Have you ever wondered how the shepherds felt when they saw a bright light in the sky and heard voices ~  when they were just doing their job and minding their sheep?   Did they run away in terror?   Or did they listen and respond?   Join us for ‘Uncertain Poor Shepherds’ as we sing and tell the story in an intergenerational musical for everyone!!!

Following our morning worship service led by our intergenerational singers, we will be meeting in the KE Lounge for rice krispie treats, hot chocolate, coffee, tea and conversation!
If you are able to provide 1 dozen rice krispie squares on Sunday morning, could you please call the office at 403-255-0001 and let us know -  so that we ensure we have enough for everyone!
Thanks so much!
~ Deb

If you get a commercial, click back and then forward again. 

Worship, Church School and Special Studies/Events: Dec 15 - 22
PLUS LINKS to our Team/Group Meetings and Monthly Calendar!

Thanks to the following people who set up our St. Andrew’s angels display on our front lawn.  This is a ministry in itself to those in our community, and we are grateful for their help in sharing the Christmas story in this way:

• Jarrett Hoefling
• Brent Werle
• Mark Rowe
• Alfred MacRae
• Flemming Nielson
• Matt Nolette
• and to Lauren Nolette for providing coffee to our hard working team!

Sudanese Feast

On Dec. 8 the Sudanese congregation hosted their annual Christmas lunch.  As always, the food was abundant and delicious, and we were graciously welcomed into their fellowship.  It was wonderful to be in their midst, to see so many children, the colorful clothing and smell the tantalizing smells.  A highlight of the advent season. 
Thank you for having us. 
~  Dolly

Please come and support the children, youth, and adults who will be presenting UNCERTAIN POOR SHEPHERDS, an intergenerational musical, at our 10:00 am service.  Bring along your donations for the Mitten Tree on the 15th as well.  And there may be a special refreshment following the service!

While there is much work on-going all over the city to help people with basic needs of shelter, food and clothing, the reality is that many still struggle.  A number of agencies across Calgary are positioned to be on the front line of that work - e.g. The Drop-In Centre, Inn From The Cold, Mustard Seed, Salvation Army, Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary (AFCC) and many more.  This year, building on a relationship growing out of our Indigenous Neighbourhood Friendship Day, we have decided to direct our Mitten Tree donations to the AFCC.  The centre provides many social and cultural services including an inner city mission and shelter for people experiencing homelessness.  In conversation with staff at the AFCC, they have identified an on-going need for warm clothing including gloves, mitts, toques, scarves, socks and sweat pants - all sizes, men & women styles.  The children will be collecting your Mitten Tree donations during the worship service on Sunday, December 15.  As an alternative, you can bring your contribution to the office before December 15.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our wonderful congregants who very generously donated beautiful stockings and items to fill those stockings for our homebound and others identified as needing a little Christmas cheer.  An amazing fun fact - we needed 60 stockings, and your donations allowed us to fill 61!    The next step is to deliver them and we need your help to do that!  It would be a great help if you would check out the K.E. Lounge on Sunday, December 15 and pick up some of the 60 Christmas Blessing Stockings and deliver them to friends or people in your area.  Names and addresses are provided. 
~  Judie Coleman

St Andrew’s Church School is collecting items for the WINS Children’s Gift Room. Our children will decorate and make up gift bags with items at the Christmas Eve Service. We are looking for donations of small toys, fashion accessories, books, games or puzzles, underwear and socks, deodorant, toothpaste and tooth brushes, etc.
Items can be dropped off at the Church Office or on any Sunday before Christmas Eve.

Your LinX team (Kevin MacFarlane, Barbara MacFarlane, and Debby Dorcas) do our best throughout the year to keep our church family connected with the ‘goings-on’ of this busy church.  LinX will be taking a ‘short break’ at the end of the month ~ here is our LinX schedule for the next while:

• Wed, Dec 11 - regular weekly email
• Wed, Dec 18 - regular weekly email
• NO LinX Dec 25
• NO Linx Jan 1
• Wed, Jan 8 - back to our regular weekly email

Kevin, Barbara and I would like to wish everyone a blessed Christmas, and a safe, healthy, and happy New Year. 
~ Deb

Our connection with Claire House continues to grow, making friends and helping new-comers settle.  One resident helped us prepare authentic bannock for our Friendship Day and several found their way over to share with us in the activities at the Friendship Day.  An extra special opportunity is before us at Christmas time, to help bring a little extra cheer to the 41 households, including 22 children.  Our hope is to raise $3,150 so that we can provide a generous gift to each household, plus a little extra for each child.  Your financial donation of any amount will help bring an extra smile to this little community.  Be sure to mark your donation for 'Claire House' in the memo line of checks, the 'other ministries' line on offering envelopes, or look for the 'Claire House' option in the pull-down menu for on-line giving.
(this option will be available Dec 6) 
~  Bill Judd

Dec 15th: 10:00 am
Greeters: John & Jean McPhee
Ushers: Maureen Amos & Andrew Wiswell
Coffee Hosts: Friends of Intergenerational Musical participants
Shepherd: Sean Pepper
Welcome & Land Acknowledgement: Church School Children

The EDGE After School Youth Drop In Program  - CLICK HERE
GriefShare - CLICK HERE
Growing Generous Life Brochure - CLICK HERE
Sunday Morning Bible Study - CLICK HERE
Youth Group 2024 Schedule - CLICK HERE

“Spirituality is the awareness of God’s presence—the life-affirming sense that we are not alone, that our Creator who loves and cares is present with us.” So writes Dr. Jane Kuepfer from The Research Institute for Aging at the University of Waterloo (RIA), mentioned last week in connection with spirituality and aging, in a special issue of Vision: A Journal for Church and Theology.
The RIA is associated with the Walk with Me conference, which is “devoted to changing the culture of aging.” Here is some food for thought from that conference: “Meaningful relationships and knowing people’s stories are a crucial part of moving towards a social model of care because authentic, reciprocal relationships are at the core of quality of life and care." See  Walk With Me Key Takeaways for more insights about how God calls us to deeper relationships in community.  ~  Geoffrey

 If you’ve noticed the beautiful rainbow banner that stands by the sanctuary doors and you’ve been wondering about St. Andrew’s commitment to inclusion then click the link below to find out more.

If you would like to support Indigenous and local artists and businesses at the fourth annual Christmas on the Nation Holiday Market, you are WELCOME!   Come and enjoy a festive indoor holiday atmosphere.  Don’t miss out on the warmth and welcome of the people of the Tsuut’ina Nation.

If you or someone you know could use some support on how to take care of yourself while grieving over the holidays, and how to best help someone who is grieving, you are welcome at the Shawnessy Library on Dec 14 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

Our Calgary Community Connector, Shae-Lynn Conley, is organizing this event that will be held at the Trico Seniors Living Well building (7670 4A St SW).  There will be games, crafts, solstice storytelling, and a traditional feast of bannock and stew.  Admission is free, but you have to RSVP by Dec 18th so they can prepare enough stew!!!  One more way to connect in our neighborhood!!!