MINISTRIES and COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

As a fixture on Main Street since 1891, the Canmore Church (originally Canmore Presbyterian… then Canmore United in 1925… then Ralph Connor Memorial United in 1942…) has always functioned as a community hub.

Similarly, the Banff Church, situated at the south end of Banff Avenue since 1886 (originally a Methodist Church… then a Local Union Church, starting in 1911/1916… then Banff United in 1925…then Rundle Memorial in 1941…) has played an important role in the Banff community.

Now that we are one community of faith with two campuses, we are pleased to have these connections with  in both communities.  Call the Canmore Church office 403.675.0064 or the Banff Church office 403.762.2075 for further information, or contact the program leaders listed below.

at both campuses:
REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP – BVRP and TWION

The Bow Valley Refugee Project  was established in late 2015 as an Outreach Ministry of Ralph Connor in response to the Syrian refugee crisis. This community volunteer organization has successfully sponsored a family of six, who arrived in Canmore in the fall of 2016, and a family of two who arrived in the summer of 2020.   Although our first two sponsorships involved refugees from Syria, our mandate has now expanded so that refugees from elsewhere may also be considered. In concert with Rundle Memorial United Church in Banff and its “The World is our Neighbour” (TWION) project, we are at present working on two sponsorships, involving a total of five people.
Ralph Connor is proud to provide a “home base” for the BVRP. One does not need to be a member of the Church, or of any faith community, to volunteer for this broadly supported community organization.  We remain hopeful that our family of four in Nepal will be arriving soon.

KIDS CONNECTION and TODDLER CARE: Sunday during 10 am Worship

Kids Connection – Our Sunday morning programming for children, age 4 to 15, happens during the Sunday service, whether we are worshiping in Canmore or in Banff.  Please note that toddler care for younger children, age 1-3 is a separate thing .  See https://ralphconnor.ca/kids-connection/ for more info!

HEALING PATHWAY: Friday on Zoom

This group is a long-standing healing Ministry at Ralph Connor, with many members trained specifically in the Healing Pathway modality.   Twice weekly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, their Prayer Circle meets online;  the prayer circle recently celebrated their 250th time together.   Once per month there is an in-person gathering at the Church for Pathway members who want to learn new techniques or keep their skills up to date.  If you have a prayer concern, please contact v.goodrow@me.com

COMMUNITY FOOD AND FRIENDS NIGHT: Monday 5-7 pm

Ralph Connor is pleased to be one of the community partners that has been serving Monday night communal meals at St. Michael’s Anglican Hall in Canmore since 2013. Anyone and everyone wishing to have a great meal  come to St. Michael’s Hall between 5:00 and 7:00 PM on Mondays!  During the pandemic, this event transitioned to take-out only; now, one can either stay for sit-down or do take-out.  Volunteers are needed in Canmore, sign up here!

A few years ago, St. George’s Anglican in Banff has also added a 5-7 pm meal; they too need volunteers.
Sign up here to volunteer in Banff!

in CANMORE:

ALPINE VOICES THRESHOLD CHOIR: Monday 7:00 pm

Threshold choirs give singers the opportunity to offer their voices in service, singing at bedside as a gift to those at life’s thresholds. The Alpine Voices Threshold Choir rehearses on the second and fourth Monday night of the month at 7:00 in the Sanctuary, and sing at the Canmore Hospital each week. All community members are welcome – while hosted by Ralph Connor United, this is a separate entity.  Please contact jan.tissandier@gmail.com for more information.

EVENSONG: Contemplative Worship, Wednesday at 7:15 PM

This service, held on Wednesday nights from fall to spring, began in 2001, and provides a quiet and gentle spiritual Oasis in the middle of the week.  Some of our services are on Zoom, others in person in the Ralph Connor Canmore Sanctuary.  A weekly notice is sent out each week, outlining the theme of that week’s gathering, as well as the location.  To be added to this email list, contact office@ralphconnor.ca

Evensong resumed in October and in general will be alternating between in-person and online gatherings.

