Common Threads

Tuesdays at 2pm

Creating community and connection through the joy of crafting. Our weekly gathering provides a warm, welcoming space for makers of all skill levels to work on projects and share fellowship.

• Craft in Good Company: Bring your knitting, crocheting, sewing, or any portable craft project and enjoy great conversation while you create.
• Open to Everyone: Whether you are a lifelong expert looking to share your skills or a beginner wanting to learn something new, there is always a seat for you.

We meet on Tuesdays at 2:00pm in the church hall. No registration is required—just bring your current project and join the fun!

Sandwiches for Alpha House

Wednesdays at 1pm

Providing nourishing meals and support to individuals experiencing homelessness. Every week, our dedicated volunteers come together to prepare and deliver fresh sandwiches to Alpha House.

• Powered by Community Partnerships: Our sandwiches are lovingly made using fresh bread generously donated by the Calgary Italian Bakery.
• Flexible Ways to Help: Whether you join our Wednesday prep team, make sandwiches at home to drop off, or donate sandwich fillings to stock our kitchen, every contribution makes a direct impact.

We meet to assemble sandwiches on Wednesdays at 1:00pm. Pre-made sandwiches or filling supplies can also be dropped off on Wednesday afternoons or Thursday mornings by 9:00am. To arrange a pickup for pre-made sandwiches, call Tom at 403-269-7841.

ESL Conversation Club

Tuesdays at 9:30am starting September 10th

Welcoming new Canadians and helping them build confidence in their everyday English skills. Our club provides a relaxed, friendly environment for newcomers to practice conversational English and make meaningful community connections.

• Practice Through Connection: Volunteers meet weekly with participants to engage in casual, supportive conversations that help improve fluency and vocabulary.
• Build a Welcoming Community: Beyond teaching language, this ministry is about hospitality—making our new neighbors feel at home, valued, and supported in their new journey.

We meet on Tuesdays at 9:30am (starting September 10th, 2026). If you are interested in volunteering as a conversation partner, please contact Martha at marthaonsimcoe@telus.net..

Coats for the Community

Keeping our neighbors warm during the cold winter months. Each November, as part of our parish’s Patronal Celebration, we host our annual winter coat drive to support individuals and families in need.

• A Gift of Warmth: We collect new or gently used winter coats, jackets, and outerwear to ensure everyone in our wider community stays safe and warm.
• Driven by Celebration: This special drive is a core part of how we celebrate our patron saint’s day—by immediately turning our faith into action and care for others.

Donations can be dropped off in the designated collection bins in the church foyer throughout the month of November.

Bundle Bags

Providing a warm and supportive start for new mothers and their infants. In partnership with CUPS (Calgary Urban Project Society), our parish community comes together to assemble layettes filled with essential newborn supplies.

• A Kit of Essentials: We pack each bag with love, care, and practical items like diapers, wipes, clothing, and blankets to give vulnerable families a helping hand during those first few critical weeks.
• Driven by Community: This vital outreach relies entirely on the generosity of our congregation donating supplies or taking the time to carefully assemble the bundles.

If you would like to donate newborn items or help pack bags, please contact the church office.

Food Bank and Advent Hampers

At St. Martin’s, we believe in supporting our neighbors through every season. Our food ministry operates in two impactful ways:

• Year-Round Food Bank: We collect non-perishable food items every week to help stock local food bank shelves.
• December Advent Hampers: Each holiday season, we assemble festive hampers filled with all the supplies and ingredients needed for a family Christmas dinner.

Donations can be left in the designated collection bins.

Izzy Dolls

Bringing comfort and smiles to children worldwide. Our knitting ministry creates small, handmade dolls—affectionately known as Izzy Dolls—that serve a special purpose:

• A Gift of Comfort: These compact, colorful dolls are used as packing material to safely cushion delicate medical supplies shipped to developing nations.
• A Message of Love: Once the boxes arrive, the dolls are given directly to local children receiving healthcare, offering them comfort during a difficult time.

Knitting patterns and yarn requirements are available in the church entryway, or you can drop off completed dolls in the parish entryway

Prayer Shawls

Wrap someone in a tangible embrace of comfort, warmth, and prayer. Our knitting and crocheting ministry lovingly creates handmade shawls for individuals facing difficult times, illness, or major life transitions.

• Crafted with Intention: As each shawl is created, our makers lift up prayers for the future recipient, weaving hope and blessings into every stitch.
• A Gift of Comfort: Completed shawls are blessed by the church and given away to anyone in the community who needs to be reminded that they are wrapped in God’s love.

Whether you are an experienced crafter or want to learn, you are welcome to join us. Patterns are available, and completed shawls can be dropped off at the church office