Thanks to all of you who selected an item(s) last Sunday for the ‘shower’ of household goods for our refugee family. There are still a number of ‘gifts’ to be selected from the board in the gym. If possible, please bring your unwrapped gift on Sunday, January 17th. There will also be other drop-off opportunities to be determined. Please do not drop things off ‘randomly’, as we want to be sure to both record the gift and store it appropriately.
The Canadian Baptists For Refugees team has put together a detailed list of household goods to ‘shower’ our family with a completely stocked apartment. Each of the churches has a partial list of these items. Altadore’s list is posted on an easel in the gym. If you can participate, please review the list, select the item(s) you would like to contribute, take the yellow sticky and print your name and phone number on the poster board under the sticky. Please plan to bring your item(s) to a ‘shower’ day. The first one will be held Sunday morning, January 17th.
There is also a list of furniture requests. Because there are 3 churches involved, we will be reviewing furniture donation offers to confirm ‘the fit’ and to avoid duplication. If you have furniture to donate or questions, please contact Marilyn at 403.474.1742 or Steve Hill (weekends) at 587.777.2921. Steve is heading up a ‘transportation & pick-up team’ and could use some more volunteers when the accommodation is ready. Thank you for your continued support and prayers for the refugee program.
Calgary Baptists For Refugees, a partnership between Northmount, Bonavista and Altadore Baptist churches, has commenced a private sponsorship for a mother and adult son from Aleppo, Syria. Mary and Peter are Christians who have friends in Calgary at an Arabic speaking church in northwest Calgary.
We would appreciate your prayers that this application would be approved by the Canadian government and for our churches as we plan for the many details for Peter's and Mary's arrival. If you would like to be involved in any way in this process, please contact those in our church who are working with this sponsorship: Marilyn Kaiser, Steve Hill or Wendy Burnham. We will be able to be more specific about areas where help is needed after our next meeting
in the middle of December.
Thank you for your support in sponsoring refugees. At Christmas, when we think of Joseph and Mary arriving in Bethlehem with no welcome, it is a joy to think of being able to welcome two people who presently are not welcomed in either their own country or in refugee camps and who are unable to make a life in the country in which they are living.
In Lebanon, 1 in 4 people are refugees received as a result of the war in Syria.
In Canada, the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada are hoping to sponsor 30 refugee families in 2015. Settlement Costs For Year One (Minimum)
· Family of 3 $23,000
· Family of 4 $27,000
· Family of 6 $32,500
Our Thanksgiving offering this year will go to enable sponsorship of refugee families through Canadian Baptists of Western Canada.
As we give thanks this year for all our many blessings, let's join with other churches in western Canada as they help our Syrian or other needy brothers and sisters find new life in Canada.
Please use the special Thanksgiving envelopes provided in your bulletin any Sunday in the month of October
Did you know that our church gives a 1/2 scholarship to a student at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary? One student wrote, "We thank God for sponsors like you so that we can study here another year!" To read what some of these students were doing this summer, go to www.abtslebanon.org for the most recent newsletter.
Lunch is on us for the month of October! Please stay after church for lunch in the gym, hosted by the Leadership Team (Thanksgiving Sunday, pumpkin pie dessert served in lieu of a full lunch). The focus for Sunday October 18th will be to talk about how we can "Live out Our Faith in Our Community". Come with your ideas of how we can be an effective presence in our community.
The Fall Congregational Meeting will take place on Sunday, October 25th after the morning service. Come hear the updates from your Leadership Team.
We have a pastoral candidate coming the weekend of November 8th! Watch for schedule of events coming in the next few weeks. If you have any questions, please talk to anyone on the Leadership Team.
Pastor Paul and Moreen will finish their Ministry with us at the end of November. They have accepted an interim position in Prince George with First Baptist Church starting in January.
Please continue to pray for the candidate, the LT, and our church as we "Live Out Our Faith In Our Community."
It was an eventful summer at Altadore! Please take the time to read the Flashback Sunday Altadore Historical Summary by Marilyn K, and What We Learned From Visiting Other Churches by Moreen S. (Ask Wendy in the office for a copy!)
Be sure to join us next Sunday for our annual Welcome Back Service and Family Picnic. The picnic will be held at Sandy Beach following the service, $3 per person or $10 per family. Bring your own chairs, games and something to drink! All are welcome to attend!
Note that the last newsletter incorrectly said the Good Friends concert was Saturday, Sept 25th. The correct date is Friday, Sept 25th.
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Eva W on September 2nd in Black Diamond. Eva was a long-time member here at Altadore as well as our former Envelope Steward for many years. Archie and Carol M were blessed to have had a very nice visit and lunch with her just last week.
If you are interested in reading more about Christians living in a society where they are a minority, please see the most recent blog posting by Rupen Das at dasworld.wordpress.com.
Sharon L would like to remind you that if you plan to attend the Alberta Women in Focus Retreat in Jasper from Oct 16-18, to book your hotel room at the Sawridge Inn prior to Sept 15th!
Note that bags will be available at the church starting this Sunday for the MCC School Kits.
We have a fun and exciting School program each Sunday for our kids, and it is time for the few kids we have in the over 12 age group to Level Up to new challenges, responsibilities and service opportunities! We are initiating a three part plan this fall:
1. Study: We are looking for an adult to teach a 3-4 week Sunday Morning Study (during the service) starting mid-September. We would like to do this 3 times throughout the year (Jan and April).
2. Service: Encouragement and opportunity will be given so they can develop skills to serve here in their church and in the wider community. We want to provide them with occasional specific duties which may include participating in worship through music or drama, helping out with the facility, volunteering in Sunday School, Nursery or Ushering, and Outreach Programs. Of course, we are excited to hear where they would like to help, but we would also love suggestions from the church family if you have a place where a youth’s help would be welcome.
