Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church

09/08/2026

Hello my FAMily. Barry and I have left our Viking Cruise and now on our Royal Caribbean ship visiting Greece. We went from a ship of 196 to just over 4,000. A bit different atmosphere. I think they like to party on this ship. We celebrated our 42 anniversary on board. They surprised us with 10 waiters singing an anniversary son and a tasty cheesecake which I snuck a taste.

Day 3 we are on Santorini. Took a bus to a couple town to explore and now on a gorgeous beach watching the sunset. Just beautiful. We are missing our travel partners, Launa and her daughter Joy.

09/04/2026

Hello to our FAMily. We are just at the end of our river cruise waiting for a taxi to take us to the airport to continue onto Italy where we get on our Greek cruise. Launa and her daughter Joy are now flying home
We have seen the most beautiful church’s/cathedrals. I have included some pictures of them.

09/01/2026

DEREK BENJAMIN DUNN It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Derek Benjamin Dunn at the age of 29 years due to a tragic hiking accident in Pemberton, BC. We feel he passed in early April from numerous injuries and was discovered June 6, 2026.
He is the beloved son of Robert and Susan Dunn and dear brother to Nathan Dunn of Medicine Hat. He was predeceased by his Grandparents Gerald and Harriet Dunn and Phyllis and Harold Davis.
Nephew to Cheryl & Victor Hento, Donald Dunn, Janet Davis, Karen (Jim) Holmes, Peter (Lyn Vause) Davis. Cousin to Josh & Lynsey Toal (Brooklyn, Kinsley & Romi), Katelyn & John Lindstrand (Hazel & Alex), Kelsey Davis, Abbey Davis, Emily Davis and Alyssa Davis. Derek also had many cousins in Saskatchewan where he enjoyed gatherings on the farm in Gull Lake, SK.
Derek was born in Medicine Hat on May 28, 1996 and at the age 2, the family moved to Calgary where he embraced his love of learning at Cedarbrae School. The family then moved back to Medicine Hat and that’s where his most meaningful friendships flourished. He attended Connaught, Alexandra, and Medicine Hat High schools. He was a percussionist/drummer at Alexandra and Hat High.
His real passion was his cars! He fell in love with Mercedes; learning their intricacies and proudly keeping them in excellent condition. He loved a good road trip, hiking with his friends in BC, camping, listening to live music and enjoying the family cabin in Elkwater.
He attended SAIT and was so proud to attain his Petroleum Engineering Technician diploma and enjoyed living in Calgary and working in the field. He had a thirst for knowledge and his determination and resilience were undeniable.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church on September 12, 2026 at 1 pm.
HIS KINDNESS, QUIET GENEROSITY AND FRIENDSHIP WILL BE SO VERY MISSED!!

08/31/2026

Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation call us to listen, reflect, and act—including acknowledging the Church’s role in the residential school system and its responsibility to pursue justice, healing, reparations, and reconciliation.

The United Church of Canada invites communities of faith to order and wear a bilingual Every Child Matters / Chaque Enfant Compte shirt.

As a church, we acknowledge the harms caused by the Residential School system and its ongoing impacts on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. We remain committed to walking the path of truth, justice, healing, and right relations through continued learning and meaningful action.

EVERY CHILD MATTERS is a trademark owned by the Orange Shirt Society and is used under license. Shirts are sold at cost, reflecting garment and printing production expenses.

Order Your United Church Every Child Matters T-shirts by emailing the office…[email protected] or text Piehl at 403-548-0268 with your name and size. (Small to 3 XL) Cost of the shirts are 34.95 plus shipping. Deadline to order is Sept 11th. Once Piehl has placed the order, the shipping will be determined then you can e transfer, pay with cash or cheque.

08/30/2026

Barry, myself, Launa and her daughter Joy are on a Viking River cruise that goes from Amsterdam to Basel. We are fortunate enough that it rained and we can stay on the same ship (Mani) all the way through. In Cologne and on our way to our excursion. Having a blast

08/30/2026

08/24/2026

Someone left their keys in the Sanctuary. They are in the church office

08/18/2026

From Medalta:

📚 We’re looking for a Bookkeeper & Administrative Assistant to join our growing team!

This is one of those behind-the-scenes roles that helps keep our organization running smoothly including bookkeeping, payroll, office administration, donor records, and the day-to-day details & administration assistance.

If you’re organized, comfortable with numbers, and enjoy being the person who keeps things on track, we’d love to hear from you!

This is a full-time, permanent position with a salary of $50,000.

Applications are open until August 31, 2026, and will be reviewed as they come in.

➡️ Learn more about the position and how to apply:
https://medalta.org/employment-opportunities/

Know someone who might be a good fit? Please share this with them!p

Look for career & employment opportunities @ Medalta? Find out more about our current openings for energetic, personable individuals.

08/12/2026

With shattered hearts, we are letting family and friends know that our sweet son and brother, Derek Dunn, was discovered deceased on June 6th. We feel he passed April 3rd due to fractures of the leg/ribs, plus shock and hypothermia.
We are so very devastated but knowing and experiencing where he passed in such a beautiful and Godly place brings us some comfort. Overlooking Mt Currie, the view of the snow peaked-mountains and the stars would have been so spectacular and something Derek would have appreciated!
There will be a Celebration of Life in September as soon as we finalize dates and we thank you all for your love, support and prayers over the last four and a half months. We feel it immensely and it has pulled us through the darkest of days.
Now and most importantly, we need to bring our boy home!! 💔

08/10/2026

Please help us spread the word to family, friends, coworkers, teachers, clients, coaches, and anyone who knows a child or family who may need financial support to participate in sports or recreational activities.

The Christian Doll Foundation is now accepting applications for assistance. Funding is available to help reduce financial barriers that prevent children from participating in sports, programs, and activities. All applications are confidential.
Apply online: www.thechristiandollfoundation.ca
July 26, 2026 marked the second anniversary of Christian's passing. While there is nothing that can make such a difficult day positive, Christian's Foundation continues to honor his legacy by helping local children access opportunities he would have loved to see every child enjoy.
Through the generosity of sponsors, golfers, volunteers, donors, and community fundraisers, The Christian Doll Foundation is helping ensure more kids can participate, belong, and thrive.

Support children's sports and activities. Join The Christian Doll Foundation to help youth access opportunities for growth, friendship, and confidence.