I’ve been reading a book called Failure by Emma Ineson. You can find it here: Failure Book

It is the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book for this year and was recommended to me by a dear friend.

At first I looked at the title and thought, “Well, that’s depressing.” But I was curious enough to pick it up and start reading and I am so glad I did.

How often do we think about mistakes, sin and just generally messing stuff up? If you are like me, the answer is Often. Many times we beat ourselves up for making a mistake or messing up. We feel we’ve let others down or worse, let God down. It’s pretty easy to feel like we are not enough. Not educated enough, not clever enough, not patient enough, not thin enough…. Fill in the blank.  And this seems to happen more often in Lent.

This book challenges us to look at so-called failure through the lens of our Christian Faith rather than through the lens of the world and our culture.

You and I mess up. But as we acknowledge the ways we may fall short – let’s keep in mind that the only metric that matters is how God feels about that. The God who is love. The God who beckons us to come back as the one sheep separated from the 99 others. The God who does not condemn (John 3:17) but is always inviting, always calling us toward his love.

So, if you are like me and whatever it is you gave up or started this Lent has been picked up and dropped and renegotiated already…(aka failure), spend some time with the Lover of your soul in the next week or so, (before we meet again) and ask, “What are you inviting me into?” or “How would you have me draw closer to you?” 

Inductions:

Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson will be inducting The Rev. Brent Schulze as Incumbent of St. George, Stettler on Sunday, March 26 at the 10:00 am Service.  Please pray for Brent and the people of St. George as they continue their journey in faith together.  

Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson will be inducting The Rev. Dr. Chris Nojonen as Incumbent of St. George, Calgary on Wednesday, March 29 at 7:30 pm.  Please pray for Chris and the people of St. George as they move forward in faith together.

March 21: BARDs

March 22: Administration & Finance Meeting

March 23: Clergy Day at Holy Cross, Calgary

March 26: Induction of The Rev. Brent Schulze at St. George, Stettler

March 29: Induction of The Rev. Dr. Chris Nojonen at St. George, Calgary

April 4: Blessing of the Oils Service at The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Calgary

April 6: Maundy Thursday Service at All Saints, Cochrane

The Diocese of Calgary is hosting the National General Synod from June 27 to July 2.  We look forward to showing delegates our hospitality.  

Part of our hosting role is to provide Goodie Bags to our guests.  If your parish would like to contribute, in the way of small items to be added to the bags (all 235 of them), please let us know.  Some suggestions we've thought of are: postcards, bookmarks, prayer crosses, or knitted dishclothes.  What would you suggest go in the bags?

Contact us at diocese@calgary.anglican.ca if you would like to help us show our famous Western hospitality to those attending General Synod.

The Diocesan Office requests that all forms of the Annual Returns for the year ending 2022 be submitted immediately.  Failure to do so could cause the loss of parish representation at the Diocesan Synod later this year. 

We wish to thank all the parishes who have already sent theirs in.

After 53 years of service in the music ministry at Christ Church, Elbow Park - first as Assistant Organist, then as Director of Music - Margie Newman has announced her retirement, effective August 31, 2023.  Margie has been a gift to the parish of Christ Church and to the wider Diocese with her ability to marry musical excellence with spiritual sensitivity, and a deep love of the church - its people and liturgical traditions.  Over the coming months, we look forward to celebrating Margie's faithful ministry, and we will be looking for a Director of Music to steward our rich musical tradition into the next chapter. 

The purpose of this workshop is to learn how to fight the enemies of God with His word and His power.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  (Eph. 6:12 NIV)

This workshop will be led by The Rev. Martyn Alvey, Honorary Associate at Meota Parish, who has led numerous workshops on Prayer and Healing, and held a monthly Wholeness and Healing service at the Southwell Minster for 15 years.  He was the advisor to the Bishop of Southwell on Wholeness and Healing, including Spiritual Warfare, before emigrating to Canada in 2016.

Please bring your own lunch.  Muffins and drinks will be provided.  There is no cost, but there will be a freewill offering to help cover costs.  As space is limited, please register: by email at admin@stbenshr.church or call the office at (403) 652-2271.

This class will consist of four Wednesday evening meetings (April 5, 12, 19 and 26) from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.  Couples who are planning to get married are invited to register for this workshop as part of their journey to their wedding day. Participants will receive information and resources and be asked to complete "homework" between classes.  Topics to be covered: Communication, Conflict Management, Family Culture, Finances, Goals and Values, Intimacy, and Spirituality.  The program will be led by The Rev. Brian Way, Counselling Therapist and Gottman Seven Principles Program Educator.  Couples interested can book a free 1/2 hour online consultation.  To get more information and to get registration information, click this website or email here.

