REFUGEE SUNDAY

A Message from the Primate

Sunday, June 16th, 2024

This year, World Refugee Day will be marked on June 20th; a time when we remember the over 110 million refugees and internally displaced people in the world and honour the work of those who “welcome the stranger.” I am therefore writing to invite you, your dioceses and parishes to consider celebrating a Refugee Sunday at some point in the month leading up to that day, or at another time this year. Learn More

ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP

Save the Date

Tuesday, February 4th, 2025

This one-day-in-person workshop is offered as part of a doctoral research study taking place across Canada in 2024 and 2025 led by The Rev. Clara King. It will help clergy explore the adaptive challenges that are facing the church, and equip them with new leadership skills to address these challenges. Learn More

ELVIS' BLUE HAWAII, GOSPEL & MORE!

June 15, 2024 at 6pm – St John Shaughnessy

Experience the magic of Elvis Presley’s timeless hits performed live by the internationally acclaimed tribute artist Ben Klein. Get ready for a night filled with great performances and nostalgic melodies that will transport you back to the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll. Learn More

LABYRINTH WEEK

June 17-21, 2024 – Christ Church Cathedral

To usher in summer, Christ Church Cathedral’s labyrinth will be open this month, during the week of Monday, June 17th to Friday, June 21st from 10am – 4pm. We invite people of all faiths and spiritual disciplines to experience a time for centering, contemplation, reflection and meditation.

A special evening event, “Music of the Labyrinth”, will take place on Friday, June 21st, featuring Vancouver cellist-singer Byron Hanson. Learn More

ECO-JUSTICE OFFERINGS FROM SALAL + CEDAR

June 20, 2024 at 6pm – Online

After diocesan mission conference on Theology of Land, clergy conference on Creation Justice, and the Season of Creation approaching, Salal + Cedar is excited to offer resources and workshops to integrate Creation Care into the life of your community. On June 20 we have an online training for worship planners, (Wild)Crafting Worship for Climate Crisis, or we can create and lead a service or education event tailored just for your community.

• Register for (Wild)Crafting Worship for Climate Crisis. Click Here
• Check out our other offerings on our website. Click Here
• Book soon, our calendar is filling up. Email Here

BOOK LAUNCH - WILDLIFE CONGREGATIONS

June 24, 2024 at 7:30pm – St Barnabas, New Westminster

The New Westminster Ministerial is supporting a Book Event to celebrate the launch of the Rev. Laurel Dykstra's book, Wildlife Congregations: A Priest's Year of Gaggles, Colonies and Murders by the Salish Sea.

Laurel will be there. Their book will be there. It's an opportunity to support and discover a faith-filled, humourous, and spiritual account of encounters with a lot of creatures. 

BOOK LAUNCH - FAITH IN DOUBT

June 28, 2024 at 7:30pm– Christ Church Cathedral

Churches are declining throughout the West, and none of the big evangelism programs have made any difference. What if the problem isn’t programs, but that churches are speaking a language that isn’t understood in secular society? What if churches learned to speak secular? What would that sound like?

Harold Munn tells his own love story between faith and science, and the love story of a believer and an atheist, in his new book, Faith In Doubt. Its unveiling takes place with readings and conversations.

GREGORIAN CHANT

June 29, 2024 at 1pm – St Titus

A weekend introduction to Gregorian Chant , led by Instructor Kevin Zakresky. Learn how to read chant notation; learn about the history of chant; participate in an authentic Latin Vespers service. Tuition $75. Register Here

FILM SCREENING: THE PHILADELPHIA ELEVEN

July 6, 2024 at 3:30pm – Christ Church Cathedral

It's the 48th anniversary of women's ordination in the Anglican Church of Canada and the 50th anniversary in the Episcopal Church of the USA. Christ Church Cathedral is hosting a celebratory screening of a new documentary on the "Philadelphia Eleven" - the first women ordained in the Episcopal church. It's a compelling, dramatic story. Learn More

CATHEDRAL WEEK AT SORRENTO CENTRE

July 21-27, 2024 – Sorrento Centre

Join Dean Christopher Pappas, Rector of Christ Church Cathedral and Dean of the Diocese of New Westminster and many others from the Cathedral at Sorrento Centre for the week of July 21-27th. 

Sorrento Centre is an Anglican retreat and conference centre located in Sorrento BC at beautiful Shuswap Lake in the Interior. Learn More

BEING A GOOD ANCESTOR

A Year in Conversation

Friday, June 14th, 2024

After a year-long journey with Being a Good Ancestor, folks got together for a closing celebration with food, sharing, and conversations around next steps in the journey of reconciliation. Learn More

RETIRED CLERGY SPRING LUNCH

On Tuesday May 28, 2024 the semi-annual Retired Clergy and Spouses luncheon and gathering took place, this time held at St. Helen's Anglican Church in Surrey. Roughly sixty five people attended, and as always, they enjoyed catching up with each other! Click Here

ACW NEWS 'N VIEWS - SUMMER 2024

Find your Summer 2024 updates from the Diocesan Unit of the Anglican Church Women (ACW) here. Click Here

BRASS TACKS: A REPORT FROM COGS

I long to write about the glorious things that happened at the meeting of the Council of General Synod (CoGS), May 31 to June 2 in Mississauga... But I need to tell you one thing above all else: the Anglican Church of Canada is running out of money at the national level: Click Here.

