As we see the flowers on the trees around us start to bloom, and we work in our gardens anticipating what will be growing there soon, the call to "bear fruit" comes to mind.

In the Gospel of John, chapter 15 verse 16, Jesus tells his disciples, "...I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last...."  In Paul's letter to the Colossians, chapter 1 verse 10, he writes to the church, "be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work..."  But there's a misconception about what that fruit looks like.  Often we think our mission must be one of salvation, of bringing the lost souls to the light of Christ, of performing large-scale evangelization, or performing amazing actions that will convert the masses.

And some may be called to this.  However, the fruit that is being talked about by Jesus and Paul is much smaller in nature.  In Galatians 5:22 and 23, we read: "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."  These are well within our abilities when we center our hearts on Jesus.

These qualities begin to surface the more we spend time in prayer and devote time to our spiritual formation.  These "fruits" have an attractive power and draw others to Jesus.

With thick blankets of smoke covering our province and reports of community evacuations, we are well aware of the danger and destruction of the wildfires occuring throughout Alberta.

We ask for prayers for the more northerly parishes of our Diocese, especially Church of the Epiphany, Rimbey and Holy Trinity, Rocky Mountain House.  We also lift up the parishes within The Diocese of Edmonton and The Diocese of Athabasca, as they endure these difficult situations within their boundaries.

Lord God, where there is anxiety and insecurity, bring your peace and comfort.  Where there is physical destruction, send your strength.  Where there is evacuation and displacement, send clarity and organization.  We thank you for providing trained firefighters, skilled caregivers, and loving charities to provide hope and support to those in need.

Send your rain upon this land.  We ask all this in your powerful name.  Amen.

Ordinations:

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce that, God willing, he will ordain to the Priesthood The Rev. Deacon John Willems of St. Barnabas, Medicine Hat.    The Service of Ordination will take place at St. Barnabas, Medicine Hat on Saturday, May 27 at 4:00 pm.  Please pray for John as he prepares for his new ministry.  Color is Red.

Archbishop Greg is pleased to announce that, God willing, he will ordain to the Priesthood The Rev. Deacon Daniel Joseph.  As well, God willing, he will ordain to the Diaconate Dr. Megan Roberts of St. Barnabas, Three Hills.    The Service of Ordination will take place at The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Calgary on Wednesday, June 21 at 7:00 pm.  Please pray for Daniel and Megan as they prepare for their new ministries.  Color is Red.

Appointment:

Archbishop Greg is pleased to appoint The Rev. Eyad Ajji as the Interim Priest-in-Charge for St. Mark & St. Philip, Calgary, as of May 1.  May God bless St. Mark & St. Philip and Rev. Eyad as they journey together in His service.

On Sunday, May 7, Archbishop Greg installed The Very Rev. Chris Dowdeswell as The Dean of Calgary, at The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer, Calgary.

We celebrate and ask God to bless the ministry of our new Dean.

Photo credit: Kim Getty

May 19: Meeting with the Indigenous Council of Missinnippi in Saskatoon

May 21: Confirmation Service at The Church of the Epiphany, Rimbey

May 23 - 25: Clergy Conference, Waterton Lakes

May 27: Ordination of The Rev. John Willems to the Priesthood, St. Barnabas, Medicine Hat

May 28: Confirmation Service at St. Augustine, Lethbridge

May 29 - June 2: Sacred Circle, Toronto

June 4: Confirmation Service at St. Luke, Red Deer

June 4: Graduation Eucharist for Education for Ministry, Holy Cross, Calgary

Our Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) is searching for a part-time, contract settlement worker based in Calgary to support the settlement of our privately sponsored newcomers.

Please refer to the Job Description posted on our Website.  Being multilingual is a requirement, as well as the flexibility to work evenings and weekends.

A cover letter with resume and the names of two references should be sent by May 22 to refugee@calgary.anglican.ca

The Parish of St. Leonard-on-the-Hill, Red Deer is seeking an accomplished musician and experienced leader who will plan, lead, and grow our worship ministry, working closely with the minister to enhance worship and build Christian fellowship through music. 

The position is currently vacant and will be filled as soon as possible. This position is expected to require approximately 8 hours per week, concentrated between September and June. Please direct applications and inquiries to stleonardsanglicanchurch@gmail.com – subject line: Music and Director Position. 

Liturgical Public Speaking -  May 27 @ 1:00 pm   Instructors: Rev. Canon James Robinson and Judith Robinson  Location: Diocesan Office (Chapel) and on Zoom.  Cost: $35 per person.

A second offering of this course will happen June 17 @ 1:00 pm, at St. Augustine, Lethbridge, as well as being available by Zoom.

This Workshop is designed to help both lay and clergy people become adept in public speaking while leading and/or participating in public worship. Students will explore what is needed to speak and read effectively in public, but specifically within the context of worship and in the role of reading sacred scripture, and praying liturgical and sacramental text. The course will also cover practical matters, including instruction about appropriate use of vestments, the use of technology and give students opportunity to practice and develop their skills and confidence.  

