As I look out the window from my home office, the sun is rising over the trees, clouds have begun to move through the skies, and for all appearances, life here in Greater Victoria carries on as if nothing has changed from back in September when we returned to having our parish buildings open for activities and in-person worship. Yesterday, the provincial health officer, after consultation with many others including the leaders of the wide range of faith groups in British Columbia, announced new restrictions on all social gatherings. These restrictions include the immediate cessation of all in-person gatherings and worship at the Church of The Advent.

This means that groups such as the quilters, the What-Sew-Ever group, the Girl Guides, the Advent Study Series and of course our two worship services on Sunday mornings at 8:30 and 10 AM are now cancelled. Our buildings are now closed to all church members and any facility renters or guests until further notice. Certain identified church staff are permitted to be in the church buildings for the completion of their duties, with restrictions. Some of our parish activities will be able to move to an on-line format through our ZOOM account and our YouTube channel. Please watch for further newsletter announcements through our parish web site. A small group of parishioners who do not have internet connection will be contacted by telephone with any updates and parish news.

The Happy Campers, an accredited before and after program, operating out of our church buildings, are permitted to continue to function as an essential service to the community under provincial guidelines.

None of us are wanting this partial return to “life under COVID” with its restrictions as we experienced through March, April, and through to early September of this year. The rapid rise in positive COVID cases here in BC can not be ignored. The decisions made by our provincial health officer are for the safety and health of us all. I urge you to follow these directives closely and with compassion.

In these times of uncertainty and stress, the sense of being disconnected from family and friends, loss of the opportunities to be part of group gatherings, not being able to share in parish and community activities, and the unknown path of this pandemic which we are travelling, hurts us all. It is important for everyone to know that the parish pastoral care team will be stepping up its efforts to contact you more often by telephone.  The wardens and Rev. Paul can be reached by phone or email, or through the parish office telephone which will be monitored remotely.  Check the parish website for the email addresses and phone numbers for our parish leaders.

Please “Be kind, be calm, and be safe”.   May God bless us all.

Rev. Paul Schumacher

Elizabeth Bennett, Warden

Joan Hoffman, Warden  

We encourage parishioners to maintain their offerings during the time of these restrictions.   At this time I wish to thank everyone for the very encouraging response to the request for Thanksgiving offerings.  These have been most helpful.

As we did during the early days of lockdown for the pandemic, there will be a volunteer in the office for two hours on Tuesday  mornings from 10 AM to Noon to receive offerings brought to the church.  The only other options available are as follows:

1. Change to pre-authorized remittances by calling Barb Gossman at 250-478-4747 or emailing her at  barb.gossman@gmail.com to make the arrangements;
2. Mail your offerings to the church (mail will be monitored regularly), or
3. Call Bill Van Sickle at 778-265-5347 or email him at treasurer@colwoodanglican.ca to discuss other arrangements.

Thanks again to everyone for your ongoing financial support.   I am truly grateful.

Bill Van Sickle

Treasurer

The Advent Study Series will now move to the ZOOM platform. The first session will be on November 24th at 1 pm. It is not too late to sign up if you would like to participate. Please email admin@colwoodanglican.ca to do so.

Further meeting details will soon follow.

Meeting ID: 467 685 4169

Passcode: SPSP2020

In compliance with the BC provincial health officer's November 19 order, the diocesan administrator, Dean Ansley Tucker has suspended in-person public worship and community gatherings taking place in our facilities until at least December 7. Weddings and funerals of ten people, including the celebrant, will be permitted (excluding receptions) during this period. Download a copy of the letter issued to clergy on November 19 by the diocesan administrator.

Watch our website and the provincial government website for updates as this situation develops.