Bishop Brooks' letter December 13th

 December 13, 2020

Dear 5th Ward Family

My, things have certainly taken a change during this past week. I know I’m not alone when I say that the prospects for the Christmas season have certainly changed. Lori and I had planned to spend most of the Christmas holidays with our family in Calgary. We realized we had too many people to all gather together for our usual Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, so we were going to split into two groups. I’m sorry to say we complained a bit about not being able to be all together. Now, we would give anything to have that as an option. So it looks like we will be here in Cardston and enjoy our family through the magic of technology. I threatened Lori that we would enjoy Christmas dinner thanks to Colonel Sanders, but she made arrangements for a turkey breast that will do nicely, I’m sure. I know we aren’t the only people in our ward who are making some last minute changes to our Christmas plans. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.

In the meantime, I have once again procrastinated getting the only gift I absolutely cannot forget. It’s even doubly bad because Lori really does (choose one) most of the/the majority of/all of the Christmas shopping. I try, I really do, but when we did most of our Christmas buying in the stores, I found myself wandering into the men’s wear or sporting goods areas and often ended up getting something for myself. This year is no better as even shopping on line often results in me looking at new shirts and suits for Eric rather than looking for a present for my dear wife. There really should be a class on this in Elder’s Quorum.

Anyway, I finally decided to just come out and ask Lori what she wanted for Christmas. It helped that I happened to be looking at an appropriate web site when I asked this question. She answered as I thought she might, and low and behold, in less than 30 seconds, an appropriate gift (read, I don’t think she’ll return this one) was chosen. I was feeling very smug with myself, and then this morning I got an email from said supplier. It said, and I quote “Eric, thank you for your order. You made our day!”

I have to confess I hadn’t really considered the impact my little present might have on anyone other than the intended recipient. In fact, when I first got the email, it made me laugh right out loud. After all, they have a product for sale, Lori liked it, and I bought it. Really, the two people who should have our days made are, in no particular order, Lori and me; Lori because she’s getting something for Christmas she really wants, and me because I’m now officially finished my Christmas shopping more than 13 days before I’m usually able to say that.  Now I’m not so naive to believe that this wasn’t anything other than an automated response from the seller, but I couldn’t help but think about the principle of gratitude that we have been encouraged to focus on during these difficult times. We are, of course, grateful for those things we receive, or at least we should be. We also should be grateful for the opportunities we have to provide for others, whether it be in the form of gifts, service, or simple attention. It is this area of gratitude where I sometimes fall short, and I dare say I am not alone.

I’m sure we are not the only grandparents who are busily trying to get something special for our little grandchildren. I often ask Lori why we continue to get things for them, when they have perfectly good parents who can fill that particular responsibility. Our garage and shop have become a southern version of Santa’s workshop as we build, restore and repurpose items for children and grandchildren. There was a time when I would have balked at the many projects Mrs. Claus has planned. But just the other day, I was talking with my oldest daughter about the changes in Christmas this year when I was overwhelmed by a feeling of loss when I realized we wouldn’t be spending Christmas together. Suddenly, I felt an extreme sense of gratitude that we could, despite not being present in body, nevertheless make a difference for our family from afar. The ability to help someone, in whatever way, no matter how simple or small, indeed brings with it a sense of joy and appreciation that often far outstrips the receipt of a gift. In many ways, I think it gives a small glimpse into the love our Saviour has for each of us. His message was not about receiving, but giving. How grateful I am for the opportunity to be able to experience that, if only in minuscule way. The joy that comes from trying to be like Him and following His example of giving is eternal.

So while the online store probably didn’t really experience the joy of having provided the gift in question (after all, I did pay for the item), they nevertheless could have experienced the satisfaction of providing a product that was enjoyed by someone. I think that’s why Christmas is so wonderful. We have an opportunity to show gratitude and love to others by some small token. Of course, it goes without saying that the true intent and focus of Christmas should always be the birth and mission of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. But when we show love to one another, and recognize them and try to lift their burdens, we are reverencing the Christ child and all He does for us.

That is Christmas for me. And that makes my day.

Of course, the big announcement this week regarding Sacrament meeting is that we can only have 15% of our Fire Code occupancy. The FM group informs us this will be 107 people. Our last two Sacrament meetings we’ve had significantly fewer numbers than that. We will meet at 10 am this morning and then Sister Hague is doing a Zoom Sunday School class at 2 pm this afternoon. This is our first go at this so please log in if you can.

