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Rudy’s 80th Birthday
The quiet serenity of a Willow Park neighborhood was suddenly disrupted on Sunday afternoon by an explosion of loud, raucous sounds. A parade of 22 cars, filled with folks from McDougall, lined up to drive by Jean and Rudy’s home honking horns, ringing cow bells, and generally making as much noise as possible!
It’s Not the Same as Being Together
This pandemic is much more given to Lent than Easter. Lent is a time of self-reflection, of sacrifice, of giving up something to make space for spiritual deepening. Easter is supposed to be about new life and celebration. Death has not conquered – God is still at work among us!
Keeping in Touch
Many of you are wondering how are we going to keep going with the Covid-19 virus going around. I have been keeping in touch with the children and their families by making phone calls, emails and having Zoom sessions.
Attard Family Update
After daycares closed, Kelsey has been at home with Erica and James during the day and working from home in the evenings. Andy continues his construction work at Foothills Hospital.
Social Distance Hugs
Pat and Art headed for Palm Springs, California, before the Covid 19 was of concern. We drove down with Cynthia and Rob and nicely got settled in the house Cynthia had rented when the fast-spreading virus was declared a pandemic. Though we managed to get in 2 games of golf, all golf course’s lounges and dining rooms were closed.
Signs of Hope
Wow! What a huge change in our lifestyle in such a short time! In the recent Chinook Winds Regional zoom meetings, and in conversations in my own church and others, I have heard many concerns about the stress and anxiety being felt by some. Certainly the constant news reports of so many persons ill or dying from the covid virus are concerning to all.
Some Words of Inspiration
The world is changing around us, our daily routines, activities, and lifestyles are interrupted.
We are all doing our part to flatten the curve, giving our frontline health care workers, caregivers, and medical staff across the country the chance to prepare for what COVID 19 is bringing to our country. We don’t know how long we will stay in self isolation.
Challenging Times… Changes Ways of Doing Church
With the cancellation of worship services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, McDougall’s worship team quickly moved their creative energies towards sharing meaningful worship services online.
Holy Week in Uncertain Times
If things were “normal” today would bring a burst of Hosannas. The Palm Parade, the first event of Holy Week. It fools you. You think with all those praises, those palm branches waving, those cloths on the road that Jesus travels on a donkey as a man of peace, that the tide has turned. Our long weeks of Lent are over.
Choral Listening Series -Recording #1
This is one of the enduring choral masterpieces of recent times. Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre are the defining composers of American choral music from the last three decades. We’ll get into some Whitacre later.
The Children Made Pizza
Each Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon, the children join together in a video chat hosted by Donelle Elliott.
Hello Families
I am thinking about how each of you might be feeling as you read this newsletter. I wonder what your week was like, what you thought of the poem from last week. It is an unusual business to be a minister, particularly in this time.
Hearing a Call to a Deeper Life
I have walked a long road to work in the church. Had someone told me five years ago that my life would look this way, I would have been incredulous. I have always known the deep whispers of the Divine and was the kind of kid adults said was an “old soul” or “seven going on forty-seven”, but I didn’t know those gifts were valuable or that I was.
Hello Families
I hope you are faring well. I for one, am saddened that we haven’t had the opportunity to meet in person over a meal. I have not yet had the opportunity to witness our children playing together and laughing while Aileen led them through a craft.
Aadi Asks Mayor Nenshi a Covid-19 Question
Way to go, Aadi! Nine year old Aadi and his family attend many of our family programs.
Operations Working Group Quarterly Report
The Operations Committee that was created as part of McDougall’s Governance Pilot Project in June 2019 became the Operations Working Group when Governance pilot updates were approved by McDougall’s Leadership Council in January.
Governance Working Group (GWG) Quarterly Report
In early January, the Governance Working Group met to finalize our proposed updates to the June 2019 Governance Pilot that were related to McDougall’s Standing Committee structure. These updates were approved at the January Leadership Council meeting.
Pastoral Care Quarterly Report
The Pastoral Care committee met in February and March for our monthly meeting. This was a great opportunity to keep appraised of the pastoral care work happening in our church.
Youth Group Quarterly Report
The Youth group is for ages 11 to 18 who are in grade 6 to 12. The youth group currently has 10 youth registered. There are 27 email contacts that I send information too regarding youth group, with one family I need to call due to lack of online access.