Leading Morning & Evening Prayer, and Reserved Sacrament  June 3 @ 9:30am (MP/EP) and 1:00pm (RS) Instructors: Rev. Br. Jason Carroll & Ven Dr. Pilar Gateman  Cost: $35 per session, or $60 for the both.  Location: St. Andrew, Calgary and on Zoom

This workshop will give students a basic understanding of the theology, structure and purpose of the Daily Office and the Reserved Sacrament service, and train them to organize appropriate services from the Book of Alternative Services (BAS), the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), and locally developed service books approved by the Bishop. Students will be able to plan a service of worship effectively, taking into account the sacramental context and liturgical season, and selecting appropriate Propers, readings, hymns, prayers and collects. The course will also cover practical matters such as appropriate strategies to navigate unexpected events in worship and the use of appropriate postures for leading worship. Students will also consider the realities and requirements of providing reserved sacraments in public institutions such as hospitals and seniors homes (e.g., choking hazards, institutional protocols and procedures). 

To register for any of these courses, click here.

Come join us for a serene and uplifting experience at Evensong. This beloved tradition of choral music and Evening Prayer has been celebrated in cathedrals and churches for centuries, and this month you can share in this sacred service at The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer on May 21, and the Parish of Christ Church, Elbow Park on May 28. 

Our application to become a Non-Profit was submitted on February 14, 2023.  To date we have not received confirmation and we have been told it will be a three month wait.  Until we receive this approval, we are unable to apply for a GST number and we are unable to open our own bank account.  Once all the paperwork is in place, we will need someone to look after our bookkeeping.  We don’t anticipate this will very onerous and time consuming.  Please contact us during Food Bank hours if you have an interest in helping out or if you have any questions.

We plan to proceed with our Garage Sale on Saturday, June 3, 2023.  We are accepting items such as kitchen items, small household items, yard items, camping goods, shoes, jewellery, tools, books, etc.   We ask that large items such as furniture be brought to us only the week of May 29, as storage space is limited.  Please note that items that we do NOT accept in any condition: TVs, beds and mattresses, futons, pillows, cribs, car-seats, helmets, and large appliances such as washers, dryers, stoves, fridges, etc.

Donated items will be accepted during Food Bank Hours – Mondays and Thursdays:  9 am to 12 Noon.  If alternate arrangements are required, please contact the Food Bank or leave a message at (403) 288-6330 or contact Marilyn at (403) 681-5726. 

We are extremely grateful for the continued support of food donations.  The demand has increased and all the support we receive contributes to the outreach we provide.  

Join the global wave of prayer calling all Christians to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know the love and peace of Jesus Christ.

May 18 - 28, 2023.  More information can be found here.

The Diocese of Calgary Anglican Church Women (ACW) invite you to a Retreat at Holy Cross, Calgary - outside if the weather is fine, inside if it rains.

See the poster for details and information on how to register by June 1. 

June 14 - Praying the Labyrinth

To celebrate "Worldwide Knit in Public Day" (who knew there was such a thing?!?), knitters at Holy Cross, Calgary are invited to bring a knitting project, a lawn chair, a hat and a water bottle, and join us in front of the main doors of the church to work on prayer shawls or a personal project. If you wish to crochet or do hand work, you are welcome, too.

This activity will not only give knitters an opportunity to work on something wonderful and build community, but also offer outreach to anyone passing by as we highlight our Prayer Shawl ministry.

We also challenge other parishes to hold their own "Knit In Public" events and we’d love to see pictures! For more information about this project, please contact Carol Tubman (ctubman@shaw.ca) or tel: (403) 277-9104.

 If the weather is inclement, the event will be held inside.

With a new quarterly grants cycle, the AFC grants program is more accessible than ever. If you missed the April deadline, don’t worry: the grants portal is open, and the next deadline is July 1. For more information on all AFC grants visit the Grants Portal now.  

Christ Church Mosaic is a house next door to Christ Church parish where six young adults from various parts of the country live out their faith and their lives together.

Attending a variety of schools and programs, these young people form an intentional Christian community during the school year.  Living as roommates, these residents work together to decide the "rule of life" that will shape their common experience over the course of the year.  Supported by Christ Church Parish in their spiritual journey, Christ Church Mosaic residents gather twice a month with parish volunteers to engage in Bible study and discussion. 

There are a just a few spots left for the 2023-24 school term for affordable community living for Christian students close to downtown Edmonton.  Apply to be a resident by completing this form.

Please remember in your prayers:

- for peace within our country, and in the world, for victims of violence and natural disasters, and for areas of unrest and riots.  We ask for wise discernment in our leaders;

- for those affected by the wildfires burning in this province, causing anxiety and insecurity, for those who have lost possessions or been displaced, and for those who are working to bring these fires under control;

- for those who are sick, suffering, isolated or in need.  We ask for prayers for Monica, Howard, Terry, Janet, Victoria, Rick and Deb, Donna, Barbara and Elizabeth, Cathy, Vic, Fergus and Dre;

- 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 leaders in our diocese and country; 

- refugees, remembering those fleeing regimes around the world, 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.