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Taize Service this Saturday, September 7 @ 5 PMJoin us for a time of peace and prayer We invite you to join us at 5 PM on the first Saturday of each month in the Chapel at the Church of the Advent for a service of deep prayer and worship, sacred darkness, and the singing of chants in candlelight. A Taizé worship service involves sung and chanted prayers, meditation, a period of silence, liturgical readings, and icons. There is no preaching. The style of prayer practiced at Taizé has attracted many worshipers from around the globe and from many different denominations. We gather in the early evening in the chapel for a simple service of chanting, Bible readings and prayer. Join us for this special time of worship.
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Sunday School Registration
Sunday School officially reopens on September 22nd, and kids’ registration happens on Sunday, September 15th in the Narthex following the 10:00 service. Please be sure to fill in the form, no matter the frequency your child will attend. Nell Divinagracia, who is our new head of Sunday School, will be there to answer any of your questions.
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Sunday School Teachers
We are looking for more volunteers who are willing to teach Sunday School or aid the teachers. Full training is provided, and you would not be required to teach every Sunday. If you have questions about the curriculum or schedule, please speak with Nell Divinigracia before or after the 10:00 service, or email her at nellanthonyfamily@gmail.com. |
Jazz Vespers on September 15th @ 7PMFeaturing Edie DaPonte and Attila Fias |
Church of the Advent Vision 2030Be part of our building a vision for our parish's future! Saturday Sept 21st & Sunday Sept 29th - afternoons. Mark your calendars for the two-part parish visioning workshop led by Bishop Logan. Each session will begin with a potluck lunch. We want to know: Who is God leading the Church of the Advent to be and to do in 2030? (in 5 years’ time) How will we get there? This process will be prayer-filled AND practical. Every voice is important, no matter your age, no matter how long you’ve been in the parish. We’ll be working in small groups to ensure that everyone gets a chance to speak. Each session begins with a potluck lunch at 12 noon, and end at 4 PM. Sign-up sheets for each day will be available in the Narthex. |
Safe Church TrainingSunday, September 22 @ 12 PM We will be providing another Safe Church training on Sunday, September 22nd at noon in the St. John’s room. The diocese requires that anyone who volunteers at the church MUST obtain a Safe Church certification, which is effective for 5 years, after which it is renewed by taking the training again. Please sign up in the Narthex if you plan on attending. The training will take approximately an hour. Everyone is invited to bring their own bagged lunch. For anyone who is unable to attend on the 22nd but requires the training, please contact Terry Mikkonen at safechurch@colwoodanglican.ca. |
A New Choir Season
Our choir is now back in session, and the parish eagerly welcomes another year of musical ministry that enhances our worship experience so extraordinarily! To anyone who is interested in possibly joining the choir, you are invited to speak with Nell following the service.
Photo by Michael Maasen on Unsplash |
"Secret Shoppers" needed!
What is a "secret shopper" and why do we need some? The idea of a "secret shopper" comes from business, where people are sent into a store to evaluate aspects of how that store is run. They are not identified as information gatherers from head office, so they look like an ordinary shopper - but have a secret mission. Secret shoppers are really helpful in gathering information in order to improve practice - whether it's a Best Buy, a Timmies or a parish. What would you do? We are looking for people to volunteer to visit one church of similar size as the Church of the Advent in the Greater Victoria area during September, October and November. You should not know anyone at this church. You will be an ordinary once-off visitor - and not identify yourself as a secret shopper (duh). You would tell no-one that this is what you are doing. It is better to visit a denominational church, such as the United Church, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, or other Anglican church, because they are similar in practice and budget to Church of the Advent. You would be given a form to fill in that would cover aspects of the appearance of the church, how you are welcomed, what the parish bulletin boards, bulletins, and sources of information look like, how you are treated at coffee hour, etc. Why are we doing this? It's always good to compare our practice with that of similar churches, so that we can improve, keep fresh and up-to-date, and to make sure that we are doing things as well as we possibly can. It is easy for us to get stuck in the ways we have always done things. This is an opportunity to assess our systems and improve. And: If you have friends who would like to visit Church of the Advent anonymously and fill out the form for us, that would be very helpful indeed. Interested?: Please email Sr. Ingrid at iandersen@bc.anglican.ca with the name of the church you would like to visit. |
Firewood!! Trees in Front of ChurchA Message from Buildings & Grounds On Friday September 13th, Tomahawk Tree Services will be coming to the Church of the Advent to cut down two Douglas Fir trees that are at the end of our parking lot. The trees will be cut into fireplace lengths and we hope to sell most of it as firewood on Saturday, September 14th. If you can assist us on September 14th in moving the wood around for potential customers and loading it into trucks or cars, it would be appreciated. We hope to charge for the wood to help pay for part of this large expense. Please talk to Bob Nichols, Joel Glanfield, or Ingrid Andersen, or sign up on a list that will be in the Narthex. Thanks for your consideration. |
Pet Blessing 3 PM Sunday, October 6th
All are cordially invited to our annual blessing of the pets in honour of the feast day of St Francis. The brief service will be at 3 PM on Sunday, October 6th, in the yard at Church of the Advent. Bring lawn chairs, and dogs to be on leashes, please. If you are unable to bring your pet, please bring a photo of your pet (if it's a llama or an elephant), so Sr Ingrid can bless it anyway! |
Christmas Craft Fair 2024
The Christmas Craft Fair committee will be collecting items between now and the time of the Craft Fair in November. They are needing Christmas mugs, Classico sauce jars with their lids, and small canning jars for jams and jellies. There will be a box in the Narthex where you can freely drop off the items. Any other questions can be directed to Liz Garland. Thank you! |
Church of the Advent Nametags Available!
