Good afternoon friends and family of Knox / St Giles Amalgamated Church,

It is the season of gratitude and thanksgiving to God.  The abundance that surrounds us incites us to praise and worship and serve the One who gives us everything.

This week, our own Rev. Tom Brownlee will be preaching on Matthew 22.  Jesus is asked if it is right to pay taxes.  And his response is fascinating… “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

Do you belong to God?  How do you give yourself to God?  At the Bible Study this week we looked at the Book of Ezra, and asked ourselves if our priorities were right.  What does it look like to put God first in our lives before anything else… even taxes or elections or our own plans?  

It is hard to be a faithful follower in a world distracted by worship to the false gods of culture, philosophy, and autonomy.  It is hard to remember that the things of Caesar are always secondary to the things of God. And discouragement and opposition will always present themselves to those who faithfully follow Christ to test our faith.

So do not lose hope. Know you have been stamped with the image of God.  You are the children of God called to serve and sing and worship to God.  And God has blessed us all lavishly.  Respond with a gratitude to God that mirrors and pairs with the bounty we have been given by God.

This week, God has provided financial security (through a loan from the Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod) of up to $10,000 per month until the sale of our southern building concludes. This money will help us continue with ministry, and help us to prepare for the next steps in our amalgamation.  But just as we need this money (and more besides, frankly) to help actualize the vision for the new church, we need people.  Specifically you.  

God’s church is an actual, visible, localized gathering of believers who meet regularly at a specific place for fellowship, prayer, and worship.  So…. after worship this week in the northern building, we will meet just outside the sanctuary with the committee conveners of our church.  The gathering of leaders will include the convener of the new vision task force, Joy Augustin.  And we will invite all members of our church to talk with them and offer gifts of time and talent given to you by God, back to God.

Please pray for God to show you where you will contribute.  We encourage every pair of hands that is attached to a heart for God to participate.The bulletin for our weekly worship is attached, and within are announcements for activities and ministry of our church.  
But better than this, please come in person to be with your brothers and sisters in Christ this Sunday to hear all about these plans and events from those who love God as much as you.  And together we will praise God, whose love embraces the whole creation, and who finds a place and a purpose for us mortals.  
May God’s spirit give us the energy and insight we need to serve, praise and worship God.  May God bless us all.
Blessings,

Rev. Chandra Mannix

Good evening members and adherents, friends and family of the newly amalgamated church.

The fall colours clothe the world around us. In the splendour of the harvest season, we are blessed to begin our week tomorrow by eating and drinking at the Lord’s table.  We are not only recipients of the bountiful provisioning of the earth, but we receive food for our soul through scripture, and salvation for our lives through the sacrifice of Christ.  God is good!

As we step into the season of Thanksgiving, we remember the journey of those who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon 2500 years ago.  We remember the rebuilding of the foundation of the temple of the Lord.  In bible studies on Wednesday nights, and in the service tomorrow, we remember the stories of the lives in Ezra.  And we hold gently the tension between the remembrance of what was, and the hope for what will be.  

For us here in 2020’s Canada, embracing the time between what has passed and what will come allows us to step into worship and fellowship and ministry in a spirit of gratitude, curiosity, and awe as one body in Christ.  We match our steps, young and old, from many nations, to answer the call from God on all our hearts to build the newly amalgamated church and share the gospel message to our neighbours.

The attached bulletin contains the announcements of the many activities of the week to come.  Of special note at the northern building will be the funeral of Isa Tieken on Wednesday, communion on Thursday, and the Labyrinth Cafe on Friday.  At the southern building on Thursday, there will be yoga, a community cafe, and sandwich making for at-risk youth.  And last but not least, bible study Wednesdays continue in person and online.

Please receive this email as an invitation to come and worship and break bread with your brothers and sisters in Christ tomorrow at 10 AM to celebrate the first communion as the amalgamated church.  And may your gratitude and praise be heard by God.

Blessings,

Rev. Chandra Mannix

Good morning members and adherents, friends and family of our newly amalgamated church,

As many of you are now aware, the Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod approved the amalgamation plan.  This week, the session of our newly amalgamated church (NAC) met to begin the journey. 

You have 11 elders active on the NAC session.  Blessings and prayers are requested for Joy Augustin, Moira Brownlee, Rob Smith, Jason Gasgarth, Fidelio Choi, Iris Jung, Sandra Cameron Evans (Presbytery Representative), Toby Gaskarth (Clerk of Session), Sungwoo Kim (assessor elder), YongKi Min , (assessor elder) and  Diane Hill (assessor elder).  We began our first gathering of the court with a reflection and a remembrance of Hebrews 10:23-25a, which reads like this:

“Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.  Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another.”

Everyone in the church will receive notification within the next few weeks of their appointed Elder.  Your Elder is your point of first contact for information, pastoral care, and participation with the plans for amalgamation.  Together, we will encourage one another into meeting, good deeds, and sharing with others the source of our hope.  Together, we will be helping each other be one, intergenerational, intercultural, loving, faithful, and hopeful church.

Worship begins at 10 am on Sunday at our building in the north (formerly ‘St Giles’).  And there are many opportunities to gather in between Sunday worship services:

• On Wednesday there are 2 Bible studies – one at 10:15 am in-person at the northern building, and one at 7 pm online.  
• On Thursday the southern building (formerly ‘Knox’) is filled with yoga, a cafe, sandwich making for at-risk youth, and quilting/knitting/rug hooking from 9:15 am to 3 pm.  
• On Thursday evening the choir gathers to practice at the northern building.  Everyone is invited to join – singing is a learned skill and open to all to participate.  No experience necessary.
• The backyard and labyrinth are open 24 hours at the northern building for meeting your elder, small group gatherings, or quiet reading, prayer, and meditation
• The southern and northern buildings have people working inside during certain hours every week.  They are able to provide access if you wish to visit either building privately for the purpose of praying in the sanctuaries.  Please contact the minister directly if you have any difficulties (587-893-0355)
• Please see the attached bulletin for upcoming events and activities

Beloved Church, Jesus is caring for us all within the house of God, so let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.  Let us be reconciled to the path God has laid before us, and embrace the mercy of God with joy and thanksgiving as we participate in God’s healing and salvation.

And may each of you receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know God, so that of your heart, enlightened, you may perceive the hope to which God has called you, the riches of God’s glorious kingdom, and the immeasurable goodness of God.

Blessings,

Rev. Chandra Mannix