After serving the Bowness area of Calgary for nearly 80 years, Foothills United Church held its final worship service on Sunday, June 21, 2026. The congregation had voted to disband earlier this year.
      Sunday’s service was attended by Foothills members and participants, former ministers and friends. Worship was led by Rev. Marion Martin, Foothills and St. Thomas United Churches, Rev. Tracy Robertson, St. Thomas United Church and Rev. Dr. Karen Medland, Chinook Winds Regional Minister. Several Foothills members participated in the service, including Board Chair and Regional Representative Val Magill. St. Thomas Church members hosted the luncheon following.
       We are grateful for Foothills’ faithful witness that carries on through the lives its ministry touched and changed since 1946. May God’s peace go with the Foothills people in the journey ahead to new congregations. 

The post Foothills United: Generations of Faith & Service appeared first on Chinook Winds Region.

This summer, Camp Caravan is once again bringing spirit-filled day camps to communities across Calgary and Southern Alberta. Rooted in the values of Belong, Wonder, Care, and Create, Camp Caravan offers children and youth a week filled with games, music, crafts, storytelling, outdoor adventures, new friendships, and opportunities to explore kindness, community, and faith in welcoming and inclusive ways.

2026 Camp Locations:

• July 6–10 – Symons Valley United Church, Calgary
• July 13–17 – St. Thomas United Church, Calgary
• July 20–24 – Fish Creek United Church, Calgary (currently waitlisted)
• July 27–31 – High River United Church, High River
• July 27–31 – Stettler and Area United Churches,
• August 4–7 – Southwood United Church, Calgary
• August 11–14 – Strathmore United Church, Strathmore
• August 18–21 – Summit View United Church, Calgary

Camp Caravan is more than just a week of summer fun—it is a place where young people grow. Through our Pathways to Leadership, children can begin as campers, move into the Junior Youth Program (ages 12–14), continue into YouthCrew (ages 15–17), and eventually become camp leaders and staff. Along the way, they build confidence, responsibility, leadership skills, and lasting connections within a caring community.

We believe every child deserves the opportunity to belong, explore, and thrive. Subsidies are available to help ensure finances are never a barrier to participation.

Whether your child is attending for the first time, returning for another summer adventure, or exploring a leadership opportunity, there is a place for them around the circle. Registration is now open, and several weeks are filling quickly.

Visit www.camp-caravan.ca to learn more, register, volunteer, or support Camp Caravan through donations and sponsorships.

Gather Round – With Love at the Center. We can’t wait to welcome you this summer!

Also, Chinook Winds Camping Minister Lisa Penzo introduces our Camp Caravan Leadership Team: McKenzie and Kaie

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• Hillhurst United Church, Calgary.
• Thursday, June 25, 7 pm
• Register for Decolonizing Spirituality

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In 1971, the Elders of the Ecumenical Council at Morley, AB called for a national Day of Prayer. This day was observed in the mainline denominations throughout the 1970s. In 1996, Governor General Roméo LeBlanc declared June 21 of each year as National Aboriginal Day after decades of lobbying and activism.
       
       The Elders’ call for the summer solstice to be solemnized for all the Indigenous lives lost and forever altered by colonialism is a solemn reminder of our shared history.
        Those signed up for Right Relations Circle emails, will receive the Zoom link in your inbox.

Otherwise, please register HERE  

Questions? Please email Tony Snow, Indigenous Minister, Chinook Winds Region.

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For our June 24, 2026 Town Hall, we will discuss the topic that is top of mind for us all between now and October, the Alberta Referendum. Chris Mah Poy, Chinook Winds First Third and Justice Networks Coordinator, will share information and best practices on how you can engage in a prophetic, pastoral and non-partisan response with your communities of faith and wider networks during the referendum campaign and how the region will be engaging the referendum.

Please join us for this vital conversation. 

Executive Minister Treena Duncan will host the Town Hall and also give a short Regional update.

         Please mark your calendars to join us on June 24, 2026 at 2 pm MT. Register for the Chinook Winds June 24, 2026 Town Hall.

Regional representatives and ministry personnel will receive the Zoom link in their inbox and do not need to register.

The post How to be Prophetic, Pastoral and Non-Partisan during the Alberta Referendum Campaign appeared first on Chinook Winds Region.

Ministers and lay leaders in these Regions, if you know a theology student who needs financial support, please share this announcement with them. The application form is relatively simple and includes disclosing other sources of financial support as well as a reference from the current Vocational Minister or a member of your Candidacy Board.