Next week, our Sacrament meeting will be at 1:30. It is our Christmas Sacrament meeting and we know that some of you will want to have family attend. Remember that we are still supposed to social distance from everyone who is not in our immediate household. For those who will not attend in person, we are going to try to have musical numbers, which will be prerecorded, as well as the talk, hopefully put up on our Stake YouTube channel so you can watch them from home. We’ll let you know about the final arrangements when they are made.

I cannot begin to tell you all how much I love an appreciate you. We have an amazing ward full of amazing people.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and social distance.

Love

Bishop Brooks

Premier Kenney announces stronger Covid-19 public health measures

 

 

 https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx

 

Stronger public health measures

Mandatory, province-wide restrictions are in effect to protect the health system and slow the spread of COVID-19.

On this page:

• Bend the curve
• Gathering restrictions
• Workplace and learning centres
• Business and service restrictions
• Financial support
• Why these measures are needed
• What else you should do
• Enforcement

Bend the curve

Due to Alberta’s high case numbers, aggressive action is required now to protect our health system from being overwhelmed.

The current situation is critical. These mandatory restrictions apply provincewide and will be in place at least until January 12, 2021.

Health officials are monitoring the situation and will adjust measures if required.

 

Gathering restrictions

Alberta declared a State of Public Health Emergency to protect the health care system from COVID-19. Social gatherings are the top source of transmission.

• Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Immediately Dec. 8

  All indoor and outdoor social gatherings – public and private – are prohibited

  • Close contacts are limited to household members only
  • People who live alone can have up to 2 close contacts:
    • must be the same two contacts throughout the duration of the restriction
    • if the close contacts do not live alone, visits cannot be held at their home

  This does not apply to:

  • co-parenting arrangements
  • service visits from caregivers, health or childcare providers
  • home maintenance and repairs
  • mutual support group meetings
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• Non-essential travel

  • All out-of-town travel is discouraged at this time.

  Returning home

  • If the individual belongs to the household (e.g., a such as a child returning home from post-secondary), then they would be permitted to return to the home.
    • If participating in the Border Testing Pilot Program, all program directives must be followed before rejoining the household.
  • If you do not have a household in Alberta, you must not stay in other people’s homes while these restrictions are in place.  

  Visitors

  • Out-of-town visitors cannot stay in other people's homes while these restrictions are in place, regardless of where they are coming from.

  While we appreciate this may affect your travel plans as you may wish to visit or stay with family, the increase in COVID cases is being taken very seriously and these enhanced public health measures are required to stop the spread of COVID-19.  

   

• No change – Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Nov. 24

  • Maximum of 10 people for wedding ceremonies or funeral services and must be held in a public place
    • This includes the officiant, bride/groom and witnesses
    • This does not include staff or organizers who are not considered an invited guest
    • This applies to any facility, including places of worship and funeral homes.
    • This includes services held indoors or outdoors, seated or non-seated.
  • Receptions are not permitted

  This measure will help limit exposure, reduce outbreaks and protect vulnerable attendees.

 
•  

  Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 13

  Faith services are limited to 15% of fire code occupancy for in-person attendance:

  • Services must be held at their normal location, including rental spaces like a community hall
  • Physical distancing between households must be maintained
  • Mask use is mandatory

  Alternatively:

  • Virtual or online services are recommended
  • Drive-in services where people do not leave their vehicles and adhere to guidance are allowed

  Additional safety measures:

  • In-person faith group meetings and other religious gatherings are:
    • not permitted in private homes while these measures are in effect
    • permitted when conducted at a place of worship as long as physical distancing and public health measures are followed
  • Faith leaders and other speakers can remove their masks while speaking if there is a distance of 2 metres. The mask must be put on again once finished speaking.
  • Group performance activities, such as choir singing and playing music, are permitted if they are normal worship practices and not for the purpose of entertainment.

  all indoor and outdoor social gatherings have been prohibited. This will be enforced with $1,000 fines.

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Workplace and learning centres

• Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 8

  Masks are mandatory in all:

  • indoor public places
  • places of worship
  • indoor workplaces and facilities outside the home, except:
    • when working alone in an office or a safely distanced cubicle or a barrier is in place
    • rental accommodations used soley for the purposes of a private residence
    • farm operations (exempt)

  This workplace requirement:

  • applies to all employees, customers, visitors, delivery personnel and contractors
  • includes any location where employees are present in-person
  • includes all workplace locations where masks won’t pose a safety risk
  • does not change current student mask requirements in schools

• Mandatory - Provincewide - Effective Dec. 13

  Working from home is mandatory unless the employer requires a physical presence for operational effectiveness.

