UPCOMING BAPTISMS:
April 1, 2012

CONTACT:
Jeremy Duncan

Every year we produce a journal for the Westside community that signals our intention to be thoughtful about what we do together, to take notice of what happens inside of us, to preserve what we hear and think.

The Deep Dive Journal has information about who we are as a community and resources for those looking to connect at Westside. It also lays out our teaching schedule for the coming year with space to takes notes each weekend.

That journal is now available free for the iPad. You can find it here in iTunes.

1. Beginning this Sunday and every Sunday forward we are promising to start on time at 7pm and finish on time by 8:30pm. We realize that people have to work Monday morning and we don’t want to abuse your time commitment to our community. Sorry for that in the past. This means that we need to ask everyone to show up before 7pm to grab a coffee and find a seat so we can launch into music at 7pm sharp. Besides as packed as we’ve been you’ll get a better seat

2. We are going to be adding some basic resources for families with small children. Appropriate toys, an area for them to play and a live video feed in the bistro for parents if your kids need to get up and run for a bit. We would like to keep children as integrated into

our community as possible and a bit of noise isn’t the worst thing that could happen in church. So please know that even though we don’t have a full children’s program yet we love your kids.

We’re a growing community and these are new challenges for us to face into. If you have suggestions/ideas/criticisms that could help us do a better job we’d love to hear from you.

Jeremy and the Lead Team

Talks, guided prayers, and conversations will form the essence of these very special days. If you are willing to make the investment of a weekend, you will be changed.

Even if you can’t attend the retreat but you’d like to participate in the Lenton season. You can find more information about Lent in a video we put together last year.

Retreat Details:

GUEST TEACHER:

Dr. Charles Nienkirchen is a much sought after teacher and lecturer. He is Professor of Christian History and Spirituality at Ambrose University College. Charles’ life and teaching focus on the historical and practical dimensions of spiritual renewal and growth. His numerous educational travel ventures (downancientpaths.com) have given Charles extensive exposure to Christianity’s broad diversity. He passionately embodies the belief that Christians of diverse heritage must dialogue, worship and pray together as well as learn from each other.

COST/REGISTRATION:

Option 1 – stay over
$235 for full weekend, including two nights accommodation (single rooms only), all meals, access to friary library and grounds, and all teaching sessions. Early registration is $210 (payment by February 19).  The stay over is part of the experience — enjoy the quiet.

Option 2 – sleep at home
everything above (including meals), but without the stay over.  If you absolutely must stay at home in your own bed, but want to fully participate in the weekend, the cost is $150.  We expect persons who take this option to participate in all meals and sessions.

Refunds subject to $50 cancellation fee.  No refunds after February 26.

Full payment confirms registration which can be made by cheque (payable to Westside King’s Church) or by credit card (phone church office, 403-777-0800 ex. 5230).

SCHEDULE:

Friday, March 2:
Registration and gathering at 7 pm
Session at 8 pm

Saturday, March 3:
Meals at 8 am, noon, and 5:30 pm
Sessions at 9:30 am, 1 and 7 pm

Sunday, March 4:
Meal at 8 am
Session at 9:30 am
Noon dismissal

Expect times of quiet and prayerful reflection, reading and resting, conversation, prayer

TO REGISTER:
email retreats@wkc.org

Feel free to ask any questions on the Facebook event page

Details:

We have reserved several units at the Palliser Lodge for the trip. What’s included in each unit? Each unit has two bedrooms and sleeps six people. Each bedroom has one Queen bed. There is a pullout sofa in the living area to provide the additional bedding, providing a capacity of 6 for each unit. Each unit also has a fireplace, two full bathrooms and a private hot tub (Only the first five units have a hot tub, but hot tubs will be accessible to those who have a room without one). Attached is a link to the rooms for anyone interested:

http://www.inntopia.travel/aspnet/2.0/product07.aspx?supplierid=628819&productid=5&salesid=627014&displaytype=2&language=EN

Cost: $200/per person for the weekend. (Includes food and accommodations for the three nights). Please let us know of any allergies. We are making arrangements for both gluten-free and vegetarian options.

SPOTS WILL NOT BE HELD UNTIL PAID IN FULL.

This price DOES NOT include lift tickets. If there is sufficient interest, we will inquire about rates for group bookings. There are
also several other options for lift tickets including Costco and the Louise Plus Card.

