Christ Church Watchword for the Year 2021

Christ Moravian Church WEEKLY PASTORAL LETTER

“As the deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.” Psalm 42:1

May 23rd, 2021 Day of Pentecost

For more information, visit our website @

www.christmoravian.com continued on page 2

Greetings Friends in Christ:

As this May long weekend arrives, we traditionally see this as a bit of a threshold shift to a more relaxed summertime schedule, and to enjoyment of more relaxed outdoor activities. Yet, it seems in the life of many of us is still very bustling and busy. The CMC congregation has seen the significant work and volunteer service behind the weekly worship videos. Each of these services has included so many hours of attention and creative energy. This week we received an open letter from the Board Chair, Bernard Amiot, outlining two congregational projects that are underway. Both of these projects come to recognize that the life of the church is changing with greater abilities to be the body of Christ via new technologies we’ve discovered over these months. For the past six weeks we have focused on the Easter effect of Christ’s resurrection. In the life of the church, Easter isn’t a day but a season, or moreover a view to life. Each Sunday is a recurring celebration of the new life that Jesus shares to all of our relationships. New life with grace, love, peace, hope, faith, joy and so much more that is known. This week we shift gears into the Christian Season of Pentecost. Pentecost begins with the recognition of God’s Holy Spirit being received by the early church long ago. That Pentecost long ago knew brisk winds of the Spirit, warm tongues of fire-like energy and power, and messages found in new visions of hope. The church was born and birthed. Now, these many years later we seem to find ourselves at a similar moment as those of faith at that first Pentecost. We look to God’s Spirit moving with grace, love and hope to continue this birthing process in the church that began those many years ago. Holiday blessings to all, Pastor Gohdes

Upcoming Events

“Bible Buddies” Sunday May 23rd

@ 9:00 am Zoom details are

on the Events page

Tue. May 25th Executive Board meets @ 7:00 pm

via Zoom

Wed. May 26th Digital Campus

Ministry meets @ 7:00 pm

via Zoom

Congregational Newsletter for the weekend of May 23rd, 2021

The Real Victoria Day Long Weekend

600 Acadia Drive SE, Calgary, AB T2J 0B8 403-271-2700 moravian@nucleus.com

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• Please know that Pastor Gohdes continues to be available for any needs that may arise. Feel free to phone the church office (403-271-2700) to speak with us or leave a message. Or you can contact the church office by e-mail at moravian@nucleus.com with any questions or communication. If you require assistance to get your COVID-19 vaccine, please call the office.

• Indranie Perera continues to receive recycling for support of Sri Lanka. She wishes to express sincere thanks to all who contribute to this worthwhile cause.

Weekly Reminders…

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May 23rd, 2021 Day of Pentecost

Moravian Daily Text Watchword for the Week O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all.

Psalm 104:24

This Week’s Newsletter information includes:

NEWCOMERS TO CMC: If you know of a friend, a loved one, or an acquaintance who has begun worshipping with our Virtual Video Services, please let us know at the church office. Pastor Gohdes would treasure a conversation or email chat with these “virtual newcomers” to find out more about the special way God may be speaking to them through the congregational videos. It’s quite a gift for God to keep reaching out with the message of Christ’s agape love even during this time in which we have not physically been gathering. Gardening Volunteers Welcomed! The CMC Gardening Committee is inviting new gardening volunteers to assist. Your gardening time and talent is welcomed. Call Gloria Taylor (403-238-1872) in order to volunteer. Acadia Food Pantry News: Please check out the highlights of news from the Acadia Food Pantry. To volunteer at the Acadia Food Pantry please contact Donna Gordon (403-251-4024) and see how you may assist this special ministry of love. The organizers of the Acadia Food Pantry would like to thank you for the food and cash donations from your members. These gifts have allowed the pantry to continue operations throughout the pandemic. If you are looking to donate food items, canned or bottled proteins would be most appreciated - items such as peanut butter, corned beef, Spam, chicken, ham, fish, stews, chili, etc. Please note that we are unable to accept food donations with expiry dates beyond six months. Cash gifts allow us to purchase fresh items such as produce, eggs and dairy to supplement what we get from a food rescue service. You may donate through your local church, or directly to McDougall United Church who kindly handle the pantry’s banking needs and issue tax receipts on our behalf, https://www.mcdunited.com/donate. Please be sure to mark your gift for the Acadia Food Pantry. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. If you, or someone you know, is in need of food, or if you would like to volunteer at the pantry, please email acadiapanty@gmail.com.

Moravian Mission Clinic in Ahaus, Honduras Special 75th Anniversary Fund Drive Please check out the news from this amazing medical clinic in Honduras and consider financial support to aid the miraculous ministry and medical care offered through this Moravian Mission.

Please check out these highlights and watch for some new info of activities and plans at CMC.

NEWCOMERS TO CMC:

Acts 2:1-21

Christ Moravian Church Calgary, Alberta

The Day of Pentecost

Acts 2

Thru-the-Bible Coloring Pages for Ages 4-8. © 1986,1988 Standard Publishing. Used by permission. Reproducible Coloring Books may be purchased from

Standard Publishing, www.standardpub.com, 1-800-323-5473.

