On April 6, Maundy Thursday, 2023, the Synod offices of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster received a visitor, the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Most Reverend Linda Nicholls. Archbishop Linda dropped by for a visit on her way to YVR and a trip to Prince Rupert and Terrace/Nass Valley in the Diocese of Caledonia where she will preach and preside at Easter liturgies.

(left to right) Receptionist and Administrative Assistant to the Synod Office, Elias J. Neto; Accounting Clerk, Prashanti Yadavalli; Bishop John Stephens; Executive Archdeacon, the Venerable Philippa Pride; Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Executive Archdeacon, Bill Siksay; the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Most Reverend Linda Nicholls; Missioner for Indigenous Justice, Kerry Baisley, ODNW; Special Projects Coordinator for Diocesan Mission and Ministry, the Reverend Alecia Greenfield.

Please share Bishop John's messages with your family, friends and on social media.

Here is a direct link to the YouTube post

The Diocese of New Westminster stretches from Powell River to the northwest all the way to Hope in the east. There are currently 62 parishes and 4 worshipping communities all part of the Anglican Church of Canada and the World Wide Anglican Communion.

Click the link to access the Find-a-Church pages where you will find 11 regional groupings each with 5-7 parish pages inside. Each regional grouping landing page has a description of the region and each parish page is linked to a map. There is also a "SEARCH" function for each regional group. Many of the parishes have posted schedule information regarding worship and events.

As someone with an overactive interest in what used to be called ‘current affairs’, I admit to spending more time than necessary reading newspapers. One of my wife’s friends said I should not believe all I read in one such outlet; she has a point on many levels.

On Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023 at St. Thomas’, Chilliwack Laura Rosengren shared the triumphal entry story with the children. The congregation were invited to wonder about the story anew. 

The staff of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster have a scheduled meeting once a month, 10 times a year (no July or August) almost always on the first Wednesday morning of the month. The April 2023 meeting took place on April 5 which was the Wednesday of Holy Week. A busy time for Bishop John and a busy time for all.

On Saturday, April 1, 2023, a delegation representing the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India visited the Synod Office of the Diocese of New Westminster. This was a great opportunity for Bishop John Stephens to meet Bishop Sabu Koshy Cherian, his wife Dr. Jessie Koshy and other representatives of that diocese. The bishops exchanged gifts and there was lots of conversation.

On Sunday, April 2, 2023, Bishop John Stephens visited his Parish of St. John the Evangelist, North Vancouver for Palm Sunday, the first liturgy of Holy Week, 2023.

As the weather around the Lower Mainland was very unsettled (from bright sunshine to hail to sleet to snow) the Liturgy of the Palms was celebrated in the narthex prior to the Procession.

Members of the Parish of Holy Cross, Vancouver and some friends and family travelled to Whitehorse this past March. Eight of us flew from Vancouver, including Katsumi, a guest from Japan, and Trine, the Rev. Alecia Greenfield’s mother. We were looking for the northern lights and practicing appreciating awe.

The Board of the diocesan Anglican Church Women are thankful to the many people who've worked diligently over the years to help the diocesan ACW thrive in God's service. With the smart initiatives of those before us, and the sale of the W.A. Memorial House in Vancouver, we have the means to flourish for generations to come. Sadly, we've hit a snag. Our currently leased warehouse in Burnaby will have a significant increase in rent at the end of the lease on May 31.  

Although the weather in the Greater Vancouver Area on Palm Sunday, April 2 was diverse to say the least, the eastern Fraser Valley was dry with some cloud. The stable weather meant that the parish could get outside and process!
Click through for a few photos sent into diocesan comms by Interim Priest-in-Charge,  the Reverend Lorie Martin.

A web-sized version of the April 2023 issue is linked here

Deadline for submissions to the June (Summer) 2023 issue is April 28, 2023

The 2023 Deadlines and Guidelines document is linked here

A downloadable .PDF of the newsletter is linked here.

The Ecumenical/Multi-Faith Unit Group and the Bishop of New Westminster have coordinated a letter of greeting to local Jewish communities on the occasion of Passover. This year Passover began April 5.

You can learn about Passover here and why it is an important day in the faith tradition of our Jewish neighbours.

Please find linked here a poster to add to your parish bulletin board!

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

Visit the St. Catherine's website's event post for more information.

