The Latest News from Grace

Creation Stewardship: Bee Pollination

Leaving hollow stems and leaf litter in your yard over the winter is like rolling out the red carpet for bees, especially those solitary superstars. These cozy nooks and crannies provide prime real estate for overwintering bee larvae and shelter for adult bees seeking refuge from the cold. Without these hiding spots, our buzzing buddies would have a tougher time surviving the winter chill. Plus, when spring rolls around, these little hideaways become bustling bee nurseries, where new generations of pollinators can hatch and kickstart the pollination party all over again. So, by giving...

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Community: Story Connaught Summer Camp

Beltline Connaught Community Kids Camp Held at Grace Presbyterian Church this Summer This August, Grace Presbyterian Church acted as host venue to a one-week mini summer camp for approximately 20 grade four to six students from Connaught Elementary School – a Beltline neighbour Grace collaborates with often. Rev. Jake Van Pernis, Rev. Wendy Adams and volunteer Marlene Doherty of the Engagement and Service Committee worked with Christine McCuaig, the Assistant Principal of Connaught and Ronni Abraham from The Immigrant Education Society (TIES) to provide the opportunity, while funding was...

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Grace Impact on Women and Children at RESET

Grace has worked with RESET for many years by providing Grace House, a safe living location that helps support young women and their children. RESET Society of Calgary helps women and children who are victims of sexual exploitation and/or sex trafficking. RESET reports that more than 90% of trafficking victims within Canada come from Canada - there are approximately 3,000 women and girls involved in sexual exploitation in Calgary. Sections of a letter from RESET Executive Director Theresa Jenkins outline some of the impact Grace mission work has on the hundreds of vulnerable women and...

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The English Language Learners Program: Why Grace Runs English Classes and Builds Community

If you come down to Grace on any given Monday morning, you will find a team of dedicated volunteer English teachers setting up classrooms, preparing lessons that help students practice conversational English and settle in Canada, and greeting students whose English ranges from Beginner to Intermediate to Advanced. This fall, the English Language Learners (ELL) Program started up again. Julie Clayton, who started the program at Grace, shares why she does, how the program impacts Grace, the community, the volunteers and the students, and a little bit about what it's like to face life in a...

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Creating Safer Spaces at Grace

When red paint was splattered on the doors of 10 churches in Calgary—including Grace Presbyterian Church—it was shocking and eye-opening. The act took place in the early morninghours of July 1, 2021, following announcements of unmarked graves of Indigenous children onthe grounds of former Residential Schools. The red paint forced many of us to view the churchthrough new eyes, seeing it as an institution born from and shaped by a Euro-centric colonial culture that caused devastating loss—of land, culture, relationships and, heartbreakingly, of thousands of children. Churches could not hide...

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Care of Creation – Leave the Leaves

Stewarding the world we live in Call on the animals to teach you; the birds that sail through the air are not afraid to tell you the truth. Engage the earth in conversation; it’s happy to share what it knows. Even the fish of the sea are wise enough to explain it to you. In fact, which part of creation isn’t aware, which doesn’t know the Eternal’s hand has done this? Creator’s hand cradles the life of every creature on the face of the earth; Creator’s breath fills the nostrils of humans everywhere. Job 12: 7-10 Many native species of insects don’t migrate and need a safe spot to hibernate...

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Volunteer Transformation Story from the Satellite Food Bank

August 2022 Something amazing happened at our Food Bank today. A young woman and her 3 year old child came to collect their hamper. They came from Ukraine just 2 weeks ago to escape the war. Her husband had to stay behind to fight. They are on their own and struggling to get a start in a brand new country. She was ever so grateful and thanked us profusely. These 2 were just about to walk back to their temporary living arrangement with heavy bags when another large family of about 6 arrived to pick up their hamper. The 2 families struck up a conversation and there was much laughter and...

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Red Paint Update: Truth, Healing and Reconciliation journey at Grace continues

Dear Friends, At approximately 2:00 a.m. on the morning of Monday August 29, the red paint on the two sets of front doors of Grace were painted over with tan paint by unknown people (the sandstone and stained-glass windows were not impacted). Grace is working with the Calgary Police Service to investigate. Grace's Session met on Monday, August 29 and made the decision that the east doors of Grace's building will be repainted, to the cream colour they have been, starting on Sunday, September 25 following worship. The painting will be accompanied by a gathering of prayer and ceremony...

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English Classes – English Language Learners

In 2024, English classes run: Classes run Mondays from 9:30am to 11:30am Terms are a few weeks and are $20 each. Online payments are coming soon - payments can also be made in the Grace office (debit or credit card). Please register through the form below. First Day of Session: The first day of classes is busy! Please bring: A translator (if needed) A copy of your registration Debit or credit card to pay your Session fee Parking and Entrance to the Church Building Parking is free in the North Parking Lot (see map). Please remember your license plate number and enter it into the Indigo...

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