Brenda Fawkes was a beloved and respected United Church minister who died tragically in a motor vehicle accident in September 2024. At the time of her death, she was the Office of Vocation Minister in Chinook Winds and Pacific Mountain Regions and previously worked with the Vancouver School of Theology. Her passion was nurturing wise, competent, and compassionate church leadership.

The Bursary Fund was founded to honour Brenda’s life, and to continue her ministry in raising-up and supporting those preparing for church ministry and leadership.

If you have any questions, contact Cari Copeman-Haynes, Vocational Minister for Chinook Winds and Pacific Mountain Regions.

The post Helping Future Ministry Leaders Flourish: Brenda Fawkes Bursary appeared first on Chinook Winds Region.

Northminster and St David’s in Calgary have come together—two congregations, now one people—not by accident, but through significant planning and the mysterious and grace-filled movement of God. As their Ministry Plan says, “We have not lost who we were; instead, we have become more of who we are called to be.” Like the Body of Christ spoken of in scripture, these churches brought their distinct gifts, histories, strengths, and dreams—and together, they have become something more whole, more vibrant, and more alive. “Together, we are becoming the church the world longs to see.”

How it All Began

Just before the start of the pandemic, Northminster came to understand that their building was creating a significant yearly deficit, and they were afraid of the impact on their small but vibrant congregation. After working with UCC resource staff and local consultants it was determined that selling was the best option. Despite fears around whether or not they could be a church without a building, they thrived during COVID and soon realized they could take the leap toward a new way of being the church. Around the same time, St David’s was facing a vacancy after the retirement of their long-serving minister. In early in 2022, then Chinook Winds Region’s Pastoral Relations Minister, Rev. Dr. Stephen Harper, proposed they consider a two-year partnership to support each other through ministry vacancies and the need for a building. A Partnership Committee was formed with representation from each church along with Stephen and Northminster’s minister Rev. Nancy Nourse. Since May 2022, the churches have shared worship and programs (while maintaining separate governance and finances until amalgamation). They blended traditions and staff, tried new projects together, maintained ministries and committees of each church, and found ways to be a church in partnership. Thanks to a renewal of energy and ideas, within two years both congregations overwhelmingly realized they were better together and it was suggested this relationship become permanent.

Regular reporting and consulting with the congregation took place. In the winter months of 2025, numerous gatherings were held about hopes for the future, and discerning core values and how they aligned with the values of Jesus. From there, a Ministry Plan emerged through a great deal of prayer, congregational reflection, and the guidance of the Spirit.

The Name…Summit View United Church

“Summit View” is rooted in the geography that shapes the community, from the nearby Nose Hill and the Rocky Mountains to the west. It reflects a desire to look forward, envisioning a bold, inclusive future. Like climbing a mountain, the amalgamation has brought individual paths into a shared journey, and Summit View symbolizes this unity and convergence. The name also resonates spiritually, connecting to mountaintop experiences in faith, and moments where God’s presence is known and life is renewed.

The Calling

Together, four Core Values were determined: “Growing, Inclusive, Spiritual, Community”. Along side this, there is always the consideration of the congregation’s guiding question: how do we be a vibrant United Church presence in northwest Calgary? With the Ministry Plan along with a new Mission Teams model of governance, the core values are articulated and upheld.

Highlights to Celebrate

– Since amalgamation, they are seeing familiar faces return, new people—including young adults—discovering the church, celebrating the joy of 13 new members and 5 baptisms, and experiencing a renewed energy where people are eager to say yes—to opportunities, to serving, and to being part of something life-giving unfolding among them.

– Summit View established a Business Plan to name the financial priorities and stewardship long-term of current investments and funds coming from the sale of Northminster’s building.

– A surplus of combined assets from both legacy churches in the amount of $400,000 is being directed to Chinook Winds Region.

– In their commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, a gift of $50,000 will be sent to the Healing Fund of the United Church of Canada.

– A commitment to Young Adult ministries as well as lifting up their location to U of C and their partnership with Campus Ministries is a priority in the Ministry Plan. A memorandum of understanding has been signed which includes an annual $20,000 donation to Campus Ministries for the next five years.

– Summit View plans to grow its ministry team from 1.5 FTE to 2.5 FTE in the fall of 2026, as well as add paid leadership for livestream/tech, and is looking long term at enhancing children and youth staffing.

In the spirit of stewardship there is an understanding that the financial resources are tools to ensure Summit View remains a vibrant church for the long term. This is not an endowment to sit on, but a living resource to be used wisely—for possibilities not yet imagined.

