World Day of Prayer

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At Altadore Baptist Church

Friday March 6, 1:30 – 2:30 pm

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together on the first Friday of March each year to observe a common day of prayer.

Through World Day of Prayer, women affirm their faith in Jesus Christ and engage with the whole world; are enriched by the faith experience of Christians of other countries and cultures; share the burdens of other people, praying with them and for them; and use their own talents in the service of God’s world. Prayer and action are inseparable and both have immeasurable

Moving Forward!

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The Leadership Team met this week and began the process of moving forward. We are looking to fill these positions in the next few months:

  • Pastoral Search Team
  • Nominating Team
  • Discern and Discover Team (action & strategy plans for Ministry)
  • Leadership Team (experimental governance for a year. These are the lead positions. Many will have teams supporting 
    • Chair
    • Vice-Chair
    • Secretary
    • Pastoral Care (Elder)
    • Personnel (Staff functions)
    • Facilities & Maintenance
    • Worship
    • Missions & Outreach
    • Treasurer
    • Hospitality & Congregational Care (encouragement, support, care & fellowship)
    • Christian Education (discipleship of children, youth & adults)

 

It is vital to have people ministering where they are gifted. Three upcoming events will help determine our gifting:

  • Gift Survey (during our service Feb. 22)
  • Strength Finder Workshop (date TBD)
  • Working together strategies (date TBD)

More information to come, but we ask you to start prayerfully considering your role at ABC, and plan to attend the Feb 22 service. Speak to Mark De Witt or anyone on Council or Elders if you have any questions.

Carey Seminars Presents Dr. Paul Pearce

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Transitions of Life: Healthy Aging, Retirement & the Spiritual Journey

Sat Feb 28, 9:00-3:00, Westview Baptist Church, $50

Canadians approaching retirement are now the fastest growing demographic in the country. This emerging trend will have significant ministry consequences for many years for churches and the communities they serve. There will need to be an intentional approach to preparation and provision of ministries in order to respond to the possibilities of mission and service with both those in the church and others in the community needing care and compassion.

Clarity Meeting Results

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On Jan 28 the church came together for a discussion on the options for future direction of the 

church followed by a vote on the three options presented. Of the 84 ballots received, 5 were for option 1 - status quo, 10 were for option 2 - Re-seeding and 68 were for option 3 - Re-birth with one ballot spoiled. This is seen as a clear indication that Option 3 is the desire of the church. 

Council will be moving ahead quickly with the initiatives outlined earlier and ask for the church's continued prayers and support.

Ash Wednesday & Lent Gatherings

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Wed, Feb 18th, 9 am or 7 pm

St. Mark & St. Philip Anglican - 1802 33 Ave SW

The Pastors of Marda Loop Churches present two interdenominational Ash Wednesday services; all are welcome to attend!

Also, an interdenominational Lenten discussion group will meet on the following five Wednesdays, at the same times and place as above. We will discuss Phil Yancey’s book and video series: Vanishing Grace. There will be morning and evening sessions on all five Wednesdays. Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

Coldest Night of the Year

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Walk in solidarity with our homeless brothers and sisters on February 21, 2015. We are walking to support Acadia Place and Feed the Hungry. 

Join Altadore’s Team the “Alicats” or support one of our walkers! See Larry at the table in the gym after church.

You can see more information about the walk and track the progress in Calgary and across Canada at www.coldestnightoftheyear.org/location/calgary

Altadore Baptist Church Annual Meeting

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Join us for our Annual General Meeting on Sunday, Feb 8th after the service. Please ensure you have read the 2014 Annual Report prior to the meeting (sent in PDF via email, hard copies available at the church) 

For the annual meeting, we will be enjoying a potluck lunch of sandwiches, chips and sundaes. Please contact Trudy F or Colleen M to choose what you would like to bring from the list.

Springtime Faire – Help Needed!

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Saturday May 2nd from 2-4 pm

This is a way to show the surrounding community that we care, so we would love to have our congregation be a big part of it. We need :

  • 5 organizers (2 meetings, phone calls, emails etc.)
  • 5 to set up on Friday
  • 15-20 to man stations (depending on how many stations or how many at a station)
  • 3-4 to help clean up afterwards
  • 2 hosts
  • 2 to help cover breaks
  • 2 to help in the kitchen
  • 5 to provide cookies or baking for the event.

Even if you can only come for an hour, every hand is appreciated! Donations to cover the cost of putting on this free event will also be gratefully received. Contact Jill M or the church office for more information and to sign up!

Church Clarity Meeting

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Please note that on Wednesday January 28th, there will be a congregational Clarity Meeting followed by a vote regarding the future trajectory of our church. More information on this can be found in Pastor Paul’s Reflections #7, and by talking with Pastor Paul and the council. This evening is intended to help move Altadore Baptist Church ahead in a positive way; please make the commitment to attend!

