Ralph Connor Memorial
United Church
Weekly
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Wednesday, December 23, 2020
From the RCMUC Offices
we wish each of you
Christmas Blessings of
Hope - Peace - Joy - Love
as we prepare for a fresh start in 2021!
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While there will be no in-person Christmas services this year, we have two wonderful online services planned for you – the Dec 21 “Longest Night” service, already posted, and the Christmas Eve “Canmore Hometown Christmas” service, which you may view anytime after 12 noon on Dec 24.
Or
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UPCOMING SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
December 27: on this Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s, join us for Christmastime Communion! Bring your own bread and cup, as we share the sacrament on many tables in many homes.
January 3: Epiphany Sunday Worship - the festival of the Magi.
Both Sundays, the service will be posted to our Ralph Connor Canmore YouTube channel,
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Church Office/Activities/Events are on "Christmas Hiatus" for
a couple of weeks, so...
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- The next Newsletter will be on Friday, January 8
- The next Evensong will be on the Festival of the Epiphany, Wednesday, January 6th at 7:15 PM (online, via Zoom)
- CYAN is taking a brief break from events, see www.cyancanmore.ca for updates
- Tuesday Morning Prayer will not meet on December 29
- Tuesday at Two? TBA
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Online Sunday Worship will continue as usual
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Complimentary Nordic Walk
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Would you be interested in a complimentary Nordic Walk? Mandy Johnson of "Active by Nature" is offering a select number of activities for local residents, for free (though a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank would be appreciated).
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A MESSAGE FROM THE BOW VALLEY REFUGEE PROJECT
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As indicated last week, the Bow Valley Refugee Project (BVRP) is busily trying to furnish two basement apartments for our appreciative second group of Syrian families. We sincerely appreciate your generous support and we are delighted to report that our long list of needs (and nice to haves) is much smaller!
However, we are still missing several things.
Kitchen stuff including:
Pasta strainer, measuring cups, cutlery tray, storage baskets, counter top oven (no stove in the suite), microwave stand with storage, shelving units (kitchen storage)
Other:
A small heater for use in the bathroom, irons and ironing board (2), clothes drying racks, artificial plants, lamps, broom, carpet for living area and small rug
Furniture:
TV stand, small chest of drawers, shelving units, bedside tables, ottoman
And big stuff:
TV and TV stand, printer, outdoor table and 2 chairs
We also welcome cash donations. Please send (or drop into the locked mail box at the side door) cheques to Ralph Connor and specify that your donation is intended for BVRP.
Dana and Will and the Bow Valley Refugee project are very grateful for the wonderful and generous help from the people of Ralph Connor. Merry Christmas and many, many thanks.
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FUNDING OUR MISSION
a Message from your Stewardship Committee
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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I f you have a prayer concern to be shared in our Tuesday "Morning Prayer" or our Mon-Fri Healing Pathway Prayer Circle, please email Val Goodrow at v.goodrow@me.com and Rev. Greg Wooley at minister@ralphconnor.ca. (please note that Tuesday morning prayer will not be happening on December 29th).
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.
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BROADVIEW MAGAZINE
- Time to Subscribe or Renew
Subscriptions for Broadview Magazine, formerly known as The United Church Observer, are now due (December 31, 2020)!
For those who've not seen the new format, Broadview now covers stories of broader interest at the front of the magazine, followed by more "United Church" oriented items. It's a good read, with timely, relevant stories in both sections.
Barb Profitt will be happy to collect your $25 fee (a subsidized rate for groups), this year since we are not meeting in person
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send an eTransfer to bprofitt@shaw.ca
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mail a cheque made out to Barb Profitt addressed to RCMUC c/o Barb Profitt
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drop off cheque to secure mailbox at RCMUC side entrance made out to Barb Profitt
Need more information, contact Barb by email bprofitt@shaw.ca or by phone 403-609-8239
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Ongoing Ministries
& Community Programs
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Three Communities...One Valley
The number of friends and neighbors in isolation due to Covid are growing exponentially every day in the Bow Valley. Many people want to help, and many people need some support. A few volunteers from across the Valley have gathered together with the help of Roam Transit to create the beginnings of a human chain from Canmore to Banff to Lake Louise so we can ensure people across the valley can get their necessities.
Will you help as a volunteer? Do you need support? Either way, 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.
Coordinators: Brenda Stanton (Canmore) - Aurora Borin (Banff) - Danielle Morine (Lake Louise)
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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. We will be practicing safe distancing and requiring everyone to wear a mask and sanitize your hands upon entry. If you don't have a take out container then we have some. There will no longer be any deliveries. If you can't get to Food & Friends yourself, then please arrange someone to pick-up your dinner for you and bring it to you.
Canmore Stone Soup
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Canmore Food Recovery Barn
The Food Recovery Barn, housed at the Lutheran Church (by Canmore Hospital), is a community initiative that provides affordable food while also reducing the amount of foodstuffs that end up in compost or landfill. Due to COVID regulations, they have returned to a bag pick-up system. Pre-filled bags will be available for those who have booked a pick-up time. A $5 per bag donation is appreciated. Pickup times are Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30, 5:45 or 6:00 PM, sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080f44afad22a2f85-food
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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
One thing I will NOT miss with the COVID restrictions on travelling, gatherings, and store capacity is the incessant Christmas music on “loop”, beginning just after Hallowe’en and playing relentlessly 24/7 until Boxing Day. Since we will “miss” all that levity because we’re staying home (aren’t we?!?!) I offer this seasonal playlist for 2020 of eclectic, inspirational and obscure holiday selections.
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This says it all: Loudon Wainwright’s “Suddenly It's Christmas” click here~
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COVID made Andrew Bird think about “Christmas in April” click here~
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A new arrangement of my only Christmas favourite, The Little Drummer Boy by For King and Country: click here~
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Jingle dancing, music that heals: “We literally say that dancing is prayer. That every step you take is prayer. That tinkling sound, that kind of sounds like water, like rain — that’s the healing part; water being sacred and cleansing." Click here~.
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Jingle Dress Dancers in the Modern World: Ojibwe People and Pandemics Click here~.
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Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project. To Dance is to Pray... to Pray is to Heal Click here~.
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THE BLESSING in Hebrew! HA BRACHA הברכה Join Joshua Aaron and his son Max as they bring "Ha Bracha" (The Blessing) back to Jerusalem. Click here~.
DEC 24, 1pm MST Indigenous Christmas Eve Livestream Featuring the voices and prayers from our Indigenous ministries as we recall this sacred time of year across many traditions. The link is: link here~.
DEC 27, 10am NATIONAL FRUITCAKE DAY: a festive & faithful celebration of diversity. Affirming Connections and Hillhurst United Church present a diverse collection of micro-sermons and mini-reflections on spirituality at this time of year. During this sacred time of transition: Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, and even transitions in administrations, we turn to LGBTQ2SIA+ leaders from diverse faith backgrounds for insight on how we might find our way through these turbulent times. ALL are welcome to join in the Live broadcast on Facebook and YouTube, where you can chat and interact, and enjoy some ordinary and overlooked fruitcake moments together online! Click here~.
When you’re aching for some jazz by New Year’s, here’s a selection from Bob Aishford:
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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.
- The Church Administrator will be off from Fri Dec 18 2020 through to Tue Jan 4 2021.
- The Minister will be off from Wed Dec 23 through to Tue Dec 29, but will still be available for pastoral emergencies.
Administration: Trish Campney
Minister: Rev. Greg Wooley
Music Director: Tanya Sullivan
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Ralph Connor Memorial United Church
617 Main Street, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 2B1
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