Announcements
Upcoming Events
Knox Foundation Annual General Meeting
Sunday, November 17, 12:00 pm, Sanctuary
The Knox Foundation Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, November 17th, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. following the worship service in the sanctuary. The purpose of the meeting is to review the Foundation’s Annual Financial Statements and Election of Directors to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. For more information email Knox Foundation Secretary: kmacgregor@kxcalgary.com
Click here for the 2024 Foundation AGM Report
Purdys Chocolate Fundraiser
We’re teaming up with Purdy’s Chocolatier to fundraise for the new Knox Thrift Shop in hopes of raising $500. This will help to support the start-up costs of this exciting new initiative.
Stock up on your favourite Purdy’s Christmas treats (did someone say Hedgehogs?) AND support a great cause at the same time. All fundraising profit raised will directly support the Knox Thrift Shop, so every order makes a great difference to us. Knox will earn 25% of the sale price. No sugar added options are available.
Please spread the word far and wide.
Ordering is as easy as eating chocolate.
• Click this link: https://fundraising.purdys.com/1975688-120649
• Create your account with name, phone number and email address
• Click “Join Campaign”
• Click “Shop Online” in the purple banner across the top of the page
• Scroll through the items and select your treats
• Follow the prompts to check your bag and make payment for your order with your credit card
The order deadline is November 25 and the chocolate will be ready for pick up in early December at the church. All ordering and payments are made online.
Questions? Contact Lynda Murch, Knox Office
Download this information in a .pdf here
Yoga in the Sanctuary
November 18, November 25, 5:30- 6:30 pm, Sanctuary
Join us in the sanctuary for an hour of Yoga with instructor Melanie Batycky. Bring your own mats and blocks. $10 drop in, no RSVP necessary. Exact change is helpful.
Opportunity Knox
The primary role of Opportunity Knox (OK) is to ensure there is an open and transparent process for filling vacant volunteer leadership positions. We strive to provide applicants with knowledge of the position and to match skills and interests with available opportunities. The positions most likely to fall under the OK mandate are those requiring congregational approval, such as Council members, Trustees and leadership positions including Committee/Team Chairs. Knox is looking for leaders to advance and evolve the mission of the church. There currently are 3 leadership positions available.
Grants Team Lead and Members. These are new positions under the direction of Council. These individuals will research and write applications for grants identified by Council to support the Vision and Values of Knox. These positions require a variable but not onerous time commitment and do not require membership at Knox.
Member of Ministry and Personnel. M&P members work to support, nurture and oversee the Knox staff to bring out their best. As members of Knox, they are the stewards of the relationship between the congregation and the staff. On average they anticipate a volunteer commitment of 5 hours per month. Life experience with staff relations, organizational skills, creative problem-solving abilities and effective communication skills are optimal.
Trustee. Knox Trustees are responsible for holding in trust and managing Knox Church properties and funds related to those properties. If you have an interest in investments and/or real estate management and would like to be included in a longer-term vision for the sustainability of our historic building, please consider joining this team. The term is 4 years with a time commitment for quarterly meetings and extra time as needs arise. You must also be a member of Knox or willing to become a member.
Collecting Sturdy Shopping Bags
The Doorway, an organization working with youth and young adults ages 17-30 (doorway.ca) suffering from homelessness, addiction and mental health issues, is in need of sturdy shopping bags for clients to use to carry food. If you have some to donate, bags can be dropped off at the church office. If you have any questions, please contact Edgar Ayala at edgar@thedoorway.ca or by phoning him at 403-890-5502.
46th Annual Calgary Carol Festival – Sponsorship Opportunities
Since the 1980s, Knox United Church has hosted Calgary Carol Fest, a joyful fundraising event for the Calgary Food Bank. It is a chance for amateur volunteer choirs from all over the city to come together in community to sing and raise funds and awareness to address ever-growing food insecurity. For many (over 1,500 people last year), Carol Fest at Knox kicks off the holiday season - ugly sweaters, carol-sing-alongs and seasonal giving.
For over 40 years, Knox has been Carol Fest’s sole sponsor. This is now unsustainable. To ensure Carol Fest goes from strength to strength in 2024 and into the future, this year, we are reaching out to the people we know value this community-giving event for any interest in contributing to covering costs. This may be a personal donation, an individual sponsorship package or a corporate sponsorship package. Even if you don’t have the ability to contribute yourself, perhaps you know some small business owner, or corporate manager whose company might value the chance to do good and raise their profile across the city.
We have a “package” comprising a cover letter, fact sheet, and the list of formalized sponsorship packages. It is available in hard or soft copy from the Office (please contact Sue: office@kxcalgary.com) or from Karen Harrison at nuzashto@yahoo.co.uk. Details are also available here. Thank you.
Thrift Store Inventory - We Need Stuff
A huge thank you to all who have donated items and volunteered time organizing our new space. Things are coming along! We need much more inventory before we can open. We are collecting gently used items and would love your support! If you have any of the following items you no longer need, please consider donating clothing, household items and decor, books, games, pictures, kitchenware, electronics in working order, jewelry, etc. We are unable to accept appliances and large furniture pieces.
A Note About Tea
Mizze Walker, a member of the Knox community, has gifted us with special tea from The Algonquin Tea Company. Read about this special tea here:
https://wildcanadiantea.com/about-us/.