• 
  

• No change  – Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Starting Nov. 30

  Grades 7-12 students

  • Move to at-home learning Nov. 30 to Jan. 8, except during winter break*
  • Resume in-person classes Jan. 11
  • Diploma exams are optional for rest of the school year. Students and families can choose to write an exam or receive an exemption for the January, April, June and August 2021 exams.

  Grades K-6 students, including Early Childhood Services

  • Continue in-person learning until their scheduled winter break (generally Dec. 18*)
  • Move to at-home learning after the winter break until Jan. 8
  • Resume in-person classes Jan. 11

  *Schools have different winter break schedules, check with your school for details.

  Exemption is available for students with disabilities or in outreach programs, learn more at K-12 learning during COVID-19.

• 
  

No change to current measures

Licensed daycare, out-of-school and preschool program can continue operating as long as providers follow all public health orders and guidance for child care programs.

Business and service restrictions

• Effective Dec. 13, some businesses will be required to close, reduce capacity or limit their in-person access.

  All previous restrictions from Nov. 27 remain in effect until new restrictions come into effect on Dec. 13.

  • 
    

• Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 13

  Retail services must reduce customer capacity to 15% of fire code occupancy or a minimum of 5 customers:

  • Curbside pick up, delivery and online services are encouraged
  • Shop only with the people you live with
  • Shopping mall:
    • capacity limits of 15% include common areas and individual stores
    • food courts open for grab and go only

  Retail services include:

  • Retail businesses operating within a shopping centre or mall
  • Shopping centres and malls
  • Pet supply stores
  • Grocery stores
  • Pharmacies
  • Clothing stores
  • Computer and technology stores
  • Hardware
  • Automotive
  • Sporting goods
  • Liquor and cannabis
  • Gift shops
  • Approved farmers markets
• 
  

• Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 13

  • All restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges and cafes are closed to in-person service.
  • Take out, curbside pickup and delivery services are allowed.
• 
  

• Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 13

  All entertainment businesses and entities must close, including:

  • Casinos, bingo halls, gaming centres
  • Racing centres, horse tracks, raceways
  • Bowling alleys, pool halls
  • Legions and private clubs (nightclubs must remain closed)
  • Art galleries, libraries and museums
  • Science and interpretive centres
  • Amusement and water parks
  • Children’s play centres and indoor playgrounds
  • Theatres, auditoria and concert halls
  • Banquet halls, conference centres and trade shows

  All indoor recreation facilities must close, including:

  • Gyms and studios
  • Fitness and recreation centres
  • Spas, pools, indoor rinks and arenas
  • Day and overnight camps
  • Community halls and centres

  Outdoor recreation is permitted, but facilities with indoor spaces except for washrooms will be closed.

• 
  

• Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 13

  All personal and wellness services must close.

  Personal services include:

  • esthetics, manicure, pedicure, body waxing, make-up
  • body, nose and ear piercing, and tattoos
  • artificial tanning and spray tanning
  • facial, eyebrow and eyelash treatments
  • cosmetic skin and body treatments
  • laser hair and tattoo removal

  Wellness services include:

  • colonic irrigation
  • floatation tanks
  • massage
  • reflexology

• Mandatory - Provincewide - Effective Dec. 13

  Regulated health services can remain open by appointment only as long as public health orders and sector guidance is followed. Appointments should be limited to one-on-one services.

  • physicians, dentists
  • physical therapists
  • optometrists
  • hearing aid practitioners
  • acupuncturists
  • naturopaths

  Professional services can remain open by appointment only:

  • lawyers
  • mediators
  • accountants
  • photographers

  Social services can remain open for in-person services including:

  • social, protective or emergency services
  • shelters for vulnerable persons
  • not-for-profit community kitchens, religious kitchens and soup kitchens

  Home-based businesses should follow the restrictions for the type of service they provide.

• 
  

• Mandatory - Provincewide - Effective Dec. 13

  Hotels, motels, hunting and fishing lodges may remain open but must follow restrictions:

  • No spa, pool or gym access
  • No in-person dining (room service only)
• 
  

• Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 13 (Nov. 27 restrictions remain in effect until Dec. 13)

  Performance activities include dancing, singing, theatre and playing wind instruments.