IMAGE SEARCH: THE BISHOP'S CHRISTMAS CARD

Bishop John is seeking images for his consideration to be featured on his Christmas card. Does your parish have a stained glass window on a Christmas theme? Do you have good quality photographs of a parish Christmas event? Please send ideas and photos to the Bishop’s Assistant, Bill Siksay, by August 15th.  Click Here

ANNIVERSARY HYMN FEST A BIG SUCCESS

Christ Church Cathedral

On the afternoon of Sunday, May 26th, approximately seventy-five singers gathered in the nave of the Cathedral to take part in “Hymn Fest 35 for 135”, singing selected verses of 35 chosen hymns in celebration of the 135th anniversary of Christ Church Cathedral in 2024. 

The singers comprised members of the Christ Church Cathedral choir, parishioners of the Cathedral, and attendees from around the Diocese who came to participate in this very unique singalong. Learn More

CAMP ARTABAN

Camp Artaban is searching for items to support its ministry, particularly through its food preparation. The camp is on the lookout for:

• commercial size sliding-door unit for kitchen that serves 100 or more, for weeks at a time
• back-kitchen fridge, and
• refrigerator in Caretaker's house.
• Funding for transport of fridges to Gambier Island.

If you have leads or would like to contribute yourself, please contact Nancy by email Here.

CANADIAN CHRISTIAN MEDITATION COMMUNITY RETREAT

July 5th-7th, 2024

Benedictine monk Father Laurence Freeman, Spiritual Director of the World Community of Christian Meditation (WCCM) and recipient of the Order of Canada for interfaith dialogue, will lead the Canadian Christian Meditation Community National Conference Retreat at UBC July 5-7, 2024..  Learn More

SORRENTO CENTRE - 5 WEEKS OF SUMMER!

July 7th-August 10th, 2024

Come to the Sorrento Retreat and Conference Centre and be nourished! Nourishing mind, body, and soul is vitally important to the health and balance of our lives.

Join us for a morning program during our Five Weeks of Summer with diverse opportunities to connect with your heart, your mind, and other participants. Afternoons offer free time on the land. Enjoy the beautiful lake front beach, take a walk, or simply rest. Evenings are filled with heart-warming and stimulating activities. Learn More

GLOBAL MIGRATION & CHRISTIAN WITNESS

July 8th, 2024 at 7pm - St Mary's Kerrisdale & Online

Join VST’s Visiting Distinguished Scholar Dr. Jehu Hanciles for a fascinating look at the spread of Christianity as it became a global religion. Drawing on his extensive scholarship on the history of Christianity, Dr. Hanciles offers a fresh take on the roles of formal mission and natural human patterns of movement in global exposure to the Christian faith.

This event is a VST Free public lecture. Learn More

JESUS: THE MOST INTERESTING PERSON IN THE WORLD

July 9th, 2024 at 7pm

As one of America's best known and loved preachers, Professor Will Willimon is no stranger to sharing Jesus' story with the world. But Jesus' story presents a unique challenge and opportunity. Unlike historical figures whose stories are fixed in time, Jesus makes it difficult by continuing to live in and among us. Jesus' story is ongoing.

This event is a VST Free public lecture. Learn More

VST SUMMER SCHOOL

July 1 - 12

Each year, VST offers a Summer School that brings together religious leaders and teachers to offer both degree and continuing education programs in a wide variety of disciplines. The 2024 course listing is out now. Learn More

VST ISP SUMMER SCHOOL

July 1 - 12

The Indigenous Studies Program Summer School is an opportunity for students who are often isolated from one another to gather, learn, and worship together. It is also an opportunity for intensive coursework for students in the ISP. Learn More

NATIONAL WORSHIP CONFERENCE

July 18 - 21

The Anglican-Lutheran National Worship Conference is back this year with the theme Stones Cry Out: Praying With the Land. It meets this year in Regina, Saskatchewan, over four days in July.

The full list of workshops is now available. Learn More

RECTOR

St Laurence, Coquitlam

The Bishop of New Westminster is seeking to appoint a full-time rector for the Parish of St Laurence, Coquitlam. Full details and the Parish Profile can be found Here.

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Holy Trinity, White Rock

The Church of the Holy Trinity, White Rock, BC, Anglican Church of Canada, seeks a music director to participate in the continued growth and development of worship in the parish. Learn More