As it is sourced organically, and is considered sacred, please do not throw out the tea bag, but compost in a garden.
Weekly Events
Musicians Wanted for Gathering Music!
Sundays, 10:00 am, Sanctuary
Our church is home to many talented musicians of varying levels, from beginner hobbyists to advanced players. We would like to invite all of you to share your music during the Gathering Music portion of our Sunday worship services. This music is meant to provide a welcoming ambiance while the public is just starting to enter the church, beginning anywhere from 10 -10:15 am and ending before the official prelude begins around 10:25 am. If you’re interested, please contact Ethan in person or at ehill@kxcalgary.com to schedule your music.
Connection and Reflection - Contemplation and Community
Wednesdays, 12:30 - 1:30 pm, Labyrinth Room
Join us for a time of reflection and meaningful conversation. Held in the beautiful Labyrinth Room, framed with music, readings, and a time for silence and quiet reflection, we will come together to listen, to talk about things that matter, and to be in community together.
Click Here to find out more about our Wednesday services
Ringers Wanted!
Rehearsals Mondays, 2 pm, Handbell Room
The Re-Bell Ringers are looking for new members to join. No handbell experience is necessary, but reading music is required. If you would like to be a part of the ringers, please contact the church office at sforsyth@kxcalgary.com.
English Language Learning Classes
Wednesdays - 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
A new session of English classes for newcomers will begin at Knox on May 1. To conveniently accommodate more students, the schedule during May and June will change from Tuesday afternoons to Wednesday evenings between 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM. At the present time, we are very pleased to have an adequate number of excellent volunteer assistants. However, if you are interested in serving as an occasional substitute assistant or would like more information on this outreach program, please email englishatknox@gmail.com.
Knitting Group
Wednesdays, 10 am, Sanctuary - Group will resume Oct 23
Anyone interested in time for conversation and a chance to work on knitting, crocheting or other hand crafts, is invited to join this group. The group will meet at the comfy chairs in the back of the sanctuary. All are welcome.
New Weekly Blog
Do you sometimes sit down for the service on Sunday and hear something that speaks to you precisely where you are in your life at that time?
How often does a phrase or theme from the Reflection return to guide you as the week unfolds?
How many times have the words of a hymn, sung on Sunday, shown up with real resonance later in the week?
It’s happened to all of us.
This week sees the start of a new initiative to share these moments with each other. We’re calling it “Not just on Sunday”. It will be part of our Friday email, starting today, and, we hope, going forward.
If you have a moment where the Sunday service reappears in your week, and you would like to share it, please email Karen at nuzashto@yahoo.co.uk by Wednesday night each week and she will work with you to include it in “Not just on Sunday” that Friday.
You can send a polished piece to be included as is (maximum 200 words). Or, you can send the gist and Karen will work with you during Thursday to put together words for publication that you are happy with.
We intend this to be another way to get to know each other outside of Sunday and to witness to the importance of our shared faith, not just on Sunday, but also in our daily lives.
Naked Faith for Youth (Grades 6-12) and Young Adults
Third Friday of the month, 6:30 pm, Location TBA
Naked Faith is a United Church Regional Event which means it brings together youth and young adults from all over Calgary. The evening begins with dinner, followed by an hour-long service. Afterwards, youth from grades 6 through 12 are invited to stay for games and activities until 10:30. Young adults are invited to head to a nearby pub to engage in further discussion about the theme, or to simply enjoy the community. Naked Faith is facilitated and made possible by Regional Youth and Young Adult Ministries, funded by St. Andrew’s United Church in Calgary. Visit fishcreekunitedchurch.ca for more information.
Joining the Knox Community
Third Sunday of the month
Everyone is welcome at Knox whether or not you are an official “member.” Membership into a congregation is a choice - some people wish to make a formal commitment in this way, others wish to serve on a committee where membership is a requirement. If you are interested in joining in this way, please contact Sheena Trotter-Dennis at strotterdennis@kxcalgary.com.
Monthly Events
Monthly Potluck
First Sunday of the month, 11:30 am, Gym
Potluck lunches will resume in October.
Discover Knox Tour
Last Sunday of the month, 11:45 am, Sanctuary
All are invited to take a behind-the-scenes tour of parts of the building and hear more about the Knox community. Meet in the front of the sanctuary at 11:45 am. Tours last about 30 minutes. Our next tour will be in September 2024
Children’s Handbells
Third Sundays of the month, 10:45 am, Handbell Room
All children are invited to come and begin learning the art of handbell ringing. The sessions are led by Janet Zatka, a ringer with our Knox Re-Bell ringers, and include basic skills in handbell ringing and techniques. No previous experience is necessary. We will meet in the Handbell Room during the worship service. Questions? Please email Christine at childrenstime@kxcalgary.com.
Children’s Time
Second and Fourth Sundays of the month, 10:45 am, Library
Our Children’s Time Sunday School returns September 08!
There is a special time for children during our Sunday worship service. Children ages 3 and older are invited to participate in a time of story, craft, and recreation. The Children will start in the Sanctuary and move to the library. We are deeply grateful to Christine Sizer, who is volunteering to lead this program. If you have any questions, please contact childrenstime@kxcalgary.com.
Coloring packets are available every Sunday in the back of the sanctuary. Please feel free to help yourself.