  Outdoor settings

  • Rehearsals and practices are permitted up to a maximum of 10 participants. Physical distancing and other relevant guidelines must be followed.
  • Performances with audiences are not permitted.

  Indoor settings

  • No group performances in indoor settings are permitted.
  • Rehearsals, practices and lessons involving 2 or more are not permitted.

  Lessons

  • 1-to-1 in-person lessons are permitted.
  • Virtual lessons are strongly encouraged where possible.

  School settings

  • Phys Ed., band and drama classes are permitted to continue
  • Assemblies, performances, concerts, and inter-school games, activities and competitions are not permitted.

  Places of worship

  • Indoor group performance activities conducted in a place of worship, such as choir singing and playing music, are permitted provided these are normal activities conducted as part of worship practices and not for the purpose of entertainment.
• 
  

Mandatory restriction – Provincewide – Effective Dec. 13 (Nov. 27 restrictions remain in effect until Dec. 13)

Group physical activities, including team sports, fitness classes and training sessions, are prohibited or restricted across Alberta.

• Outdoor group physical activity, including team sports, must be limited to 10 people or fewer.
• Indoor group physical activities are prohibited unless
  • the group only involves members of the same household.
  • the activity involves students at a school or post-secondary institution as part of an education program
  • the activity involves students at a post-secondary institution
• One-to-one indoor training, such as training with a fitness trainer or coach, is not permitted.

Financial support

Canada’s COVID-19 economic response plan

Financial support programs are available to help people, families and businesses facing hardship as a result of COVID-19.

Find a program

 

Small- and medium-enterprise relaunch grant

Funding is available for small- and medium-sized businesses, co-ops and non-profits impacted by COVID-19 to offset a portion of their costs.

Learn more

 

Why these measures are needed

Albertans have a responsibility to slow the virus's spread and make sure the health system can continue supporting patients with COVID-19, influenza and many other needs.

There is a time lag between when people get infected and when new cases are identified. This means the cases we see today were infected up to 2 weeks ago.

We must work together to protect each other. The greater the community spread, the more likely it will infect our loved ones most at-risk of severe outcomes, including death.

What else you should do

Albertans must continue following existing public health measures to keep everyone safe:

• Stay 2 metres apart when you can, wear a mask when you can't
• Practice good hygiene: wash your hands often and cover coughs and sneezes
• Monitor your symptoms every day
• If sick, stay home, get tested, and follow mandatory isolation requirements while waiting for results:
  • if positive, isolate from others for 10 days or until symptoms are gone, whichever is longer
  • if negative, stay home until you're better
• Avoid non-essential travel
• Get the flu shot to keep influenza cases low so health workers can focus on the COVID-19 pandemic
• Download and use the ABTraceTogether contact tracing app when out in public

Enforcement

If you violate a public health order, you may be subject to a $1,000 fine. Additionally, you can be prosecuted for up to $100,000 for a first offense.

If you are concerned someone is not following public health orders, you can:

• remind them that not following orders is against the law and puts people at risk
• submit a complaint to AHS public health inspectors online or call 1-833-415-9179

Submit a complaint

Complaints that require an immediate response can also be reported to your local police force through their administrative phone line.

 

Calgary Canada Mission webpage: FindingFaithInChrist.org

As you are aware, our website FindingFaithInChrist.org is up and running and we are excited about it. It has already shown great results with 4,400 site visitors and 17,000+ page views.  On average each visitor has viewed about 4 pages on our site.

 

We are anxious that more of our members are able to see this local page as a place where we can unite our efforts across Stakes in the mission as we gather Israel.  We have amazing content from members of Wards and Stakes on the site, which will continue to grow as we localize our collective efforts. 

 

 

May we invite ward members to the website to prepare themselves for Christmas. Sharing the spirit they feel with their friends is as easy as sending the link to their friends.  Help us to put Christ in Christmas this unusual year like it has never been done before.

 

 

    Put Christ in Christmas like you’ve never felt before. 

    visit findingfaithinchrist.org today.

    Send the link to your family and friends and share the love with them.

    You can also access “light the world” directly from this site

 

 

We hope this initiative will develop organically as find ways to link our efforts in sharing our Savior's love with all in Southern Alberta. 

