St. Clements Anglican Church 

Balzac. AB

We seem to be moving quickly through the fall season and before we know it the Christmas Festival will be upon us.  However, there are some events that are deserving of our attention. 

BREAK-IN:  Early morning on Sunday, November 4^th, we discovered that our little Church and our neigbouring United Church had both been broken into.  The door to our Parish Hall which had been the point of entry for the thieves was badly damaged.  The perpetrators of this crime had stolen the safe in the Vestry containing the Parish Record Book – fortunately no money was in the safe – the Vestry Book and a silver bread box.  No windows were broken and there was no graffiti on the walls. The Airdrie RCMP were contacted and were very helpful.  The next day, the safe was discovered badly damaged but empty. Later that evening, another phone call was received from the Olds RCMP who had found our Register, Vestry Book and bread box in a recovered stolen vehicle.  A trip to Olds was made to recover the stolen articles.  So all is now well.  A letter of appreciation and thanks was sent to both the Airdrie and Olds RCMP. 

REMEMBRANCE DAY :  On November 11^th, we celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the end of World War I with a meaningful Remembrance Day Service at St. Clements.  The church was beautifully decorated with colourful photos and poppies, memorial wreaths and with a blaze of red roses and poppies on the Altar.  We sang our National Anthems and we remembered relatives both men and women who had served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force those many years ago.  We also remembered the many Wars that have taken place during the past 100 years again remembering the men and women who served our Country. A special moment in the Service came when Rowan Restar and his parents read the poem “In Flanders Fields” .  At sunset on this same day, ten parishioners came to the Church to ring the steeple bell (yes, it does ring!) at the invitation of the Canadian Legion to all churches across Canada to ring the church bell 100 times.  For those who participated there was a sense of giving honour to those who had served and those who had died. 

CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE:  This year our Parish will participate in the Balzac Christmas Bake Sale in the Balzac Community Centre on Saturday November 17^th beginning at 10 a.m.  The contribution of baked goods and attendance on the part of all our parishioners is appreciated. 

ADVENT: The Advent Season, which is a penitential Season in preparation for Christmas, begins on December 2^nd.  Throughout the four Sundays in Advent, before the Morning Service at 9:00 am there will be a study program called the Lectio Divina which is a traditional and ancient Christian practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s Word.  Parishioners and interested persons are invited to attend this learning Program for their spiritual benefit.  As well, on this first Sunday in Advent, we shall honour the Patron Saint of St. Clements, Saint Clement of Alexandria, followed by a potluck lunch in the Parish Hall. 

SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS:  This traditional Service will take place on Sunday, December 23^rd at 10:00 am.  The Christmas Story will be told through Scriptural Readings and the singing of Christmas Carols.  

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE: The Christmas Eve Service will be held on Monday, December  24^th at 4:00 pm. 

PARISH ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING:  The AGM for St. Clements will take place after a shortened Service on January 27^th with a Parish lunch to follow. 

Every blessing. 

Gordon Jackson, Incumbent.