Good afternoon friends and family of St.Giles,  

‘The verb καταλλάσσω in Koine Greek (biblical Greek) denotes bringing estranged parties into harmony.’  Strong’s Concordance goes on to say that ‘in scripture, it’s principal focus is the restoration of sinners to God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, with a secondary application to human relationships.’  καταλλάσσω means ‘reconciliation’.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 in the New English Translation reads:

     “And all these things are from God who    

      reconciled us to himself through Christ, 

      and who has given us the ministry of 

      reconciliation.   In other words, in 

      Christ God was reconciling the world to 

      himself, not counting people’s 

      trespasses against them, and he has 

      given us the message of reconciliation.”

As the people of God called to proclaim truth and reconciliation, we are sometimes challenged by what this means in relationship with the people around us.  Especially during Indigenous History Month.  Especially on June 21.  

It is vital, as God’s people, that we remember the terms ‘truth and reconciliation’ came to us first through scripture.  And the initiative of reconciliation is entirely God’s: ‘All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.” (2 Cor 5:18).  And as this message of reconciliation has been passed to us to transmit, we are faced with a choice – share the message of Christ and participate in the ministry of reconciliation, or don’t.  So what will you do with your freedom to pursue reconciliation with others, reflecting divine grace in practical relationships?

This Sunday, we will read Psalm 69 together, and reflect on reconciliation, lament, love, and the inseparability of gospel content and gospel living.  And we are blessed to be able to celebrate the 100th birthday of Chris Browne after the service.  More announcements are in the bulletin, including the upcoming book study, the worship with Knox Presbyterian, and Vacation Bible School (see attached).  

May this weekend be one of peace – the blessing from God as a result of being reconciled to God.  May there be harmony between you and all you meet.  

A’hoy!

Rev. Chandra Mannix

Greetings friends and family of St. Giles,

The week leading into the 3rd Sunday of Pentecost has been a busy one in the Presbyterian Church in Canada!

This week, the General Assembly (the highest decision-making body of The Presbyterian Church in Canada), was attended by ministers and elders commissioned by presbyteries to represent the entire church. The Assembly votes on matters of theology and polity that affect the whole denomination.  This year, I was blessed to attend as a commissioner and participate in this court on behalf of the Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod.  Also in attendance from our Presbytery was Mary Lil Rosza de Coquet, Rev. Laurie McKay, Cathy Gale, Darrell Risk, Rev. Christian Persaud, Cindy Stephenson, Rev. Bartholomew Alexander, and Shirley Walker.  Please visit the national website to learn more.

https://presbyterian.ca/gao/ga2026

Also hard at work this week were the active elders on session and Presbytery representatives assigned to support St. Giles and Knox as they continued to prepare a draft amalgamation plan for the congregations.  Updates will be provided on the plan and process at the service this week by Elder Sandra Cameron Evans and Elder Moira Brownlee.  The amalgamation plan will be completed over the summer months and presented to Presbytery for consideration in September.  

Beginning July 5, Knox and St. Giles will proceed to weekly worship together on an ongoing basis.  A new committee, is in the process of being formed to guide weekly worship.  Please pray and ask God if you are called to participate on the new committee.  Please speak with your elder, myself, Rev. Terry Fach (General Presbyter), or Rev. Chris Joiner (Interim Moderator, Knox) to learn more, provide  feedback, or make suggestions for worship or the amalgamation plan.  

Our service this week, as you will see from the bulletin attached, will focus on Christ’s teaching that we pray to the Lord for more workers in God’s Kingdom (Matthew 9:35-38).  And we will also be honoured by the privilege of participating in a baptism for Weston Dansereau.  By the waters of baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit, God claims us and calls each person by name.  God unites us to Christ in his death and resurrection and grafts us into the body of Christ as members of the church.  And as disciples we are commissioned to make more disciples and to participate in the work of the Kingdom.

As you prepare for worship this weekend, please take time to reflect on the ways you have been gifted and commissioned to serve our Saviour.  Pray about the work you see around you that needs to be done in Christ’s name.  And know that you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in newness of life as people of the Word through your own baptism.  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

So go in faith into whatever the weekend ahead may hold, sure that Christ walks with you.  And may your prayers and actions continue to align with God’s will for your life and God’s church.

Blessings,

Chandra

Greetings friends and family of St. Giles,

This weekend is the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost.  This Sunday marks the transition into ‘Ordinary Time’ in the Presbyterian Church in Canada.  It is a time of growth as disciples embrace new learnings from the Word and focus on the mission of God in the world.

The scriptures for the service on June 7th point us to God’s call on our lives using the examples of unlikely people in scripture.  Abram – a childless man of 75 – was called out of his home country to follow God to new land.  His decision to follow in faith would bless the whole world.  The Apostle Matthew was called to follow Jesus from his seat in the tax booth.  And the whole world benefited from him following in faith when he shared the story of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew.

Selim Sfeir, the Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus, writes that “we call ourselves disciples of the 21st century, and so we are.  We go through moments of doubt, like the disciples went through doubts – in the presence of Jesus.  But Jesus is not going to dwell on the doubts of some of his disciples; if he has gathered them together, it is for a much more important task.”

What is the task of which this Cyprean Archbishop speaks?  How does it relate to your specific calling in the Kingdom of God and your work in the church?  You will have doubts.  And we encourage you to discuss them with elders, Rev. Chandra, and each other.  But please balance these struggles in discernement with a focus on who you are as a disciple, and what you are asked to do by God as a faithful follower.  You are a beloved child of God called to share the gospel message of Christ in the world.

Rev. Terry Fach, our General Presbyter at the Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod, will be preaching this weekend as we prepare for our next steps in the amalgamation process with Knox.  He will also encourage focus on next steps in your personal walk with Christ.  And Esther Woelfle, our former choir director, will lead the choir in hymns of praise to God.  

May your worship this week be filled with faith as you continue to glorify God through trust in God’s promises.

Blessings,

Chandra

“Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what he had promised”  

– Romans 4:20