Dear church family,

There’s a particular kind of fullness to life in our church these days, not just the busy kind (though there’s that too), but the kind that’s laced with grace and good surprises and a sense that something meaningful is unfolding, even if we don’t always catch it in real time. So here’s a little update on what’s been going on, what’s coming up, and what we’re giving thanks for...

Holy Week has arrived! Let's come to prepare our hearts for Jesus' journey to the cross at our upcoming services, here at St. George's.

Palm Sunday: Sunday, April 13 @ 10 A.M.

Good Friday: Friday, April 18 @ 11 A.M. 

Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 20 @ 10 A.M.

What kind of king walks straight into the city that is going to kill him and does it to the sound of applause?

This Sunday is Palm Sunday and we are sitting with the strange tension of that moment. The crowd cheers but they do not understand. Jesus is not coming to take power. He is coming to carry the unbearable weight of everything that has gone wrong in us and in the world.

Join us Sunday at 10am as we begin Holy Week. Coffee and conversation to follow.

Celebrant:

Rev. Seth Enriquez

Readings:

Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:14-23:56 (Read now)

Hymns:

Holy God We Praise Thy Name (Listen now)

Almighty God (Listen now)

In Tenderness (Listen now)

Christ Be In My Heart (Listen now)

Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me (Listen now)

What songs are shaping your faith right now? Take a listen to the ones we're singing this season on our church playlist on Spotify!

We will be holding our church potluck on Easter Sunday, right after service! Bring a delicious treat, snack or soup, homemade or store-bought! Sign-up for potluck is below. We encourage everyone to bring something, even if it's small!

Hi everyone,

Scam emails are once again going around pretending to be from me (or “Senior Pastor Seth” or some variation). These messages usually say I have an urgent request and often ask for gift cards or money, while telling you not to call or text because I’m “in a meeting.”

These are scams. Please don’t respond.

Here’s how to stay safe...

Dearest Parishioners,

St. George in-the-Pines Anglican Church invites you to a Banff Food & Friends Benefit-Appreciation concert, featuring the voices of Banff artists Ji Won Baxter and Heather Jean Jordan, as they present an evening of old Hollywood classics tunes.

Join us on Sunday, April 27th at 7 P.M. at St. George's for a heartwarming performance and a celebration of what Food & Friends has become in the community. Support a great cause while enjoying an unforgettable night of music!

Join us this Eastertide for a thought-provoking book study of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters. We'll explore the many shades of a Christian life, and the power of evil versus good through the eyes of a senior demon. Come out and share with your hearts and minds, as we discover more about each other and ourselves. The registration link is below! 

Dear friends,

Our deepest appreciation to the Banff Food & Friends team, to Chef Paul for preparing Monday's meal and all of our devoted volunteers! Thank you.

We delighted in Chicken and Vegetable Stirfry, with rice, salad and toast. We served 265 meals and received $227.05 in donations. Two absolute hits!

Join our cooking team and make a difference! A link to our May-August cooking schedule is below! Add your name and contact information!

What if the thing that feels like wisdom is actually just self-preservation dressed up in virtue?

In this week’s message from The Anatomy of Sin, Rev. Seth explores the moment Mary pours out everything she has at Jesus’ feet, and Judas calls it a waste. It's a story about the difference between usefulness and love, between appearances and reality, between holding back and pouring it all out.

Because sometimes what looks foolish is the only thing that makes sense if Jesus is really who He says He is.

If you grew up Christian in the 90s and early 2000s, you remember the Left Behind book series, stories about the Rapture, where true Christians are abruptly swept from the earth into heaven by Jesus, which ushers in a dystopian era of satanic rule over the world. Those left behind, non-believers and Christians who weren’t Christian enough, have to endure the Tribulation: years of haunting and terrifying judgments of God unleashed on the planet, as revealed in the Book of Revelation at the end of the Bible...

We at St. George’s in the Pines are thrilled to be hosting a brand-new community initiative right here in our building! OESA Cafe in the Upper Room is opening on April 8 at 100 Beaver Street, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome this vibrant and inclusive space into our church home...

- The Danger of Fact-ist Politics is a thoughtful piece is worth your time, reminds us that in today’s political climate, humility and discernment matter more than doubling down on being “right.”

- Devil and the Deep Blue Sea  is a captivating podcast reviewing the 'satanic panic' of the 80s that helps us better understand how fear-driven moral panics can distract the Church from confronting real sin within its own walls.

- How a Skeptical Philosopher Becomes a Christian Larry Sanger, a co-founder of Wikipedia turned Christian, dissects his own journey from skepticism to faith with the precision of a logician and the urgency of a man who has realized the limits of mere reason. You can watch a video of his journey here.

- Why Everyone Should Believe that the Gospels are Reliable this eye-opening article lays out why the Gospels aren’t just ancient myths but some of the most reliable historical documents we have, backed by non-Christian sources, tons of manuscripts, and real eyewitness testimony—making them pretty hard to ignore.

- Should “Sex Work” Be Legal? Exodus Cry unpacks why legalizing sex work doesn’t protect the vulnerable but instead fuels exploitation, trafficking, and deeper societal harm.

- The Vagabond King In this haunting article, Paul Kingsnorth weaves history, myth, and faith into a meditation on Christ as the wandering King who upends the world’s empires and expectations.

- The Efficacy of Prayer In this incisive article, C.S. Lewis dissects the dangers of moral busybodies and the creeping tyranny of well-intentioned control, reminding us that the road to hell is often paved with unchecked benevolence.

- Worship Starts with a Pierced God In this gripping article, Esther Shin Chuang explores how extreme religious devotion—like Thaipusam’s body piercings—reveals a deep human hunger for transcendence, one that only Christ truly satisfies.

Check out our events calendar for the latest on services, programs, and community events. Click the button below to stay connected and get involved!

Dear St. George's Parishioners,

Here are our updated office hours at St. George's! Our Parish Administrator, Ji Won, will be available Saturdy through Wednesday, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Please note that the office will be closed, and Ji Won will be unavailable to answer phone calls on Thursdays and Fridays. She'll return your queries when she returns on Friday.

Whenever you seek prayer or support, we’re here for you. Our prayer team is ready to lift your needs to God with care and confidentiality. You can click the button below to send a request directly, or email us anytime at prayer@stgeorgebanff.com.

Your generosity, whether online, through securities, or via text (833) 692-4540, makes all the difference. We're incredibly grateful for your support. Also, please leave us a positive Google review. As a small church, every kind word counts. Click here to leave your review—thank you!

The Diocese of Calgary sends out a e-newsletter every two weeks. To view their most recent newsletter click the button below.