Announcements
Upcoming Events
Christmas Feast at Morley
Saturday, December 14, 12:00 for volunteers, 4:00 feast, Bearspaw Community Centre
You are invited to volunteer and participate in a Christmas Feast at Morley. Bring a wrapped toy and a side dish to share. For more information, or to volunteer, contact Rev. Tony Snow: tony.snow@hillhurstunited.com.
Giving Tree - Inn from The Cold
On-going through December 15, sanctuary
This year Knox invites you to participate in our annual giving tree. Each year we provide gifts to families in the Calgary area. This year we will be asking for gifts for families from Inn from the Cold. There are stars with needed gifts on the Christmas tree at the front of the Sanctuary. Please take one and purchase the gift listed. Gifts will be collected on December 15 or can be dropped off in the office.
Longest Night - Light the Night
Sunday, December 22, 5:00 pm, Sanctuary
Join us on the longest night (almost) as we gather in the sanctuary to light candles and add light to our corner of the world as we await the Light coming. Dress warmly as part of the service will be outside. We will gather for about 45 minutes.
Christmas Bake Sale Ho! Ho! Ho!
Sunday, December 22, 11:45 am, Gymnasium
The Annual Christmas bake sale is here! Head over to the Labyrinth right after the service to purchase
your favourite homemade goodies for the holidays!.
Christmas Eve Services
December 24, 11:00 am, 7:00 pm, 11:00 pm, Sanctuary
Celebrate Christmas at Knox! Three services will be held on Christmas Eve. Rev. Tony Snow will lead a morning service using traditional Indigenous prayers and rituals. There will also be two evening services at 7:00 pm and 11:00 pm which will feature special music, candlelight and star. The 11:00 pm service will also include Communion. Invite friends and family to celebrate at Knox!
Christmas Eve Potluck
Tuesday, December 24th, 12:00 pm
Are you looking to gather with others on Christmas Eve? A group from Knox’s Connection and Reflection service would like to host an informal potluck following the 11:00 am service on December 24th. If you are interested in helping out, please see Sjann Johnson or contact the church office: office@knoxunited.com.
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.
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
New sessions at Knox Centre begin every two months. At the present time, our classes are scheduled weekly on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 PM to 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.