Church of the Advent | Anglican Church in Colwood

September 1st marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, the annual celebration of prayer and action for our common home that we as Anglicans share with all Christians throughout the world. Together, the global family unites to pray for and protect all of God’s creation. The theme this year is A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos of God. Oikos is the Greek word for home or family. The meaning of oikos in this context is the interconnectedness of all creation and our responsibility to care for, protect and sustain the earth, making a home where all of creation has its rightful place. The symbol for the season is Abrahams tent, representing our commitment to protecting the place of all living things in our common home. Each Sunday we will focus on a different aspect of the theme starting this week with earth and concluding with the feast of St. Francis, patron saint of the ecology. This feast day will be marked by the blessing of the animals in our parish community.

Amid crises that have shaken our world to the core, the global Christian family is called to respond to the urgent need to respond with healing action. In essence, Oikos refers to the physical inhabited place, our common home, the planet earth, and the family are those that inhabit this common home. Our family is made up of the whole of humanity and each of the species that inhabit this planet, our common home. Our home is in danger. The climate crisis is causing loss of inhabitants and ecosystems that are home to millions of species including human beings. Our home is endangered by climate disasters and human conflicts and is desperate need of renewal. Our baptismal call urges us to renew the whole earth so that life can flourish once again. More than ever before, the global Christian family is called to unite in prayer and to take action for the healing and well-being of our common home.

The Season of Creation is our opportunity as a Christian community to reflect on this concept of Oikos and our response to the needs of our present time. It is also an invitation to enjoy the gift of creation and to be amazed and awed all over again at the ongoing work of the Creator.

Christians around the world are invited to give particular attention to praying and caring for God’s creation as part of the global Season of Creation, observed from September 1 to October 4 every year.

2021 RESOURCES

Diocesan Resources

BOOK STUDY
Cynthia Moe-Lobeda's Resisting Structural Evil: Love as Ecological – Economic Vocation. Taking place on Zoom over four Wednesday evenings 7-8:30pm (Sept 15, 22, 29 & October 6) this reading group will be hosted by Bishop Anna with sessions offered by John Thatamanil, Matt Humphrey, Juli Mallet and Brendon Neilson. Together we will engage Dr. Moe-Lobeda's work to draw us into a deeper understanding of the ecological crisis we face, and its interconnections to racial and economic justice.

We recommend joining this reading group with a small group of folks from your community or parish, to deepen your engagement.

REGISTER

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The book is available electronically or in paperback from several online retailers. More information about the study available September 1 on the diocesan website.

The author will be joining us in December as a part of the John Albert Hall lectures hosted jointly by the University of Victoria’s Centre for Studies in Religion and Society and the diocese of islands and inlets, and this book study will be a great preparation for her lecture and workshop.

"Root" VIDEO SERIES

This five-week series follows a similar format as this summer’s popular “Dignify” videos. Five reflectors consider our origins in creation and our call to reconnect with our rootedness in it, towards finding our way through the ecological crisis at hand. The series will be available on the diocesan website, Facebook page and Twitter feed. You can also subscribe to the series here to receive it via email. Follow the prompts and select the series from the list of subscription options.

The For the Love of Creation is a Canadian ecumenical climate justice campaign, bringing together Canadian faith communities and faith-based organizations to mobilize education, reflection, action, and advocacy for a sustainable future for all life on the planet. The Anglican Church of Canada, the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, and the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund are active members of For the Love of Creation. The following resources are particularly relevant for the Season of Creation”

Faith-in-Action Campaign to mobilize Canadians to reduce household greenhouse gases and demonstrate support for increased federal climate action
Faithful Climate Conversations encourage dialogue on climate change through a series of facilitated small group conversations
Letter of the Faithful offers a process of collaborative theological reflection on climate issues so that groups can share how their faith speaks to the climate crisis facing the world

Anglican Church of Canada resources

PWRDF resources

A Liturgy for the Season of Creation and beyond

Ecumenical resources

Season of Creation website includes ecumenical and Anglican prayer resources, lectionary notes, information on events and suggestions for action.
Toolkit from the World Council of Churches: Climate Justice with and for Children and Youth in Churches—Get Informed, Get Inspired, Take Action.

Although we hope to be able to celebrate in person with our recipients, it is likely that numbers will be limited. Please plan to join us online. The service will be live streamed on the diocesan and cathedral websites.

A list of 2021 recipients will be published in early October. Look for more in the Diocesan Post and on the diocesan and parish websites then.

About the Order

The Order recognizes the faithful and outstanding service of people to various diocesan and parish ministries.

Rank

Ranks are the levels within an Order. For example the Order of Canada has three: Companion, officer and member. Our diocesan Order has two: Officer and member. The rank of member is conferred on a lay person in recognition of their outstanding voluntary serve in the parish for a significant period of time. The rank of officer is conferred for diocesan or national church volunteer service over a significant period.

