“Repent!  Confess your sins!  Change your behaviour!”  This is the cry of John the Baptist.  It is to those who feel like nothing more than a stump that renewal can begin.

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Worship, Church School & Special Studies/Events: Dec 7 - 14, 2025
PLUS LINKS to our Team/Group Meetings and Monthly Calendar!

We are grateful for our St. Andrew’s youth, who gave the gift of time as Toy Sorters at the Salvation Army warehouse on November 26th!  And we are thankful for the parents who ALSO gave the gift of time, and modelled the importance of helping ‘where we can, when we can’.  And a big thank-you to Deanne Barrett for organizing and making this happen.  You all did St. Andrew’s proud!
~ Deb

At this time of year, we often look for more opportunities to respond to Jesus’ call to show love and compassion, to give generously as we are able to help those in need.  This year, St. Andrew’s is offering several ways you can respond.

Sunday, December 7th is MITTEN TREE Sunday.
 If you would like to be part of this giving opportunity, please bring warm weather items (toques, mittens, scarves, socks) into the Sanctuary with you on Sunday.  The children will collect them during the Children’s Time.  Items will be shared between 3 groups:  Supporting those downtown in need (Aboriginal Friendship Centre), vulnerable youth at Wood’s Homes, and those in need in our community (Neechi Mart).

Claire House (Financial donations towards Gift Cards)
To continue our community connection work with Claire House, we will provide gift cards to 40 households and 27 children. Our fund-raising goal is $2,810. You can make donations on-line or with the office, identifying ‘Claire House’ when you make your donation.

WINS (Women in Need Society) – Church School Children and the Faith Formation Team
Any Sunday in December, or when you come to the 4:00 pm Family Christmas Eve service Dec 24th, you can bring items for BABIES ~ diapers, formula, (plain) sleepers, baby wipes, soft washcloths to name some needs.  These items will be delivered to the Women in Need Society in December.

There is still time to pick up an Advent devotional in the Foyer.  Slow down — breathe,  watch,  draw near to the One who draws near to us.
~ Deb

Thank you to our congregation for all of the generous donations for the Christmas Blessing Stockings! These stockings will go a long way to let those who can no longer attend church in person and those who could use a little Christmas cheer know that we are thinking of them. We are now looking for volunteers to deliver these stockings. Stockings will be available in the K.E. Lounge after the December 7 church service. Please consider delivering a stocking or two to friends or someone in your area.  
Names, addresses and phone numbers will be provided.
~ Janet Remus and Judie Coleman

The holidays can be stressful and exhausting even on the best of times. There are many expectations placed on us to be busy, joyful, excited and happy.  Grief can make the holiday season more challenging, by amplifying feelings of loss, whether that loss is recent or years ago. A loved one’s absence can serve as a painful reminder and inevitable reality check.
We hope that this video presentation followed by a short discussion time will help those dealing with grief and loss to find some comfort, support and helpful suggestions on how to navigate through the holiday season.
Your hosts will be your GriefShare facilitators – Judie Coleman, Clay Kuhn and Alice Williams. Come join us on SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2025 FROM 10-11.30 AM IN THE KARL ENGLISH LOUNGE.

November 16th during worship, we heard about ways we can love our neighbour,  with a special lens on “new arrivals” to Canada - whether migrant workers, refugees, or people immigrating to Canada.  We heard how God calls us to love the foreigner because we were once foreigners ourselves.  Our guests from Migrante, a member organization of the International Migrant Alliance Network, challenged us - as Christians - to show up for Calgary's migrant community.
If you are interested in how to further support migrants, a follow-up discussion will be hosted by a few of our speakers with Migrante.  Please join them Dec 7th at 11:15 am in the Lower Fireside Room.

The Ladies Guild will hold their annual Christmas lunch on Tuesday, December 9 at 12:30 pm at the Carriage House, 9030 Macleod Trail South. Please contact Dolly in the church office at 403-255-0001 or dforcade@standrewscalgary.ca to confirm your attendance.
Regular monthly meetings will resume in the Karl English Lounge at 1:30 pm on January 13th. Meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month, January to June.
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
~  Sylvia Shaw, on behalf of the Ladies Guild

Mark your calendars for January 14 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm to learn ‘why and how’ to write your own land acknowledgement.  You can add your name on the sign-up sheet in the Foyer.  We look forward to seeing you there, either in person or by zoom!
~ Linda Humphreys, Aboriginal Relations Team Member

Does the Christmas season leave you feeling breathless—literally? Maybe more than Christmas is responsible. You might benefit from a free online class run by AHS on Better Breathing.

Breathing can feel challenging for many reasons. We do not usually think about our breathing and how our breathing can change. Focusing on your breathing can help you manage stress, anxiety, and some symptoms of different health conditions. All adults can find this class helpful. Come join a respiratory therapist to talk about:

• Using breathing to manage everyday life.
• Breathing effectively during exercise.
 • Ways to breathe better.
• Guided practice for better breathing.

Date and time: Monday, December 15, 2025 (10:30-11:45am). Register here. Other classes are listed here. User tip: Only select the Calgary Zone if you are choosing an in-person class. Zoom classes can be accessed from any Alberta zone.

~ Rev. Geoffrey

Dec 7th: 10:00 am
Greeters: Donna Turnbull & Val Hall
Ushers: Karen McLeod & Janet Remus
Coffee Hosts: Opportunity Available
Shepherd: Darwin Harnack
Welcome & Land Acknowledgement: Judy Bridgemohan

You can read John's obituary by CLICKING HERE

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

NEW DEC 2025 / JAN 2026 CONNXIONS - CLICK HERE

Do you miss singing some of the old carols? It seems like there's not enough time to sing enough Christmas songs in church, and the Christmas radio stations largely play secular Christmas music. Last year, we hosted our first old-fashioned Christmas Carol Singalong at Westminster, which gave everyone a chance to belt out some of the old favourites. It was a fun evening, and those who attended asked for more! We'll be singing them in accessible (slightly lower than usual) keys, and will have a bit of fun with the Hims of Praise and some guests. Please come along at 6:30 on Friday, December 5, for an hour or so of singing together, and kick off your Advent/Christmas season with joy!

Join the Peaks + Prairies Ensemble for three festive, fun and interactive 1-hour holiday season concerts featuring a heartwarming collection of Christmas favourites for piano + strings, paired with a medley of light classics, perfect for a holiday send-off!
The ensemble is Lev Nesterov, Lidia Lee, Danielle Greene, Haena Lee, Dmitry Nesterov and Alyona Nesterova.
Only one performance in Calgary: at VAPC Friday December 12!

Class at Richmond Road Diagnostic Treatment Centre (1820 Richmond Rd SW)