The Garage Sale held on Saturday, May 3rd, was a wonderful event in the life of this church and our Westshore community.  Volunteers worked steadily for four days preceding the sale, receiving donations from parishioners as well as lots of generous people in our wider community.  Along the way, everyone who helped out had a great time getting to know other church members and having fun with one another.  
On Saturday, more than 50 volunteers helped with the early morning set-up, with the BBQ lunch, with selling items to our many customers and with the packing and clean up at the end of the day.  We received many comments from customers who enjoyed their shopping experience and were impressed with the quality of the goods and the way that they were displayed.  Unsold items have now been moved on to Habitat for Humanity Restore, Anney’s Closet, WIN, metal recycling and the Salvation Army.  Thanks to everyone who helped with the delivery of these items.
Bill and I extend a huge thank you to everyone who participated in this great event.  The net proceeds for the day, which include a very generous donation from a parishioner, are $6,285.  Well done, everyone!   ~ Linda Van Sickle

Beloveds

A few of you have asked me about the 59 Afrikaners, descendents of those who led the brutal apartheid regime of South Africa, who have arrived in the United States, claiming refugee status. These are not refugees, nor are they persecuted.

They are people who are clinging to a racist past when their whiteness automatically gave them jobs and preference over others, and they don't like living without that privilege. To give you an understanding of how white people are not persecuted, white South Africans make up 7 percent of the population, however they occupy the majority of top management positions, and own more than 70 percent of the land. 

In bringing these Afrikaners to the United States and welcoming them with open arms while violently deporting brown and black refugees without due process, the White House is making its bigotry very clear. I support the Episcopal Church in their refusal to assist these non-refugees while all funding for support for genuine refugees has been cut off by the government. 

Please read Archbishop Thabo Makgoba's letter to the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Archbishop Thabo was my ordaining bishop, and I trust his judgement. ACSA is the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

Sr. Ingrid

Rondalyn Resort, Ladysmith - July 11-18 (or part thereof)

You are warmly invited to join us for our fun parish campout, which takes place at Rondalyn Resort in Ladysmith, from July 11-18. There are both camping and full hookup sites for trailers. Many come only for the weekend, but some of us stay for longer. Saturday nights are always a potluck dinner, and we worship under the trees on Sunday morning. There is a great pool. Take a look here

Never been on parish campout before? Join us! It's a great way for parishioners of all ages to learn to get to know each other.

Name of who is coming and how many. If already booked, site # if known. Arrival and departure dates. Help with potluck, church service, anything else.... Contact info

We have a wonderful opportunity available for the start of Sunday School in September. Michelle Gossman has graciously been our Sunday School Coordinator this past year, and is now preparing to hand the role over to a new candidate who feels called to this ministry.

The main key responsibilities for this role are:

All are welcome to join us on Thursdays for our relaxed, lively and interesting Zoom online Bible Study, to discuss the readings for the upcoming Sunday. The readings are posted in this newsletter.

No experience or prior knowledge is needed.

Time: 6 PM - 7 PM.

Zoom Link:  

https://bc-anglican-ca.zoom.us/j/88378461340?pwd=cU9wSUNEZG02M3h3bGVrUmpyMjRNZz09

Meeting ID: 883 7846 1340
Passcode: 4743031

We are aware of an issue with the delivery of '@shaw.ca' emails. These emails seem to be sent to a filter that we have not been able to resolve. If you have an '@shaw.ca' address, please note that this email program is unreliable. Provided by a Texas company called Zimbra, it is basic and outdated. Shaw has indicated that they will eventually exit the email business, similar to Telus a few years ago (which didn't go well). In other words, this problem is not going to go away on its own. It's time to change.

We recommend signing up for a free email client such as Outlook.com or Gmail.com. Both are easy to sign up for and add to your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Outlook is generally more recommended as Gmail monitors all emails for content to keep it free. Once signed up, you can either continue receiving emails on your Shaw client or switch over completely. This way, if Shaw cancels its email service, you'll be prepared and continue receiving your church newsletter.

Al Wills has volunteered to assist if you need help figuring it out! Please let Caroline know if you need Al's assistance - if there are enough people with phones and laptops, we could organise a teaching session during a coffee hour.

Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash

Readings for this Sunday's services:

ACTS 11:1-18

PSALM 148

REVELATION 21:1-6

JOHN 13:31-35

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".

The Dead Sea Scrolls: The Race to Solve an Ancient Mystery

J.I. Baker

For the next five weeks, this newsletter column will be devoted to the review of one of the library’s new acquisitions, which will be added week by week to the Top Shelf display on the small bookcase in the narthex. We begin this week with a special issue of Life Magazine.

The Dead Sea Scrolls provides a summary of the key events and personalities in the exciting story of the recovery of the manuscripts, in the context of the creation of the modern state of Israel. It is a useful historical overview, with many colour and black-and-white photographs.

This title was first issued in 2016, and reissued in 2022 on the occasion of the 75^th anniversary of the first discoveries. It has been catalogued in the Bible Resources section and will normally be shelved in the St John Room.

To borrow any book, please fill out a green loan slip from the small bookcase in the narthex, and put it in the pink box labelled “Library.” If you have a book due for return, please fill out a yellow return slip instead, and leave your book beside the box. Thank you.

Faith Tides is the online, faith-based publication 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.

Church of the Advent features twice in this issue!

May 20 Parish Council Meeting, 7 pm

May 24 Spanish Service, 6 pm

May 25 Jazz Vespers, 7 pm, featuring Tiny Rhythm Kings

May 28 Ladies Guild Lunch, noon

Jun 1 Sunday School Picnic

Jun 7 Taize Service, 5 pm

Jun 11 Community Coffee Social

Jun 17 Parish Council Mtg, 7 pm

Jun 20 Strawberry Tea Prep Day

Jun 21 Strawberry Tea & Craft Fair

             Spanish Service & potluck, 6 pm

Jun 29 8:30 Service & Breakfast

          10 am Pride Sunday Service

           Pride Picnic, front lawn after service

Jul 5 Taize Service, 5 pm

Jul 6  Pride March Victoria - all are welcome to join us!

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

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

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

Fourth Saturday of the Month
6 PM - Spanish Language Anglican Eucharist Service  

Office hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

from 9 am until noon.