An updating blog post with the latest details about our plans to return to in-person worship.
Homecoming Sunday, September 12, 2021
The Latest News from Grace
Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation
Grace Response to the Red Paint on the Church Doors Early morning on Thursday, July 1, two sets of doors at the top of the steps at Grace Presbyterian Church had red paint splattered on them as an act of protest and expression of grief regarding the recent discoveries of numerous unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools in Kamloops, Cowessess, Cranbrook, as well as in other places in Canada. We do recognize that the red paint may be of great concern to you, and we share this concern. However, the plan is to allow the red paint to remain on the church’s doors for the...
2021 and 2020 Report to the Congregation and Community
The 2020 Report to Congregation and Community reflects on the past year and looks toward the year ahead. It shines a light on the creative, generous, and loving work that has been bending in the wind of the storm but not breaking.
Highlights – Grace Presbyterian Church Session – May 2021 Meeting
At its regular meeting on May 13, 2021, the Session: Read Psalm 51:10-12 and Romans 12:2-3, and reflected on examples of renewal and hope in this season and in the life of Grace Church. Expressed gratitude for the work of the Pastoral Care Deacons, Communications outreach, the New Members’ Class, Grace Kids’ ministry, opportunities for connection, and the planning ahead. Prayed for the Spirit’s guidance during and following the June 6-9 General Assembly, for peace in light of the escalating violence in the Middle East, and for individuals in the congregation. Received correspondence...
March Message from the Grace Ministry Team
We are approaching the first anniversary of when Covid-19 drastically changed everyone’s lives. One year ago, Lent 2020 had just begun when we suddenly found ourselves in a position where we had to give up lots and take on new ways of doing almost everything. In some ways, it feels like Lent never ended as we have all made significant sacrifices as we’ve been pushed further into a pandemic wilderness. Rev. Paulette Brown, a Presbyterian minister in Ontario, described Covid-19 as “reckless” in a recent interview. When we consider the toll that Covid-19 has taken on the world,...
Call for Satellite Food Bank Volunteers
Grace’s operation of the Satellite Food Bank has been up and running for a few months. Each Thursday, up to 15 households are provided healthy food through the Calgary Food Bank. Volunteers have found their work very gratifying. There is a need for more volunteers: some to serve one or more Thursday mornings a month, from 8:30 to 9:30, to receive and sort the food, and some to distribute the food hampers to the clients at the church on Thursday afternoons between 3:30 and 5:30. Volunteers need to be comfortable with lifting and understand the need for confidentiality for the clients. ...
A New Year Letter From Rev. Christian, Rev. Maren and Rev. Jake
This past Advent and Christmas was much different than any of us can recall. And as we enter into 2021 many of us have mixed feelings about the year ahead. No one could have predicted how 2020 would play out. As we near the one-year mark of suspending in-person worship at Grace Presbyterian Church we wonder when life will get back to normal. The truth, quite bluntly, is that things will not be the way they used to be. As individuals we have changed, Grace has changed, Canada has changed, the world has changed. Some of us are enjoying the simplicity and quietness of these early days in...
Winter Resources: Mental Health, Counselling, Suicide Prevention, Domestic Violence and More
Looking for some resources to help cope during the pandemic? There are many paths to support. Please find a series of resources, websites and phones numbers where you can access help in Calgary. Know more? Share them with communications@gracecalgary.org and they will be added to the list. MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES Government of Canada – Mental Health Services or call 1-866-585-0445 Wellness Together Canada provides immediate single session telephonic counseling, mood assessment/tracking, resources and activities for both children and adults to help cope with mental health during COVID-19...
The Story of Grace Church Christmas Cakes (Cake Bake 2020: Postponed, not Forgotten)
Members of the Dorcas Group of Grace Presbyterian Women’s Fellowship were the pioneers of the Christmas Cake baking project. In 1961 they were looking for a profitable project in which many women could participate.Several worthy ideas were put before the group, and they decided to make “a good old-fashioned Christmas Cake”. The next goal was to find a never-fail recipe that everyone liked. It took many experiments to find the perfect recipe and they finally agreed on Lady Eaton’s recipe which was shared with Kay Caspell during a golf game. With a few modifications over the years, this...
The Food Bank Project at Grace
One Month In: Grace as a Beltline Food Bank Satellite Location The vision and mission of Grace are well known: Vision: Transforming lives through God`s grace Mission: Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we grow disciples of Jesus Christ to love our neighbours and effect social change The Calgary Food Bank is one way Grace is living out the vision and mission. Calgary Food Bank Vision: A hunger-free community Mission: Together, we fight hunger and its root causes so that no one goes hungry As we at Grace embrace being a missional church, we understand the need to partner with agencies in the...