If you have recently joined Anglican Church of the Advent and haven't attended a Parish Coffee Welcome, you are warmly invited to meet at noon in the St. John's Room after church this Sunday, May 17th. Get to know each other and learn more about the parish. We hope you can join us!

Members of Parish Council and other lay parish leaders are warmly invited to join us and to wear their name tags.

The next Safe Church Training takes place on Tuesday, May 19^th at 6 pm in the St. John’s Room. The training will take approximately 45 minutes and is mandatory for members of Parish Council, key holders, those handling money, those working with children, and those visiting the homebound.  Upon completion of the training, you will receive a certificate that is valid for 5 years. Anyone who has completed the training but has passed the 5-year window must complete the training again.
A sign up sheet is in the Narthex. If you have any questions, please contact Terry in person or at safechurch@colwoodanglican.ca.

A reminder to Parish Council that we begin earlier at 6:45 pm next Tuesday, May 19th.

Join us on Sunday, May 24^th at 7 pm for our next Jazz Vespers service that will feature accomplished pianist Karel Roessingh and double bassist Joey Smith. Karel and Joey have played together ever since Joey moved to Victoria over 35 years ago.  They have accompanied many singers and instrumentalists, recorded together, and played in clubs, festivals, with orchestras and big bands, and in many other circumstances, but have rarely performed as a duo.  They'll play well known and original songs related to togetherness, support, love and friendship.

All are welcome to join us on the church lawn at the back of the church after the 10:00 service on May 31st for the end of the Sunday School year.

The church will provide hamburgers and hotdogs. Sign-up sheets for attendance, sides and desserts are in the Narthex. Bring along your camping chairs and sun hats to join us for games and lunch.

Congratulations to Sr. Ingrid, Linda Van Sickle, and Jose Perena Pratt for completing their two-year course of studies in Church Development at the Anglican Provincial School for Congregational Development.

Please note that the Parish Office hours have shifted by half an hour. Office hours are now 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, still Monday through Thursday.

The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage

Richard Rohr

In a world in which the majority embrace the status quo, ignoring systemic but culturally-approved evil and making scapegoats of individuals and vulnerable groups, true prophets are agents of needed change and reform. They operate in societies and institutions, including religious institutions, beginning in anger by calling out what is wrong. As they mature, they pass through deep sadness to end in love, compassion, and hope for justice.

This pattern can be traced through most of the people in the Bible who are thought of as prophets, and some who are not. Rohr studies each of them, including those whom he calls “unfinished” because we do not see them move beyond anger. He comments on the prophetic roles of prominent people over history, and argues that there are still many prophets operating in the world today.

Rohr invites us to recognize and embrace our connectedness with all who suffer, to challenge a worldview based on reward and punishment, and to allow ourselves to be transformed, as the prophets were, by grace and the unconditional love of God.

This New York Times best seller was published in 2025, and was the foundation for Sister Ingrid’s sermons during Lent. It has been catalogued in the Social Justice section at SOCJ ROH2, but is also useful as a Bible resource for the study of the prophets. It can be found this week on the Top Shelf.

On the children’s table this week is another book that is new to the library: Like You, Like Me, by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw. Tulsi lives in the mountains of New Mexico. Vanessa lives by the sea in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They are pen pals who share their different worlds in their letters. The book is suitable for approximately grades 1 through 3.

To borrow this or any other book, please fill out a green loan slip from the small bookcase in the narthex, and put it in the pink box. The loan period is 6 weeks. If you have one due for return, please fill out a yellow return slip instead, and leave your 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

Readings for this Sunday's services:

ACTS 1:1-11

PSALM 47

EPHESIANS 1:15-23

LUKE 24:44-53

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".

May 17 Parish Coffee Welcome, St. John's Rm, after 10 am service

May 19 Book Club, St. John’s Rm, 10 am
              Safe Church Training, St. John’s Rm, 6 pm
              Parish Council Meeting, St. John’s Rm, 6:45 pm (Note earlier time.)    

May 23 Spanish Service & Potluck, 6 pm

May 24 Jazz Vespers, 7 pm

May 27 Community Lunch, 12 pm

May 31 8:30 Breakfast, Room C
              Sunday School Picnic, 12 pm         

Jun 6  Taize Service, 5 pm

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

Jun 12 Strawberry Tea Prep Day

Jun 13 STRAWBERRY TEA & CRAFT SALE, 10 am – 3 pm

Jun 16 Book Club, St. John’s Rm, 10 am
            Parish Council Mtg, St. John’s Rm, 6:45 pm

Jun 25 Prayer Shawl Mtg, St. John’s Rm, 10 am

Jun 27 Spanish Service & Potluck, 6 pm

Jun 28 8:30 Breakfast, Rm C

Jul 11 Agnes Richardson Funeral 2 PM

Please RSVP by May 19th to:

healthyaging@pcfsa.org

or

250-940-4358

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.
            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 9.30 am until 12.30 pm.