Jasper Anglican Church
Geikie St & Miette Ave T0E 1E0 Jasper, AB, Canada

Below is the link to the slides for today. But before looking at this story from Acts and the slides, here is a reflection from Henri Nouwen followed by an invitation. Henri Nouwen writes, For most of my life I have struggled to find God, to know God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of the spiritual lifepray always, work for others, read the Scripturesand to avoid the many temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tried ag...ain, even when I was close to despair. Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not How am I to find God? but How am I to let myself be found by him? The question is not How am I to know God? but How am I to let myself be known by God? And, finally, the question is not How am I to love God? but How am I to let myself be loved by God? God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home. I was wondering if some of you might be interested in exploring how we can let ourselves be found by God. If you want to grow in your capacity to let yourself be loved by God, please let me know. We will meet using Zoom. Our time together as a small group will be all about growing closer to God. Growth implies change thus requiring an openness and willingness on your behalf to give of yourself. The goal will be to cultivate practices, values, and desires that help us grow closer to God, self, and others. Here is the link to the slides for today: https://1drv.ms/p/s!AhIsmK7XfsGDk2CjO0y_fRHg3v96

Happy new year! Wouldn’t you agree that there is a sense of hope attached to this move into the new year? I hope it will last but I am wondering what the foundation for this sense of hope is. What makes us think that 2021 will be better than 2020? I worry that this sense of hope that 2021 will be better does not have very deep roots. Afterall, we have little control over what this coming year will be like.... But that does not mean that we are like snowflakes in a winter storm drifting around helplessly. As we enter the new year, I want to invite you to find a place of rest and peace within you allowing you to weather the storms of this life. Jesus shares a story about a young man and his father. For me, this story is like a place of rest and peace because of what it communicates about what God is like. God is like the father in this story. She waits with open arms to embrace us no matter where we have been or what we have done. You can check out the story behind this painting on Kristi Valiant’s blog: http://kristivaliant.blogspot.com//prodigal-son-best-of-sh With that in mind, here is the story from Luke chapter 15. As you read, ask yourself if and how the movement in this story correlates to experiences and internal or external movements in your life. You can find this story in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, verses 11-32 or you can read it following this link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/ Please feel free to share your comments or questions.

Happy New Year!

As we move into the new year I am thinking about the significance of the word "new." A sense of hope is attached to this small word changing the reality, concept, or word it qualifies or describes. 2021 is not only the "next" year during this pandemic but a "new" year. With a new year beginning there is hope that things will be better, that the burden of this pandemic will be lifted. The picture shows one of the stained glass windows in our sanctuary. The title is "New Heaven... and New Earth." Again there is this small but significant word "new." The Bible is one long story of God working with and for us towards something new. There is hope! One day, everything will be the way it is supposed to be! All the suffering, pain, and despair will be gone! As we move into the new year, what does this little word "new" mean to you? What gives you hope?

If you are wondering what Advent is all about, this might help you! https://www.anglican.ca//churches-beyond-borders/30028912/

Can you believe it? It is already Advent, again! What about Christmas are you looking forward to most? This year is strange and difficult because of the long shadow cast by the Covid pandemic.... I hope you will find this video for today meaningful: https://vimeo.com/484680273 The sound is fine on my phone but a bit quite on my laptop. I hope it works for you. Let me know if you have any problems. In addition, here is a link to a music video on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7rIvi2eKbE It is not a well known song or hymn but I figured you can always listen to the ones you already know and like anyway. Please make an extra effort to connect with each other in safe ways. A phone call can mean so much! If there is anything I can do to help, please do not hesitate to reach out!

"Nothing is sweet or easy about community. Community is a fellowship of people who do not hide their joys and sorrows but make them visible to each other as a gesture of hope. In community we say: Life is full of gains and losses, joys and sorrows, ups and downsbut we do not have to live it alone. We want to drink our cup together and thus celebrate the truth that the wounds of our individual lives, which seem intolerable when lived alone, become sources of healing when we ...live them as part of a fellowship of mutual care. Community is like a large mosaic. Each little piece seems so insignificant. One piece is bright red, another cold blue or dull green, another warm purple, another sharp yellow, another shining gold. Some look precious, others ordinary. Some look valuable, others worthless. Some look gaudy, others delicate. We can do little with them as individual stones except compare them and judge their beauty and value. When, however, all these little stones are brought together in one big mosaic, portraying the face of Christ, who would ever question the importance of any one of them? If one of them, even the least spectacular one, is missing, the face is incomplete. Together in the one mosaic, each little stone is indispensable and makes a unique contribution to the glory of God. That’s community, a fellowship of little people who together make God visible in the world." (Henri Nouwen)

It is difficult not to feel the burden of the increasing Covid cases here in Jasper. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need help! Below are the slides with readings, reflections, and prayers for today...

Winter is back but with every day and night that passes we get closer to the point when nights get shorter and days longer again. It is perfectly normal to experience our emotional and spiritual life as an up and down but if you ever need support please do not hesitate to reach out. The sun comes up again after every night. It's beautiful, as the final picture in the slides for today shows. Here they are:

For today, please see the link below. I like this particular video because it has explanatory power in regards to our experience in and with this broken world. The video can help us understand the overall story of Scripture. This story is good news for everyone and we are invited to participate, or partner, with God!... Always happy to chat if you have any thoughts, comments, or questions. https://bibleproject.com/church-at-home/covenants/

Here are the slides for today:

Hey Jasper! It’s been a while, but we’re back with a shiny new brand and board of directors. We’ve had a busy summer planning and brainstorming ways to make our... awesome community even better. What do we do exactly? We support and enhance local programs and events that keep our community healthy and connected (Santa’s Anonymous, Community Caring Fund etc.) Check out our website to learn more! Plus you can message us anytime with questions anytime! https://www.jaspercommunityteamsociety.ca/donate

Here are the slides for today, Sunday Oct. 18th, 2020