Ralph Connor Memorial
United Church
Weekly
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Friday, February 12, 2021
by Thursday at 11:00 AM
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Welcome to the Rundle Memorial United Church congregation! We look forward to inviting you to engage in our RCMUC "church life" and to bring your perspectives and ideas. Think about where your interests and talents lie, and we'd sure love for you to join committees and outreach that fits for you. There is lots of work to be done about how we might 'unite' our common formal structures, but our first priority is meeting you and making a spiritual connection. Blessings!!
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FOR THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP Sunday, February 14, 2021
St. Valentine’s Day – and – Transfiguration Sunday, the final Sunday before Lent.
As usual, there will be online worship on YouTube at 10:00 AM Sunday, posted at the Ralph Connor Canmore YouTube channel,
What does it mean to be declared “beloved” by God? This week’s gospel lesson is Mark 9: 2-9 click here~
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“Tuesday at Two”, our weekly online Coffee and Conversation time, is February 16th at 2:00 PM. Zoom link will be sent out
Feb 12th.
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FUNDING OUR MISSION
a Message from your Stewardship Committee
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The mission of Ralph Connor Memorial United Church is:
• to nurture the spiritual exploration and growth of all our members and adherents;
• to be an intentionally inviting Christian community that seeks, welcomes and embraces new members;
• to reach out and become an agent for social justice in our neighborhood and in the global community.
We are grateful for the generous donations to support our local church, and for donations to Mission & Service to reach out to others in our community and around the world.
You can donate by:
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This week we celebrate the Pastoral Care Committee and Random Acts of Faith and Kindness.
Pastoral Care Committee
Members of the Pastoral Care Committee frequently reach into our congregation to listen and care for any members who need to hear a friendly voice. Often a trusting relationship develops. This leads to other opportunities such as a call on their birthday or a simple errand. The Care Connectors who stepped forward during Covid provided excellent pastoral support to our congregation.
Leadership for Pastoral Care has come from Marilese MacDonell, Anne Hester and Barb Profitt. We thank them for many years of service. In 2021 we are looking for new leadership of this committee.
Random Acts of Faith and Kindness
Feb 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day. There’s no denying it, the news has not been easy to digest recently. So take a moment on Wednesday to give someone in your bubble an act of kindness. Or … follow our faith that we each carry a responsibility to love our neighbours. Maybe shovel their sidewalk, share a book or bake some cookies.
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The season of Lent begins with Evensong’s Ash Wednesday service: February 17th at 7:15 PM, on Zoom. We welcome the people of Rundle Memorial UC, Banff and Jasper United Church to our Ash Wednesday gathering! The weekly Evensong email invitation will include the Zoom link for this week's Evensong. If you are not on the Evensong email list, and would like to be, please email request to jan.tissandier@gmail.com. |
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To share a prayer concern with our Tuesday "Morning Prayer" and our Mon-Fri Healing Pathway Prayer Circle, please email Val Goodrow at v.goodrow@me.com and Rev. Greg Wooley at minister@ralphconnor.ca.
We request that the person gives consent to have their name mentioned in prayer as privacy/confidentiality is of utmost importance. We also would appreciate knowing when the situation changes and we can release them from our prayers or update the prayer to a changing need.
If you would like to join our Tuesday Morning Prayer group, which gathers on Zoom each Tuesday at 9 AM, please email Rev. Greg.
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Bow Valley Refugee Project
BVRP - Big News
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Last week's news! Sevan Gower (nee Kahkejian), her husband, Leon Gower, and daughter Sophia, along with Sevan’s parents, Eklas and Sarkis Kahkejian are moving to Drumheller! Sevan and Leon have purchased a home in Drumheller and will be moving by the end of February.
The Kahkejian family were sponsored by Bow Valley Syrian Refugee Project and arrived in Canmore in the fall of 2016. Sevan’s brother, Anto, and his wife Rema, and daughters Tia and Lilly will remain in Canmore.
Should you wish to contact Sevan or Sarkis, their contact information is in the Instant Church Directory. If you wish to send a card or other good wishes, they can be dropped off to the RCMUC office or left in the lockbox at the side door. Thank you - cards are trickling in...