Planning for the Spring Cursillo Weekneds is well underway.  Now is the time to consider sponsoring somone to attend for the first time.  Is there someone you know who is moving forward in their Christian walk, that just needs a little nudge to fully take up a leadership role?  Is there someone who already is a leader, who needs to experience what this Weekend is all about?

Cursillo is the place for them!

The Men's Weekend will be held Thursday, April 13 to Sunday, April 16.  The Women's Weekend will be held Thursday, April 20 to Sunday, April 23.  For more information, please visit the Cursillo website, or contact Lay Director Al Stretton.

Please join us for a Celtic-themed evening. We will begin with a potluck shared meal at 6:00 PM.  After we clean up, we will go into the sanctuary for a hymn sing of Celtic standards, followed by a service of Compline.

Questions? Contact the Rev. Deacon Carol Tubman at 403- 277-9104.  And don't forget to wear green! 

It's been a while since we've been able to gather for a Town Hall across the Diocese.  These gatherings are intended for Wardens, Treasurers, Parish clergy and Lay Ministers (and anyone else who would like to attend).

This year, the Diocesan Staff is going to gather with you in Red Deer, Okotoks and Lethbridge in order to share with you how they work to facilitate your ministry, and answer questions you may have for them.

Wednesday, May 3 - St. Luke, Red Deer (this event will be recorded - those unable to attend will be given the recording upon request)

Wednesday, May 10 - St. Augustine, Lethbridge

Saturday, May 13 - St. Peter, Okotoks

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us.

As we look forward to celebrating St. Edmund's move to Mission, we welcome you to a Spring Tea, in the Mission Hall building (located behind the main church building at 8336 - 34 Ave. NW), beginning at 11:00 am.  Please RSVP for Free Tickets, or by calling Linda at (403) 615-0651.  Please specify if you would like the 11:00 am or 12:00 noon seating.  Tickets may be available at the door, but time cannot be guaranteed due to limited seating.  We will be providing tours of St. Edmund's Food Bank, as well.  

Commencing March 19, The Rev. Rafiq Masih will preside at an Urdu-language worship service on the third Sunday of each month at 1:00 pm at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Calgary.  This important ministry will reach local Hindi, punjabi, and Urdu-speaking Christians in Calgary and area.  For more information on this service, please contact Rev. Rafiq.

Virtual Public Lecture: Who Needs A Pastor?: The Pastoral Vocation Today

With the strong and right affirmation of the sacred character of all vocations, we reightly raise the question: What then of the pastoral calling?  What is its character and purpose?  We particularly need to ask this in the context of what it means to be the church in an increasingly secular social context.  Join Ambrose President Dr. Gordon T. Smith, Thursday, March 16 at 6:30 pm (MT).  Register here.

Simpson Symposium: Formative Feasting: How Biblical Meals Shape Moral Communities

Join us virtually as Dr. Michael Rhodes, Lecturer in Old Testament, Carey Baptist College, talks about how the sharing of meals shapes Christian communities in the early church and today.  Dr. Rhodes will be joined by host, Dr. Jon Coutts, Associate Professor of Christian Theology at Ambrose Seminary.  Tuesday, March 21, 1:30 - 3:00 pm.  Register here.

Thank you for being part of the Wisdom Centre, a network seeking to renew and rediscover what the individual and faith community can mean for collective spiritual life in the 21st Century.

In the coming months, we are launching a new website and will keep you informed as we begin crafting our upcoming 2023-2024 offerings.

This month, we bring you a quick round-up of local contemplative and alternative worship opportunities.

TAIZE - An Evening of Prayer, Singing and Silence: March 19 at 7:30 pm.  St. Laurence Anglican Church

Are you looking for a meditation community?  St. Laurence offers a half-hour meditative practice each Thursday morning at 10:00 am.  Sessions alternate between Contemplative Prayer (the first and third Thursdays of the month) and Centering Prayer (second and fourth Thursdays of the month).  All are welcome.

To find out about these offerings, email us here.

For more information, please contact James.

The Choir of Christ Church, Elbow Park hosts choral evensong on the fourth Sunday of each month beginning in April.  Please join us for this sacred service beginning at 4:30 pm.

Corps Bara Dance Theatre presents Grief Marked, a captivating immersive experience which guides audience-participants through the changing atmosphere of an inner world of grief.  Grief Marked invites guests to travel alongside the dancers as they weave through textures of fabric installations, visual imagery, live sound compositions and movement.  Grief Marked draws us nearer to the soul-nourishing beauty nestled inside the universal experience of grief, making way for healing and fierce hope as we gather in community.

