The Church of England offers a program each year called Thy Kingdom Come, an opportunity for Christians around the world to pray for their loved ones to come to know Jesus Christ.  Now in it's eighth year, this program has had some changes, to bring new life and to be responsive to the current context we live in.  There are new daily themes for resources, focussing on the character of God - 'Our Father in Heaven' - the One to whom we are petitioning and inviting people to know, to love and to serve.

The need across the world for the transforming power and mercy of God is more stark now than ever before.  How can we partner with God, in prayer and mission, to see more people encounter the love of Christ this year?

Consider participating in Thy Kingdom Come this year, as a missional goal, and be part of this global movement of prayer.

Ordinations: 

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce that, God willing, he will ordain to the Priesthood The Rev. Deacon Brent Schulze, of St. George, Stettler.  The Service of Ordination will take place at St. George, Stettler, on Wednesday, January 25 at 6:00 pm.  Please pray for Brent as he prepares for this new ministry.  Color for this event will be White.

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce that, God willing, he will ordain to the Priesthood The Rev. Deacon Adam Bedford.  The Service of Ordination will take place at Christ Church, Calgary, on Sunday, Febuary 5 at 4:30 pm.  Please pray for Adam as he prepares for this new ministry.  Color for this event will be White.

New Regional Dean of Palliser Deanery:

Archbishop Greg is pleased to appoint The Rev. Kersi Bird as the new Regional Dean for the Palliser Deanery.  Please keep Kersi in your prayers as she begins this new ministry.

January 18: Ordination of Transitional Deacon Margaret Hogarth, The Church of the Good Shepherd, 4:00 pm

January 21: Theology of Worship Course via Zoom

January 22: Bishop's Visit to St. John the Evangelist, Claresholm

January 25: Ordination to the Priesthood of Rev. Brent Schulze, St. George, Stettler, 6:00 pm

January 28: Diocesan Council meeting

February 5: Ordination to the Priesthood of Rev. Adam Bedford, Christ Church, Calgary, 4:30 pm

This welcoming parish in Northwest Calgary seeks to grow in faith both as individuals and as a community.  They are involved in a number of projects which support both their members as well as organizations outside the parish.

To find out more about this vibrant parish, please visit their website.

All interested ordained Anglican priests are welcome to request the profile by emailing Executive Officer The Ven. Dr. Pilar Gateman.

As Parish Administrator, you are responsible for the general facilitation of the church and will be doing  different tasks.

Responsibilities include creation of a newsletter weekly, and program for each service, booking rental spaces and attaining subsequent paperwork, taking minutes monthly at meetings, answering emails and phone calls and directing information. Light bookkeeping and knowledge of being an envelope secretary will be an  advantage.

Skills necessary for this position include computer literacy, familiarity with programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel, and basic technology knowledge. Knowledge on how to make changes and maintain a website are also helpful.

Please call The Rev. Jagdutt Singh at (403) 466-4987 for further details. 

The Calgary School of Discipleship is pleased to announce the Theology of Worship Course will take place on Saturday, January 21 from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm, and will be led by Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson.

Do you have an interest, calling or are just curious about Pastoral Care? Maybe you want to be better equipped to support your church community, friends or your own family. We are all called to care and care deeply, with and for one another. Maybe this is a “brush up” opportunity or time for skill refreshing. Please consider this is an invitation to join us. Together we will reflect on who we are as pastoral caregivers and how we can use what we have to perhaps lessen the burden on another. Pastoral care is in part about intentional listening, reflecting and the ministry of presence, rooted in our love for each other and our faith in Jesus.  

In this course, there will be a bit reading and/or reflecting as preparation for each of the evenings. There will be learning through new information, sharing, wondering and skill development. A pastoral community will form on its own.  

I am extending this opportunity on Tuesdays in February and March 2023. This is a Zoom class.  

Dates are: Pastoral Care Course 2023: Tuesdays – February 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28. The time is 6:30 pm – 8:45 pm. 

Deadline to register will be February 3 or a full class.    

There will be a minimum of 6 people and a maximum of 15.      

Please register with Rev. Tracey at pastoralcare@calgary.anglican.ca. Questions are also welcome. This course has some space available and a waiting list will be offered. 

Are you looking to form a parish Pastoral Care Team, or have one and want to learn from others?  If so, I would invite a member or two-ish from each parish to join us.  

Working with your parish leadership to form, reform or enhance your parish pastoral ministry, we will look to explore some growth and learning areas. Some of our areas of discussion will be around:

~ Assessing your parish needs in a manageable way

~ Team ministry – different models

~ Pastoral responsibilities

~ Working with members of the parish who want to be part of a ministry team

~ Training and mentoring

~ Addressing confidentiality and privacy  

We will have opportunity to learn from each other around the diocese and form a larger pastoral care community. There will be some guest speakers and group discussions.  

