We invite you to join us this Saturday at 5 pm in the Chapel for a service of deep prayer and worship, sacred darkness, and the singing of chants in candlelight.

Taizé services are held on the first Saturday of every month at 5 PM, except January, April and August.

Our annual Garage Sale is happening soon, on Saturday, May 2nd.  This has always been a major event in the life of our church family and our Westshore community and, as in the past, we’ll need lots of donated items! 

Please remember the Garage Sale when you and/or your neighbours are doing your spring cleaning and sorting.  Note that we are not accepting clothing, TVs, computers, large furniture, mattresses, carpets, cribs and car seats, travel mugs and water bottles or books, records and movies (you can save these last three for the Book Sale in October). 

We will be accepting donations the week of April 27 – May 1. Any questions? Contact Linda Van Sickle at 778 265 5347, or lindavs51@gmail.com.

The proposed Anglican Church of the Advent branding was launched at the AGM, to great excitement and applause!

Why new branding?
There has been a good deal of confusion between our parish and Colwood Church. We also need to be recognised as Anglican. We need branding that has a new, contemporary look that reflects our values. Our existing logo has considerable limitations in its application (white background only). Our fortieth anniversary is a great opportunity to do this. 

Why are we changing our name to Anglican Church of the Advent?
To identify ourselves as Anglican, and differentiate us from Colwood Church. Bishop Anna Greenwood-Lee has granted us this permission.

Our logo should reflect our values
In the Advent Vision 2030 process, we learned that more than anything else, we identify ourselves as providing BELONGING: We see Anglican Church of the Advent as Inclusive, Welcoming, Diverse, Hospitable, Intergenerational.

Research behind the proposed Logo: 
We researched hundreds of church logos from North America, and learned that good church logos represent the values of the parish, are clear and simple, work equally well in large or in small scale, work as well in black and white as in colour, can be used in a variety of print and design applications, and follow contemporary design principles. 

Elements of our values represented in the proposed Logo:
Our faith is centred on the cross of Christ, and God’s  love, which it represents. We wanted rainbow colours to represent the inclusive and diverse nature of our parish. We wanted a star to represent the name of our parish, and we wanted to hint at the quilting ministry of our parish. It was important that we highlight the word “belonging”, chosen by the parish as the best way to describe our ministry. 

The cross is a stained-glass rainbow patchwork cross featuring a subtle star at its centre. 

We want to hear from you:
Please choose from Options 1, 2 and 3. Each is a different font. Within each option, please choose either a) capital and lower case lettering – a traditional look OR b) lower case lettering – a contemporary look. Vote either at the link below, OR vote in the Narthex using a sign-up sheet. Voting ends on 22nd March.

Church of the Advent is excited to announce its chosen feature film, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe from the Chronicles of Narnia series, for Movie Night on Saturday, March 14th at 6 pm in the hall.

Bring your snacks and drinks and get ready to curl up for a cinematic adventure, followed by a discussion with Sr. Ingrid

 

Poster: https://www.imdb.com

Church of the Advent is thrilled to welcome vocalist Stephanie Greaves to our Jazz Vespers stage.  Stephanie’s penchant for song has helped her perform all over the world. With an untiring commitment to her craft, she’s become a household name at public events and private functions across Victoria and Vancouver Island. Be it at intimate solo shows, dinner theatre at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, or singing Canada’s national anthem for international dignitaries or tens of thousands of cheering Vancouver Canucks and BC Lions fans, Stephanie displays the versatility and grace of a natural performer. Stephanie will be accompanied by one of our favorite performers, award-winning jazz pianist Attila Fias.

How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel in such an unjust world? In his most personal book yet, Richard Rohr turns to the writings of the Jewish prophets, revealing how some of the lesser-read books of the Bible offer us a crucial path forward today. Drawing on a century of biblical scholarship, The Tears of Things breathes new life into ancient wisdom, paving a path of enlightenment for anyone seeking a way of compassionate living in a hurting world.

