Announcements
Sunday Service
November 12
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Upcoming
Christmas Craft Fair
Saturday November 18th, 2023, there will be a Christmas craft fair
held by Northminster United Church at 3303 Capitol Hill Cres. NW . Free Admission!
Held from 9am to 3pm. Please see Zoe Walkes for more information. Posters for this event are
posted throughout the church.
Chinook Winds Region:
Updates from Chinook Winds Region and area: 7 new upcoming events happening! Such as: ‘Say No to Hate and Yes to Fierce Love’ full day event, ‘STONEFACE’ by former Northwest Territories Premier Stephen Kakfwi a night of song, reading, and reflection, ‘Christmas with Buzz Brass’ tickets available! ‘Community Fundraiser’ to support the vision and mission of Red Deer Lake United Church – Many activities available, ‘Christmas Tea and Bazaar’ with Southminster United Church, ‘Annual Christmas Market’ with United Church In the Valley, NEXT YEAR IN 2024: Rural Ministry Network comes to Alberta – June 2024. For More Info on any of these events please see Zoe Walkes for more information via email. posted information available on multiple announcement boards around the church.
Congregation Conversation and Potluck – After church on Sunday, Nov 26th, the board is hosting a potluck lunch with time for a conversation about our current financial status. Year end is coming up and the board is starting the budget process for 2024. We will provide a current financial statement for your review and with the expertise of our interim minister, Kelly Grittner, will review our current and future options. Congregation members will be able to ask questions, give feedback and share their concerns. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us as we all work together to build the future of our church. Contact Ruth Unser at 403-289-2715 if you have any questions or concerns.
Sight Night in Calgary – Support the Blind Community in our beloved Calgary and area: Sight Night is a walk a thon that is approx. 45 min to 1 and 1/2 hours of walking to raise awareness and support for the blind community. This event will be held November 18th, starts at 5:30, Eau Claire Market Calgary AB. More information is available with Zoe Walkes or Victoria Walkes.
Personnel update
New Transitional Minister: Kelly Grittner.
New Secretary : Zoe Walkes, balzacunitedchurch@gmail.com.
New Sunday School teacher, Youth Group Leader: Angela Wigglesworth, BUCfirstthirdministry@gmail.com.
- Volunteers needed for this year – Our lovely BUC church needs greeters and coffee time volunteers! Volunteering is fun and a great way to become more involved with the church community. We look forward to all of the future volunteers! Please sign up at the front of the church by the front doors anytime. Thank you to all who have already volunteered!
- For announcement Questions or addition, here is the contact information – balzacunitedchurch@gmail.com. PHONE: 4032265844
- For any general information on the Church please see the BUC Website Linked here: https://
balzacunitedchurch.com/ - New Announcement page for everything about our kids, youth, and young adults starting this week. – Available in this email and as an additional insert at Church service.
- Girl Guide Cookies – Gwendolyn Burford has a few more boxes of cookies left! Make sure you bring some money to get one of the last ones.
First Third Ministry Corner: Everything for kids, youth & young adults
Upcoming kids, youth & young adults events:
Youth Group, on October 19th (changed from Wednesday, October 11): Youth Group 6-9 pm at the church. *Dress for the weather. We will be outside for part of the evening. Join us for indoor and outdoor games. Snacks and drinks provided.
October 15: Sunday school; youth leadership team meeting following the service 11-noon; world food Sunday
Other information that you might be interested in:
- Zoom worship will start up again in the fall if you are unable to attend church in person. Details will be provided next week. If you have any suggestions on ways to improve the Zoom worship, please email me at runser@shaw.ca or call me at 403 -289-2715.
- Sharing news and activities – if you have an announcement or information that you want to share with the congregation, send an email to balzacunitedchurch@gmail.com with the details by Wednesday of the previous week to ensure it gets in the Saturday email and the bulletin.
Card Ministry – If you think someone in the congregation might benefit from receiving a card from the church this week, contact Joyce Covey or Sheryl Page, our card ministers and ask them to send out a card. Please contact them at covster@shaw.ca for Joyce or pagecovey@hotmail.com for Sheryl.
