At Messy Church this time, we're learning about women of power in the Bible!
Messy Church is a fun, creative form of church for people of all ages, a celebration time with story, prayer, and songs; and a sit-down meal together at tables and hospitality.
It’s church for people at all stages of faith journey and of any age. Come and join us – you’ll enjoy it!

Come to Messy Church on Saturday, October 19th (10 am to 12:30 pm) for crafts, activities, music, stories and lunch. 

Your 2024 Stewardship/Pastoral letter is ready! Please remember to pick yours up in the Narthex this Sunday. If you are not expecting to be here, you can notify the parish office and Caroline will mail your letter to you.

You are warmly invited to join Joey and Jazmane
to celebrate as they are married at
the Church of the Advent
on Saturday 26th October at 1 PM.

You are encouraged to RSVP for the wedding service on the form below.
(Apologies for an incorrect setting on the RSVP form last week - it should work today.)

You are cordially invited to a Harvest Dinner on Saturday, October 26^th at 6:30 pm in the hall. A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex.  We gratefully accept volunteer support in setting up and/or taking down. If you can offer your assistance with this, there is a column on the sheet to indicate so.  We hope you can attend as we expect it to be an evening of great fun and fellowship!

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

On Sunday, October 27th during Coffee Hour in the hall after the 10 AM service, we are holding a Ministry Fair. This is a great opportunity for you as a parishioner to learn about all the exciting ministries we have going on and discover if you would like to become a part of them! Representatives from each of the various ministry groups will be stationed around the hall and available to answer your questions. Hope to see you there!

Calling all youth and those who are young-at-heart!

The Peninsula Youth Group is made up of Anglican youth (ages 11 to 16) from across the Peninsula. We meet once a month or so to do something fun and low-stress together. On Sunday, October 27^th at 2:30pm, we'll be coming to the Church of the Advent and we're hoping to meet you! We'll be carving pumpkins, listening to scary music and maybe decorating cupcakes. Bring your favourite pumpkin carving ideas and carving utensils.  Pumpkins will be supplied.

For more information, please reach out to The Rev. Kelly Duncan from St Andrew's, Sidney at kduncan@bc.anglican.ca or by phone at (604) 644-8634.

Hope to see you there!

You are in for a very special treat! On Sunday, November 3^rd at 2 PM in the church, the Choir of Church of the Advent performs “Joy in the House.” This is a special concert performance featuring memorable music from various genres, both sacred and secular, led by our choir director Nell Howard. You won’t want to miss this very rare opportunity. All are welcome. Suggested donation at the door is $15.00. Donations to the Goldstream Food bank are also being accepted.

A fun COFFEE HOUSE EVENING presenting the Bluegrass/ Folksy band  “Pocket Full Of Dust.”

Friday Nov. 29 th at 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 ish in the hall at the Church of  the Advent.

Tickets $15.00 at the door or purchase in advance from Dayle  Robertson or Bev Somers.

Door prize to be won!

This event is open to the public.

Coffee, tea and snacks will be available (cash only please). 

POCKET FULL OF DUST 

Pocket Full of Dust is a four-piece acoustic band that plays bluegrass as well as traditional roots and folk, with strong vocal harmonies.  The band has been active locally for the past few years playing market venues, some restaurant gigs, as well as busking at the central library. Band members are: Tim Storm – banjo & vocals, Noreen Skoreyko – fiddle, mandolin & vocals, Carol Thibault – upright bass & vocals, and Bruce Medd – guitar & vocals. C’mon out and hear some good old time acoustic music!

Thank you for your generous donations of jars. We have reached a sufficient number, and they are now available for anyone who will be making jams, jellies, and preserves etc. for the Christmas Craft Fair. Please feel free to pick up from the Narthex however many jars you need!  

The Anglican Church of Canada has released the 2025 calendar, and it has yet again stunning photography of churches across Canada. They are available for purchase through the parish office at $6 each.

The Church of the Advent Jazz Vespers is thrilled to welcome The Brandy Moore Jazz Trio.

Join us on Sunday November 24^th at 7pm for this incredible show. Admission at the door is the Suggested Donation of $20/person.

