Announcements
~ANNOUNCEMENTS & INVITATIONS as of September 13 2018~
o THANK YOU to members of the pastoral care committee; leaders of small groups ministries; and those who invited others to come to Welcome Sunday! It was a great atmosphere in which to make and renew friendships. The variety of foods and array of interest areas certainly set the stage for moving into the 2018-19 year.
o THANK YOU to Sue Stratulate for offering to prepare and lead JC Club for the next number of weeks. With help and cooperation from some of the parents of the younger children we hope to offer age appropriate biblical stories, crafts, songs and games. Please let Sue know of your interest and ideas.
o September 23rd we'll have guitar accompaniment for Sunday Worship and a presentation from Jenny Munholland & Isaac Hernando regarding their participation in the GO project this summer in Vancouver.
o Lunch, Learning & Laughter begins again September 14th @ noon Please join with Jan in preparing for Sunday worship as we discuss the themes found in the Bible readings for September 16th: Proverbs 1:20-33 and Mark 8:27-38.
o Upcoming:
o Office Closed (Michele away) Sept. 14 & 17
o Drum Circle ~ September 19th @ 7:30 pm
o Worship Services @ Lodge & Care Homes:
o September 18 ~ Lodge Worship Services: @ Willow Creek (2:00) and Paragon Place (3:30)
• Website Updates: http://www.stettlerunitedchurch.org/news
~ CHURCH RELATED ~
• WOMEN'S SINGING CIRCLE ~ Gaetz United Church, Red Deer, September 15th 10am - 2pm. Women of all ages are invited to come together and sing the music of Carolyn McDade as groups from North and South Alberta come together. *Bring a bag lunch and if you feel so moved, something to share. Let Jan Richardson know if you'd like to car pool with her, leaving Stettler United Church by 8:45 a.m.
• Lyle Keewatin Richards and Don Hepburn are receiving Honorary Doctorates from St. Stephen's College on Monday, November 5 at 7:30 pm. They were nominated by Sunnybrook United Church, with several letters of support, including from the Remembering the Children Society, for their outstanding commitment to commemorate those children who attended and died at the Red Deer Industrial School. Come celebrate their dedication to healing, justice and education! On their behalf, Rev. Cecile Fausak will deliver the convocation address on the theme of community-based restorative justice.
• Stettler Hospice Presents Wil, in concert, September 30 @ Performing Arts Theatre https://www.facebook.com/events/166903814159593/
• Alberta Health Services have regional workshops related to Palliative & End of Life Care Training (October 2-3) and Dementia Care (Oct. 22). Contact Gail Benjamin 403-740-8565 for further information
• Upcoming United Church Webinars ~ a wealth of topics and learning opportunities… https://www.united-in-learning.com/index.php/webinars
• A prayer for those affected by wildfires, especially in BC at this time, by the Right Rev. Richard Bott, newly elected moderator, United Church of Canada… https://www.united-church.ca/prayers/when-disciples-were-terrified-strength-storm
• Interview ~ Racism in the church ~ Paul Douglas Walfall reflects on his powerful General Council speech https://www.ucobserver.org/interviews/2018/08/paul_douglas_walfall_interview/
• The Church’s Struggle to see Jesus from Intercultural Eyes ~ September 26-27, 2018 at the Providence Renewal Centre, Edmonton, Alberta. https://albertanorthwestconference.ca/15892-the-churchs-struggle-to-see-jesus-from-intercultural-eyes/
• “We are People of Treaty” ~ hosted by Strathcona County Ecumenical Mission, with Stan McKay as teaching elder, October 11-17 in Sherwood Park. https://ecumenicalmission.wordpress.com/
• Alberta & Northwest Conference UCC ~ BOOST FOR THE JOURNEY II: MOVING FORWARD IN TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION is going to be held at Kamp Kiwanis near Calgary, from October 26-28, 2018. We hope you can save this date and come in October. There promises to be networking with other witnesses, Indigenous teachings, a KAIROS blanket exercise, and more as we continue to live into good relationships with one another. https://albertanorthwestconference.ca/15836-boost-for-the-journey-ii-scheduled-for-october-26-28/
• An invitation from St. Andrew's United Church in Lacombe...
Alex Kusturok - in Concert October 20, 2018 at 7:00 pm at
Lacombe United Church, 5226 – 51 Ave. in Lacombe.
Tickets are $20, children are free, and are available at church office ph: 403-782-3148, or from Don Fraser ph: 403-782-9887 or Donna Pierson at 403-350-7109.
Alex is a master fiddle player with a blend of styles, greatly influenced by the Quebecois and Cape Breton fiddle styles, however, the Métis style remains at the forefront of his playing. He has been awarded numerous championships including Grand North America Fiddle Championship(2013 Alberta). He is well known as a performer, instructor and competition judge. Check him out on his website at www.alexkusturok.com
This concert is sponsored by the Friends of Guatemala at St. Andrew’s, and is a fundraiser for a ‘food security project’ with the Maya indigenous people of Guatemala. Your support is greatly appreciated!
• Brave Spaces is here! A time to be curious, open, and to explore what inclusivity looks and feels like, beyond the words. How do we have difficult but important conversations, especially when it comes to being inclusive? And can we have fun while doing it?! Join us in Calgary for a special one-night-only show, and a day full of workshops, great food, and more!
· Sep 28, Friday night: Certified at 7 p.m. · Sep 29, Saturday – Keynote and workshops: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Morning and afternoon refreshments and a full lunch will be available on Saturday. https://albertanorthwestconference.ca/16007-your-invitation-to-brave-spaces-conference/
• Join 30 of the Most Inspiring Social Visionaries and Spiritual Teachers of Our Time
https://www.soundstrue.com/store/waking-up-world/optin-access?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=WUWFB-Palmer&partner=WUWFB-Palmer
• There was a major earthquake in Hokkaido, the large northernmost island of Japan, early in the morning on September 6th. The earthquake was preceded by a typhoon. Hokkaido continues to experience heavy rain which may cause more damage in areas where there have been landslides.
On September 9, colleagues of the United Church report that there are still lots of aftershocks in Hokkaido. Large numbers of people remain without electricity and/or water. There have been about 39 deaths, hundreds injured, and some still missing. Planes and trains are beginning to move again. It is hoped that many schools will be able to re-open on Monday September 10.
Rob Witmer, long-time United Church overseas personnel in Japan, says "It's an earthquake like Hokkaido has never experienced before. The level was 7 and there were power outages all over Hokkaido. Fortunately, our family,
relatives, and friends are all OK at this point. The information we have so far is telling us that there has not been
a lot of damage to churches and church-related schools at this point."