During Lent, for her Sermon Series, Sr. Ingrid will be drawing on Richard Rohr's new book, The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage.

If you would like to accompany Sr. Ingrid on this Lenten journey of learning, you are invited to purchase the book, preferably from a local or Canadian bookstore, and join her after the service during coffee hour for a discussion (Week 2-6 of Lent). A schedule of chapters for the six weeks will be sent out this weekend. The sermon for the first Sunday of Lent will focus on Chapter One.

For those wanting to acquire their own copy of Richard Rohr’s The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage (Sister Ingrid’s sermon theme and book study for Lent): 2 copies each were available as of Monday at Bolen Books, Munro Books, and Christian Book & Music for $37 + GST; also 1 each at Indigo in Mayfair Mall and Coles in Westshore Mall at the same price, although we are asked to favour independent booksellers if possible. Russell Books and Dragonfly Books will order it but do not have copies in stock. For those with e-readers, the text is available for Kobo or Kindle for $16.99 + GST from Indigo or Amazon respectively. The public library’s copies are currently out on loan.

The Ladies Guild is planning a special project for their next meeting in March and are in need of any used magazines or brochures. They are particularly intersted in publications that include pictures of cooking, travel, garden, and fashion.

If you have any used magazines at home and would like to donate them, please leave them in the Narthex with a note attached reading: "For Ladies Guild."

Thank you!

Last week’s books remain on the Top Shelf for another week (unless borrowed). They are:

• Rhonda Mawhood Lee. Seek and You Will Find: Discovering a Practice of Prayer.
• Kenneth McIntosh. Water from an Ancient Well: Celtic Spirituality for Modern Life.
• Mariann Edgar Budde. How We Learn to be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith.
• Austen Hartke. Transforming: The Bible & the Lives of Transgender Christians.

Replacing Rachel Held Evans’ Inspired (now out on loan) on the Shelf is:

• Peter J. Gomes, The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart.

 

Other suggestions from the shelves, also mentioned last week. The first two are in the big bookcase in the St John Room; the rest are on the main shelves.

• Marcus J. Borg, Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously but not Literally (BBLR BOR2)
• Ruth Burgess, A Book of Blessings: And How to Write Your Own (CELT BUR)
• Ilia Delio et al. Care for Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth (ENV DEL)
• Michelle Good, Truth Telling: Seven Conversations about Indigenous Life in Canada (IND GOO)
• James Martin S.J., Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone (PRAY MAR, large print)
• Joan Chittister, The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage (SOCJ CHI)
• Robin Diangelo, White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism
• (SOCJ DIA)
• Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited (SOCJ THU)
• UNICEF, I Dream of Peace (SOCJ UNI)
• Belden C. Lane, The Solace of Fierce Landscapes: Exploring Desert and Mountain Spirituality
  (SPT LAN2)

 

On the children’s table again this week is Alice Joyce Davidson’s The Story of Jesus and His Disciples, illustrated by Victoria Marshall.

To borrow any book, fill out a green slip from the small bookcase in the narthex, and put it in the pink box labelled Library. To return a book, fill out a yellow slip and put it in the box, then leave the book beside or under the box.

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

Please note: Sr. Ingrid will be teaching the Diocesan Lay Leadership in Worship Course on Thursday nights during March and April and on 28th May. Bible Study will continue under the warm and wise leadership of Lisa Brodersen for this period.

Readings for this Sunday's services:

EXODUS 17:1-7

PSALM 95

ROMANS 5:1-11

JOHN 4:5-42

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".

