MESSY CHURCH: Be with us Friday March 2nd starting at 5pm, 5226-51 Avenue. Messy Church is a relaxed style of church service for people of all ages that involves crafts, creativity, celebration and hospitality. The whole of Messy Church is about worshiping God, having fellowship, and exploring faith matters. Messy Church is not a children’s club. It welcomes everyone, every family, involves everyone, values everyone, and is always there for ALL. It's a church! Join us and bring a friend! ST. ANDREW’S UNITED CHURCH 5226-51 Avenue.

We Can v. We Can’t Perhaps the biggest differences I see between growing churches and declining churches is the attitude around what’s possible. Growing churches believe they can. Declining churches believe they can’t. They’re both right. Growing churches make a way when there’s no way, which seems to be what God specializes in if you read the Bible. Growing churches believe they can. It’s that simple. And even if they’re wrong, at least they tried. The mission is important enough to take significant risk. What is our attitude when we face risks, and what can we do to grow?

Rev Marco Message for Lent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwKQOXFhqyw

St. Andrew’s United Church is committed to the way of Jesus, who offered God’s unconditional acceptance and transforming love to all people. All are loved by God, LGBTQ, Muslims, atheist, Jewish. God's love has no boundaries and has no conditions. Worship every Sunday at 10:30am, Programs for children of every age. 5226 51st Ave, Lacombe AB.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love; 5 it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—it’s not self-absorbed. Love isn’t easily upset. Love doesn’t tally wrongs 6 or celebrate injustice; but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight! 7

Please note that “Ash Wednesday” service is canceled.

Sticks and Stones: Words DO hurt. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. We have all heard this expression as kids. While this may have seemed like a great tactic to use on the playground in self-defense, words actually CAN and DO hurt. The memory of painful words can lead to a lifetime of anxiety, stress, anger, resentment, and fear, among other feelings. On the bright side, we can spread a message of peace, love and tranquility to the world. We can use our words in a supportive, nurturing manner to make someone feel good about themselves. We have the power to use our words to make others happy. At the opposite spectrum, we can hurt each other on an even deeper level than ever before, with just our words. Your words can cause harm. Too often, we may say something without thought. We may believe what we are saying is right and believe are words will help. In fact, we can still cause damage with our words. We may be challenging a person’s way of thinking or actions. While we may all be speaking the same language, words can be misinterpreted or misread. Sometimes clarification or further questioning is needed to understand the meaning behind the words. Despite our best intentions, we can still cause pain with our words. Do you keep track of how many times you say something that can hurt someone else? Who doesn’t repeat a little bit of gossip here and there? Whether it’s true or false, we can still cause harm with our words. Watch what you say, say what you mean, and mean what you say. We are all inevitably prone to hurting someone with our words, even when it is unintentional. No one can live their life walking on eggshells every single day – that is just not realistic. But one choice we can all make is to be aware of what we are saying and its impact on others. After all, words have started and ended wars. We can think before we speak and choose words that we actually truly mean to use. Think about how your words will sound and be interpreted by the recipient. Silence can be golden. Ask yourself, do I really mean to say what I am saying, or am I too rushed or careless right now for the right words? Sometimes it’s best to say nothing at all! And ask yourself, are the words you want to speak necessary for someone to hear, or are you suppressing emotions of your own and looking for an outlet to let them out? Are you healing emotional hurt of your own and seeking a place to take it out on someone else? Think before you speak and know that you do not always have to fill the silence. Choose words for kindness. Be the better person, connect to your higher self and make a point to use your words to make others feel good, not bad. As Blaise Pascal wrote, “Kind words do not cost much. They never blister the tongue or lips. They make other people good-natured. They also produce their own image on men’s souls, and a beautiful image it is.” Choose to be one who makes a beautiful image.