Who we are:
Braeside Church is a community of both believers and people seeking to believe. Every person is a beloved child of God, and we seek to celebrate and encourage God’s grace in all our lives.
We welcome all into a relationship with Christ and hold a special place in our hearts for those who have drifted from their Christian roots. We love inviting people to step inside and realize that there’s a hole in their lives that God wants to fill. Visitors to Braeside Church have called us welcoming and non-judgmental, enthusiastic, and filled with the Holy Spirit. We who attend regularly endeavour to be friendly, supportive, curious, and adaptable – always striving to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church! Our worship is inclusive and often interactive. We worship in a relaxed, intergenerational, uplifting manner with varied types of music. We celebrate communion monthly on the first Sunday.
How we live out our faith:
- Gift bags for newcomers
- Record the Scriptures, sermon, and music for reflection to share on our website and share the link in our weekly email
- Weekly email updates with a link to the sermon recording
- Quarterly Newsletter (print and email)
- Print invitations to offer to friends, family, neighbours
- Annual birthday party Sunday
- Special Services: Losses/griefs/transitions/joys, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Sunday, Advent sanctuary decorating, Christmas Eve, Epiphany undecorating, Dove words, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost, others as need arises
- Biweekly lunch fellowship at Red Willow Place
- Weekly Bible Study following the Revised Common Lectionary
- Special Bible Studies: specific books of the Bible, specific topics
- Movie viewing/discussion during Lent and autumn
- Host three different 12-step groups (all of whom have committed to moving with us)
- Provide snack food for Outreach High School weekly through congregational donations
- Provide handwritten cards of congratulations and prayers to Outreach High School graduates
- Gather food for Food Bank
- Book Club
- Greeting card ministry in times of celebration, loss, illness
- March of coins to support local charities
- Rides to and from church for elderly congregants in need
- Prayer Boards
- Quarterly publication of an article from the minister in the St. Albert Gazette
Over the past three Christmases, as our congregational projects, we’ve fundraised for Kaleo Collective, a local organization which supports single mothers, purchased fruit trees to aid families with sustainable income in South America and provided farming implements for villages in Africa. Through Presbyterian World Service & Development, 100% of funds raised for global projects go toward those projects. We also support Presbyterians Sharing, which provides support for congregations in need across Canada.
You can find out more about Presbyterians Sharing and Presbyterian World Service & Development here:
https://presbyterian.ca/sharing/
What we believe:
Our first authority is Scripture, as it continues to be revealed in each generation and each cultural context, which is why we believe that we are “Reformed, and always reforming.” Our “Subordinate Standards” include the Apostles Creed, the Declaration of Faith Concerning Church and Nation, and Living Faith, along with historical documents like the Westminster Confession of Faith.
The Apostles’ Creed (newer version)
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. AMEN.
Declaration of Faith Concerning Church and Nation: written after WW2. Click the link and you will be directed to this document.
Declaration of Faith Concerning Church and Nation
Living Faith: the Statement of Faith of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Click the link to open this document.
You can find out more about the PCC by visiting www.presbyterian.ca