Welcome to St. David's
Growing and Deepening our Spiritual Lives in an Affirming and Inclusive Community
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SEPTEMBER 20, 2020:
REV. PEGGY MCDONAGH: "Glorious Diversity"
- A Letter from Rev. Peggy McDonagh
Hello, my dear friends,
I hope this week blessed your lives with some unexpected kindness, gratitude or surprise. This week, the Chinook Winds Region held their 2nd Annual Conference. Last year we gathered in Lethbridge. This year the conference was online because of the reality in which we find ourselves. While we miss the personal connections, it is good to be together even using this online form. There were approximately 188 people signed on a various times over the three days, attending the sessions.
The theme for the conference was Radical Acceptance and the theme speaker was Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder, a San Francisco native, serving her call through prophetic action and ministry for justice for over 30 years. Rev. Dr. Flunder is the Presiding Bishop of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, a multi-denominational coalition of over 100 primarily African American Christian leaders and laity. It was a joy and privilege to listen to her wise, insightful and heart-felt talks as she engaged us in examining what 'radical inclusion' looks like and how it can be lived out.
On Sunday, September 20,2020, we embark on the fifth week of the series, Sacred Earth, Sacred Work. Just a reminder: this six week worship series is built on a movement and theology called 'Creation Spirituality, a theology that affirms God's declariont that creation is 'supremely good' and that we are called to be that goodness in and for the world.
This week we celebrate the gift of diversity and honour its goodness and blessedness and acknowledge that diversity is God's expression of God's own self in the world. We acknowledge that diversity is fundamentally good and fundamentally blessed and we are called to stand in solidarity with diversity. In so doing we become part of the Holy Mystery of God.
One of the challenges when doing online worship is how to make the worship experience a lived experience for you, worshipping in your home worship spaces. I create responses and activities and invite movement to engage you in an interactive way, so I hope that you are taking time to prepare your worship space and allowing yourself to engage in the activities or movement.
I also encourage some hands on activities: I invite you to prepare your worship space with elements fom nature: flowers, leaves, branches, a rainbow, images of compassion, etc, with a candle paced amonst your creation elements. Add to your worship space a special collection bowl or offering bowl that will be a part of our worship ritual for the remainder of the series. A piece of paper will be an important part of one of our rituals. I’ve attached the worship folder for those who wish to follow along. (Worship folder is found on MINISTRIES/WORSHIP as a file attachment.)
Thank you and see you on Sunday.
Peace be with you,
Rev. Peggy McDonagh St. David's United Church 403 284-2276 Ext. 104
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On Zoom, Sunday morning, September 6, 2020, St. David's congregation gathered for the fourth in a series entitled "Sacred Earth, Sacred Work," with Rev. Peggy McDonagh. COVID-19 has made a difference in our lives, for sure, but our St. David's community remains such an important part of our week. We last met as a congregation on March 15, 2020 -- 27 weeks ago. Plans for returning continue to be a work in progress. Stay tuned!! Remember to print the worship folder so you can follow along most easily. You will find it on the MINISTRIES/Worship Page.
ACTS MINISTRY STUDIES HAS BEGUN!!This Autumn, Our Group meets on Zoom, Monday Night Study 7:00PM to 8:30PM (90 minutes)Online classes run from September 14th to November 23rd.Our Book - "The Universal Christ" by Richard Rohr. If you missed the first session, check out MINISTRIES/ADULTSPIRITUALDEVELOPMENT PAGE to find the Keynote 45-01 and follow along. All you need to do is buy the book from Amazon.ca, Indigo or IBOOK. It will be your only cost for the series.
Thursday Morning Bible Study 10:00AM to 11:00AM (60 minutes)We met September 17th to make our fall study Bible selection. Classes run until the end of November. Invite new friends to join us via Zoom. If you have questions, contact Wayne at [email protected]
“Center of your heart is the center of the Universe. Go to that center and radiate positive vibration for the well-being of humanity [and all created life].” - Amit Ray
‘Peace, Bliss, Beauty and Truth'
SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Rev. Peggy McDonagh: "Seeing with the Eyes of God that See Us"
AUGUST 30, 2020
Rev. Peggy McDonagh: "The Saving Grace of a Positive Attitude"
AUGUST 23, 2020 -- Rev. Peggy McDonagh: "Spirit of Compassion"
AUGUST 16, 2020 -- Rev. Peggy McDonagh: "CREATION BLESSING" https://youtu.be/DwfgZndeftw
AUGUST 9, 2020 -- Guest Speaker: Brent Tucker https://youtu.be/qH6bFiXEkVs
AUGUST 2, 2020 -- YOUTUBE featuring Brent Tucker
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6c124Hs_H8qK_-Jgkg6DPA
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UPCOMING EVENTS/REMINDERS/INVITATIONS/CELEBRATIONS
Our YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6c124Hs_H8qK_-Jgkg6DPA
“The glory of God is a human fully alive.” St. Ignesius
Peace be with you,
Rev. Peggy McDonagh
St. David's United Church403 284-2276 Ext. 104
“Center of your heart is the center of the Universe. Go to that center and radiate positive vibration for the well-being of humanity [and all created life].” - Amit Ray,
- Staying connected has become ever more important as we continue during this Time of COVID-19. Be safe, open your phone directories and make a call to someone who might just be waiting to hear from you and know that the St. David's community exists wherever we are - at home, in our community or in church.
“He who sings, prays twice." - St. Augustine
“The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one.”
- If you know of someone who might like to receive one of our online worship services please feel free to forward it and remind people to send their email address to us so we can keep connected. Reflections for the Worship Services can be found by clicking on SERMONS at the top of this page. P.S. Since beginning this time of COVID-19 our email list has increased by almost 90 addresses. On Sunday morning, September 13, Rev. Peggy offered her fourth service of her six week series on Creation Spirituality.
- We still have openings for volunteers to join the ministries of St. David's. If you have an interest or special gift in stewardship, worship, pastoral care, music, adult spiritual development, etc. we have a place for you. Let Rev. Peggy, Rev. Debbie or Chantal, Office Administrator, know.
- Check out our FACEBOOK page at Facebook at St. David's. Additional resources for United Church congregants include https://chinookwindsregion.ca and http://Leadershiftpm.ca
- If you are unable to attend church but wish to contribute your offering to the life and work of St. David's, you may do so by clicking on the link at the top of the Home Page or contacting the office at 403 284 2276 for assistance.
- PRAYER CONCERNS The prayer chain is committed to praying for you in times of crisis for a period of 30 days. Please contact the office or one of the ministers.