Children’s Worship Bulletin

Each number represents a letter of the alphabet. Substitute the correct letter for the numbers to reveal the coded words.

Copyright © Sermons4Kids, Inc. May be reproduced for Ministry Use

© 2015 Westminster John Knox Press Spring 2015 Adult

AdultResource Sheet 1

May 24, 2015Honoring Gifts of the Spirit

WHAT is important to know? — From “Exegetical Perspective,” Michael H. Floyd

Peter explains what has happened as the fulfillment of an oracle prophesied long ago. According to the prophet Joel, God would one day empower all classes of the community to become prophets by pouring out the Spirit in a theophany of wind and fire, so that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved (Joel 2:28–32a). The disciples have all become prophetic. God’s deeds of power (Acts 2:11) include the sending and raising of Jesus (Acts 2:22–24), and God’s purpose is the salvation of all (Acts 2:21, 40).

WHERE is God in these words? — From “Theological Perspective,” Donald K. McKim

There is now a new community of women and men where the one Spirit bestows many gifts—on all people, regardless of who they are. The church is the place where this new fellowship begins to take shape as it recognizes the gifts of the Spirit in and for all people. To realize that “all flesh,” all people, receive the Spirit, enables us to watch and participate in God’s work in this world with a wide-open vision. We live in eager anticipation of the Spirit’s work in our midst as we join with all others to accomplish the Spirit’s purposes.

SO WHAT does this mean for our lives? — From “Pastoral Perspective,” Kristin Emery Saldine

Pentecost emphasizes the centrality of Christ to the church’s identity, authority, and proclamation. This christological focus at Pentecost is essentially ecclesiological, and it affords an opportunity for us to see the church in its many dimensions. The first, and most important, dimension of the church is its universality. We confess this each time we recite the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in the holy catholic church.” The Holy Spirit gifts the church to proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth. Pentecost reminds us that, even though all our faith practices are rooted in local contexts, the church’s identity extends beyond every congregation, denomination, and cultural tradition. Pentecost celebrates the face of Christ throughout the world. NOW WHAT is God’s word calling us to do? — From “Homiletical Perspective,” G. Lee Ramsey Jr.

The text states clearly that Jews from all parts of the Middle East are each able to hear in their own native languages. Like a gathered conference of the United Nations, each delegate hears the proceedings in his or her own tongue. The Word of God not only transcends cultural barriers, but it arrives in the particular language of each listener. Pentecost verifies Christmas. All wrapped up in human form, God comes to us in our very own bodies; God speaks to us our very own language(s). Through ordinary human speech, the Holy Spirit establishes unity amid diversity, a fulfilled promise that even the most divided congregations and communities can take to heart.

Focus on Acts 2:1–21

© 2015 Westminster John Knox Press Spring 2015 Adult

AdultResource Sheet 2

May 24, 2015Honoring Gifts of the Spirit

Directions: Imagine that you were one of that small, intimate group of followers who experienced Pentecost together. Write a letter home to a family member describing what happened. Include in the letter your responses to the questions around the edge of this sheet.

Dear _______________ ,You won’t believe what just happened! In fact, I hardly believe it myself. There we all were, gathered together in the upper room where we had been praying for days. All at once, _________

_______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________

You Won’t Believe What Just Happened!

What excites

you about this Pentecost

experience?

What scares you?

How might

you have to

change?

How has your idea of unity changed now that the followers of Jesus have expanded to include such a diverse group of people?

Help reach the goal of $75,000 in

recognition of the clinic’s 75th Anniversary!

One time donations of $75 US will provide… • 10 x-rays or ultra sounds • 7 – 30 labs, depending on the type of labwork required • 5 day’s salary for a nurse

Recurring donations of $75 US/ month for one year will…

• Pay all costs to run the clinic for one day • Provide 2 months’ salary for a nurse • Feed 30 children for a month

One time donation of $7,500 US will …

• Provide 2 doctors and 7 nurses for a month • Run the clinic for one week (salaries, medication, lab) • Feed 40 children for 5 years

Canadian Moravian Mission Society invites you to support the

Ahuas Anniversary Fund 75 Years of Ministry at the Moravian Clinic in Ahuas

Hope starts with you. Can you help? Donate through your local congregation or directly to the Canadian District of the Moravian Church. Mail cheques to: Canadian District 600 Acadia Drive, SE Calgary, AB T2J 0B8 Or e-transfer: treasurer@moravian.ca (To receive a tax receipt, include your name and email address in the notes.) Mark Donations: Ahuas 75

The Moravian Church in Honduras is predominantly in the area known as La Mosquitia. This is a beautiful land of tropical rainforest and savannas between the central mountains and the Caribbean coastline. Isolated by its remoteness and neglected by the national government, the indigenous people of La Mosquitia were left without medical care until the Moravian Church established a clinic on the Patuca River at Ahaus. Over the years, the medical program of the Moravian Church in Ahuas has grown to include basic medical care as well as pre and post natal care, some surgeries, an infant feeding program, and sustainable food projects.