rev. Nicky Keyworth, Grace Anglican United, Blairmore, 4:00 pm

December 15 - Dedication of stained glass window, St. Theodore, Taber, 10:30 am

December 15 - Welcome of The Rev. Carolyn Langford, Church of the Ascension, Coaldale

December 22 - Parish visit to St. John, Claresholm

December 29 - Confirmation service, St. Mark & St. Philip, Calgary, 12:30 pm

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, this month with an Advent theme, will be held on December 10, starting at 6:30 pm.  Everyone is welcome.

St. Edmund, Calgary:

St. Edmund's Food Bank is in need of Donations: With the start of the cold weather, we have seen a large uptick in the number of requests for our Food Bank.  Looking ahead at planning for our Annual Christmas Hamper program, we are putting out an appeal for assistance!  We are in need of canned products (canned meats, vegetables, pastas, soups, etc.) as well as things like pasta, cereals, dry soups, etc.  We also need things for children's lunches: juice boxes, granola bars (nut free), puddings, fruit cups, cookies, cheese strings, etc.  Personal items are always welcome (toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, etc.) as well as pet supplies (food, kitty litter, treats).  We also appreciate donations in cash or by cheque so that we can purchase those items that we are in greatest need of.  Donations may be dropped off during Food Bank hours (9:30 - 11:30 am, Mondays and Thursdays) or by appointment by calling (403) 288-6330 or (403) 239-5266.

Food Bank Appeal: Rising costs have caused one of our food sources, Spinz Around, a division of Community Kitchen, to raise costs from $50 per year to $1200 per year starting in January.  We are in need of support to be able to continue stocking our shelves!  We are looking for individuals, parishes, or organizations that would be willing to 'sponsor us' - be it for a week ($25), a month ($100) or for transportation costs ($300/yr).  As we operate on a tight budget (we are 100% donor sponsored) it is going to be very difficult for us to add another $1200 to our expenses for 2020.  We hope to get enough people to come forward with donations so that we can continue using Spinz Around as our supplier - we get thousands of dollars' worth of groceries in return for our annual fee.  Please email us at email@stedmundscalgary.org or call (403) 615-0651 for sponsorship.

December 7 - Christmas Dinner, St. Peter, Okotoks, 5:00 pm

December 8 - Advent Evensong, Christ Church, Millarville, 7:00 pm

December 15 - Christmas Pageant, St. Peter, Okotoks, 10:00 am

December 15 - Advent Evensong, St. Benedict, High River, 7:00 pm

December 22 - Lessons & Carols, St. Peter, Okotoks, 7:00 pm

December 24 - Christmas Eve Service, (Communion, Carols & Candlelight), Christ Church, Nanton, 4:30 pm

December 24 - Children's Crib Service, St. Peter, Okotoks, 6:00 pm

December 24 - Christmas Eve Worship, St. Peter, Okotoks, 7:00 pm

December 25 - Christmas Day Worship, St. Peter, Okotoks, 10:00 am

Friday, December 6, 6:00 pm - Supper with St. Nicholas: limited seating, RSVP required (click here) or call (403) 288-6631 by December 4. Meet St. Nicholas and hear his story, followed by a visit from his friend Santa, and supper.

Wednesday, December 18, 7:00 - 8:00 pm - St. Edmund's is a founding member of the Steeple People of Bowness, and we invite you to our Steeple People Christmas Caroling meeting at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (8007 Bowness Road NW).  Caroling will be followed by hot chocolate and cookies.

Sunday, December 22, 10:00 am - Lessons & Carols Service

Tuesday, December 24, 9:30 pm - Christmas Eve Service preceded by Carols at 9:00 pm.

Saturday, December 7:

Christ Church, Nanton: Annual Christmas Luncheon, 12:30 pm in the Parish Hall (2302 - 20th Street).  Buffet lunch as well as home baking, preserves and miscellaneous items for sale, including several three foot, decorated Douglas Fir Christmas trees, for $20 each.  Admission is $5.00.  

St. Benedict, High River: Christmas Bake Sale and Tea, 1:00 - 3:00 pm.  $5.00 for Tea.  No charge for admission to the baking selections.

As a founding member of The Calgary Alliance for the Common Good, our Diocese stood tall this past week in speaking up for the most vulnerable in our community.  A big thank you to all those who showed up at the Cathedral on Monday, November 25th and walked together with our partners to City Hall to raise our concern about the proposed 250% cost increase to the low-income transit pass program.  The voice of the church in the public square spoke loudly on Monday, and our collective action made a crucial difference in the process! 

Our Alliance was  successful in protecting this important program.   In this action together, we have lived out not only the mark of mission to “seek to transform unjust structures of society” but also our baptismal vow “to strive for justice and peace and respect the dignity of every human being.”  Well done, all, and your continuing prayers and participation are most appreciated!   

You can find more information about the campaign here and the Alliance here.

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.  Friday, January 17, 7:00 pm Public Lecture: Awe and Wonder in a Secular World; Saturday, January 18, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm Workshop: Mystical Activism; Sunday, January 19, 10:00 am, Matthew will preach at St. Laurence Anglican Church.

More info on Matthew can be found here.  More info on Matthew's events at St. Laurence can be found here. 

Save the dates:

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 more information on the Wisdom Centre, 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

What's Happening Next Door at the Retreat Centre?: 

Sacred Space CoWorking: We have opened an ecumenical sacred co-working space for those who need a professional work setting free of distractions. The start date for our free pilot project has begun, with the space opening up for a fee starting in January.  If you are interested or would like a tour of the facility, please contact Elizabeth Short at (403) 660-5636 or send an email to allsaintsretreatcentre@outlook.com. You can also click here for more detailed information, pictures and pricing.

Spiritual Direction: We are excited to introduce Karen Wold who is a Spiritual Director and part of the Ministry Team for All Saints Retreat Centre.  For more information on what she has to offer or to get her contact information, please click here.

Advent Quiet Day Retreat: Saturday, December 7.  Click here for details.

If you happen to receive Christmas cards in the old-fashioned, snail-mail way, please take a moment to neatly clip the stamps from the envelope. There is a collection bin at the Anglican Parish of Holy Cross (2828 – 19 St. NW).  We collect stamps all year round but here is a timely nudge about the important work of the Canadian Bible Society during a season when the much-loved tradition of the Christmas card exchange takes place. The revenue generated from the stamps allow CBS to purchase Bibles for Canadian prison ministry. Ten pounds of stamps equals approximately six Bibles for distribution! This is a simple way to bring the Word of God to others. For more information, click here.

As the holiday season approaches, the Canadian Armed Forces are asking Canadians to write to personnel who are going to be away from family in the coming weeks.  For many, this will be their first Christmas away from home.  Taking the time to write a note or letter would be such a blessing for someone.

In order for letters and cards to be received by Forces members overseas by Christmas, the correspondence must be in Trenton before December 9.  The full article from Global News can be found here.

The Diocesan Office will be closed for the holidays from December 19 to January 5.  

Email and postal items will be monitored occasionally.

On behalf of the Diocesan Staff, we wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Please remember in your prayers:

- those who are sick or suffering,

- 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 communications@calgary.anglican.ca.