Join us at this Sunday for a joyful Pride celebration of all of us, God's family, in our wonderful diversity of identity, love, orientation, and gender.

Come as you are, knowing that your authentic self is beloved, and celebrate that belovedness with a diverse and affirming family of faith. You are wonderful, just as you are.

Eucharist Service - Sunday 29 June, 10 AM, Church of the Advent 

Wear brightly coloured clothing for our celebration, and bring a packed lunch, and lawn chairs for the fun picnic on the church lawns afterwards!

Please join the Dolan family in Room C after the 8:30 service this Sunday for their monthly breakfast.

Church of the Advent will be marching in the Pride Parade in downtown Victoria on Sunday July 6th together with Gordon United Church, as the West Shore Affirming Churches. We will be carrying our beautiful new banner!

You are encouraged to join us - whether it be for only part of the march or the entire length! The Parade begins at about 11 AM, and lasts about an hour and a half. It's our way of letting people know that there IS loving, caring, affirming Christian community on the West Shore.

Please let Sr Ingrid know if you would like to participate. We have two banners with which to march - our thanks to Linda Van Sickle and Mary Wills for the Church of the Advent banner, pictured, and Tina Weatherell for the West Shore Affirming Churches banner. Sr. Ingrid and Dirk Freistadt have made rainbow bandanas for the group of marchers. Those who are marching and have told Ingrid will receive an email with more detailed instructions about times and car pooling today.

Note: There will be a church service at 8.30 and10 AM as usual.

The parish office will be closed on Tuesday, July 1st. Normal hours will resume on Wednesday.

Sr Ingrid will be on vacation in South Africa for her mother Mitzi's 90th Anniversary, from July 7^th to 23^rd.  All pastoral related concerns can be directed to Terry Mikkonen at 250-216-3801. You can also contact the Parish Office Tuesday to Thursday, 9 to noon.

Please note the upcoming Sunday service schedule:

Sunday, July 6^th  both services as usual with Rev. Joanne Epply-Schmidt

Sunday, July13^th – both services as usual with Rev. Joanne Epply-Schmidt

Sunday, July 20^th – 10 am service Morning Prayer Service led by Terry Mikkonen.  (No 8.30 service, by request)

Sunday, July 27^th – both services as usual with Sr Ingrid

 

Reverend Joanne Epply-Schmidt is a longtime family friend of the late Rev. Herb O’Driscoll and his wife Paula, who created the beautiful four-part hangings in the sanctuary. You can read more about Joanne here.

Ken will be away the weeks of June 30^th and August 4^th, and we are looking for a couple of volunteers who would be willing to look after the set-ups (and possibly changing the outdoor sign if needed) during those weeks. There is very little scheduled so only 1 or 2 set-ups will be required. If several people volunteer, the workload will be minimal.

Please let the parish office know if you would like to help. Thank you!

Last Sunday, Taylor Gossman received a formal commendation from the Anglican Communion Environmental Network for her exemplary leadership in environmental stewardship. Her concept and execution of the Environment Expo held at the church in January was highlighted and recognized. The Rev. Ken Gray was here to present her with the award. Congratulations, Taylor!

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. Many come only for the day or the weekend, but some of us stay for longer. We especially encourage you to join us on Saturday for the potluck dinner, and/or Sunday morning at 11 AM for the Eucharist service, celebrated by Rev. Larry Scyner.

There is a great pool which is $5 for daytime visitors.

To find out more about Rondalyn, click 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. 

The Diocese has a superb course on our history in BC, looking at the way that we have interacted across cultures and race, beginning with the very first colonists.

Sr. Ingrid has completed the course, and found it interesting, challenging and immensely rewarding. Often, we prefer not to engage with uncomfortable subjects, but there is a lot to be learned about ourselves and the unspoken background of the society in which we live. To introduce you to what is possible with this course, please watch this brief video with Bishop Anna.

This seven-week online series brings people together in intentional conversations to:       

• encounter our collective past
• locate ourselves as participants in the ongoing story of this place
• explore how to respond faithfully to the truths we find together

...so we can participate with God in restoring creation and affirming the dignity of all people.

A team of trained moderators will offer will offer each of the seven sessions which are based on the information covered in the CRBC project, using video, song, prayer, self-refection exercises, readings and group discussions. 

