December 5 - Updates and Announcements

December offers many opportunities for generosity and sharing with those under financial strain and other limitations in our city. Please consider how you are already supporting those in need, and how you might offer support in this season. HOPE Mission (https://hopemission.com/), The Mustard Seed (https://theseed.ca/), the Food Bank (https://www.edmontonsfoodbank.com/) and other agencies are all working hard to look after the needs of many at this time and throughout the year. No gift is too small, and all donations are put to good use.

Christmas lights are up around town! Join the Grovenor Walking Group at 6:30 pm this Monday, December 6 outside ch cafeteria (NW corner of Stony Plain Rd and 148 St) as we head down Candy Cane Lane to enjoy the lights before it officially opens December 10. We will finish off our walk with hot chocolate for everyone. Can’t join us? Candy Cane Lane is open for vehicles and pedestrian traffic until New Year’s Day. https://yegcandycanelane.com

What’s going on in Edmonton this week? A great resource to add to your bookmarks is Explore Edmonton https://exploreedmonton.com/. This website offers all sorts of listings for events, attractions and highlights of Edmonton. Curious what’s up in December? See the list of events at https://exploreedmonton.com/event-calendar?term=&date=2021-12-02+to+2021-12-31&location=&category

During Advent, St Paul's Community Outreach and Focus on Missions are partnering to raise financial support for Rev. Lori Calkins.

Earlier this year, Rev. Lori Calkins spoke to our congregation regarding her work as an Indigenous cultural birth helper to Indigenous families here in Edmonton, across Treaty 6 territory and beyond. This work plays an essential role in healing, breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma, and cultural reawakening for Indigenous families of many nations. It also provides direct, tangible, multi-generational redress for the harms done by our church’s role in running Residential Schools.The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action include: "We call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement, in collaboration with Survivors and representatives of Aboriginal organizations, to establish permanent funding to Aboriginal people for: Community-controlled healing and reconciliation projects. (61:i)”. Financial support for  this ministry directly responds to this call to action. The first year of this ministry was funded by the Diocese, but it has since become necessary for Lori to search out her own funding, which has included grants; individual and family donations; and foundation and endowment funds. Lori has shared with us that she is very grateful to know this Advent project is taking place. Funding is close to depleted so this contribution will help her essential work to continue. Please hold her, her colleagues and the families they support in prayer. Our goal during Advent is to raise $15,000 towards her salary, which is roughly two months worth of work. Only together can we ensure the spirit and goals of the TRC Calls to Action are met and exceeded.  

Layette Activity: On December 19 after the service, you are invited to join in the creation of several small layettes for clients of Indigenous Birth of Alberta. New or gently used items can be donated to this activity on December 5 and 12, and a box for those donations will be set up in the foyer. Items that will go into the layettes include:

• receiving blankets,
• sleepers, onesies,
• a bigger blanket,
• pads (for the birthing person),
• diapers,
• wipes,
• baby socks and
• hats.