Ralph Connor Memorial United Church Weekly
Greetings! 

We hope to  see you at Church on May 13 , 2018 
Happy Mother's Day!


CONTRIBUTING TO SUNDAY 10:00 AM WORSHIP

Greeters: Donna & Jim Smith
Worship Leader: Lynn Katarey
Children's Church: Faye Forbes-Anderson & Rick Anderson
Fellowship/Coffee Time: Mary & John Cranston
Musical Director: Tanya Sullivan
Administration: Sondy Szymanis - 403-678-5354 - office@ralphconnor.ca
In the Pulpit: Rev. Betty Piwowar

~~~  

Shannon and Greg, along with Mary Shearer, will be at Alberta Northwest Conference this weekend in Sherwood Park.  We are delighted to welcome Rev. Betty Piwowar to the pulpit of RCMUC on Mothers' Day, May 13th. 

HEALING PATHWAY 

To book a session or inquire about this gentle healing ministry by appointment. 
Please contact: Sue Nichols at iamsue@telus.net  or call her at 403-678-4536

EVENSONG
 
Each Wednesday night at 7:15, we gather for holy silence, chant, song, reflective words, and experience the gentle nudging of the Spirit.  
Sometimes we will also incorporate poetry, or art, or physical movement. 

If you have friends, neighbours, young adult children, or anyone else you could invite to a worship experience that is lay-led, contemplative, non-doctrinal, with a broad, inclusive spirituality... or if you've never been to Evensong to discover this mid-week spiritual oasis for yourself...please come some Wednesday night, to "come and find the quiet centre".

PRAYER SHAWL KNITTERS
 
Meet on Friday, May 18 at 1:00 pm in the Gordon Hall. 

Come on down and and knit while sharing good company and conversation. 

Everyone Welcome!!!

CHOIR REHEARSAL

Join the choir every Thursday,  
at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary.
 
New singers are always welcome! 

ALPINE VOICES THRESHOLD CHOIR

Rehearses the second and fourth Monday of each month from 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the sanctuary. Threshold Choir singing is described as "kindness made audible". 

If you would like to learn more about the practice of bedside singing, visit thresholdchoir.org , or contact Jan Tissandier, jan.tissandier@gmail.com  

New members welcome!
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Sign up for a Sunday on the Clipboard. We have a multitude of Sunday lesson packages in the upstairs cupboard. 

Children's Church (ages 4 and up) and Nursery/Toddler care are both available as the first hymn is being sung. 

For Toddler Care, join the caregivers in Gordon Hall for a moment to apprise them of your child's needs.  
Please bring a snack if your child may need one, and advise if your child has any allergies.  Water or juice will be provided if needed.  

For  Children's Church , our teachers will take the children upstairs for their lesson.  All children will return to the sanctuary prior to the anthem.  We look forward to meeting your children!
SPRING CLEAN UP

Spring has sprung (finally) and it is time to give the Church a thorough cleaning. 


If you did not sign up and still want to help just come on down This Saturday, May 12 in the morning
and lend a hand to the Property Committee.

ROOTS N WINGS

Our upstairs user group Roots n Wings is a a music, movement, play, nature and arts-based program for 2-4 year olds in this historic church on Mondays (morning) and Wednesdays (morning and afternoon).  Please see the note below from the Leaders of this group. 

Dear Ralph Connor community,

Happy spring! What better time to get outdoors and feel the sun on our faces, hear the bird song, and...get muddy!? Well, do I have an opportunity for you! It's time for "nature therapy" in our own backyard.

My name is Adrienne Lawlor and I am a community member, parent and occupational therapist. Together with Corina Strim, we facilitate Roots n Wings.

Since September 2017, we have enjoyed the space upstairs for our program, fully appreciating the support we have received from the church as well as our contact downstairs with our "grandfriends" in the Alberta Health Services' ADSP. What a rich environment for everyone!

We would like to enhance our nature-inspired experiences by designing and creating a space in the church yard which will be inspired, therapeutic and engaging for all.

I am sending out a call to all those who would like to join us as we re-imagine what this space could become over time, seeking to build this together with input and help from the children, elders and any others who will enjoy it.

Please see the photos below as inspiration and letthechildrenplay.net for further ideas and theory supporting this project.

If you would like to become involved, in any capacity, from gardening to carpentry, we need all the help we can get! Please contact me at adriennelawlor@shaw.ca or 403-688-0534 and we can discuss our next steps. 

