Thank you to all who took the time to vote for their favourite version of our new church logo. The winner, seen above, is Option 3 (a), which won by a large margin when the online and paper votes were counted together.

Vancouver Island Supports Ukraine will be returning to Ukraine in the next few months and will take with them 'Get Well' or 'Thinking of You' cards from our community for soldiers who are in the Ivano Frankivch Regional Hospital. Please keep the message shortened to a few sentences.

Example: "To a soldier in the Ivano Frankivch Regional Hospital, I am thinking of you and sending a message for a speedy recovery, peace, and security in your future. From a Canadian Friend." (No need to include names or addresses.)

The Canadian VISU team will personally ensure that the cards are given directly to the patients.

If you would like to send one or several cards to the soldiers, you can give them to either Jose Perena Pratt, Mary Wills or Carol Brown at church. The deadline to receive cards is Sunday the 29th. 

Image: Banner on Vancouver Island Supports Ukraine hompage.

Sunday Mar 29              Palm Sunday & Passion of the Cross 10 AM
  
Monday Mar 30             Meditation & Prayer Service, Chapel, 6 PM
Tuesday Mar 31             Meditation & Prayer Service, Chapel, 6 PM
Wednesday April 1        Meditation & Prayer Service, Chapel, 6 PM
    
Thursday April 2            Maundy Thursday Agape Meal and Eucharist
                                       Service, 6 PM
                                        
Friday April 3                 Good Friday, Church, 10 AM      
                                       (Meditation on the final words of Jesus)
    
Saturday April 4             Easter Vigil     (Spanish & English) @ 6 PM
                                       (with potluck dinner after)

Sunday April 5                Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 AM
                                        Esquimalt Lagoon
                                        Easter 8:30 AM Service
                                        Easter 10 AM Service 
                                       (followed by children’s Easter egg hunt)

In preparation for the Garage Sale happening on May 2nd, we need to clear the garage of last year's books from the Book Sale. 

Please consider taking a box or two to a thrift store or, preferably, to the Times Colonist Collection Station.

There will be a meet-up in front of the garage after the 10:00 service this Sunday for those who are able to pick up a box or two to donate on the church's behalf.

Thank you for your support!

Information About Donating to the Times Colonist

The process will start with a book dropoff weekend. Mark your calendars for April 18th and 19th. The location is the Victoria Curling Club at 1952 Quadra St.

What they are accepting: Quality books of almost every genre.

What they are NOT accepting: Books that are wet, mouldy, smelly or otherwise damaged. Encyclopedias, textbooks, magazines, directories, outdated reference works, Reader’s Digest condensed books or National Geographics.

This year we have more days for bringing in your treasures for the Garage Sale, happening soon on May 2^nd. 

You can now come Saturday, April 25, 9 am to 3 pm, and Sunday, April 26 after the 10 am service, as well as the usual times of Monday, April 27 to Friday, May 1 from 9 am to 3 pm, and Wednesday evening, April 29, from 6-8 pm.

Please don’t bring clothing, TVs, computers, large furniture, mattresses, carpets, cribs, strollers and car seats, used travel mugs and water bottles or books, records and movies (you can save these last three for the Book Sale in early October). 

This amazing sale takes many hands to make it happen, from helping with set-up during the days before the sale to working on the day of the sale.  Watch for sign-up sheets for the many tasks coming soon. 

Any questions? Contact Linda Van Sickle at 778 265 5347, or lindavs51@gmail.com.

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).

Bring your friends and come join us for our monthly community lunch held in the Main Hall from 12 to 1 PM.

Our Ladies Guild will have prepared for you a delicious homemade soup, sandwiches, dessert, coffee and tea. You won't want to miss it!

Doors open at noon and it's $12 per person.

See you there!

A prayer shawl is a handmade shawl, usually knitted or crocheted, of soft yarn to give someone a tangible example of God’s love and care. A prayer shawl is infused with prayer by the crafter. Blessings are given in every loving stitch of the project. It is then gifted to a recipient who can wrap up in it and feel God’s arms around them.

Are you interested? The next Prayer Shawl meeting is Thursday, March 26th at 10 a.m. in the St. John's room. If you have any questions and want to join the team, please feel free to contact Shirley at 604-816-2964.

Last week’s book selections will remain on the Top Shelf until Easter (unless borrowed). They are:

Timothy Radcliffe. Seven Last Words.

   Dominican friar Timothy Radcliffe provides seven illustrated meditations on the last words from the cross, which he calls “The Word of God spoken in the face of silence.” Their importance, he goes on to say, is that they are not in fact last words. Seen in the light of the Resurrection, they live.

Marcus Borg & John Dominic Crossan. The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem.

   An analysis of the gospel accounts by two leading Jesus scholars.

N.T. Wright. The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is.

   A study of the historical Jesus, with a “so what does this mean for us now?” discussion of discipleship in our own time.

Peter J. Gomes. The Preaching of the Passion: The Seven Last Words from the Cross.

   This brief book contains seven short, powerful sermons on the last words from the cross by the late American Baptist minister and Harvard University professor.

The Passion Play of the Community of Oberammergau.

   Every ten years, the Bavarian village of Oberammergau stages its world-famous play, performed entirely by resident volunteers. This book, fully illustrated with colour photographs of the 1990 staging, also has commentary, a history of the play, and a little about the village (in German with English translation).

On the display on the children’s table this week is Alice Joyce Davidson’s The Story of Easter, 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: There is no Bible Study on Maundy Thursday.
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:

EZEKIEL 37:1-14

PSALM 130

ROMANS 8:6-11

JOHN 11:1-45

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".

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 Maundy Thursday Agape Meal & Eucharist, 6 pm, Hall
           NO Bible Study

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.

In the lead-up to the installation of Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally as the first woman to serve in the role, Episcopal News Service convened a conversation with the Anglican Communion’s first four female primates. Among them was Archbishop Linda Nicholls, who was the Anglican Church of Canada’s primate from 2019 to 2024. 

For more infomation visit:

https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/03/16/a-special-conversation-with-the-first-four-female-anglican-communion-primates/

The diocese is excited to invite you to be part of a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Priesting of Women in the Anglican Church of Canada. Come and join us as we give thanks for the many ways women have contributed to the life of the Church as presbyters and look to the future to examine the challenges that lie ahead for women in the Church and Canadian society.

The celebration is being held on November 23-26, 2026 (travel dates inclusive) in beautiful Victoria, BC. Updates on registration, program, bursaries, and other information about the event to follow.

Interested in helping with the event? Contact The Rev. Canon Jeannine Friesen at jfriesen@bc.anglican.ca.

For more infomation visit:

http://bc.anglican.ca/events/50-years-of-the-priesting-of-women/2026-11-23

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.