Returning to In-Person Worship!
Posted September 4, 2020

Greetings Olds United Church friends in faith, It has been a different kind of summer for most of us, however I hope you have all found moments of rest and renewal, for both body and spirit. As we look ahead to returning to worship at the church, I wanted to let you know what things will look like as we move into the next stage of COVID 19 guidelines.

It's going to be a bit different, but we are very excited to announce we are resuming public worship in Sundre on September 13th! Our plan is to resume in-person worship on September 13th. In keeping with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and United Church guidelines. Click here to read the complete announcement from Tammy.

As we move forward in faith, I am grateful for the presence of the Spirit, surrounding us with love and hope. I will keep you informed of any more news to share as it arises.

Blessings and Peace,
Tammy

Church News & Events
PLEASE NOTE: SOME OF OUR REGULAR EVENTS WILL BE POSTPONED OR CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

October 18
MORNING WORSHIP
Come and join us as we worship together on Sunday morning at 9:30 am. If you are not comfortable going out in public, please follow our Olds United At Home Worship

October 22
ROCK PAINTING FOR REMEMBRANCE
We are going to paint stones with images of poppies, and place them at the Cenetaph and/or Field of Honour, commemorating Remembrance Day. Meet today at 10 am. Rocks, paints and brushes supplied.

October 29
ROCK PAINTING FOR REMEMBRANCE
We are going to paint stones with images of poppies, and place them at the Cenetaph and/or Field of Honour, commemorating Remembrance Day. Meet today at 1:30 pm. Rocks, paints and brushes supplied.

November 1
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS
Remember to set your clocks back one hour when you go to bed on Saturday October 31st. Church starts at 9:30 MST on November 1st.

Next date TBA
CONNECTING NEEDLES
Connecting Needles is a group of quilting, sewing and knitting enthusiasts who gather the third Monday of each month in the Upper Hall of Olds United Church between 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Participants are invited to bring a current project to work on or start a new one. Connecting Needles is all about connecting with other crafters through crafts, participating in demonstrations, charity work and the occasional party! All are welcome - stay for a few minutes or a few hours. For more information please call Craig's at (403) 556-3717.

MORE EVENTS HERE

Minister's Message ...
Posted June 2, 2020

Peace and love to you, friends in faith. The following is a piece I wrote for the Olds newspaper's Hope and Happenings column. Each week one of the local ministry personnel or pastors writes a reflective piece to share with the community. Each week, we get a message of hope. This week, I found it hard to be hopeful, as I listen to the news stories of the riots and protests happening to the south of us. As a Christian, I look for that hope in the life and mission of Jesus. As a Christian, I hope that peace may prevail on earth, for all of God's people. And so I wrote this for the paper:

Our world is off kilter. I'm sad, and I wonder, will it ever end? Will racism ever end? This isn't just an America problem. Racism exists in Canada too. It exists in the communities in which we live.

Once again, we heard recently of the death of an African American person at the hands of a police officer, in the United States. Once again, our neighbours to the south of us are in turmoil, as people protest the injustice of this most recent death. In the midst of all this, there's all kinds of news reporting related to this, and it is not clear whose truth is real truth.

And then the President of the United States took the opportunity to have a photo op in front of a church building, holding a bible. First though, the people in the church yard were assaulted with tear gas and forced out of the yard. These were people supporting peaceful protesters with water, food, and first aid. These were church and community volunteers, standing in solidarity with people who have been oppressed for far too long. They were violently pushed aside for a photo moment.

I can't help but imagine Jesus, weeping at this scene, weeping, and praying, and then calling upon the people of God to follow the words of the prophet Micah - to seek justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. That is what we must do to end racism, to end the hurt, and the hate, and the violence. We must stand up, we must speak up, we must walk in the way of Jesus. We must walk in the way of love. Hope begins here, at home, with each step you and I take, toward a world of love.

In peace, Tammy (Reverend Tammy Allan)
Olds-Sundre Pastoral Charge of the United Church

Are you someone who has questions, who is seeking to explore your faith, and learn stories of our faith?

You're welcome to join us in worship on Sundays, in Olds at 10:00 am, and in Sundre at 1:30 pm.

If you'd like to have a conversation with Reverend Tammy, the minister of the Olds-Sundre Pastoral Charge, please call the Olds office and we can set up an appointment!

Phone: 403-556-3052

Dear People of Olds United Church

• PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) - Are you on PAR? If you already pay bills, taxes, or your mortgage with automatic withdrawals from your bank account, then you've got the PAR principle. Monthly PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) offerings are an exceptional expression of commitment and allows you to support Olds United Church through automatic monthly withdrawals from your bank account.

  Besides being convenient, using PAR for your offering ensures regular monthly givings to help our Church's ministry and increasing our overall financial stability, even while you are away. You can also include a regular Mission & Service gift at the same time. Why not participate in PAR? Here's how ...

  1. Prayerfully decide how much you want to give each month.
  2. Fill out a PAR Authorization Form with a cheque marked "VOID".
  3. Enclose both in an envelope and place on the offering plate, or leave at the church office.
  4. We send this information to the United Church's national office, who instructs your bank to automatically withdraw your gift around the 20th of each month.

  You can increase, decrease, or cancel your contribution at any time. To learn more, please call the church office at (403) 556-3052, The United Church of Canada at 1-800-268-3781, or visit www.united-church.ca. Thank you!

• WELCOME TO THE OLDS COMMUNITY LENDING SHELF! - Effective October 20, 2017 the Olds Community Lending Shelf became an outreach partner of Olds United Church. This means that this very important community non-profit is now housed in the lower level of our building, and has more space to carry out its work. We're happy to be able to provide space for these great folks, and we are pretty sure their director, Lucinda Watkins, has a spouse who is very happy to have his garage back! So, again, welcome!

Daily Scripture Reading

Matt 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

A Message from Kasota East Camp

Update from Kasota, Fall 2019

Our church is always beautifully decorated. Visit our Photo Gallery to see our favourite pictures, including pictures from our 120th anniversary. Better yet, stop in for a personal visit!

United Church of Canada Videos
"The Other Side of the River"
Author Alf Dumont sits down with Sara Stratton, the United Church's Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice Animator, for an in-depth discussion about his new memoir, "The Other Side of the River: From Church Pew to Sweat Lodge". Dumont shares his story as a spiritual leader who has spent his life navigating a way between and within the two cultures of Indigenous and settler, offering him a unique perspective on identity and belonging in Canada. He talks about the background of his book and the importance for him to tell his story. Story, he says, is the source of his theology and that sharing our stories is the only way we can we truly understand one another and find reconciliation.

You are a child of God. He created you in His own image. He chose the day for you to be born. Look up your birth date and see what Bible verse corresponds to it. Click the image above to look up your verse now.

	How to get here
				Olds United Church is located on the corner of 48th Avenue and 50th Street, just a couple of blocks west of Olds College. Click the map for an enlargement.
		office@oldsunited.ca Ph: 403.556.3052 Bookmark our website www.oldsunited.ca

The bereavement facilitators of the Olds & District Hospice Society have created a workbook for people who want to work through their thoughts and feelings during this period of social isolation. Click here to download this workbook.