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Yesterday’s Epiphany worship invited us once again to pay attention to the ways God reveals light in unexpected places. One image has stayed with me as the week begins , the old story of a silversmith refining silver. To refine silver, the smith holds the metal directly in the hottest part of the flame. Too cool, and the impurities remain. Too hot, and the silver is ruined. The smith must sit close, watching with unwavering attention, never stepping away. Refining is not a di

Holy and gracious God, We give you thanks for the quiet grace you offered us this past Sunday. In the stillness after Christmas, you met us with a tenderness we needed more than we knew. You reminded us that the Word became flesh not for a moment, but for a lifetime. You chose to dwell with us, to remain with us, and to walk beside us in every season. We thank you for the light that settled among us, not loud or overwhelming, but steady enough to guide our steps. We thank you

Fourth Sunday of Advent: When Love Draws Near Advent always begins in the dark. Not the frightening kind of darkness, but the honest kind—the place where longing, weariness, and unanswered questions live. By the time we reach the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we’ve been sitting in that space for a while. Three candles have burned their way down, marking hope, peace, and joy. And now, just before Christmas breaks in, we light the candle of Love . What strikes me every year is how q

Advent is a season of waiting. We wait for Christ’s coming at Bethlehem, we wait for His return at the end of time, and we wait for His presence to be revealed in the ordinary moments of our lives. Waiting is not easy—it often feels heavy, uncertain, even wearying. And yet, in the middle of this season, the Church lights a candle that is different. The third candle of Advent  is pink, the Candle of Joy . Its brightness interrupts the deep purple of repentance and longing. It

Last Sunday, we lit the second candle of Advent, often called the Candle of Peace . Its gentle flame joins the first candle’s glow, slowly brightening the darkness as we journey toward Christmas. But this peace is not passive. It’s not the absence of conflict or the quiet hush of snowfall. It’s deeper than that. Advent peace is the kind that holds steady in the waiting, in the uncertainty, in the ache for something more. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a coming kingdom where swo

21 December 2025 at 7:00pm You are invited to our Blue Christmas Service at St. John the Evangelist. This gentle, reflective service is for anyone who finds the Christmas season difficult. While many celebrate with joy, others carry grief, loneliness, or heavy burdens. Blue Christmas offers a sacred space to acknowledge those feelings honestly, while resting in the promise that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5). Through Scriptur

I am writing with deep concern regarding Bill 12, the Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, recently introduced by the Government of Alberta. This legislation restructures disability supports by automatically transferring current AISH recipients into the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), requiring them to reapply for AISH to retain higher benefits. The result is clear: More than 79000 thousand of Albertans with disabilities and their families will face cuts

In this season, when calendars fill and lists grow long, it is tempting to measure our worth by what we accomplish. Yet the Gospel reminds us that the most transformative gift is not productivity or perfection, it is presence. The Incarnation itself is God’s declaration that being with us matters more than doing for us. Emmanuel, “God with us,” is not a slogan but a reality: the Creator choosing to dwell among creation, not to fix everything at once, but to walk alongside us

“Thank you, Reverend Dean, for traveling to Claresholm and blessing us with your presence and leadership in worship today. Your service was a gift to our community, and we are grateful for the care and dedication you shared with us.”

HOPE Advent: A Season of Sacred Waiting “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” – Isaiah 9:2 Advent is not a countdown to Christmas. It is a sacred season of waiting, a time when the Church leans into longing, listens for hope, and prepares for the coming of Christ in mystery and majesty. We begin in darkness. The days grow shorter, the nights colder. And yet, each Sunday, we light a candle. One flame becomes two, then three, then four—until the Christ C

We are excited to launch this new space where we can share updates, reflections, and stories from our life together at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church. This blog will be a place to stay connected, celebrate milestones, and invite our wider community into the rhythm of worship and fellowship. Upcoming Service At 1030AM on Sunday, November 30th , we are blessed to welcome Reverend Dean Hartung , who will be leading our worship and presiding at Holy Communion . We invit