Do you enjoy boardgames? Feel like getting together with friends for some games, snacks and plenty of laughs?

Then join us this Saturday for the next of our Church of the Advent Family Boardgame Nights. Whether you’re a classical purist who digs Risk and Monopoly, or you’re into trying something new like Settlers of Catan or  7 Wonders; there will be tons of games for everyone. Party games, strategy games, dice, cards…you name it! We will also have a rules explainer available, so you don’t have to plug through an instruction manual for 20 minutes to figure out the games. Feel like sharing your favourite game with friends? Bring it along!

Did we mention snacks and drinks? That’s right! In true boardgame café style, we will have bowlfuls of snacks, popcorn, and drinks available to keep tummies from grumbling. All proceeds will go to the Coffee Fund.  So come feeling ‘snacky’!

Come out and enjoy the spirit of fellowship mixed with a little healthy competition and plenty of fun. Saturday August 9th, starting at 5pm. See you there!

We celebrated our 60th (Diamond) anniversary with immediate family and two special friends a month ago.
We would like to widen that circle to include our many friends at the Church of the Advent, this Sunday August 10th.

Please join us after the 10 AM service at coffee hour to make our celebration complete.

Lydia and John

Our next Community Coffee Social is Wednesday, August 13th, from 9:30 to 11 am in the hall.

Let's take our 10 o'clock worship outside for a day!

The weather is beautiful, and offers us the opportunity to worship God under the blue sky, allowing us to appreciate God's creation, as we prepare for the Season of Creation in September.

When:   Sunday 24th August, 10 AM.
Where:  Church of the Advent lawns behind the church, (the side adjacent to Glencairn road).
Bring:   Lawn chairs and umbrellas/awnings, a side/salad/dessert

What to do: Please sign up on the sign-up sheet in the Narthex to indicate whether you are bringing a side, a salad or a dessert, and whether you can help with setup and tidying up afterwards.

Please note that the 10 AM service on 24th August will not be livestreamed.

(Picture from last year's Church Camp Eucharist)

Please consider contributing to our Goldstream Food Bank donation box if you don't already. Mid summer can be a difficult time for the food bank, as there are not as many campaigns aiding food banks at this time of year. Midsummer can also be a difficult time for families with children who rely on school meal programs. When giving, please also consider back to school items, as well as food and toiletries.

- With gratitude from the Compassion in Action Team

Photo by Aaron Doucett on Unsplash

The Top Shelf for this week features stories of the faith journeys of some well-known Christians.

Angela Hunt.  Paul, Apostle of Christ: The Novelization of the Major Motion Picture.
   A fictional, historically-based reconstruction of Paul’s time in Rome.

William Martin. A Prophet with Honor: The Billy Graham Story.
   The definitive biography of a man who brought thousands to Jesus.

Desmond Tutu. Made for Goodness: And Why This Makes All the Difference.
   An answer to the question: “Why are you so joyful?”: “Goodness changes everything.”

Brother Lawrence. The Practice of the Presence of God: Being Conversations and Letters of Nicholas Herman of Lorraine.
   The brief writings of the humble lay brother who achieved a perfect, joyful practice of being always in the presence of God.

Mother Teresa. In My Own Words, 1910-1997.
    The thoughts on important topics of the Roman Catholic nun who worked among the dying poor in Calcutta.

Hold Nothing Back: Writings by Dorothy Day. Edited by Patrick Jordan.
    Essays by the American journalist and social activist.

ONLINE SERVICES AND APPS

“Brother, Give Us a Word.” A daily sermon Monday through Saturday, to be retrieved online, or received by free email subscription in your inbox, from an Anglican monastic order in Boston, The Society of St John the Evangelist. The brothers also offer live and livestreamed services, retreats, and occasional online courses, all at www.ssje.org. Highly recommended.

THE CHILDREN’S SECTION

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

My First Read and Learn Bible. A board book published by the American Bible Society, with Bible stories retold in very simple language for very young children.

Books from the Christian Heroes series, suitable for early readers:

The Saint Who Loved Ireland: A Story About Saint Patrick. Written by Terry Shea, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully.  The story of the missionary to Ireland.

Damien and the Island of Sickness: A Story About Father Damien. Written by Kenneth Christopher, illustrated by Judith Leo. The story of a missionary to Hawaii, who tended lepers on Molokai.

Clara Barton, The Gentle Warrior: A Story About Clara Barton. Written by Robert Kraske, illustrated by Judith Leo. The story of the Civil War nurse who founded the American branch of the Red Cross.

To borrow any book, fill out a green loan slip from the small bookcase in the narthex, and put it in the pink box labelled “Library.” If you are returning a book, fill out a yellow return slip, put it in the Library box, and leave your book beside or under the box; please do not reshelve it. Thank you.

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

Tonight we discuss the final chapter of Cynthia Kitteridge's excellent commentary on the Gospel of John.

Readings for this Sunday's services:

ISAIAH 1:1, 10-20

PSALM 50:1-8, 23-24

HEBREWS 11:1-3, 8-16

LUKE 12:32-40

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".

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

Aug 24  Outdoor Eucharist and Barbecue (back lawns)

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 Parish Welcome Coffee

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.