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Weekly News

April 19, 2019

Dear friends,
What a beautiful Easter service we had this past Sunday. There was a packed house, as we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, welcomed Cliff Boldt, Jacobi Ewing, and Mitchell Schut through baptism into the Body of Christ, and Virginia East as a member of the congregation through transfer.
Well it’s now a few days after Easter. The shouts of hallelujah have died down, and the children are finally starting to recover from their candy hangovers. Easter’s come and gone another year.

One of the beautiful things about the Christian tradition, however, is the idea that Easter is an ever-present reality. The Easter season extends way beyond one day—50 days, actually. And every Sunday is meant to be a “little Easter” where we celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

With that in mind this Sunday we’ll be starting a sermon series “Surprise!” on finding God in the most unexpected people and places in a journey through the book of Acts. Acts tells the story of the early church that formed following Jesus’ resurrection. Here the resurrection sets off a host of unexpected events and changes in Jesus’ followers, pushing them in new and radically different directions. If we believe that God is not just the Creator of the world long ago who occasionally intervenes, but a present power that is constantly at work creating, redeeming and sustaining at every moment, it means that reality as we know it isn’t closed or fixed. The risen Christ works through all sorts of surprising people and in surprising ways that bear witness to God’s life and newness for all. Even us.

I hope you'll join us this Sunday and the rest of this Easter season as we learn the spiritual habit of welcoming an unpredictable God and coming to expect the unexpected.

Grace & peace,
The Rev. Ryan Slifka
Lead Pastor

P.S. from Rev. Ingrid in Seattle!

Hello friends,
I'm on study leave this week, attending the Inhabit Conference in Seattle, connecting with other faith leaders who are reaching beyond denominational boundaries to share about living out our discipleship in the neighbourhood. I am here gaining new ideas and best practices to serve both St George's & Weird Church. 
One of the places of learning I will be leaning into are community based dinner churches, the first of which will be held Friday May 3. Please see the info below and register to attend!
Many blessings on this little Easter Sunday without me.
- Ingrid

Sunday Sessions Featuring Michael Eddy & Friends

Join us on May 5, 4-5pm for our second Sunday Session featuring Michael Eddy and friends, with 25% of proceeds to the Eureka Support Society.

Events and Announcements


Have an announcement for the Bulletin or Weekly Email?
Contact of the office: office@stgeorgesunited.com or 250 334 4961 by Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. to have your announcement included.

Men’s Breakfast Saturday April 27th 8:00a.m.
In the Fellowship Hall.  Please see sign up at welcome table or speak with Paul Ellegood.
Update on Kitchen & Bathroom Reno
After worship on April 28th the Property Committee will give an update on the kitchen/bathroom renovation and the tentative plan for Coffee Time during construction. There will be opportunity to ask questions.
UCW Meeting, Wednesday, May 8th at 1:30 p.m. in the Lounge, Everyone Welcome
St. George's Annual Garage Sale - Saturday, May 25, 9am-1pm.
All proceeds to our Community Partner for 2019 - Eureka  Support Society. We need your stuff! Contact Ellen from Outreach committee 250 338 8599 for details.
Volunteer Gardeners
The Property Committee needs an additional couple of volunteers for the Gardening Team. This group plants, waters and weeds the 3 flower beds in the front of the church. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact the church office or a member of the Property Committee.
Summer Day Camp: All You Need is Love!
July 8-12th 9am - 3pm at St. George's United Church.

Through storytelling (biblical and contemporary), art, crafts, games, and activities, children will explore the “Great Commandment” to love, following Jesus’ teachings and example: what it means to welcome; what it means to love God, self, and others; what it means to care; what does it mean to grow seeds of love within; and what it means to share the story of God’s love with the world.
$60 per child for the week (50% bursaries available)
Please visit www.stgeorgesunited.com/summer-day-camp to register or email Rev. Ingrid ingrid@stgeorgesunited.com for more information: you do not need to belong to this church or any church to attend.
YAYA May Retreat 2019 at Camp Fircom May 17-20th  
A long weekend at Camp Fircom!  The YAYA ministry of the Pacific Mountain Region of the UCC invites youth, young adults (YAYA) and their leaders an opportunity to get away to connect with themselves, each other, God, and the natural world around them.
So what's it all about?
It’s all about balance! A weekend at Camp Fircom provides an opportunity to both connect in an idyllic, natural setting and take some time for yourself to slow down and 'smell the cedar trees.'
Details at mayretreatnorthsouth.weebly.com/ or email Rev. Ingrid ingrid@stgeorgesunited.com for more details (bursaries available).

Weird Church Events:
Friday Feast: I Wasn’t Buried, I Was Planted
Friday May 3rd 6:00 – 7:30pm at Cumberland United Church
Dinner, Music, Storytelling: A feast for your belly and your soul
Hosted by Weird Church, catered by Biblio Taco.
Join us for dinner, music, stories, and conversation in welcoming and wondering Christian community where guest speakers will share short stories about how God has shown up in their lives.  This month’s theme is “I wasn’t buried, I was planted: stories of letting go and beginning again.”
Friday Feast is by donation but registration is required (so we have enough food!).
https://www.weirdchurchcumberland.com/events
 
 Summer Day Camp: All You Need is Love!
July 2-5th 9am - 3pm at Cumberland United Church.

Through storytelling (biblical and contemporary), art, crafts, games, and activities, children will explore the “Great Commandment” to love, following Jesus’ teachings and example: what it means to welcome; what it means to love God, self, and others; what it means to care; what does it mean to grow seeds of love within; and what it means to share the story of God’s love with the world.
$60 per child for the week (50% bursaries available)
Please visit www.weirdchurchcumberland.com/summer-day-camp to register or email info@weirdchurchcumberland.com
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Second Sunday in Easter
Sermon series: "Surprise!"
Service of the Word 10:30am
Rev. Ryan Slifka Preaching


Sunday, May 5, 2019
Third Sunday in Easter
Sermon series: "Surprise!"
Service of the Word & Table 10:30am
Rev. Ingrid Brown Preaching


Sunday, May 12, 2019
Fourth Sunday in Easter
Service of the Word 10:30am
Sermon series: "Surprise!"
Rev. Ryan Slifka Preaching

Sunday, May 19, 2019
Fiftth Sunday in Easter
Service of the Word 10:30am
Sermon series: "Surprise!"
Rev. Ryan Slifka Preaching

Sunday, May 26, 2019
Sixth Sunday in Easter
Service of the Word 10:30am
Sermon series: "Surprise!"
Rev. Ryan Slifka Preaching
Leadership Contacts
Kara Derma, Chair of the Board
kderma@fastmail.fm
The Rev. Ryan Slifka, Lead Pastor minister@stgeorgesunited.com
Eve Mark, Director of Music music@stgeorgesunited.com
The Rev. Ingrid Brown, Minister of Children Youth and Families & Weird Church ingrid@stgeorgesunited.com
Copyright © 2019 St. George's United Church, All rights reserved.


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