AGM update
AGM April 23: Thanks to everyone who attended the AGM last Sunday and for your good questions and participation. We have a full board with 3 new members and some changes. The new Board is as follows:
| Board Chair | Ruth Unser |
| Secretary | Steven Burford |
| Treasurer | Hannah Walkes |
| Internal Affairs | Hazel Mountford |
| External Affairs | Michelle Kotelko |
| Ministry & Personnel | Joyce Covey |
| Property | Gary Astle |
| Member-at-large | Sheryl Page |
| Member-at-large | Brenda Astle |
| Youth Representative | Hannah Walkes |
| Region Representative | Ruth Unser |
Thanks to Andrew Wigglesworth, Clark Spencer and Paul Arnott for your service on the board as Chair, Property and Member at Large. We appreciate your hard work and efforts to keep the church running, as well as your wisdom and experience.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at 403-289-2715. -Ruth Unser, Board Chair
Current News
- Choir – Rehearsals are after the morning service and start from 11:30 am for an hour. We are always looking for new members.
If you would be interested in joining, we would be delighted to see you. If you have questions about the choir, contact Lee by email at ladyleedow@shaw.ca or call her at 403-818-9592.- Volunteers needed – Please consider volunteering for the following opportunities to help out at the church. There will be sign up sheets at the front table and even it you can commit to one Sunday occasionally or maybe once a month that would be very helpful.
- Greeters – A friendly face at the door is needed to welcome people and provide help. It’s a good way to get to know people and check in with old friends.
- Coffee Time Volunteers – Coffee will be served after the service but we need some volunteers to make the coffee ahead of the service and clean up afterward. Please consider helping out in this area even if it is only occasionally or for 1 Sunday a month.
- New start time: – 10:00am Sunday mornings
Income Tax Receipts – 2022 income tax receipts have been mailed out. If you have any issues or concerns, please contact Ruth Unser at runser@shaw.ca or (403) 289-2715.
Card Ministry – If you think someone in the congregation might benefit from receiving a card from the church this week, contact Joyce Covey or Sheryl Page, our card ministers and ask them to send out a card. Please contact them at covster@shaw.ca for Joyce or pagecovey@hotmail.com for Sheryl.
Financial Church Support
- If you want to financially support our church, there are four ways:
- Mail a cheque to Balzac United Church, 10076 TWP Rd 262, Balzac, AB T4B 2T3.
Mail is picked up on a regular basis. - Using a credit card, you can donate via www.canadahelps.org The national office of our United Church Canada does approve of this online donation method. Balzac will receive your donation less 4% for a processing fee. Your income tax receipt will be issued from Canada Helps.
- E – transfer funds directly to the church at our new email address for the treasurer treasurer@balzacunitedchurch.com
- Register for PAR (automatic monthly withdrawal from your bank account) by emailing Treasurer Support
- Mail a cheque to Balzac United Church, 10076 TWP Rd 262, Balzac, AB T4B 2T3.
Sunday School
Sunday school is Starting September 10 and registration is on now. You can download the form here and send it to Mrs. Angela.
Airdrie food bank
Go to the Outreach page to see what is needed at the Airdrie food bank.
Did you know that for every $1 that the Airdrie Food Bank receives they can purchase $3 worth of food items? If you choose to support them in this way, please mark your donation clearly, and BUC will submit all monies received, to the Food Bank.
Veterans Food Bank donations
The month of October is dedicated to supporting the Veterans Food Bank. Please donate food, Tim’s gift cards, socks or toiletries and we will drop off in Calgary before Remembrance Day. If you have any questions about this outreach program please contact Sheryl Page at pagecovey@hotmail.com
Soap For Hope
Soap For Hope YYC is an Airdrie based non-profit group who provide basic hygiene kits to individuals and families. Soap for Hope YYC welcomes donations of soap. Soap For Hope YYC is in need of clean, empty shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, & body wash bottles with lids. High demand items include: razors, shave cream, feminine products. Always needed are 1 litre bottles of dish soap and laundry soap as well as diapers, wipes, nail clippers, and Kleenex. Donation box is in the entrance way.
More Details are on the Outreach page. Donation box is in the church entry way. The new Address for Soap For Hope YYC is 5120 6th NE just off Deerfoot and McKnight. We hope to be open to the public by next week. Can’t wait to see you. New phone number is 587-352-9500
If you are called to and able to offer a financial donation to Lax Kw’alaams Grace United Church, please follow these steps:
- Go to the Pacific Mountain Regional Council donation page that is hosted on CanadaHelps.org
- In the first section called “ Donation Details” you need to designate the fund you wish your donation to go to:
Under AMOUNT
Select the frequency of your donation.
