Ralph Connor Memorial United Church Weekly
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Greetings! 

We hope to  see you at Church on Sunday March 31 , 2019

LENT IV -  Morning Song

CONTRIBUTING TO SUNDAY 10:00 AM WORSHIP


Greeters: Barb Profitt & Karen Parmiter
Worship Leader: Rick Hester
Children's Church: In Need
Fellowship/Coffee Time: CYAN (Canmore Young Adult Network)
Musical Director: Tanya Sullivan
Administration: Sondy Szymanis - 403-678-5354 - office@ralphconnor.ca
Produced by the Evensong Ministry

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THANK YOU FOR THE ONE NIGHT BILLETS & MEAL HELP 
 
For those of you who have offered billets for April 13 and lunch material for April 14, thank you so much!

Cathy Harrop (harropce@gmail.com) will send out reminders and more info as the time gets closer.  

We now have enough offers.  Goes to show you how wonderful our congregation is!

OPEN OUT - EXTENDED VERSION WITH REV. BILL

There will be NO Open Out after Worship this Sunday. 

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On Saturday, April 6 from 9 - 2:30 pm Bill will lead an intercultural training workshop/retreat - a chance to push a little deeper into the themes that have been part of the conversations. 

You do not need to have attended the earlier after-church sessions - but it also will not be a repeat of these, so if you have attended you will not get bored... 

Bring a bag lunch if you can.. and if you know you are attending and can let Sondy  or Bill know that will help planning....


CHINOOK WINDS REGION NEW PROGRAM SUPPORT & ADMINISTRATION ASSOCIATE

Chinook Winds Regional Council is pleased that Chris Mah Poy has begun full-time work with the Region as of March 11, 2019
 
Chris is the new Program Support and Administration support person for the Region, based out of our office in Okotoks.
Much of Chris's work will be supporting Lee Spice and the pastoral relations processes (and the volumes of paperwork involved!). He will also be providing other program and office support services.
 
Chris is originally from Canmore and has spent the last four years in the Calgary area working with youth civic engagement organizations. His work experience ranges from interning with UNICEF in Uzbekistan to working as a campground attendant in BC.
Chris says: "I am very excited to be working for the Chinook Winds Regional Council. In many ways, it feels like coming back full-circle. The United Church was a big part of my childhood and youth. I spent a lot of time volunteering with my congregation in Canmore and I am eager to serve the United Church family in a new way."

Watch for Chris at our General Meeting this June... and welcome him to the first Chinook Winds staff team! ChrisMahPoy@united-church.ca

EMBRACING CHANGE AT CHINOOK WINDS REGION

Ralph Connor United Church requires one more representative to attend the first meeting of Chinook Winds Region.  

We are allowed two representatives.  It is important to have someone join Rev Greg Wooley and Mary Shearer at this first meeting.  

Many decisions will be made about how our Chinook Winds Region will operate. See Mary after church or call her if you want more information 403 609 0690.  
PREPARATION FOR PALM SUNDAY

Rock on!  

While you are out walking look for that "special" rock and bring it to Church on Palm Sunday, April 14.  Rocks will be part of our Lent Celebration. 

BYOR (Bring your own rock) 

THANK YOU
 
To this Month's Food N Friends Dessert Makers...

Barb Profitt
Linda Bolen
Pat Grayling
Rhonde LeSueur
Jean Slaght
Faye Forbes Anderson

EVENSONG 
 
Evensong, our contemplative mid-week service. Join us each
Wednesday at 7:15 for this contemplative service. 

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Children's Church and Toddler care for Sunday Services are key ways that we support the faith development of children, and hospitality to young families.

Children may go to Children's Church after the first hymn and return later in the service in time for the anthem.  We are making a couple of adjustments to the Sunday service to give a bit more time for the Children's Church lesson, and a bit less back-in-the service time.

Easy to lead lessons are ready for use, in the upstairs cupboard. 

Please sign up on the Sunday clipboard to help!