3. Social: Last, but certainly not least, we want to give this little group the opportunity to enjoy monthly fun activities where they can get to know each other and their church family better. We are looking for volunteers to host the youth on the following dates: Oct 2, Nov 6, Dec 4, Jan 15, Feb 12, Mar 4, Apr 1, May 6. As host, you pick what to do – some suggestions are a movie night, a games night, skating, Laser Tag, a craft night, baking night, video game challenge, a musical jam session. Again, because the numbers are small, it seems best to have the kids go to people’s homes (or a fun venue) – cozier and hopefully easier for the volunteers.
If you can help, have suggestions, or just want to offer some encouragement please give me a call or an email!
Lara Peters lcpeters@ymail.com 403-249-6766
For several autumns now, Bernice Cass has been coordinating Altadoreans to assemble and donate School Kits for MCC Canada and Ten Thousand Villages. You can learn more about this worthwhile initiative at:
http://mcccanada.ca/get-involved/kits/school
Bernice will be providing the bags to fill in the coming weeks, but if you would like to shop now while supplies are easily available, here is the list (each kit should contain these same items):
· 4 spiral notebooks (140 pages each)
· 8 unsharpened pencils (2B preferred)
· 1 ruler (flat flexible plastic, 12 in/30 cm)
· 12 coloured pencils (in package)
· 1 large pencil eraser
We hope you will support this project again this fall! Bags must be in by Sunday, September 27th.
Wednesday, July 15 at 6:30 pm
North Glenmore Parking Lot H
(Alternate date if it’s rainy is July 22nd)
Bring a bagged supper and a friend or two! (Four legged friends on a leash can tag along as well!) If you need a ride or can drive others, call Barb D
The Leadership Team is encouraging as many as possible to read and reflect on the book “Who Stole My Church” by Gordon MacDonald.
It could be read individually or as part of a 4-6 week group book study. Please think and pray about taking time for this in the fall. Look for more information to follow and a sign-up opportunity.
Thank you to all who prayed and/or helped financially with the Pastors Education Mission Trip to Cuba last month. It was a very busy and somewhat tiring trip, but very worthwhile. God richly blessed our public and business meetings. CBM signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding for the next 5 years with the Fraternity of Baptist Churches of Cuba. It was very encouraging to meet God’s people who are faithfully serving him with enthusiasm!
Pastor Paul
Sunday June 14th in the gym after the service.
BBQ hamburgers will be served. Activities outside for all! Come and celebrate the upcoming summer. Good will donations of $3/person or $10/family.
Tuesday, June 16 at 12 noon
67 Riverview Drive SE
(Alternate date if rainy is June 23)
Bring a bag lunch and a friend or two! (Four legged friends on a leash can tag along as well!) If you need a ride or can drive others, call Barb D
Saturday, June 6, 6 pm
Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut/St. Mark & St. Philip - 1939 – 33 Ave SW / 1802 – 33 Ave SW
The churches of Marda Loop are invited to join these two churches as they prepare to share a building together. Great Vespers will begin at Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Church, and after some brief prayers they will process icons from their church down the street to St. Mark & St. Philip Anglican Church where the service will continue and conclude. Altadoreans are welcome to be present for this event and are asked to pray for the two churches involved in the midst of this transition.
Centennial Celebration
Saturday June 6, 1:30 - 3:30 pm - Southwood United Church - 10690 Elbow Drive SW
(403) 253-2979
Calling all CGIT (Canadian Girls in Training) to gather for a celebration of 100 years since its inception!! The centennial celebration will include worship, singing and tea! Hope to see you there!
The Spring Faire was an extraordinary success with over 200 people attending! Thanks to the surrounding community for coming out. Everyone went above and beyond and it was reflected in an event that brought joy to God; all those families enjoying community in His church! Many, many thanks to Jill and her Mighty Leagues of Volunteers for this amazing event!
I have been given the privilege to go on a “Pastor’s Education Mission Trip” with CBM to Cuba from May 23rd to June 1. Along with other pastors, I will connect with the leaders of a group of 41 churches - the Fraternity of Baptist Churches of Cuba. I have been asked to give a sermon on Sunday, May 31, and to present a talk on ethical guidelines for pastors. We will also be visiting a bible camp, the Evangelical Theological Seminary, and will be in discussion with students and pastors in Cuba.
Thank you to those who have given financial help to make the trip possible. Thank you for your prayers for safety, health and a ministry of gracious encouragement to our brothers and sisters in Cuba.
While I’m away, Scott Simpson, the Western CBM representative, will be speaking Sun May 24th. The following Sunday, May 31st, Evie Hammond will bring the message. Please remember them in prayer as they prepare and present the message.
Thursday, May 14, 2:00 pm at Altadore Baptist Church Gym
Doug Coats, a Calgary Historian and former teacher, will present a “virtual” tour of Calgary’s historic Mission District using pictures and stories! All are welcome to attend this unique presentation!
Affiliated with canadian association for baptist freeedoms
Affiliated with the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities
We acknowledge that the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta, on which we stand, is the ancestral traditional land of the indigenous people, and we are grateful for their stewardship of the land and their hospitality which allows us to live, work and serve God, the Creator, here together.
We’re on the search for a new lead pastor! click the image above to go to our careers page.
ThE land we meet on has held God's worship since god first formed it. We are grateful for God's gifts from this land that nurture us, and for the many who have nurtured the land before us.
We recognize the pain and turmoil that has come with the settlement of this place, acknowledging now our role in bringing God's healing peace through relationship with the land and all its diverse peoples.
We affirm our pledge for justice, for peace, and to make our church a place where all people, regardless of labels, are welcome to experience the true love of our Creator God in authentic community.
