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