The Church of the Advent will be engaging in this course during September and October, on Tuesday nights at 7 PM (skipping the third Tuesday of each month).

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

On Thursday next week, we will be discussing Chapter 5 of the Kitteridge commentary on the Gospel of John.

Lisa Brodersen will be leading Bible Study during Sr. Ingrid's absence during July.

Readings for this Sunday's services:

EZEKIEL 34:11-16

PSALM 87

2 TIMOTHY 4:1-8

JOHN 21:15-19               

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".

We Are All Different: A Celebration of Diversity

Written by Tracey Turner and illustrated by Åsa Gilland

Just in time for Pride Week, we have a newly-donated storybook for older children (ages 7 to 11) about the many kinds of difference to be encountered in a single school. The book explores and explains what the school’s children have in common, their likes and dislikes, their differences of culture, religion, and family structure, as well as visual differences like ethnicity and physical disabilities. It also discusses gender and gender pronouns, autism, learning styles and disabilities, and hidden disabilities like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The take-home messages of this charmingly-illustrated and thoughtful book are, “we are all unique,” and, “be kind.” We Are All Different has been catalogued in the Tween section at TW TUR, and can be found this week on the Top Shelf.

ALSO ON THE TOP SHELF FOR PRIDE WEEK

Juno Dawson. This Book is Gay.

     A frank book for young adults (and their parents) on what to know about being differently-gendered. A Guardian Book of the Year.

David Gushee. Changing Our Mind: Definitive Edition of the Landmark Call for Inclusion of LGBT Christians with Response to Critics.

     A lucid defence of the inclusion of LGBT Christians by an evangelical scholar and professor of Christian ethics who has suffered both personally and professionally for his pro-LGBT stance.

Austen Hartke. Transforming: The Bible & the Lives of Transgender Christians.

     Understanding gender, gender identity, and gender expression.

Matthew Vines. God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships.

     What does the Bible really say (and not say) about same-sex relationships?

 

THE CHILDREN’S SECTION

Children’s books on the small table in the narthex this week:

Circle of Love, written by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt. For ages 4-8.

     “Everyone is welcome in the circle.” An inclusive book about family by a local two-spirit indigenous author.

Julián is a Mermaid, written and illustrated by Jessica Love. For ages 4-8.

     A young boy wants to imitate the splendid mermaid costumes he sees three women wearing on the subway. A Stonewall Book Award winner.

Pride Puppy, written by Robin Stevenson and illustrated by Julie Mclaughlin. For ages 2-5.

     A family attends a Pride parade. A beautifully-illustrated, locally authored and published, rhyming alphabet boardbook that promotes diversity and inclusion.

 

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, and leave your book beside or under 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.

Read the June 2025 issue

Jun 29 Pride Sunday Service & Picnic

             8:30 Breakfast, Room C

Jul 1 Stat Day, parish office is closed

Jul 5 Taize Service, 5 pm

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

Jul 7-23 – Sr Ingrid away on vacation in South Africa

Jul 9 Community Coffee Social, 9:30 am

Jul 11-18 Parish Camp

Jul 15 – no Parish Council meeting

Jul 20 Morning Prayer Service, 10 am (no 8:30)

Jul 26 Spanish Service & potluck, 6 pm

 

Aug 9 Games Night, 5 pm, Hall

Aug 13 Community Coffee Social, 9:30-11 am

Aug 19 Parish Council Mtg, 7 pm

Aug 23 Spanish Service & potluck, 6 pm

 

Sept 6 Taize Service, 5 pm

Sept 10 Community Coffee Social, 9:30-11 am

Sept 14 Welcome Back Sunday

Sept 16 Parish Council Mtg, 7 pm

Sept 21 Jazz Vespers, 7 pm

Sept 24 Ladies Guild Lunch, 12 pm

Sept 27 Spanish Service & potluck, 6 pm

Sept 28 Welcome Coffee Social

Sept 29 Book Sale Prep Week starts

 

Oct 4 BOOK SALE DAY

           Taize Service, 5 pm

Oct 25 Order of the Diocese of B.C.

             Visit of Bishop Anna & confirmations at Spanish Service, 6 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 

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.