Mar 7 Parish Council Planning Session, 8:30-12, Chapel

Mar 11 Ladies Guild Mtg, 1:30 pm

Mar 14 Parish Movie Night - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 6 pm, Hall

Mar 15 Jazz Vespers feat. Stephanie Greaves, 7 pm

Mar 17 Book Club, 10 am, St. John’s Room

Mar 25 Community Lunch, 12 pm, Hall

Mar 28 Spanish Service (Oscar Romero) & Potluck, 6 pm

Mar 29 8:30 Breakfast, Room C

 

Apr 1 Community Coffee Social, 9:30-11 am

Apr 2 Agape Meal & Maundy Thursday, 6 pm, Church

Apr 3 Good Friday Service, 10 am

Apr 4 Bilingual Easter Vigil Service & potluck, 6 pm

Apr 5 Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 am, Esquimalt Lagoon
          Easter morning services, 8:30 & 10 am

Apr 6 Easter Monday, Parish office closed

Apr 8 LG Meeting, 1:30 pm

Apr 6-12 Sr Ingrid on Vacation

Apr 13-16 Sr Ingrid at Clergy Conference

Apr 21 Book Club (all welcome), St. John’s Rm, 10 am
             Parish Council Mtg, 7 pm

Apr 22 LG Community Lunch, noon

Apr 25 Spanish Service, 5:30 pm, & Parish Spring Potluck, 6:30 pm

Apr 26 8:30 Breakfast, Rm C

Apr 27-May 1- GARAGE SALE PREP WEEK

 

May 2 GARAGE SALE DAY; Taize Service, 5 pm

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.

Bishop's Column: Welcoming everyone to the table
"As we prepare for the Easter feast, I invite you to think about what your parish could do to spend more time at table with one another and to invite more people, from all walks of life, to join you at the table." 

Churches get creative to raise funds for new keys
A number of our parishes are currently fundraising to buy new pipe organs and pianos — and finding creative ways to raise funds. 

Lenten challenge enters its tenth year
Lent 2026 will see the tenth installment of the Metchosin Challenge, a Lenten challenge set up by a St. Mary, Metchosin parishioner.

New year brings new energy to St. Peter, Quamichan
St. Peter's teaches Holden evening prayer during Lent, and welcomes all for a youth and young person service.

Diocese to host a summer retreat on Salt Spring Island
Retreat participants will spend time reflecting on our call to be the salt of the earth amidst the challenges of the turbulent 2020s. 

100 years since breaking ground at the cathedral
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of construction on Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria. 

Ripples: March 2026 
Find out what's been happening around the diocese in this regular feature.

The stories we tell ourselves
What stories to you tell yourself during challenging interactions? And how do these stories seperate you from the love of God?

Alongside Hope partners understand the challenges their communities face
In Uganda, one of Alongside Hope's partners provides women and girls with vocational and business training.

How a Salt Spring Island experiment recovered Christian contemplation
How the Anglican tradition already possesses the spiritual depth many Western seekers cross oceans to find.

 

Read the March 2026 issue

You are invited to a benefit concert in support of VICCIR (Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees) Hosted by the Parish of St. John the Divine.

• Sunday, March 15 | 7:00 PM
• St John the Divine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra St
• Admission by donation ($20 suggested)

The evening will feature Jordie and Habbous (Arabic music) and Kvell’s Angels (Klezmer music), in a vibrant program spanning cultures, time, and place.

VICCIR is a federally registered charity providing vital mental health counselling to immigrants and refugees on Vancouver Island. They offer sliding-scale fees, work with interpreters as needed, and ensure no one is turned away due to financial hardship. Their work helps reduce trauma, build resilience, and support newcomers as they participate fully in our community.

If you’re able to attend, we’d be delighted to see you there. If not, you can still support VICCIR by making a donation. We’d also greatly appreciate you sharing this invitation with your networks.

You can donate here: https://www.viccir.org/donate

 

Thank you for helping support this important work.

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 (First Saturday of every month at 5 PM, except January, April and August.)

Fourth Saturday of the Month
6 PM - Spanish Language Anglican Eucharist Service  (Except April moved to 4th). There is no service in December.

For any issues to report concerning the condition/maintenance of the church building and grounds, please email the parish office directly at admin@colwoodanglican.ca, or record them in the maintenance logbook that is located on the parish office door.

Office hours are Mondays  - Thursdays
from 9 am until noon.