22nd Sunday of Pentecost October 29, 2023 | |
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Telling our stories of God’s abundance:
What brought you to St Laurence? Why do you stay? What are some of the ways in which you give back to this community? Over the next few weeks, we will be telling stories here at St Laurence; stories of community life, of God’s abundant blessings, of shared values and hopeful futures. In today’s episode, Spencer Stevens shares how the choice to care for a family member led to a new community.
Please join us for worship this Sunday and stay for the belonging!
If you are unable to join us for worship in person, please join our livestream service through the link below, or watch a video at your leisure.
Videos of past services may be accessed via the livestream link on our
website.
**** Stewardship packages are available on the counter in the front entrance (Narthex)
**** Please note anyone who is doing pre authorized debits from the Diocese will notice RBC on their bank statements as the Diocese has switched to RBC Express.
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Grounded Spirituality: Spencer Stevens
I first came to St. Laurence in December 2004. At that time, my mother, Mary Stevens, who was already a parish member, required my assistance because of health issues. My Mother had given up her driver’s license, and was dependent on portable oxygen which she found very difficult to manage by herself.
I was immediately impressed by the well-crafted and thought-provoking sermons that were delivered each Sunday, and by the people on the receiving end of those homilies who seemed to be very intellectually curious. I soon realized that life-long learning is a prominent characteristic of St. Laurence culture so I was not surprised when the Wisdom Centre was created in 2007 to freely consider a wide variety of spiritual issues and questions.
This tradition of open and free inquiry into topics with spiritual themes continues to flourish at St. Laurence, but it is also grounded in the profound spiritual beliefs held by its people, and put into practice in their daily lives. That is why I value my belonging to St. Laurence. It is a community that reflects the most positive aspects of the Wisdom Tradition with humility.
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To view our bulletin, see here | |
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Conversations
Join us each week in the Sunshine Room at 11:20 for reflection on theology, spirituality, and current events.
This week in Conversations: Senior Safety: Safeguarding against Scams, Fraud and Abuse. Jose Potter from Calgary Police Services will speak with us on ways to protecting ourselves and our loved ones from online and phone scams.
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Save the dates for Messy Sundays November 5, and December 10! | |
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This Week in Parish
Monday 11:00 am Garrison Green Service
7:00 pm Parish Council
Thursday 10:00 am Contemplative Prayer
7:30 pm Choir practice
Saturday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Pastoral Care Workshop
Ian Burgess and family invite friends and parishioners to a short memorial service marking the one-year anniversary of Gwen’s passing. Tomorrow, Sunday October 29,
2:00 pm, St Laurence Anglican Church.
Funeral services for Evelyn Pinsky will be held on Monday, November 13, 2:00 pm at
St Laurence.
Upcoming Women’s Lunches
Monday, November 6
Monday, December 4
At 11:30 am at Pho Pham Restaurant in Signal Hill. All are welcome, no rsvp required.
Prayer Ministry at St Laurence
If you have a prayer request, the best way is to email Ross Lennox
at rosslennox23@gmail.com or phone him at 403-606-2525
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PWRDF Christmas Cards 2023
PWRDF Christmas Cards are now available. There are two beautiful cards available this year. You are invited to order your own cards directly from the PWRDF website (pwrdf.org) or place an order with Carol Gardiner. The order will be placed November 3, 2023. Please call Carol @ 403-249-9729.
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An Appeal for Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza
For many years, Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) has supported the work in al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza with surgical equipment and access to health care. After the recent violence, the director of the hospital has issued an emergency appeal to support its health services in this time of crisis. PWRDF has responded with a grant of $30,000. This grant will cover the cost of additional staff which is very much needed. Please consider supporting this initiative as the situation is extremely critical.
More information is available here.
To support al-Ahli Arab Hospital, please donate online to PWRDF's International Emergency Response Fund and indicate Gaza Hospital in the comments. Donate by phone at 1-866-308-7973. You will be prompted to leave a message and the staff will return your call. By mail, send your cheque to PWRDF, 80 Hayden Street, 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON, Canada, M4Y 3G2. Please indicate ''Gaza Hospital'' in the memo field.
Thank you for your prayerful caring.
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LEARN TO LOVE - How do we love our neighbours literally on our doorstep? Your Cathedral invites you to receive frontline training on how to care for the houseless, free-of-charge, every Sunday morning from experienced, professional workers. Inquire with our volunteer coordinator, Wendy, for more information. wendy.d@anglicancathedralcalgary.ca
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TRANSGENDERISM AND FAITH - The Cathedral is providing TWO upcoming opportunities to learn and grow in our awareness and support of the transgender community. The first is a Zoom educational event featuring Dr. Eileen Scully, Director, Faith, Worship & Ministry for the national church where Dean Chris Dowdeswell and Rev Derwyn Costinak will interview her on the new "Pastoral Liturgies for Journeys of Gender Affirmation and Transition" passed at this summer's General Synod. This event will take place on Sunday, Nov 5 from 4-6pm. Email trans@anglicancathedralcalgary.ca to register and the link will be sent to you shortly before the event.
The second is the Cathedral's annual service of prayer for the Transgender Day of Remembrance. This will take place on Saturday Nov 18th at 7pm. This service will not be livestreamed, but all transgender people and their allies are encouraged to join us in person. For more information on transgenderism and suicide, see the Mental Health Commission of Canada's fact sheet.
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CALGARY INTERFAITH COUNCIL | | |
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Interfaith Bible Study
Thursdays November 2 - November 30th from 1:00 - 2:30 pm.
Hosted at Beth Tzedec Congregation
1325 Glenmore Trail SW
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Weaselhead Concerts:
Looking for an inexpensive evening of good musical entertainment in the neighbourhood? Lakeview United Church offers just that in the 2023 - 2024 Weaselhead Series Concerts:
· Sunday December 3, 2023 Horizon Ridge Christmas Show
· Friday February 16, 2024 T. Buckley Trio
· Friday March 15, 2024 Lynne Hanson & Friends
· Friday April 26, 2024 Leaf Rapids
Tickets and further information available by calling 403-242-5760
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CALGARY ALLIANCE FOR THE COMMON GOOD | | | | |