When and How: Invitation is to join by Zoom on Saturday, February 11 from 9:30-11:30 am.  

If you are interested, please email The Rev. Tracey Stagg to register and receive a zoom link. Questions are also encouraged. Registration Deadline is February 8, 2023. 

It is no wonder that Jesus sent the disciples two-by-two when going about their ministries. Many times, we find that there are places, movements in our spirit or times of decision, distress or loneliness where we long for a soul companion. This is where a Spiritual Director may be very helpful. Many find them helpful on a regular and ongoing basis.

Here are descriptions of Spiritual Direction from some well-known travellers: 

"...A relationship initiated by a spiritual seeker who finds a mature person of faith willing to pray and respond with wisdom and understanding to his or her questions about how to live spiritually in a world of ambiguity and distraction." - Henri Nouwen 

“What exactly do spiritual directors do? The simple and most direct answer I can give is that they help others attend to God’s presence and revelation and prepare to respond to Him. In other words, they help people attune themselves to God.” - David Benner, Sacred Companions

Please click on this link which will lead you to a listing of Spiritual Directors and ways to connect with them.  

Invitation:   If you are a trained and/or certified Spiritual Director and would like your name specifically listed on our website, please contact diocese@calgary.anglican.ca and provide your Name and Contact Preference as you would like it to be listed (email or phone), and we will happily include you on the list. 

Alpha is pleased to be hosting two upcoming events in our Diocese.

February 2 and 3 will see One Conference, with Alpha teaming up with the Global Leadership Network, hosted by Centre Street Church's Central Campus.

Following the Conference, Alpha is offering an in-person Alpha Team Training Day, on Saturday, February 4 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Centre Street Church's Bearspaw Campus.  This training will be facilitated by Alpha Canada staff and will equip your whole team to plan and run an amazing Alpha experience this year.  Training covers:

- Alpha Training Videos: "Essentials" and "Small Groups"

- Interactive & Engaging Training Elements

- Worship and Prayer Ministry

- Q&A time with Alpha Staff

- Continental Breakfast & Beverages

Please RSVP by January 25.  Register Here. (Teams of 5 or more will receive a 10% discount at the checkout).

For more information on the One Conference and to register, Click Here. (Save $30 off the ticket price by using the promo code "ALPHA30")

The United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week runs from Wednesday, February 1 to Tuesday, February 7.

Wednesday, Feb. 1: Opening Ceremony: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Atrium at City Hall.  Greetings from Mayor Jyoti Gondek, with Calgary Interfaith Council members and friends.

Thursday, Feb. 2: Strangers to Neighbours Potluck (details in poster above).

Friday, Feb. 3: Attending to Spirit: Spirituality and Childhood Hope in Chronic Illness: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm.  Dr. Duane Bidwell, 2023 Chair of Christian Thought, Swanson Lecture in Christian Spirituality.  Link here.

Sunday, Feb. 5: CIC Interfaith Discovery: 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm, via Zoom. Sharing wisdom from our traditions and stories from our lives, Register here.

Tuesday, Feb. 7: Interfaith Habitat for Humanity Build, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.  Details to come.

Tueday, Feb. 7: UNWIHW Closing Ceremony: 7:00 pm, via Zoom.  Join us virtually in a time of sharing and remembering together.  Register here.

On behalf of the 2023 Images Planning Committee, this is your invitation to the 33rd Annual Images of Spirituality gathering (in-person again).  Come and join with other women to celebrate God's great gift of a creative spirit within each of us.

Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2, 2023 at the Entheos Retreat Centre

Please watch for more details, as we are in the process of developing the theme and other details.

Leadership Transformations Inc. is providing workshops in January and early February which are nourishing to the soul.

Please consider enrolling in one or more, by clicking this link.

The former custodian at St. James Anglican Church in Ranchlands has some cleaning equipment available to a good home.  These items include mop buckets and handles.  These are free to another congregation who might like them.

Fraser's ad on the Kijiji website can be found here, or he can be contacted at (587) 433-3208, or email him here.

Please remember in your prayers:

- those who are sick, suffering, fearful or in need, remembering those suffering from COVID-19 and their caregivers, those feeling isolated and those who are vulnerable;  

- for peace within our country, and in the world, remembering the countries of Ukraine and Iran; we pray for areas of unrest and riots, asking for wise discernment in our leaders;

- for Monica, Howard, Terry, Janet, Victoria, Rick and Deb, Donna, Don, Adrian, Caroline, Barbara and Elizabeth;

- for those who have died and those who mourn, remembering at this time Margaret Evans;

- for the poor, the homeless, and the needy in our communities;

- the victims of violence and natural disasters;

- our Indigenous brothers and sisters, and their new leaders in our diocese and country; 

- refugees, remembering those fleeing the Taliban regime, and those fleeing war in the Ukraine.

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.