UKULELE: Thursday Night

The “High Strung” Ukulele group uses Gordon Hall and the Sanctuary for their practices every second Thursday at 6:00 PM from fall to spring.  This group has seen rapid growth in recent years, and now performs at a number of community venues.

 

RALPH CONNOR CHOIR: Thursday 7:30 pm

Most Sundays from September to June, our volunteer choir sings a Sunday anthem, led by music director Tanya Sullivan.  Music is such an important part of our congregation’s Worship life – come join us.   Our choir has a “playlist” on the Ralph Connor Canmore YouTube page!   Contact music@ralphconnor.ca for details.  And while we don’t mean to boast, we are very pleased and proud that our Ralph Connor Choir has been invited to join a mass choir singing at Carnegie Hall, NYC at the end of May 2024.

PRAYER SHAWL KNITTING AND CROCHETING CREATORS: Friday 1:00 pm

Over 1000 Prayer Shawls have been given to those in need and they are such a huge success for those receiving them. What a gift and a fellowship for those creating!

Typically, gatherings are on the second Friday of the month at 1:00 PM in Gordon Hall, though some months the meetings are at St Michael’s Anglican Church Hall in Canmore. Bring wool and needles. Call Jeanette at 403.678.2030 for further information about this community/ecumenical group.

CYAN – CANMORE YOUNG ADULT NETWORK

The Canmore Young Adult Network was established following a study conducted by Ralph Connor’s Community Networker in the summer of 2017.  For more information, visit the CYAN Facebook Page or  website. As described in their materials, CYAN programs are “For Young Adults – By Young Adults” and include weekly yoga, young adult community suppers, cross-country skiing, art nights, board games nights, special seasonal celebrations, Canmore Eagles games, information nights on social issues… and we are so pleased to be involved with them.

AA MEETINGS: three nights per week

Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings there are AA meetings at Ralph Connor – 8 AM, upstairs.  For dates and locations of AA Meetings in Canmore, see https://calgaryaa.org/meetings/?tsml-day=any&tsml-region=canmore

 

in BANFF:
RUNDLE UNITED THRIFT: Tue/Thu afternoon 2-5 PM, Wed/Fri evening 5-8 PM, Rundle Memorial UC (ground level access from Banff Avenue)

PLEASE NOTE: an accidental fire on March 15, 2024 in the Church kitchen adjacent to Rundle United Thrift has led to the closing of the Thrift Shop for the foreseeable future.  Please refrain from dropping off donations until the Thrift Shop is ready to reopen.  Thank you. 

The Rundle United Thrift store, located in the lower level of our Rundle Memorial United Church building in Banff (enter from Banff Avenue), is open on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and Wednesday and Friday evenings each week to provide affordable goods… and to raise money for the outreach ministries of the Church.  Starting in February 2024 the Thrift Shop has also been open on Monday afternoons from 2 to 5 PM. We are grateful for volunteers from both Banff and Canmore who help with the work of this important community outreach.

BANFF RUNDLE PLAYSCHOOL

The Banff Rundle Playschool is truly a Banff “icon”, having functioned for over forty years!   At playschool, three and four year old children interact and learn through play in a trusting, safe and fun environment. It is located in Travis Hall at Rundle Memorial UC – enter via the back alley. For more information see https://www.banffplayschool.com/; currently on summer hiatus.

additionally…
CHURCH COUNCIL: offering support and oversight for our Ministries

The governing Board of our community of faith is our Church Council, which is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting.   Some administrative tasks are handled by the Church Council Executive.   Recently, we initiated “Big Tent” meetings three times per year, which give the many ministries of the Church a chance to network.  For more information about our governance, including ways to get involved, contact office@ralphconnor.ca

COMMUNITY MUSIC CONNECTIONS

Local choirs & singing groups, hold rehearsals in our sanctuary, musicians make recordings all taking advantage of the tremendous acoustics of our historic buildings. If you are interested in renting the Sanctuary, Hall or Upstairs for your Canmore event or meeting or the Sanctuary or Lonsdale Lounge in Banff, please take a look at our Building Rental Page.