There are also several activities (Snowshoeing, tubing, ice skating, gondola, cross country skiing, etc…) for those who care to join us but will not be skiing or snowboarding.

Reservations will be booked on a first PAID, first served basis. SPOTS WILL NOT BE HELD UNTIL PAID IN FULL. The entire booking has already been paid for. Holding spots for people who have not paid creates issues if/when they decide to drop out.

We have booked each of the rooms for three nights. If you cannot make it for all three nights, you are still very welcome to join us. The
cost will remain $200/per person.

How to get there? Carpooling. As the weekend approaches, and people understand their schedules and timing, we will assist in coordinating rides.

How to pay for the trip, and reserve your spot? We will be available during coffee and after the service to take payment at the debit
machines in the rear of the church. Payment can also be made to Justin du Plessix, Luke Kruger, or Scott and Ashley Saskiw in cash, cheque, or email money transfer.

Please direct email money transfers to justinduplessix@gmail.com (Be sure to include the name of each person you are reserving a spot for with the email money transfer).

Feel free to contact Justin (Christopher) du Plessix (403-975-7436), Luke Kruger (403-630-1352), or Scott (403-703-2836) and Ashley Saskiw with any additional questions or concerns.

We have made it an annual tradition to begin each new year with days of prayer. These days remind us of the power of sacred time and sacred space. We make space and time to listen to what God says, and answer back from our truest selves.

This has now become part of our annual rhythm together, one of the ways we stay committed to a vibrant, clear and focused Christian life. We know that the Christian life must be lived out in active engagement, but we also know that active engagement requires a deeper stillness, a deeper quietness. “Be still, and know that I am God”, says Psalm 46:10.

Epiphany is that time in the calendar that remembers the visit of the magi to the house of the Christ child. It signifies the revealing of God, the light that has come into our darkness. We might call it the celebration of the grand “aha!” moment — when we see what God is up to in the person of Jesus.

Every year we construct a guided prayer walk to help focus our thoughts and prayers.

The Westhall is open from 9 am to 9 pm, Monday through Wednesday, January 9-11.

Special evening teaching sessions are held each day at 7 pm.

Please consider this your invitation to participate.

Three Christmas Eve Services:
3:00, 4:30 & 6:00pm

Every Christmas eve we join with all the Westside King’s communities to celebrate the coming of Jesus into the human story.

Dec 24: 3:00, 4:30 & 6:00pm
Dec 25: No Church
Jan 1: No Church

Jan 8: we back at 7pm

Erick with our team in May 2011

Erick is the director for all Hands at Work projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Westside has been supporting the projects he is running for several years now. He recently sent this update on the conditions in the DRC. Please pray for Erick and the DRC.

Hi friends,

I felt to update you on the current situation in the DRC during this time since I know you are earnestly praying for us daily.
A week before the elections the dollar rate dropped down from 900fc/$ to 750fc/$ making the situation in the country so complicated. No one knows the reason why and everyone has to wait till the announcement of the elections to see how far things will move.

We had our elections on the 28th of November but tensions were recorded everywhere in the country. And a rumour of fraud is making things worse and already a cold war is starting in the hearts of local people in Katanga region. This is reminding me of how the civil war broke in 1992 in this region again and lots of people were killed. The situation is not too well after all the things which happened during election day.A couple of days before the elections a vehicle was stopped on Kasumbalesa road,the way to the Zambian boarder. People with guns coming out from the big bush along the road were asking the passengers who they will have to vote. Those who said they would vote for Kabila were stripped, beaten to death and some killed. There are alots of scenarios happening here this time as you can get some news on Internet and radio broadcasting. No one feels secure to travel long distances or to walk in the night freely. The situation is not promising because people were firstly stressed because of the drop of dollars and now the tension of violence is bringing more stress. Soldiers are spread everywhere for security but people dread them the most because everyone is looking for a way to plunder his neighbour!

The election results will be announced on 6th. Who will win between Kabila and Tshisekedi? How will be the DRC situation after the proclamation of results? Already there are differents views of violence no matter who will win. This may bring a bloodshed chaos between people because of each one’s conviction. We dread the worse but we trust God to see us through in this kind of situation because our people have suffered alot and blood was shed many times in such periods! Please continue to pray for us and the children in DRC so that peace and justice may prevail no matter the outcome results of the elections.

Thanks and regards,
Erick