This performance will require audiences to move to different locations within the space in small groups of up to 30 audience members.  Audiences will be in close range with the performers and there will be simple, guided interactive elements.  There is limited seating for folks with mobility issues or who cannot stand/walk or sit on the floor for the duration of the piece (approx. 40 minutes).  Please be in touch with any specific accessibility needs so we can accomodate in advance.

Grief Marked premieres in Calgary at The Pioneer on Stephen Avenue on Sunday, March 19.

Entrance times occur once an hour from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  

Admission is free, however pre-registration is required.

On behalf of the Calgary Interfaith Council, you are invited to join the Get Neighbouring Workshop on March 28 at 7:00 pm via Zoom, with neighbourhood champion Howard Lawrence.  Howard began a grassroots project in his neighbourhood in Edmonton, and now encourages others to get involved in their communities.

Learn how to activate a neighbourhood through focusing on the gifts and interests of the residents, how to use neighbourhood leadership to model and create permission for connecting, and practical suggestions on running a neighbourhood event.

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 spirit among us.

Friday, March 31 beginning at 6:00 pm to Sunday, April 2 after lunch, held at the Entheos Retreat Centre.

The theme this year is "Being in the Presence of God: Where Christian and Celtic Spirituality Join."

The Session Leader and Worship Leader will be The Rev. MJ Leewis-Kirk.  The weekend will include sessions with MJ, small group discussions, lunch breaks and some craft time together, as well as singing, worship, fellowship, and the usual free time on Saturday afternoon.

Early Registration Fees: $250 for Double Occupancy or $270 for Single Occupancy (which are limited).  Deadline for registration is March 17 and a non-refundable $100 deposit is required.  Late registration fees are $270 for double occupancy or $290 for single occupancy.

Learn more on their website.  

From the Committee on Death and Dying: Horizons of Hope is a toolkit for parishes to start talking about palliative care and how to be a caring community.  There are 4 modules that look at palliative care through the lens of faith, medical questions and pastoral care.  The modules would be taught over two Saturdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  We are looking for a parish who would be able to host this as a pilot project sometime in late April or May.  The hosting involves providing meeting space, technical assistance and coffee/tea & baking.

This would be an ideal workshop for those involved in pastoral care, those accompanying people in palliative care, or those interested in how to care well for their dying family or friends.

If your parish is interested, please contact Alicia Dykstra or Rev. Elizabeth Short.

Summer Jobs Available: Come join us for rewarding work in a positive and enriching environment.

We are building a dynamic team of young people to help make the "Summer at Sorrento Centre" experience extraordinary...not just for our guests (from the littlest to our elders) but for the summer youthy staff, too!  We are seeking enthusiastic, energetic, and motivated individuals to join our summer youth staff during summer.

Take a look at this lineup of exciting full-time jobs for youth aged 16 to 30.  Here's a chance for young people to gain valuable paid work experience and build employability skills for the future.

Five Weeks of Summer: Please click here to find out about our amazing lineup of courses and leaders.

This is a summer internship for 18 to 25-year olds who feel a call to ministry outside the walls of the church.

Serve at a social service organization in Montreal.  Reflect with other interns during weekly group meetings.  Discern how you are called to particiapte in God's work.  Click here for more information.

Camp Kuriakos at on the shores of Sylvan Lake is a place set apart for people of all ages to grow together in Christ.

Now Hiring: Kuriakos is currently looking for 10 - 12 passionate young adults to join our summer team.  These staff will spend the summer leading kids, youth and families in activities, worship, Bible study and daily life.  Through the experience, they will develop leadership skills, deepen their faith and understanding of God's word, and build lasting relationships with their co-workers.  A summer at camp can preapre young adults for many of the challenges they will face in their careers - no matter what kind of work they do, and can often be a catalyst for chooseing ministry as a career path.  Apply here, or email Kendra for more information.

Upcoming Programs: 

Women's Retreat: March 31 - April 2.  A Garden party weekend with learning about Women's Spirituality, with The Rev. Prema Samuel.

More information can be found 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, for victims of violence and natural disasters, and for areas of unrest and riots, asking for wise discernment in our leaders;

- for Monica, Howard, Terry, Janet, Victoria, Rick and Deb, Donna, John, Adrian, Caroline, Barbara and Elizabeth, Cathy, Vic and Fergus;

- for those who have died and those who mourn;

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

- 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.