On January 13, we honour Hilary, a bishop and hero of the Catholic faith in fourth-century Gaul. Born and raised in paganism, he inherited great wealth, married and had a daughter, and gained prestige as a public advocate in his native Poitiers, a city in what is now southwestern France. Around the age of thirty, he began to study Christian beliefs in private; his reading and reflection led him to seek baptism in the year 350. The Christians of Poitiers recognized his gifts of mind and character, and two or three years later they elected him as their bishop.

 "God's dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion."

~ Archbishop Desmond Tutu 

In 2010, my family and I journeyed to South Africa for a time of sabbatical and renewal.  We explored a variety of different regions of that beautiful country, meeting many people, hearing different stories, and learning more about the history and traditions.

"A missional church is a community of people who look outward and are able to connect with others that are not already members of a church organization"

 - Reggie McNeal, Missional Renaissance

A PDF of the program details and contact information is linked here

 The Mission to Seafarers ‘Christmas at Sea’ is an initiative which consists of the giving of gifts over the Christmas/New Year period to seafarers on approximately 70 ships, some at anchor and others when alongside. It is a ‘gift in the hand, to provide joy in the heart’ made possible due to compassionate people donating their time, talent, and treasure. 

For 30 years, Holy Trinity Cathedral has been serving a warm breakfast, first on Thursday mornings, since COVID on Saturdays. In those 30 years we have served at least 78,000 meals.  

The Reverend Eve Wiseman died in Surrey, England on January 8, 2022, a short time after suffering  stroke. Eve is survived by her niece, Helen Clay of Caernarfon, Wales and nephew, Simon Clay of Vancouver.
 
Eve was born in Coulsdon, Surrey, England. She was baptized at St. Francis Church and confirmed at St. Andrew’s Church, both in Coulsdon. 
 

Bishop John Stephens’ first episcopal visit to his Parish of St. Timothy, Brentwood took place December 12, 2021, Gaudete Sunday. The bishop preached and presided at a Celebration of Sung Eucharist. 

The Parish of St. Stephen’s, West Vancouver concluded an active fall by presenting the St. Stephen’s Community Choir in concert following the December 19, Advent IV worship.  Following diocesan guidelines for gathering and under the leadership of rector, the Reverend Kenneth Vinal, the group had been rehearsing in the larger space of the nave and chancel where members are able to stand six feet apart. 

On Monday, January 10, diocesan communications received a letter from Maaly Brake, a Child & Family Settlement Worker for Mount Pleasant Family Centre Society Circles of Care and Connection Program.  

Diocesan Refugee Unit Chair, Shannon Muir, ODNW asked that this be shared through diocesan communications. Although the program is for families who have come to Canada as refugees with children under 6 who live within the City of Vancouver proper it is worthwhile to distribute this information around the diocese and beyond.

Please find the RECOMMENDATIONS here

The Recommendations with the forms when available will be posted on a page on the Grants and Loans section of the diocesan website here: https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/pages/climate-emergency-grants

Here are two additional pieces about the archbishop submitted to diocesan communications since the January 6, 2022 E-News

Desmond Tutu, RIP - A reflection on an accidental meeting in Hong Kong, 2007 by Stephen Stow

A Costly Discipleship by Herbert O'Driscoll

On January 5, Bishop Stephens sent a letter to Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines, Companion Diocese to the Diocese of New Westminster. The former bishop, the Right Reverend Brent Alawas was elected Prime Bishop (Primate) of the Episcopal  Church in the Philippines on April 9, 2021. EDNP have not been able to stage an Electoral Synod due to the many restrictions caused by the pandemic.

Bishop Stephens asks that the parishes of the Diocese of New Westminster reach out to their companion parishes on and around January 20 with prayers and good wishes commemorating the EDNP's 50th Anniversary.

Here is a link to the EDNP Facebook Page

Click "Read More" for the bishop's letter

The Rev. Marquardt is asking everyone in the Diocese of New Westminster to consider writing to the Prime Minster to show your commitment to requiring that Canada be clearer about the nation's commitment to Vaccine Equity around the world.

Follow this link to the article on The Guardian website

Vicar, part time (60%) - St. Aidan and St. Bartholomew, Gibsons

Content Specialist, part time, contract - Christ Church Cathedral

Parish Administrator, part time - St. Augustine, Marpole

Parish Administrator, part time - St. Helen's, West Point Grey

Youth Ministry Leader, part time - St. Alban the Martyr, Burnaby

Communications Assistant, half time, term: January 17 - March 25 - Salal and Cedar

 What is Heaven?

“Heaven” is a word loaded with meaning. We encounter the word in Genesis as part of the creation story, and we are presented with surprising images of heaven in the Book of Revelation. Jesus preached about the kingdom of heaven, and our funeral liturgy speaks of the “promise of eternal life.”

 To register, simply email your request to priest@saintagnes.ca and you will be sent the Zoom link. There is no fee and the program is available to all who are interested. 

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a worldwide movement to inspire local expressions of Christianity to gather together and pray.

You can find more information about the week here.

All are welcome to submit content for Topic, the publication of the Diocese of New Westminster published 8 times a year and circulated as a section of the national publication The Anglican Journal

The 2022 Deadlines and Guidelines document with all the information needed is linked here

The full three page registration and information flyer is attached here.

REGISTER HERE

Sermon preached by the Venerable Stephanie Shepard, Archdeacon of Granville during the Celebration of a New Ministry Eucharist that saw Bishop John Stephens induct the Reverend Terry Shields Dirbas, Rector of St. John's, Shaughnessy. Archdeacon Shepard is also the Interim Priest-in-Charge of St. Francis-in-the-Wood, West Vancouver

Sermon preached by the Right Reverend John Stephens at the Eucharist celebrated on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord at St. Andrew the Apostle, Langley.

Sunday, January 16 - Episcopal Visit to St. Catherine, Capilano

Wednesday, January 19 - Episcopal Visit to St. Anne, Steveston for morning service with receptions into the Anglican Communion

Thursday, January 20, 7pm - Ecumenical Worship Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at Holy Rosary Cathedral, 646 Richards Street, Vancouver