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The Green Exodus: The Canmore Series
continues today, Friday Feb 12th at 4 PM
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· Are you astonished by the beauty of the world – especially the Bow Valley corridor? Perhaps you have a Spiritual/Religious connection with nature?
· Are you wanting to join with others in restoring this planet to health?
The Green Exodus: The Canmore Series - will use contemplation, creativity, community and a fresh look at the Cosmos to refresh and realign our relationship with the Earth.
The remaining Green Exodus online gatherings will be from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM on the Fridays of February: February 12, 19 and 26. On February 5th, 45 people joined in our first full gathering and we look forward to welcoming new voices to the discussion! Please feel free to join us for one or two or all three of these remaining sessions! The registration link is at https://greenexodus.ca/.
If you have friends & neighbours you’d like to invite, please pass the word along to them as well – this is not an “in-house” group at all, it is a place to build connections within the Bow Valley community and beyond!
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BOOK STUDY:
"Queer Virtue"
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Folks from Ralph Connor, Rundle and the wider community are invited to join a Lenten Study based on the book, Queer Virtue by the Rev. Elizabeth Edman. This series is designed to help us think about Jesus' demand that we challenge thinking that pits us against one another. The ultimate question is: how can we live our faith and be the church more effectively? The LGBTQ2S+ community persistently looks to the margins to see who is not yet included and decides what we’re going to do about it. This is remarkably similar to the path that Christians are called to walk.
The study is hosted by a joint Affirming Taskforce of the Pacific Mountain (BC) and Chinook Winds (South/Central AB) Regions of the United Church and it will take place via Zoom. The study begins on February 22, and continues on five Monday nights 7:30pm-9pm MST. A “Bow Valley” sub group will meet, also by zoom following the Monday evening sessions to share together from a local perspective.
With registration you can request a study guide or you can purchase a copy of the book Queer Virtue at Café Books at a discount. Please let Shannon Mang know that you will be joining the study and she will include you in the local Bow Valley sub-group email here~.
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IMPACTS OF INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA |
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Impacts of Intergenerational Trauma is a workshop facilitated by Calgary Foundation's VP of Indigenous Relations and Equity, Tim Fox. This workshop will explore how the legacy of historical processes and policies continue to have an impact on Indigenous peoples and provide suggested ways that participants can heal together from these impacts.
Tue Feb 23 or Thu Feb 25, 10 AM to 1 PM.
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PERSPECTIVES ON K-12 EDUCATION FOR RECONCILIATION PANEL DISCUSSION
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This event, hosted by Alberta's Remembering the Children Society, will provide an opportunity to learn about the needs for Alberta to have age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples’ historical and contemporary contributions to Canada a mandatory education requirement for Kindergarten to Grade Twelve students.
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FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH |
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There will likely be online gatherings/educational events provided by the United Church during this month - watch this space for listings as they come available.
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Tired of Netflix and Crave?
Read on...
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Mass Hysterical is a Comic Cantanta developed by Kingston Road United Church, Toronto, ON. It takes a cheeky look at more than 1,000 years of church music. Performers include a Toronto Symphony Orchestra chamber ensemble, Second City actors, professional singers and comedian Colin Mochrie.
This is a fundraiser for Ralph Connor too. If you purchase this video for $20. Ralph Connor will receive $10.
Register after watching trailer ~ If you purchase the video, please email Mary Shearer at shearermary04@gmail.com. Mary will ensure that Ralph Connor receives your donation to our church. Thanks for considering this.
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Ongoing Ministries
& Community Programs
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Rundle United Thrift Shop
Located in Banff at 104 Banff Avenue, in the lower level of Rundle Memorial UC, Rundle United Thrift Shop expresses mission by making affordable clothing and household items available to members of the community, which they otherwise could not afford. The shop follows a sliding scale pricing philosophy. At present, it is staffed by volunteers, open on Wednesday nights from 5:00-8:00 PM. For more info and/or to volunteer: http://rundleunited.ca/rundle-united-thrift-banff/.
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Canmore Young Adult Network - CYAN
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Three Communities...One Valley
Friends and neighbours in the Bow Valley are still needing support during these times of COVID-related restrictions. If you would like to help others as a volunteer, or if you need support, please email bowvalleyisolations@gmail.com or text 403-679-3340 and we will get you signed up to help, or will do what we can to get you what you need.