As the days shorten and the weather cools, life on the streets becomes more difficult. Have you ever wondered what that might be like? New to our library is the following book:

The Emptiness of Our Hands: 47 Days on the Streets

Phyllis Cole-Dai; photography by James Murray

“Who would you be without a home?”

For the six weeks of Lent 1997, writer Phyllis Cole-Dai and her young friend, photographer James Murray, went voluntarily to live among the unhoused population of Columbus, Ohio, in order to be fully present to those for whom homelessness was not a choice. In the middle of a Midwestern winter, they left their comfortable homes with no money, no ID, no food or water, no shelter or bedding, and no extra clothing—with nothing, in fact, except the clothes they wore, and the photographic film and small tools that James needed to make pinhole cameras out of garbage.

Nothing had prepared them for the reality of living on the streets. They suffered mentally as well as physically, and on their return, both required treatment for PTSD.

This is an eye-opening account of courage and resourcefulness; the ugliness, humiliation, and unexpected (if unreliable) camaraderie of street living; and the difference that kindness can make.

This book is now on the Top Shelf; its regular location is in the Social Justice section of the library, shelf code SOCJ COL. To borrow it, please fill out a green slip from the small bookcase in the narthex, and put it in the pink box. The loan period is 6 weeks.

Faith Tides is the online, faith-based publications of the Anglican Diocese of Islands and Inlets (BC). Through news stories, reflections and feature articles Faith Tides aims to showcase the work God is doing through our churches. It is a space where people of faith and doubt can walk alongside one another, share their stories and grow together.

In this issue

Bishop's Column: A month of thanksgiving
Rebecca Yeo and Mona Smart ordained to the scared order of deacon
Oh God, it’s Otter!
An invitation to stretch
A letter to the editor

Read the October issue online or click READ MORE to download a PDF version.

Bishop Anna Greenwood-Lee has shared a short video providing an overview of the two days of Synod events and encourages all synod delegates to attend their regional meetings prior to synod. 

Synod 2024:

Opening service
Friday, November 1st from 7pm
Christ Church Cathedral

Synod 2024
Saturday, November 2nd 
The Baumann Centre (St. John the Divine, Victoria) 

Readings for this Sunday's services:

Job 38: 1-7                                                                         

Psalm 104: 1-9, 25, 37b

Hebrew 5: 1-10                                                                                          

Mark 10:35-45                                                                                                   

Read Sunday's readings online:
1. Go to https://lectionary.anglican.ca/  
2. Select next Sunday's date in the space at the bottom.
3. Click "Link to full text for this day".

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
Passcode: 4743031 

Oct 19 – Messy Church, Rooms A, B, C, 10 AM

Oct 20 - No 8:30 service. 10 AM service only.

Oct 23 – Community Lunch, Noon

Oct 26 – Spanish Service, 5.30 PM (note earlier time)

                Harvest Dinner, Hall, 6:30 PM

Oct 27 -  Ministry Fair during Coffee Hour
               Victoria Anglican Youth Event - Pumpkin Carving (Rooms A, B & C)

Nov 2 – Taize/All Souls Service, 5 PM

Nov 3 - Choir Concert, 2 PM

Nov 15 – Christmas Craft Fair Prep Day

Nov 16 – Christmas Craft Fair, 10 AM – 3 PM

Nov 24 – Jazz Vespers - Brandy Moore Jazz Trio, 7 PM

Nov 27 – Community Lunch, Noon

Nov 29 – Coffee House Fellowship Evening, 7:30 PM

Nov 30 – Spanish Service, 6 PM

Dec 7 – Taize Service, 5 PM

Dec 8 – Lessons & Carols Service, 2 PM

Dec 21 – Blue Christmas Service, Chapel, 5 PM

Sunday
 8:30 AM - Traditional Eucharist, Book of Common Prayer
(no choir) Chapel

10:00 AM - Contemporary Eucharist, Book of Alternative Services,
with choir Main Church

First Saturday of the Month
5:00 PM - Taize service with singing  Chapel (except August and January)

Last Saturday of the Month
This month: 5:30 PM - Spanish Language Anglican Eucharist Service  

Office hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

from 9 am until noon.