Upcoming - A Survey of the New Testament

 

This course will provide you with a foundation to understand the writings and theology of the New Testament. It will explore how the four Gospels reveal the life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus of Nazareth as herald of the “Good News” of the coming of the Kingdom of God, and as the founder of a new Covenant with God. It will also explore, as reported in the book of Acts and the Epistles, the coming of the Holy Spirit as the creator of the Church by means of the renewal of the Image of God. You will also learn about the variety of literary genres present in the New Testament and how they detail the life and growth of the early church, as well as learning about the broader context of the ancient world in which the New Testament was written. 

NOTE: This course will represent a serious time commitment (attending class, reading and assignments) for those taking the course for credit.

To register, please email: blabrecque@calgary.anglican.ca

Observing Ephiphany

 

Today's Lectionary Readings:

Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Ephesians 3:1-12

Matthew 2:1-12

May this bless your day. 😊

It's a New Year!

 

A greeting from the Anglican Diocese of Calgary:

Happy New Year!!!

The Lord's mercies are indeed new every morning, AND every year! May 2025 be a year that we renew our faith, that we might experience the steadfast love of the Lord in the midst of everything that we do.

Feast of the Holy Innocents

Icon - The Holy Innocents

Today we mark the Feast of the Holy Innocents -- when Herod, terrified of being usurped by the new-born King folks had told him about, had his soldiers kill all baby boys in his regional kingdom.

But Joseph had been warned in a dream to take his new family to Egypt, and so Jesus' life was spared -- for the time being. See Matthew 2:13-18.

Let us pray that in these challenging times, the leaders of this world have their hearts and minds changed, and the killing of innocents -- children, women and men -- will cease.

St. John the Evangelist

 

Today is the Feast of John the Evangelist -- aka St. John the Apostle, John of Patmos, and/or John the Divine.

The Anglican Church here in Canada has an order of nuns, with oblates and associates, founded in 1884, called the Sisters of St. John the Divine (SSJD for short). It no longer has a presence in western Canada, but at one time it operated a Priory and retreat house in Edmonton as well as a house in Victoria, B.C. The sisters still actively minister at St. John's Hospital in Toronto, hold retreats at the convent there and provide spiritual directon services. They have also been a source for hand-stitched altar linens. You can find out more about them HERE. May this bless your day. 😊

Thursday Thoughts Near the End of a Year

As our parishes close out one calendar year and begin another, it is a time of reckoning. Why are we here?

Thursday Thoughts from Rev. Ed. Trevors of the Anglican parish of St. Margaret of Scotland in Halifax, N.S. For this listener, the real meat of the message comes at 5:08 in the video through to the end. May it give you pause for thought and prayer.

 

Good King Wenceslas

 

Today is the Feast of Stephen, most often referred to as Boxing Day, after the generosity of Good King Wenceslas, who boxed up meat, drink and firewood, and took them out to a poor peasant who was trying to find fuel to bring a bit of warmth and cheer to his family.

If you're out at the Boxing Day sales today, perhaps buy a wee something to give to your local food bank, women's shelter, or homeless shelter -- or simply do something kind for a stranger. May this bless your day.