Reflecting on Uniqueness and Exploring Common Ground

As Summit View takes their first steps, they recognize this is not the end of a journey but the beginning of a new chapter. The United Church of Canada’s Toward 2035 vision names both the challenges on the horizon and the opportunities before the church and is very much an affirmation of the work completed to date.

As Summit View grows into its new identity, there is also the possibility of becoming catalysts for collaboration both within and beyond the congregation. In the years ahead, they will explore intentional partnerships—with other United Churches and community organizations—that allow the sharing of resources, wisdom, and energy. The journey of amalgamation has already given the unique experiences built on shared gifts, and Summit View believes these learnings (successes and challenges) are not theirs to keep, but to offer as encouragement to others. In this way, the Summit View story may contribute to a lasting legacy in northwest Calgary and beyond: one that demonstrates the benefit of working together for faithful witness in the world.

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OUR STORY: We at Crossfield United Church began our journey toward 2035 four years ago. Four of us from the congregation and our minister, Rev. David Crawford, took a Zoom seminar from Vicki Nelson, Community of Faith Stewardship Support. This exercise caused us to look at who we are as a congregation, where we want to go and by what means. The first step was identifying who we were as a congregation. It was decided that we were an aging congregation, and our focus would no longer be on bringing in young people. (Read on, there’s a twist!) 

Our strength was our seniors and the community. Vicki got us thinking outside the box, so we struck a stewardship committee.  We hadn’t had one in over 20 years. There are now six members on it. The focus of that stewardship committee was on outreach to the community where we live and hope to serve. 

How to do that? was the next question. We looked at who we are, what resources we have, and then what was needed in our community of Crossfield. It was decided to do outreach into the community. We would target those in Crossfield and area with food insecurity. Many of our members serve on the board of the local food bank, so we knew there was a need. We focused on the people using the food bank by inviting them to a community soup dinner.  We advertised at the food bank and around town. We started with 12 non-congregational people coming to dinner.  We also had a Saturday afternoon cooking demonstration on how to make soup to stretch your dollars. We had three people attend, none from the congregation! Our committee deemed it a success, so we organized a second soup meal!  60 people came that evening.  We were now filled with hope; this was the right way to reach out into our community. We also resurrected Shrove Tuesday pancake suppers and added a Nativi-Tea to kick off the Advent season. The Nativi-Tea has had music, tea and cake, a raffle for a quilt made by one of our members, a cookie walk for those people that don’t bake, and Nativity Sets and quilts. Last year, we had 50 Nativity scenes and 20 Quilts featuring the Nativity. 

Our Stewardship Committee voted to perform more outreach by having 4 community dinners each year. We are now organizing our second dinner in 2026, targeting those with food insecurity by having a lasagna meal. We advertise at the food bank, on social media and with posters around the community.  We also organized a concert in April for the community and surrounding areas.  We now have an annual Garage Sale in June, and planning has started for the Nativi-Tea this November. 

With Vicki’s direction, we looked at our strengths, identified them, and decided how to use them! As a result of looking inward and then outward, we now have 4-5 more families (with children!) coming to church on a regular basis.  We are now in the process of changing the configuration of our sanctuary to be more welcoming to children and upgrading their space.  All because of soup! 

Vicki Nelson is currently on leave, but if you are interested in Stewardship for your community of faith, contact Sarah Giles, acting Community of Faith Stewardship Support for Western Canada.

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Airdrie United Church and Airdrie Public Library have entered into an exciting new partnership, thanks to the collaborative and tenacious efforts of leadership from the congregation, local library and Chinook Winds Region.
      This new partnership was officially celebrated last Tuesday, May 12 in the bright room where the Airdrie United Church now gathers for Sunday worship. A playground is just steps away outside. Together, the congregation and library hope to create welcoming spaces where people of all ages can gather, learn, and build relationships and are particularly excited about the possibilities for youth and community programming.  You can also read more in Discover Airdrie.

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Chinook Winds Region is seeking people to serve on our Nominations Committee.  The Nominations Committee helps identify and encourage gifted leaders for Regional working groups. This is an opportunity to help ensure the diversity, wisdom, and lived experiences of our communities of faith are reflected in the leadership of our church.

If you have a heart for encouraging others, recognizing gifts, and helping people connect their talents with meaningful ministry, or if you would like to recommend someone,  we would love to hear from you. Please fill out the Nominations Form or contact Jes Beckerley, Chinook Winds Regional Office.

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