January 19th, 2025 – the Wedding at Cana
Wine often marks major life moments.
Wine often accompanies celebratory cheers, and it sometimes eases heartbreak and tears. In the second chapter of John, we find Jesus’ ministry inaugurated at a wedding, where he supplies an abundance of fine wine.
In her book, The Spirituality of Wine, Gisela Kreglinger examines the place of wine in the Bible, in theology, in the history of the church, and in Christian practice today, arguing that, ultimately, wine is a good gift of God, to be received with gratitude and enjoyed in community. She explores her subject matter not just academically but also in a deeply personal way, having grown up on her family’s centuries-old German winery. The wine she sipped at her first communion was wine she had helped to make.
Rather than viewing it as any kind of hindrance to faith, Gisela Kreglinger sees wine as a pure blessing from above. Wine draws us closer to the earth, as we taste a beverage that is essentially made of water, earth, sunlight, time, and the careful craftsmanship of human hands. It draws us closer to one another, as we learn the joy of feasting in community. It draws us closer to God, as we receive a beautiful thing given to “gladden the heart” (Psalm 104:15 ESV).
But what about abuse? What about addiction? Doesn’t the Bible specifically speak out against drunkenness? It does, and Gisela Kreglinger is careful to consider the trouble and suffering caused by alcohol abuse. “To drink is to pray; to binge-drink is to sin,” she says, translating an old German proverb. Isn’t that the way it so often is with God’s good gifts? Every good gift can be twisted by humanity into something bad, and wine is certainly no exception.
And yet what it comes down to is that whether we enjoy the taste of a good glass of wine or we are firm teetotalers, we can still appreciate the miracle of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Rev. Deborah
ANNOUNCEMENTS JANUARY 12, 2025
*** CHANGE TO START TIME: ENDINGS & BEGINNING WILL START AT 3:30 PM SUNDAY, JAN 26:
"Endings and Beginnings" is a special Worship Service to help people in our congregations and the community who have experienced grief or loss. Through lighting candles, silence, prayers, music and caring, we hope to help each other move from "Endings" to new "Beginnings". You may attend in person or join us on Zoom (same sign-in as the one used for Sunday Services). If you would like the name of a loved one included in our service this year, please contact The Church Office at 780-963-4745 or email
OUR “WHITE GIFT” SUNDAYS DONATION TO PARENTING FOR THE FUTURE:
Thanks to your generosity, we gave:
12 scarves
9 sets of toques/mitts
4 jackets
24 pairs of mitts/gloves
Thank-you to everyone who contributed.
FROM THE WORSHIP COMMITTEE
Communion dates: February 2, March 9 (Lent 1), April 20 (Easter)
Mewassin-only Sundays: Some people have asked about the Mewassin-Only Sundays. We have been having these for a number of years, ever since Bert Giffin was our minister. Here is the reason: since Bert and all the subsequent ministers have had to go immediately from Mewassin to Stony Plain, that gives no time for visiting. So we began having some Sundays when the Minister can spend time visiting with the people in our sister church in Mewassin. Originally, this happened about five times per year; now we are scheduling them about 3 times each year. We in Stony Plain are fortunate to have Rev. Deborah able to spend time with us after the services.
TUESDAY JAN 21 SP COUNCIL: Stony Plain Council will meet Tuesday, January 21, at 7:00 PM at the church or on Zoom.
SUNDAY JAN 26 SP BREAKFAST: Thanks to the Men’s Club, we will have breakfast on Sunday, Feb 26 (about 8:45 to 9:30 AM). Come and enjoy!
SP LUNCH SUNDAY FEB 2: We will have lunch at Stony Plain on Sunday, Feb 2 after the service. Helpers are needed.
COMMUNITY NEWS: STONY PLAIN LIBRARY:
The Stony Plain Library is thrilled to invite you, your family, and friends to come to the Library on Friday, January 31 to celebrate a momentous milestone in our community’s history—Stony Plain Library’s 80th Anniversary! Join us at 2:00 PM in the Meeting Room for a special cake-cutting ceremony as we honor eight decades of fostering a love for reading, learning, and community connections. To help us plan for this memorable occasion, please RSVP by email to Donna Thomson at
REMINDERS
UKULELES: Ukuleles resume practice on January 22.
PHOTOS WELCOME: Your can submit photos for use in bulletins, letters, website, etc. by emailing them to
PASSING ON YOUR CONCERNS: If you know of anyone who would like a visit or needs a card, please call the Church Office (780 963-4745) or email
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
| UKULELES & CHOIR |
Choir: Wednesdays at 7:00 PM Ukuleles: resume Jan 22 at 6:15 PM |
| CARD RECREATORS | Thursdays at 10:00 AM, starting Jan 9 |
MEETINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS
| TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 |
7:00 PM - Stony Plain Council meeting |
| SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 |
8:45 AM - Breakfast at Stony Plain, provided by the Men's Club. 3:30 PM - Endings and Beginnings service (NOTE THE CHANGE OF TIME) |
| SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2 |
Communion at both churches Stony Plain - Lunch Sunday after church |