June in the News

June 24, 2022

Please check your email from the office for the weekly announcements. If you wish to be put on the email list, contact the office and we would love for you to join us in the activities and programs of our church. We are in the process of changing webmaster to Chantal from me and I cannot alter the home page.

It's been a wonderful week. Summer is here and we are ready for it. Yes, it's been rainy and sunny and cloudy and windy -- turn around twice and the weather changes.

Sunday's service this week will be with Rev. Nancy. We have our June Council meeting on Tuesday and then it will be summer holidays. We will likely meet again on line in July and August. Such a convenience. 

Here is the online address for the service if you are unable to join us inperson: 

Click to join our livestream on June 26, 2022 at 10:30 am and Zoom with us after church at Click to attend Fellowship after Worship (Zoom)

The Worship Folder can be accessed by clicking on the file attachment below. Next week, Chantal will be your webmaster and I'll still write a news post for July and handle the SERMON page. It has been my pleasure to host the website for six years. I have updated the pages from Guatemala, Western USA, BC -- love the technology. Have a great summer and I will keep in touch on NEWS and SERMONS. 

June 16, 2022 

We prepared our minds for lots of rain and wind and we weren't disappointed. The draining of Glenmore Dam is always a surprise when it happens. For years our sailboat was moored there and when Calgary prepared for snow runoff and heavy rain, we were landlocked, so to speak. The paper this morning compared the peak achieved with the figures from 2013 and, luckily, we were okay for this year. Meanwhile, agriculture in southern alberta celebrated the deluge. 

On Sunday, Amy will be presiding over the service. She completes her contract with us late July but we will be recognizing her gifts to us during her short stay with us in Pastoral Care Ministry. We continue to work through our partnership with Northminster United and last Sunday there was a real mix of folks as we gathered in the TM room for our June 'Picnic' Sunday. It was raw outside and a few hardier individuals did sit outside for a short while. Hugo and Iris enjoyed shooting baskets behind the church, thanks to the generosity of one of St. David's neighbours.

Speaking of generosity, we are collecting clothing, etc. for the Friendship Centre to distribute to folks 'sleeping rough' this summer. This yearly initiative of NMU has been eagerly adopted by St. Davidians as we recognize folks less fortunate during June. For many years with Rev. Peggy, we have shared our service with indigenous brothers and sisters on the third Sunday of June. I remember watching the 'smudge' of burning wheat grass rising through the light as we listened to the drumming. This year, Indigenous Day in Canada is June 21. Here is a link to Chinook Winds Regional website with more information for you: https://united-church.ca/worship-theme/indigenous

P.S. We have four 70 inch 4K televisions waiting to be installed at St. David's. Watch for PSALT as we work towards providing the updated media system that we have imagined. We continue to meet on Wednesday mornings on Zoom at 10 a.m. with Amy. 

June 10, 2022

The sunlight is streaming through my kitchen window where I am sitting, updating our web page. Speaking of which, I have really enjoyed keeping sduc.ca up to date but am hoping to turn over this task to our very able office administrator, Chantal. Maybe she will let me continue with my news.

There were 10 of us on zoom Wednesday morning with Amy. That hour long session passes by very quickly as we engage in active listening -- listening with no intention of commenting or even of speaking, if we choose just to be present with dear friends who have come together on Zoom. Amy has agreed to continue this ministry into July as she prepares to move on in her studies and career. Blessings to you, dear friend! P.S. Amy is leading the service on June 19, 2022 and it is during this time that we will be celebrating our time with her!!

Our congregational budget meeting went well but with some issues. Although the budget documents were distributed during the weekly emailing, folks still requested a printed copy and, because our new VMIX device couldn't handle a third output -- that being the powerpoint prepared by our treasurer and distributed -- we couldn't view the document as planned. Ah!! Our dear PSALT chair, Deb, worked long into the afternoon, trying to resolve the issue and she has concluded that we need another input session with Allan Buckingham, who is our guru with the new system. Meanwhile, the motions were passed and the budget for 2022-2023 has been established. Special thanks to the crew responsible for the preparation of the budget, Mike Stockdale, Roberto Montagni, the Finance Committee and Council!!

The church year is winding down as evidenced by the upcoming Sunday picnic after service. COVID has left its mark -- we will be bringing our own lunch as we share time together. Choirs will soon be on vacation and Sunday children's programming will conclude for the season. 

On June 11, 2022 at 11 o'clock, St. David's and the Eldon Godfrey families are joining in a Thanksgiving service for the life and times of Carly-Jean who endeared herself to our hearts during her time with us. Consider joining us tomorrow for this. The service of Thanksgiving will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/KHLbAIV16UI

We are saddened at the passing of long time St. Davidian, Jean Burton. Ken and Jean were both active in various programs and activities at church, including the Friendship Group. Ken passed away in 2021. Jean's Celebration of Life will be held at Grace Presbyterian (1009 - 15th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB) on June 13, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Reception to follow at the Church Hall. Jean's Obituary is attached below as a file. 

Do take time to peruse the announcements made in the email from the office on Thursday, June 9, 2022. 

June 4, 2022

It's a bit of a dull day beginning this morning with the hint of rain tomorrow. The hills are so green right now. We enjoyed a drive yesterday from Chestermere to Cochrane, via Stoney Trail, and were enthralled by the beauty of our springtime. 

And with springtime, comes Graduation. At least two of St. David's wee ones celebrated their graduations -- our nephew, Bryce, from Aberhart and our granddaughter, Greta, from École Rose Sauvage. Some of you may remember Greta who was always in line first for cake after church, who loved holding Janice's keys and who starred in several of Janice's plays. Bryce's dad, my brother Rob, worked with me for a while on the sound team and Bryce was baptized at St. David's in 2004. I know from Facebook that there were others with ties to St. David's who have made the trek across the stage and tossed their mortarboards in the air as a symbol of their graduation. There was a time when these young ones were honoured in June at church for their accomplishments. Alas! Congratulations to the grads of 2022!

The move is complete. Barb and Chantal have their office stations set up and Rev. Nancy's sofa and chair offer an inviting atmosphere for a sit and chat session. We are still in a state of expectation on the technical side. Chantal's announcement board in the foyer will soon be going high tech and we hope to install two large tv screens at the front to replace our somewhat tempermental projector with a third screen on the balcony face. Money is in place; time is in short supply. Maybe, a summertime project. 

Budget meeting on Sunday for the St. David's Congregation will show how we are doing financially. I also took the opportunity to attend the Discernment Assembly for Calgary Alliance for the Common Good along with representatives from some 30 churches, synagogues, mosques, unions, agencies in the city who are working toward the common good of Calgarians incorporating quite an exciting methodology. https://www.calgarycommongood.org/get_the_newsletter The CACG offers opportunities to become involved in initiatives involving seniors, mental health, indigenous issues and actively work with City Hall. Tuesday noon, June 7, is one such opportunity when representatives of CACG will be a City Hall to participate in the climate strategy work. Calgary Climate Hub is a member of CACG. You might like to be there. 

So... welcome to June.