Dear St. George’s Family,

Christ is Risen.

It’s good to be with you again. After a week of rest following the beautiful whirlwind of Holy Week, I’m grateful to return to the rhythm of our church life. Thank you for your grace while I stepped away, and a special word of thanks to Bill Pringle for leading our Sunday service in my absence. I’ve heard from more than a few of you that it was a rich and joyful morning. I’m so glad it was, and I’m so glad to be back...

What does it look like to follow Jesus in real life?

Sometimes we imagine following Jesus as a clean break: a moment when everything suddenly makes sense and life gets easier. But that's not how it looked for Peter and Paul. Real life with Jesus isn't about escaping the world. It's about living a new story right in the middle of it.

Join us this Sunday at 10am as we celebrate the resurrection together at St. George in the Pines. Coffee and conversation to follow. Everyone is welcome.

Celebrant:

Rev. Seth Enriquez

Readings:

Acts 9:1–20; John 21:1–19 (Read now)

Hymns:

All Creatures of our God and King (Listen now)

Come Thou Fount (Listen now)

Almighty God (Listen now)

Be Unto Your Name (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!

In 2025, we prayerfully budgeted $70,000 in offerings to support the ministry and mission of our parish. This figure does not include the one-time anonymous commitment of $100,000.

• $70,000 is what we need from regular offerings given on Sundays, through Tithely, or by other means

• These offerings are our primary source of support and essential to the ongoing life and witness of our church

• To stay on track, we need about $5,850 per month or $17,500 every 3 months

• As of the end of March, we have received $9,499, putting us significantly behind our goal

We are deeply grateful for every gift. We know many of us carry financial responsibilities, especially for our families, but even a small increase in weekly giving would make a real difference.

Please prayerfully consider what part you can play. Your generosity helps St. George in the Pines not just survive, but truly thrive.

To give online, through e-transfer, or by other means, visit our Giving page using the button below.

With gratitude,
Rev. Seth and the Leadership at St. George in the Pines

Dear St. George’s Parishioners,

Our Parish Administrator, Ji Won, will be away from the office from Friday, May 3 to Friday, May 17, 2025.

A few things to note:

• The office will remain open during regular hours until May 3.

• Regular hours are Saturday to Wednesday, 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

• Please plan ahead if you need assistance before Ji Won's time away.

Thank you for your understanding and support!

A huge thank you to Genny, Charlynn, and Elisha who volunteered to do kids ministry over the last few months following the birth of Josephine! It has been such a joy to see our kids learning from new people and connecting with God in new ways! It has also been such a relief for me to know that the kids are getting good teaching and having fun, while I focus on Josephine and participate in worship. Thank you, thank you!

With the departure of Genny and Elisha, we are looking for more volunteers for children's ministry. If you are interested in signing up for a Sunday, please email me at brit@stgeorgebanff.com or reply to this email and I would be happy to have a conversation about that with you!

Thank you!

Dear Parishioners,

Get ready for a blooming summer at St. George’s! We’re thrilled to announce the return of our Flower Power Budget for Spring/Summer 2025 and we need your help.

Let’s come together to plant an array of beautiful flowers at the front of our church, transforming St. George’s into a welcoming and joyful sight for everyone who passes by. With your support, we can make our church shine with the beauty of nature this summer.

To give directly to the flower budget, you can use any of the online giving tools on our Giving Page (click the button below), or contribute by cash or cheque in the offering plate. Just include a note in the memo line or on your envelope so we can designate your gift to the flower fund.

Thank you for helping St. George’s bloom!

Thank you all who showed up to celebrate the success of Banff Food & Friends in our fun-filled concert this past Sunday, April 27th at 7 P.M. Many thanks to Heather Jean Jordan and Ji Won Baxter, for sharing their musical talents with the community, and to Rev. Howard Thornton and Rev. Seth Enriquez for chairing this incredible program for the last four years.

We raised a total of $800.00 for Banff Community Food & Friends, and we're astounded by the remarkable verve for this effort in our town, to nourish people and foster connection. Please continue your enthusiasm by joining us every Monday from 5-7 P.M. in St. George's Lower Hall.

Meet Alex – Our New Prayer Team Leader

We’re excited to introduce Alex, our Deputy People’s Warden, who has also stepped up to lead our new Prayer Team ministry at St. George’s...

Dear friends,

What a busy and sprit-filled evening! You really showed up for us yesterday, and we were all so happy to see your faces there. Our gratitude to our incredible Banff Food & Friends team, to Chef Paul for preparing yesterday's Summer-inspired meal and to all of our dedicated volunteers!

We served two meals: Beef Burgers and Veggie Burgers, served with potato wedges, salad and amazing treats, provided by Banff Food Rescue. We served 292 meals and received $477.49 in donations! Thank you all for your ongoing support, one dollar at a time!

Join us on Monday, May 18 at 7:30 P.M. for our first 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. Registration is below! 

I read The Lord of the Rings every year for about eleven years straight. It was a kind of ritual. A quiet act of return. The rhythm eventually slowed; life changes, habits shift; but the story hasn’t loosened its hold on me. Just recently, I listened to Phil Dragash’s audiobook version, and I have to say: it’s excellent. Immersive, reverent, well worth your time if you’ve ever loved these books or even thought you might...

 - Why We Doubt Everything is a thoughtful reflection on why Gen Z struggles with trust, and it invites us to consider how faith can still flourish in a culture of constant doubt.

 - These excerpts from David Bently Hart's The Beauty of the Infinite invite us to contemplate how the boundless love of God is revealed in Christ's suffering and resurrection, offering a transformative perspective on human brokenness and divine grace.

 - Faith Torn Down to the Studs offers a compassionate guide for those supporting loved ones through faith deconstruction, emphasizing the importance of empathy and patience in navigating doubt.

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

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.