Our parish is growing rapidly, and it's important for visitors and new parishioners to get to know names. The Church of the Advent nametags are made of a light brass, laser engraved with a magnetic backing so that it will not damage your Sunday finery. The cost is dependent on the number ordered. We usually order in batches of 12 or more. If you are interested, or would like more information, please see Mike Armstrong after church or email spike39@shaw.ca with ‘Nametag’ in the subject line. |
Donations
Thank you for your ongoing donations to our outreach ministries. It really makes a difference! In the Narthex closet you will find bins where we can accept gently used men and women’s clothing, winter boots, jackets, coats and backpacks. Please note that we no longer accept empty prescription bottles, shoes, toys, or household items.
Photo by Thom Holmes on Unsplash |
Blessing for JoeySeptember 15th Service Our fellow parishioner, Joey, is changing her name as a sign of a new beginning in her life. She is supported by her family and by Jazmane in this. This step is very meaningful to her, and she has chosen the name Josephine Iris Hart. On Sunday, September 15th during the 10 AM service, please join us as we affirm her new name and bless her. |
Faith Tides: September 2024
Faith Tides is the official publication of the Anglican Diocese of Islands and Inlets. It is a space where people of faith and doubt can share their stories, challenge their perceptions and grow together. In this issue: Synods and canons, remembering Herbert O'Driscoll, the story of our church in this land, affordable housing nearing completion, and more! For more infomation visit:
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From the Parish LibraryTHE SEASON OF CREATION WEEK 2 This week’s emphasis in the Season of Creation, within the overall theme of “To Hope and Act with Creation”, is “To Act in Solidarity with the Poor.” The following books join Mary Robinson’s Climate Justice and Richard Wagamese’s One Drum on the Top Shelf: Joan Chittister. The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage. A book about following the path of the prophets in today’s society, and speaking out. Richard Rohr with John Feister. Jesus’ Plan for a New World: The Sermon on the Mount. The model for a new world order based on following the teachings of Jesus. Howard Thurman. Jesus and the Disinherited. A short, profoundly influential book that explores "the significance of the religion of Jesus to people who stand with their backs against the wall." To borrow any book for six weeks, please fill out a green slip from the shelf underneath the display, and put it in the pink box marked Library. |
Readings for this Sunday's ServiceProper 22 Readings for this Sunday's services: PROVERBS 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 PSALM 125 JAMES 2:1-10, 14-17 MARK 7:24-37 Read Sunday's readings online: |
Online Bible Study
All are welcome to join us on Thursdays for our relaxed and interesting Zoom online Bible Study, to look at the readings for the following Sunday. No experience or prior knowledge is needed. Time: 10 AM - 11 AM. Zoom Link: https://bc-anglican-ca.zoom.us/j/88378461340?pwd=cU9wSUNEZG02M3h3bGVrUmpyMjRNZz09 Meeting ID: 883 7846 1340 This week we continue with our discussion of Chapter Five of Marcus Borg's book on the Gospel of Mark |
Mark Your Calendars
Sept 7 – Taizé Service, Chapel, 5 PM Sept 11 – Ladies Guild Lunch Meeting, Hall, 12 PM Sept 15 – Welcome Back Coffee Hour Sunday School Registration, Narthex, after 10:00 Service Jazz Vespers Featuring Edie DaPonte, 7 PM Sept 17 – Parish Council, St. John’s Rm., 7 PM Sept 21 - Parish Visioning Process Part 1 (Sat afternoon, hall, after potluck) Sept 22 – Safe Church Training, St. John’s Room, 12 PM (bring your lunch) Sept 25 - Ladies Guild Luncheon Sept 28 – Spanish Eucharist Service, 6 PM Sept 29 - 10 AM service only! Sept 30 - Ecumenical Truth and Reconciliation Day service Sept 30 – Oct 4 – Book Sale Prep Week Oct 5 – BOOK SALE Taize, Chapel, 5 PM Oct 6 – Pet Blessing, church yard, 3 PM |
Services at Church of the Advent
Sunday 10:00 AM - Contemporary Eucharist, Book of Alternative Services, First Saturday of the Month Last Saturday of the Month |
Office Hours
Office hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 9 am until noon. |