CHOIR REHEARSAL

Choir rehearsal each Thursday at 7:30 pm.  

New members are welcome to join us!  

Give Tanya an email at  music@ralphconnor.ca
HEALING PATHWAY 

To book a session or inquire about this gentle healing ministry p lease contact: Isabelle Ramsay or Vicky Connoy for an appointment.

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". 
  
from our AFFIRMING MINISTRY COMMITTEE ...

This English same-sex couple fathered twins who are half-siblings - and a Canadian surrogate helped.

Toddlers have same biological mother but each man is father of one child.



CYAN - Canmore Young Adult Network


April 2nd is the next Board Games Night at Good Earth.  Starts at 6:00 pm  

CYAN YOGA NIGHT - Wednesdays 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm until May 29  at the Canmore Opera House
 
HAVE YOU VOLUNTEERED AS A SUNDAY HELPER?

Help us weekly and contribute to our Sunday Service, it is easy!

Just sign up on the clipboard during Sunday Worship or after at Coffee time, then go to our website at  http://ralphconnor.ca/volunteering/ and view or download the duty sheet for the position you have selected for instructions.  


click on the image to go to the webpage

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS community
UKULELE

Join the players at  5:00 pm tonight in the Sanctuary.  

Beginner or Pro all players are welcome!
LIVESTREAM STARTS TODAY

From March 28-31, Greg and Shannon will be in Albuquerque NM for a Conference titled "The Universal Christ - another name for every thing."  

Theme speakers include Richard Rohr, John Dominic Crossan, and Jacqui Lewis.  Many of you will be familiar with J.D.Crossan's work, as he co-authored several books with Marcus Borg, and a number of Ralph Connor folks receive the daily emails from Richard Rohr and the Center for Action and Contemplation. 
 
If anyone - or a group? - in Canmore was interested in live-streaming this event, check out the event page here
BOW VALLEY PALLIATIVE CARE

As valued members of the Bow Valley community with expertise in the area of Grief and Loss, the Palliative Care Society of the Bow Valley would like to invite you to a 1.5 hour meeting on Wednesday, April 17 starting at 4:30 pm to discuss the Loss and Grief services available in our community. 

How well are the resources working, what is missing, how can we market these resources, what can we at the PCSBV do to act as an advocate for these resources. Should we be helping to develop other programs? 

Please RSVP to Marlene at ed.pcsbv@gmail.com by Friday, April 12. 
Light refreshments will be provided. 

This meeting will be held at our new office space at 1080 Railway ave, #202 - above Sports Experts in e=mc2 collaborative space. 

AFFIRMING CONNECTIONS

Calgary Queer Church and Affirming Connections, in partnership with the Calgary Public Library, Skipping Stone Foundation, and Calgary Queer Arts Society, are proud to announce a free opportunity to meet  internationally renowned visual artist and author from Montreal Sophie Labelle. Sophie is the transgender cartoonist behind Assigned Male, a webcomic about a group of trans and queer teenagers that has been running since 2014 and has already touched millions of readers worldwide.
 
The event will take place Saturday, April 20 at 2pm at the Memorial Park Library in the Beltline. (if you are looking for a free event during the Easter weekend, here is one!)

This event is free, but we kindly request that you register here: so we have an idea of numbers. Space is limited (30% tickets are reserved already!) so reserve today! Registration will close at midnight, Sunday April 14.
CYCLONE IDAI

Cyclone Idai swept through Southern Africa in March 2019, leaving terrible disaster in its wake. Severe flooding and devastation has affected millions people in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. United Church Mission & Service partner ACT Alliance, together with local partners, are assessing the impact of the crisis on the ground in order to provide immediate assistance, minimize loss of life, and ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable are met.

The United Church sent an initial contribution of $20,000 to partners and is launching an church-wide appeal to respond to massive emergency needs and support eventual rehabilitation and rebuilding. Find out how you can help. 
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 Phone: 403-678-5354 | Email: o ffice@ralphconnor.ca | w ww.ralphconnor.ca