More Details on the "Re-Birth" option

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Last week the church received a brief outline of what would happen with Option 1 and 2 and gave an introduction into the Third Option. Following is a bit more detail around the Third Option, or re-birth. We’re looking at this option as an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach, one made up of smaller steps that build on each other so that over time, achieve significant change.

If this option is chosen by the church, we plan on starting with these steps:

  • Step 1 - Search Committee - This is a known entity, overall it will be of a similar form to the previous search committee that was put together in 2013. One difference is that search committee will be not have one of the advantages the 2013 group had, in the work that the moving forward group task group did in determining what the church wanted in a Senior Pastor, this will be the first significant step for this group.
  • Step 2 - CBM Discover / Ministry discovery. You got an introduction to this in last week's Current Events where an outline to this was included. This will give follow a process for the Church, together, to determine where what we want to focus on as a church, what ministries we want to take on, ultimately, where God is calling us to be. 
  • Step 3 - Governance. Probably the least exciting of the steps, but still important. This will look at how we can improve how we make decisions, both big and small, so that we can effectively take on the initiatives that the Ministry Discovery step uncovers. This will be attempting to find the sweet spot where we can move on things as a church family, but without having so much structure that we get bogged down in things. One where the leadership is empowered and effective and the congregation is informed and engaged.
  • Step 4 - New leadership - This step is more than just finding individuals to work with the governance; this plank looks at the development of a nominating committee with an expanded mandate. A group that that prayerfully attempts to match people's giftedness to various ministry areas within the church and the jobs/roles that need to be accomplished within the church. Additionally this group could look at ways to help the people in the church to discover, develop and support their individual strengths and find the places in the church body where that best suits their giftedness. When we participate in something that brings us joy it ends up being life giving.  That is the hope of a nominating committee - to equip the church in a way that brings joy and life into those participating in the church.
  • Step 5 - Leadership and Church Family development sessions - And lastly, to support these initiatives, we will offer a series of development sessions over the next few months where we can find new ways to grow individually and corporately. This is the step that is hardest to give details on, at this point, because much of the work in this step will be in reaction to and to support the other four steps.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

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Saturday, January 24th , 9-11 am

Anglican Parish of St. Mark & St. Philip, 1802 33 Ave SW.

The Pastors of Marda Loop Churches present a morning of building compassionate community with Rev. Susan Brandt, Pastor of Street Level Church. The film “Beyond Surviving” will be shown with Q&A to follow. It will address the need to understand and care for those struggling with trauma. 

Sunday, January 25th, 7:00 pm

Calgary Community Reformed Church (1638 30 Ave. SW)

The Altadore Baptist congregation will be joining with the congregations from other Marda Loop Churches for an Ecumenical Prayer Service.

(see posters at the church for more details)

Other Happenings in Calgary

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U of C: Chair of Christian Thought Iwaasa Lecture on Urban Theology

Panel on Addressing Poverty in Calgary

Monday, Feb 2, 2015 at 7:30 pm

Grace Presbyterian Church, 1009 15 Ave SW

 

Coldest Night of the Year is coming back to Calgary in 2015. Walk in solidarity with our homeless brothers and sisters on February 21, 2015. Last year Altadore raised more than $2,500 toward the event total of $135,000 for Acadia Place and Feed the Hungry. Help us make this event a continued success by registering to walk or volunteer at www.coldestnightoftheyear.org. Contact Larry P for further information.

CBWC Leadership Forum

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Monday, January 26th at 6:45 – 9:00 pm

Bonavista Baptist Church - 1507 Acadia Drive SE

Speaker: Tyler Graftaas, Assoc. Pastor at GoodTree

Topic: The Necessity of Wilderness: Taking the Road Less Travelled

Too often life is run by the demands of what is urgent or distracting instead of operating out of a rhythm of a life of withdrawal for prayer. God's promise is to bring life to the desert and restoration to the broken (Isaiah 35). Jesus' pattern and priority in life was to retreat to the wilderness. What can we learn about going to those solitary places?

Leadership Forums are for everyone that wants to be challenged in their walk with God and what they can offer to the kingdom of God.

Our Legacy Through Eve

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Wednesday, Jan 28th - 1 – 2:30 pm - Altadore Church Library

This year’s Great Canadian Bible Study looks our legacy as women through Eve’s story in Genesis 1-3. Some see Eve as a great temptress to be subdued while others admire her independence in grasping at the tree of knowledge. What can we learn about our original design and our fatal flaw that God would want us to understand as he molds us into the likeness of Christ? We encourage all women to take the time to meet and share in this study. 

The details of the study can be found here

(Participants are asked to bring a $2 donation to support victims of sexual violence in the DR Congo.

Join with women across Canada to be part of this movement of healing and hope by participating in the Great Canadian Bible Study – January 2015! 

Contact Wendy B to arrange for the study materials.