Facilitated by Heather Ruce

In collaboration with The Contemplative Society (Cynthia Bourgeault)

Holy Saturday marks Jesus’ journeys into the heart of the earth in which he not only encounters the most constricted, cut off and hurt states of human consciousness in the collective false self but allows love to reach them and weave them into the whole.

Lunch and refreshments are included.$0 - $100 Pay from the heart so all may come and expenses are covered. Thank you! Contact person: lorie@loriemartin.com

On April 14, 2016, BC declared a public health emergency around the number of opioid related deaths. At that time the rate of overdose deaths was 20.4 per 100,000 people. 8 years later the rate of overdose deaths is almost 42 per 100,000. Thousands of our family members, friends and neighbours have died.

All are welcome to attend a night of entertainment as the White Rock parish welcomes Elvis Tribute Artist Ben Klein to the Church of the Holy Trinity.

​Ben will perform two sets of Elvis favorites including Gospel tunes and old hits.

​Concessions and refreshments will be available in our parish hall at Intermission

​Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in the office and by e-Transfer. Email office@holytrinitywhiterock.ca or call (604)-531-0884

Are you studying at UBC and looking for a community through the week to grow alongside? Join us on April 18 as we meet for dinner and compline (Anglican for evening prayer) at St. Anselm's Anglican Church, UBC. Doors open at 5 for dinner at 5:30 followed by Compline and time for conversation and maybe even some music making! Bring a friend, bring two!"

Iconography is an ancient writing style that serves as a threshold between the mortal world and the divine realms. These peculiar images have been part of Christian spiritual practice for thousands of years but are often misunderstood and underutilized as tools for deepening our faith.

Cost:$10 Payable by cheque, cash or PayPal (https://saintalbansburnaby.ca/payments/).

(Payment due on the first night of the workshop)

Register: Through the church office 604-522-4363 or stalbanschurchbc@gmail.com

10 – 11:30am. @ St. Thomas Chilliwack  

Facilitated by Katherine Murray and Lorie Martin

Drop In or register: stthomaschilliwack@gmail.com  

Bishop John Stephens and the Mission and Ministry staff of the Diocese of New Westminster invite all those being confirmed, reaffirmed or received into the Anglican Church this year to join us for a day of learning, conversation and worship.  

Register here 
Deadline to Register: April 19, 2023. If you need childcare, deadline is: April 14, 2023
Date of Event: April 22, 2023
Location: Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver, BC
Cost: $15

Note: this is an optional day and not a pre-requisite for confirmation

Here is a link to Registration and Information.

Featured Speakers

Christina Puchalski MD
Professor of Medicine and Director
George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health

Evan Adams MD
Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Public Health
Indigenous Services Canada

Please click on the highlighted date to register and for detailed information.

•             April 29 – St Hilda, Sechelt 

Registration deadline for a seminar is on the Monday prior. A minimum of 15 participants will be required for a seminar to be held.

ISP Summer School 2023 will be taking place both online and in person this year (for most classes) from July 10-21. They are still waiting on a few course descriptions but if you want to get a peek at what will be offered for summer 2023 please visit the following link for course info and/or to register.

Register before by May 15 to take advantage of the Early Bird discount (certificate/ConEd and Audit registrations only).

This the first of two Ground Work terms in 2023 will be facilitated by the Reverends Tellison Glover, Marnie Peterson and Andrew Halladay.

Purpose

Using organizational development tools and spiritual reflective practice, Good Ground for Spiritual Seekers will explore your parish's culture and identity. Your team will use this awareness to shift your parish's attention toward building more meaningful relationships with seekers and newcomers. Come expecting to develop a strategy for implementing new habits that form a more welcoming, engaging, and generous community.

Sermon preached by the Right Reverend John Stephens at his Parish of St. John the Evangelist, North Vancouver during an episcopal visit, April 2, Palm Sunday.

Video, audio and text available

On Tuesday of Holy Week, April 4, 2023, approximately 80 vested and unvested clergy with 40 lay people gathered at Christ Church Cathedral for the Chrism Mass. This is the Celebration of Holy Eucharist with Reaffirmation of Baptismal and Ordination Vows and Blessing of Holy Oils. For 2023 there were two additional components, the collation of two archdeacons and the receipt of Christ Church Cathedral's Prayer Pole.

AUDIO ONLY