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

In order to spend more time out-and-about in the community rather than being stranded in the office, on Wednesday mornings you won't find Greg at his office...  but you will find him at 10 AM at the Good Earth Cafe!  

Feel free to come by for a chat.  If you'd ever like to set up a time for a home or office visit, don't hesitate to call his cell phone at 403-493-4923 or email him at minister@ralphconnor.ca

CYAN IN MORLEY

This past Sunday, volunteers from CYAN went out to Morley to help out at the Eagle's Nest Stoney Family Shelter. 

Together, we cleaned the porch, yard and outside areas, removed garbage and started to organize their donation room. The volunteers were thanked with a delicious BBQ lunch after all the hard work. 


CYAN PASTA NIGHT

Tuesday, May 15 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm in Gordon Hall.

If you would like to volunteer to help out (and it is needed) visit www.volunteersignup.org/QB3BQ  or contact Tara at admin@cyancanmore.ca 

We look forward to putting together more community events & hosting meals for young adults to connect.  For more information about this outreach initiative of RCMUC, see www.cyancanmore.ca

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION SPEAKER SERIES

RECONCILIATION: A TREND OR HERE TO STAY?
This monthly speaker series invites Bow Valley residents to engage in relevant topics, local discussions, and learn more about Indigenous culture, history, and knowledge.

At the Whyte Museum in Banff on Thursday May 17 at 7:00 pm join 
Elizabeth Logue, for her perspective on Reconciliation.

SPRING TEA



KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION CONCERT



You can get tickets from Marsh or Donna.  dmkennedy11@gmail.com

WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE GOING

There will be a  gathering after worship on Sunday, June 3, from 11:30 to 1:00, to do two things: 

(1) the "Ministry Site Self-Assessment" that all congregations in Foothills Presbytery are being asked to complete, and 

(2) to receive and discuss the initial "Building Needs Assessment" report, which will help us to think about how our building can best meet the needs of the community of Canmore. 

Sandwiches will be provided!
MODERATOR OF THE UNITED CHURCH - UPDATE

To date, there are 8 nominees for Moderator of the United Church... including Rev Dr Catherine MacLean!  Catherine served in team ministry at RCMUC with her husband, Rev Earl Reaburn, from 1996 to 2003.   The voting will take place at General Council 43, this summer in Oshawa, Ontario. 

CELEBRATION AND RENEWAL DAY FOR HEALERS

Saturday, June 9th at  High River United Church from  9:00 am to 4:15 pm.  Cost: $50  Lunch and snacks included.  Please register early by:    e-mailing  hruc@telus.net    or phone: 403-652-3168.
 
Come join us in celebrating 21 years of healing ministry at High River United Church,  with our guest, Rochelle Graham, founder of the Healing Pathway. Hear Rochelle share her story of the Pathway and her journey with healing ministry.

Share stories, joys and challenges with other healing practitioners.
Rochelle will also offer a session on the history and cultural use of healing oils.
And, everyone is welcome to join in Sunday, June 10th worship at High River United,  which will include an anointing and (re)dedication ceremony for those involved in any aspect of healing ministry.

CAMP fYrefly

A camp for LGBTQ2 youth aged 14-24, is  looking for individuals to volunteer with their Campers by leading morning, afternoon, or evening workshops.  

Workshop presentations provide a whole range of content, whether it is queer identities, social justice, navigating systems, understanding oppression or building community. 
 
The camp will be at Camp Chief Hector from June 30 to July 3.
 
If you are interested in leading a workshop, go to:

or if you are interested in helping with their "healing and self care afternoon" on July 1 go to    https://goo.gl/forms/Cv9EFYUhsWhzHX3Q2 

To register:

NARAMATA

Spring and Summer registration is now open.
Visit Naramatacentresociety.org   for registration and details. 

Open to people of all ages, Naramata Centre is a place of inclusive, welcoming place to connect and deepen in mind, body and spirit. Situated on the east shore of Lake Okanagan, the Centre provides a peaceful oasis for children, teens, adults, families and elders to play, relax, grow and be authentically themselves, supported in community. Founded as a United Church of Canada educational centre, Naramata has provided a place for spiritual engagement since 1948. 

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 Phone: 403-678-5354 | Email: o ffice@ralphconnor.ca | w ww.ralphconnor.ca