Set the amount of your donation.Under FUND
Change the drop-down option from “General” to “Grace United Church – Lax Kw’alaams Rebuilding Fund” to designate your donation to this specific effort. - Then complete the rest of the form. Note: you’ll be prompted to make a one-time donation to the organization that hosts our donation page (CanadaHelps.org).
- After submitting your donation, you will see confirmation page and number on the website, and you will receive an email with tax receipt (if applicable) to the email address you used on the donation page.
We are hearing many expressions of desire to help, and the Pacific Mountain Regional Council office and staff will continue to bridge the community of Lax Kw’alaams with the wider Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities of faith, as needed by the Grace United community.
With gratitude and blessings,
Treena Duncan, Executive Minister, Pacific Mountain Regional Council.
United Church of Canada
PAST EVENTS:
Christmas Cantata was held during the service on December 18th 2022.
Video
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Thanks for taking the survey
This Week
Upcoming kids, youth & young adults events:
Youth Group, on October 19th (changed from Wednesday, October 11): Youth Group 6-9 pm at the church. *Dress for the weather. We will be outside for part of the evening. Join us for indoor and outdoor games. Snacks and drinks provided.
October 15: Sunday school; youth leadership team meeting following the service 11-noon; world food Sunday
Coming up
Upcoming Worship Services:
October 8 – 29, 2023 – Worship Leader, Rev Kelly Grittner
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Recent Services:
July 23
Message
Service
July 9
Service
Message
July 2
Service
Message
June 25
Service
Message
June 18
Service
Message
June 11
Service
Message
June 4
Service
Message
Easter Sunday April 9
Service
Message
Good Friday April 7
Service
February 26
Service Highlight
December
Dec. 24
Service
April 16
Service
Message
April 25
Service
Message
November
Nov. 27
Service
Nov. 20
Service
Message
Nov. 6
Service
October 2022
Oct. 30
Service
Message
September 2022
Sept.25
Service
Message
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Grace United Church in LaxKw’alaams B.C.
Weeks ago, Hugh and Levica Markides shared the news that Grace United Church in LaxKw’alaams B.C. (north west of Port Rupert) burned down on Saturday Jan 30th. When Hugh was a park ranger, he sometimes attended meetings in that community. The 147 year old building was completely destroyed. I know that our hearts go out to those folk who have lost an essential part of who they are. Your prayers are needed to help this faith community to persevere and recover as they rebuild. At times like these, even being well-insured, means that there will be additional expenses Financial donations are also appreciated.
Here are links on the side panel to donate and attached information from Treena Duncan who is the executive minister of our Chinook Winds Region and Pacific Mountain Region.
Stay well. Stay connected.
If you are called to and able to offer a financial donation to Lax Kw’alaams Grace United Church, please follow these steps:
- Go to the Pacific Mountain Regional Council donation page that is hosted on CanadaHelps.org
- In the first section called “ Donation Details” you need to designate the fund you wish your donation to go to:
Under AMOUNT
Select the frequency of your donation.
Set the amount of your donation.Under FUND
Change the drop-down option from “General” to “Grace United Church – Lax Kw’alaams Rebuilding Fund” to designate your donation to this specific effort. - Then complete the rest of the form. Note: you’ll be prompted to make a one-time donation to the organization that hosts our donation page (CanadaHelps.org).
- After submitting your donation, you will see confirmation page and number on the website, and you will receive an email with tax receipt (if applicable) to the email address you used on the donation page.
We are hearing many expressions of desire to help, and the Pacific Mountain Regional Council office and staff will continue to bridge the community of Lax Kw’alaams with the wider Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities of faith, as needed by the Grace United community.
With gratitude and blessings,
Treena Duncan, Executive Minister, Pacific Mountain Regional Council.
United Church of Canada
The External Affairs committee sent 70 handmade Easter cards to residents at Bethany.
Soap for Hope YYC
Michelle Edgar from soap for hope YYC @soapforhopeyyc visited us Sunday February 23, 2020.
Listen to her talk here
Soap for Hope is located
5120 6th Street NE, Calgary, Alberta Calgary, Alberta T2K 4W5 phone (587) 352-9500 or drop by if you would like to volunteer!
Audio posts
“Walking with Jesus”
As we walk with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem, many interesting conversations happen.Listen to the rest of Rev. Rita Cattell’s sermons here on our website
January 12 Neighbour
January 19 Prayer
January 26 Carefree
February 2 The Times
February 9 Topsy Turvy
February 16 Lost and Found
