Dear Friends,

The September at Laurence email that went out earlier this morning erroneously went out  week early.  This coming Sunday, August 30th is our last combed service with Good Shepherd at St. Laurence.  Sunday, September 6 is Labour Day weekend.  I will be back from holiday and Sunday School will start.  We will wait until Sunday, September 13th, however, to welcome back the choir and to begin 'Conversations."  The rest of the email, as repeated below, is correct.

 

With every blessing

 

Fall themes  - Bible and Food Security

 

This fall we be having more of an intentional Biblical focus in our life together.  The Sunday services between now and Advent will incorporate three Bible readings and a sung Psalm (instead of the two that has been our pattern for this last little while).  In 'Conversations' after the service we will continue to look at the broad theme of Food Security.  Those weeks when we do not have  local experts on food security as our guest we will work through some Biblical texts that speak about food and food security. 

 

Finally, at the end of the month we will launch a 7 week study program called Animate Bible.  This is a DVD based resource in which Eric Elnes, Phyllis Tickle, Rachel Held Evans, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Joses Morales, Will Willimon and Jay Bakker explore everything from the history to current interpretation of Biblical texts. In each Animate: Bible session, the group will watch a video featuring a leading voice from the Christian faith, spend time on personal reflection and journaling, and share ideas with the group. The sessions will be held Tuesdays  beginning on Tuesday, September 29 and finishing on Tuesday, November 10. There will be an afternoon session from 1:30-3:00 and an evening session from 7:30 -9:00. Please choose which session works best for your schedule. I will be leading the afternoon sessions and The Rev. Carolyn Herold will be leading the evening sessions. If you are interested please register by email wisdom@stlaurence.ca and bring $25 cash or cheque (made out to St. Laurence) to the first session to cover the cost of the take-home journal.

 

As September begins we also bid good-bye to Brandon and Deanna Witwer as they leave for Toronto so Brandon can begin his studies at Wycliffe Seminary.  A short note about this is below. 


With every blessing, 

Anna Greenwood-Lee
St. Laurence Anglican Church
403-249-6184

 

Wishing God's blessings as Brandon, Deanna and Xander head off to Seminary.

 

Brandon and Deanna came to St. Laurence about a year and a half ago, they had been searching for an Anglican Church to call home.   Our updated architecture called to them while our community of faithful people drew them to put down roots.  In time, Xander was born and baptized here at St. Laurence and Brandon felt it was time to pursue his discernment to ordained ministry in the Anglican Church.

On September 6 Brandon will begin his journey east to Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto. Orientation will begin on September 8 and then it's time for classes on September 14. Deanna and Xander will join Bandon after her performance at the Alberta Dance Festival. They will be living in the seminary community with other seminary students and young families.

Brandon has promised to keep us informed and up-to-date on his seminary life while he is in formation.

Brandon writes:

 "I am really looking forward to living in community and having an intensive, focused time of formation for ministry.  I'm excited to see what God has in store in this part of the journey.  I'm going with a great deal of hope and expectancy, as well as openness to be stretched in new ways..."

  

 

 

 

September at St. Laurence

 

Tuesday, September 1st the church office will re-open at 9:30 am

 

September 1 - 9

The Rev. MJ Leewis-Kirk will be away in Chicago

 

Thursday, September 3

9:30 am Contemplative Prayer Service with Geri Urch

 

Sunday, September 6 

10:00 am Eucharist. The Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee

Sunday School begins

 

September 8 - 10

Retreat with Pip Nicholls at King's Fold Retreat Centre, Cochrane, AB

 

Wednesday, September 9

11:30 am Larry's Grill

Shillelagh's Pub West Market Square

 

Thursday, September 10

9:30 am Prayer Group with Stuart McKay

 

Sunday, September 13

10:00 am Eucharist. The Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee.  Choir, Sunday School and Conversations

 

Monday, September 14

11:30 am Loretta's Lunch at Lemongrass Restaurant

 

Thursday, September 17

9:30 am Contemplative Prayer Service with Geri Urch 

 

Sunday, September 20

10:00 am Eucharist. The Rev. MJ Leewis-Kirk

 

This is also Food Bank Sunday. Please remember to bring your donations.

 

Monday, September 21

7:30 pm Parish Council Meeting in the Sunshine Room

 

Thursday, September 24

9:30 am Prayer Group with Stuart McKay

 

Sunday, September 27

10:00 am Eucharist. The Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee

 

Tuesday, September 29

9:30 am Larry's Griddle Grey Eagle Casino

 

Tuesday, September 29

Animate Bible Study begins

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm session with The Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm session with The Rev. Carolyn Herold