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Community Food & Friends
Every Monday from 5 PM to 7 PM, Food & Friends operates from St. Michael's Hall (709-7th Street) for TAKE-OUT only. If you are symptom free, bring your mask and takeout container and come get dinner to take with you.
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Canmore Food Recovery Barn
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Our gratitude to Robin Slater for offering the following feature in our weekly Newsletter, as part of our efforts to be a more broadly inclusive, and affirming, Community of Faith.
ROBIN'S WEB
CONNECTING DIVERSITY
To those of us who do not fit the hetero, nuclear family, beautiful- people, Norman Rockwell mold, Valentine’s Day is perhaps the most uncomfortable of all the commercialized holidays. If we broaden our perception of love from romantic to spiritual, from personal to global, from insular to universal, we begin to open the door of inclusivity and welcome.
When love informs even our smallest actions the world is transformed. Archbishop of Canterbury @JustinWelby writes:
- Staying home is loving your neighbour.
- Wearing a mask is loving your neighbour.
- Keeping your distance is loving your neighbour.
- Washing your hands is loving your neighbour.
- Let’s keep loving our neighbours.
These short films show inconspicuous, undeniable gestures of love: Thursday Appointment YouTube video here~;
When we stand in compassion with our relations we can change the world.
Deepening Practices of Restorative Solidarity Feb 12-15,
live on Zoom from un-ceded Chumash territory, in the Ventura River Watershed, California. The Bartimaeus Kinsler Institute has many ecumenical Canadian connections, including resource people Harry and Germaine Lafond, of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and the Metis Nation, respectively. Join the Institute and explore our engagement with decolonizing discipleship. For more information click here~.
United Church communities of faith are asked to take some time with children by February 14 to mark a different kind of Valentine’s Day: Have a Heart Day. A project of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, led by Dr. Cindy Blackstock, the Caring Society educates about and advocates for the rights of Indigenous children across Canada, working directly with Indigenous kids and communities to do this. Acting out of a sense of compassion, the goal is for non-Indigenous children to learn about the different experiences of all children in Canada, and for Indigenous children to speak from their hearts about what they want and need. Click here~.
When we accept others we form a family of humanity.
Pancakes and PIE! On February 16, from 7:00-8:30pm pm (MT), Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble asks us to join them in the kitchen, the first Kitchen Sink Event of 2021, for a Virtual Pancake Supper on Zoom, with entertainment from Pam Rocker, and a friendly cook-off in two home kitchens! We’ll also get to talk about P.I.E. Day 2021 (Sunday 14 March) and what’s cooking there. There’ll be time to chat with each other at the beginning and end of the program! Zoom details here~ Meeting ID: 988 2809 7187Passcode: 815307 Or to join by phone, 1 587 328 1099 then use the above meeting ID and passcode.
Unlearning the myths: Black History Month: music, culture and teaching events go online for 2021. Edmonton Journal https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/black-history-month-2021-alberta-online-covid-pandemic The University of Calgary has a list of online events on its website. Click here~.
When we honour Mother Earth we acknowledge our responsibility to care for the planet. The Bishop’s Committee on Creation Care, of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, suggests we consider a Fast for the Earth in 2021. By adopting this Lenten practice, we put into action our intention for reducing harm to our only home. Get the Guide here~.
A quick update on other Lenten studies:
Lent: Meeting God in Mark by Rev. Howard Thornton will run for 6 sessions, either Wednesday afternoons at 1 pm starting February 17 or Thursday evenings at 7 pm starting February 18. For more information contact St Michael’s 403-678-5191
Human Beings-Being Human from The Wisdom Centre has more information on their website: Click here~.
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OFFICE CONTACTS
Note: The church offices are closed in compliance with Alberta Covid mandatory office workers Work At Home restriction. The mail, email and phone messages will be picked up regularly between Tuesday to Thursdays.
Administration: Trish Campney
Minister: Rev. Greg Wooley
Music Director: Tanya Sullivan
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Rundle Memorial United Church Contacts
The mail, email and phone messages will be picked up regularly.
Administration: Nancy Murray
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Ralph Connor Memorial United Church
617 Main Street, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 2B1
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