 

Our love and blessings,

Stephen A. Keung

Canada Calgary Mission

 

Bishop Brooks' letter December 6th

 December 6, 2020

Dear 5th Ward Family

So, let’s deal with first things first.
I have to apologize to everyone who wanted to attend last week’s Sacrament meeting but didn’t because of the information we had that restricted our numbers to 95. About 8 o’clock Saturday night, the government regulations were clarified and the number being used was 1/3 of the fire code capacity. Effectively, that means our entire ward could likely attend given the space available in the cultural hall, stage, and other over-flow areas. We tried to get the information out, but I’m sure many of you didn’t read it until too late. Last week, in particular, was an extremely fluid situation. I’d like to say that is no longer the case, but I wouldn’t be truthful if I suggested that. The reality is we are asked to follow the directions of our elected officials. So, we will.

A special thank you to all those involved with the Primary presentation, which never disappoints. Our primary children are amazing, and have a real penchant for performing. I’m not sure I’ll ever think of the story of Abinadi in quite the same way. The presentation was extremely well done.

I’d also like to thank President Widmer and the Elder’s Quorum for being the lead in this year’s Food Drive. I must confess I was reluctant to allow our ward to be involved given all the Covid restrictions, but it was organized and executed in a safe and efficient manner. Thank you for all who contributed for even though we are in the midst of a pandemic, there are many who would go hungry but for your generosity.

I hope you have had a chance to watch the Christmas wishes arranged by the Relief Society. We are so lucky to have a chance to reach out to one another despite the current situation. Remember to contact your ministering families. The one area of fallout we are currently experiencing is the sense of loneliness. Pick up your phone and call someone. You will be inspired as to whom that person is.

I can’t help but remember my first Christmas away from home. It was December of 1978 and I was a missionary in the city of Ichinomiya, Japan. I had arrived in country during the first week of that month, so when Christmas came just a few weeks later, I really had yet to be acclimatized. I’m not sure whether it helped or hurt that the Japanese really don’t celebrate Christmas. The decorations were restricted to a few Christmas trees in department store windows. The whole concept of celebrating the birth of the Saviour was lost on the vast majority of the population. So that was a little depressing. On the other hand, I’ve never eaten so many Japanese oranges, or as we called them when I was growing up, Christmas oranges, in my life. The branch members seemed to understand how much we loved them and brought box after box to us. And these weren’t the 4 or 5 lb. box we get here, they were sometimes 20 lb. boxes of deliciousness. We ate them by the dozen, made mandarin orange syrup for our pancakes and even squeezed them for their juice. It was incredible. But tropical fruit aside, Christmas was quite lonely that year. Missionary calls on Christmas Day were still a thing of the future, so I was left to simply speculate as to what my parents and family were doing on that Christmas morning.

Luckily, I had a mother who was in tune with the needs of her youngest son. A box arrived, not long after Christmas, that contained treats and gifts, but most importantly, contained photos of that Christmas being celebrated by family. The decorated tree, surrounded by presents, my brother-in-law heading out to feed the cows and chickens, and the table covered by an amazing Christmas dinner with all the fixings, were all there in picture form to remind me of our family’s way of celebrating Christmas. Now some would suggest that such photos would only have served to distract me from the work. I would beg to disagree. Rather than making me homesick and interfering with my calling, it gave me a sense of calm and peace and reminded me that I had parents and family that loved and supported me and while they missed me, they wanted me to be the best missionary I could be.

The missionaries from our ward are likely in need of some moral support this Christmas season. Their addresses are on the blog. Spend time and send them a letter, or an email, to let them know you are thinking of them. Theirs is not an easy lot right now. As Covid continues to rage, they are doing their best to serve using technology. It would be easy to get down in such a situation. You can let them know how much you love and respect them for their sacrifice. And don’t forget their families here at home. Sending a young man or woman into the mission field is no less a sacrifice for parents and grandparents than it is for the missionary son or daughter. Reach out to them as well.

So next Sunday, we will meet at 10 am for Sacrament meeting. There will only be one meeting. All of the restrictions and protocols will likely remain in place. We look forward to as many attending as are able, bearing in mind the usual cautions regarding health, age and anxiety.

The following Sunday, December 20, we will meet at 2:00 pm. This is to allow all three wards to have a meeting that is Christmas centred on the Sunday immediately preceding Christmas. We are looking forward to both meetings and again hope to see as many of you as are able to attend.

Stay safe, stay healthy, social distance and know that we love you all.


Bishop Brooks