7 Chats For The Fall Season
Church Family Chats
As we enter a new church season, we are excited to join together once again with Covenant and Inglewood Christian Reformed Churches to provide a series of Church Family Chats that will make up a significant portion of our adult education offerings for the season. Here is a list of what we have planned, so be sure to chalk these up on your calendar! The events will be offered in-person at the church listed (masks encouraged but not required), or can be attended virtually from the link on the home page of our website: www.westendcrc.ca. You can also catch these events later on YouTube, by clicking on the link for that or going directly to YouTube and entering “West End Christian Reformed Church” in the search bar.
SEVEN WINTER CHATS
The James Webb Telescope and 13-bilion-year-old Starlight
February 7, 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Brian Martin, Professor of Astronomy Emeritus, The King’s University
Location: Covenant CRC
The James Webb telescope, launched in 2022 and positioned in the dark vacuum of space a million and a half kilometers from earth, provides a monumental leap forward in giving astronomers insight into the development of our early universe. It gathers light from galaxies that formed in the infant universe and helps us gain unprecedented insight into how and when God formed the visible universe.
Gender Dysphoria: Understanding What it is, What it isn’t, and How Best we Should Respond
March 21, 7:00 p.m.
Presenters: Clinician Amy Nydam and Dr. Heather Looy
Location: Covenant CRC
An extensive report on human sexuality submitted to Synod 2022 of the Christian Reformed denomination emphasizes the need for us to deal appropriately and pastorally with those who experience gender dysphoria. To honour that call, we have invited a clinician and an academic to provide us with information that is based on their research and their clinical experience.
Hymn-Singing Our Midwinter Blues Away
February 21, 7:00 p.m
Presenter(s): tba
Location: Inglewood CRC
Come out and join us in singing those good-old, time-tested hymns that warm our hearts and souls even in the frosty Edmonton mid-winter. We’ve invited several song leaders to introduce their favourite hymns and tell us why those sacred songs matter so much to their faith. Then, of course, we’ll sing them all.
What is the Christian Labour Association and What Does It Do?
April 4, 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Wayne Prins, Executive Director
Location: West End CRC
What is the Christian Labour Association and how is it different from other unions? How is it unique? Whom does it represent? We’ve invited Wayne Prins to share with us a brief history of the union and its present position on the labour scene. He will describe what it believes and does, and why a union based on Christian values really matters.
Toolkit for Voting Wisely in the May 29 Alberta Provincial Election
May 2, 7:00 p.m.
Presenters: A panel of knowledgeable commentators
Location: Covenant CRC
With the provincial election looming large, we’ll receive some helpful information and guidance to help us all vote in ways that are in close alignment with our faith.
Medical Assistance In Dying
March 7, 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Mary and Roger Stephens
Location: Inglewood CRC
What is the current situation of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada and how should we respond as Christ-followers? We’ve asked a medical professional and a lawyer to provide us with a good understanding of these very significant life issues.
“Satan and all his works”: Is Satan still a viable theological idea?
April 18, 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Doug Harink, Professor of Theology Emeritus at the King’s University
Location: West End CRC
Do we still believe that there is an actual personal spiritual being that is at the root of all evil, suffering, and rebellion against God? And do we still buy the idea that creation is shot through with a realm of evil inhabited by demons engaged in spiritual warfare against God’s heavenly forces? Or are those just metaphorical descriptions? We’ve asked a theologian to help us think this though.
What Does Christian Schooling Contribute to Society and to God’s Kingdom?
September 20, 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Keith Piquette, Dir. of Development and Admissions for the Edm. Soc. for Christian Ed.
Location: West End CRC
Christian day schools may have fallen under the radar for many of our churches, so Keith will update us on the health of Christian schooling in Edmonton, how our relationship with the government is going, what contributions the Christian School system is making, and how well the uniqueness of a Christ-centered curriculum has been maintained.
From Genes to Organisms
October 4, 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Hank Bestman, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry Emeritus at the King’s University
Location: Covenant CRC
If you though Darwin had it all cased, guess again! With the explosion of recent discoveries in the field of biology, Dr. Hank will summarize some of the amazing new developments in our understanding of biological complexity. The marvels of God’-created life are stunning!
The Reformation: celebrate it or grieve it?
October 18, 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Rev. Andrew Aukema, pastor of Inglewood CRC.
Location: Inglewood CRC
As Reformation Day approaches we take a critical look at some of the causes of the Protestant Reformation, examine its key outcomes, and mull over some of the gains and losses from the Reformation that Christ’s Body has experienced over the past 500 years.
Brush Strokes: Artists Answer
November 1, 7:00 p.m.
Presenters: Frank Van Veen and Clarence Visser
Location: West End CRC
Ever wonder what artists are trying to convey, why they do what they do, and how they strive to accomplish what they set out to do? We’ve invited two Christian artists to show us what’s going on in their art and how they go about their work.
Economics in the Age of Climate Crisis
November 15, 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Elwil Beukes, Professor of Economics Emeritus at The King’s University
Location: West End CRC
How can our leaders help us make the necessary changes to our lifestyle before it’s too late and our planet reaches the point of no return? How do we prevent further damage to our environment and ecosystems? How can governments do what must be done without destroying our economy? How does “the market” tie into all of this? Dr. Beukes will provide us with some much-needed perspective on these vital concerns.
What is the Christian Labour Association and What Does It Do?
November 29: 7:00 p.m.
Presenter: Wayne Prins, Executive Director
Location: Inglewood CRC
What is the Christian Labour Association and how is it different from other unions? How is it unique? Whom does it represent? We’ve invited Wayne Prins to share with us a brief history of the union and its present position on the labour scene. He will describe what it believes and does, and why a union based on Christian values really matters.
How Do We Access Real News and Distinguish it from Fake News?
December 13, 7:00 p.m.
Presenters: Janet Paquette, Paul DeGroot, and Dr. Michael DeMoor
Location: Covenant CRC
If you’re confused about the news—what’s real, what’s not—you’re in good company. How do we access and distinguish truth from lies? We’ve invited a seasoned news reporter, a web expert, and a philosopher to help us sort out those crucial questions. We’ll take a caution from the old truism about data: “Garbage in, garbage out.”