Honorary positions

Both the member and officer ranks have an honourary equivalent. As we strive to strengthen both our ecumenical and multi-faith ties, these allow the diocese to recognize the individuals of different denominations and faiths who have upheld and served to promote the same ideals we espouse.

Nominations

The nomination period for this year’s investiture closed April 30, though given it was new we were accepting up to the end of May. Those being honoured were advised earlier this month.

It is expected that there will be an investiture once every two years and nominations for the next investiture, in the autumn of 2020, will open in January of 2020.

Each parish has the opportunity to nominate one of their own to the rank of member each time. (Though not every parish took advantage of the opportunity in this inaugural year, we hope all will wish to next time). In contrast, there can only be a maximum of five officers invested each time and because this is in recognition of diocesan work their nomination must be endorsed by at least five people from five different parishes.

In addition to the above, the bishop has within her gift, the ability to appoint five members and two officers to the Order each time. There is also a limit three honourary members and one honourary officer that may be appointed at any one time.

Regalia

At an investiture the recipient receives the following:

Neck medal—This medal is a replica of the insignia of the Order, which itself is the new diocesan badge that was granted by the chief herald of Canada in 2017.

Designed especially for the purpose, it contains two main elements. At its centre is the “Bishop Hill” cross from the diocesan coat of arms, granted in 1859, this represents the rich history of our diocese. The second element is four dragonflies, one between each of the arms of the cross. This is to depict the continuing journey we are on, not least with our First Nations brothers & sisters. The dragonfly was designed for the chief herald by Doug LaFortune of the Tsawout First Nation on the Saanich peninsula.

The medal’s main colours are the same as the insignia, red and blue. The member medal is on a “silver” base whilst the officer medal is on a “gold” base. The ribbon is specific medal ribbon, which was obtained from the same supplier in the UK as supplies the Order of Canada (and everyone else — it’s a very specialized thing it seems). We designed it to complement the medal, with again a slight difference between member and officer.

Lapel pin — As the neck medal should only be worn on specific occasions each recipient also receives a lapel pin intended for everyday use.

Certificate — Each recipient also receives their official letter attesting to their appointment to the Order, it is signed by the registrar and secretary of the Order and affixed with the seal of the Order.

Motto

“Faithfulness” This single word has been used to honour the faithful service over a considerable time by the members of the Order to their parish family, the Diocese of British Columbia and the wider church and community. It also acknowledges that our service is rooted in faithful adherence to the teachings of Christ.

Company description

St. George’s is a mid-sized Anglican Church located a few blocks past Cadboro Bay Village in Saanich.

Job description

St. George’s is a mid-sized Anglican Church located a few blocks past Cadboro Bay Village in Saanich. We are seeking a Program Coordinator with positive interpersonal and strong organizational skills to work with Parish Leadership to create, foster organize and oversee Parish programs related to Family Life and youth and young adults. St. George’s is an active religious community with interests in social justice projects, community-building, providing worship opportunities for young people, and facilitating personal growth for all individuals. We are fully inclusive, working on being conscientious members of the 21st Century, and still honouring of our traditions and history.

DUTIES

· Work as part of the Parish Leadership team to identify program priorities and needs

· Assume responsibility for, as necessary, creation, development, fostering, mentoring and oversight of designated programs. The exact identity of these programs will be decided through consultation within the Parish Leadership team but is expected to include some subset of Family Life, young adult programming, university liaison, youth programming and Sunday School / Nursery.

· When necessary, recommend creation or modification of programs within area of responsibility

· Assist in recruitment and hiring of staff necessary to effectively deliver programs

· Participate in the annual Parish budget development process, ensuring that program needs and requirements are identified. Once annual budget has been established, monitor and oversee designated program expenditures to ensure adherence to allocations. Identify to Parish Leadership unexpected budget variations sufficiently early to facilitate resolution

· Develop and maintain effective and caring communication and liaison with program stakeholders, including Parish Leadership, staff, parishioners, Diocese, community groups, etc

· Provide monthly updates to Parish Leadership and Parish Council on program progress, successes and challenges

INTERACTIONS

· Reports to Head Priest and Leadership Team

· Clergy, Church Staff, Diocesan Staff

· Parishioners

· Program staff, volunteers and participants

· Program stakeholders; this may include other Parishes, churches from other denominations, community groups, etc

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

· strong interpersonal skills, including maturity, empathy, and discretion

· ability to deal with sensitive personal and social issues using tact and diplomacy, and to maintain confidentiality

· highly developed communication skills, oral and written

· experience in the delivery of a religious-based program providing services or support to an identifiable group

· advanced social media skills

· up-to-date computer skills; ideally fluent in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access)

· ability to prioritize and manage heavy and varied workload

· highly developed organizational and time management skills

· able to work independently and take initiative

· interest in the Christian religion and associated communities; knowledge of Anglican tradition would be advantageous

· inclusive of all, including LGBTQ2S+

OTHER BENEFITS

· Position is based on a 20-hour work week

· Competitive Benefits Package and Pension Plan.

· Opportunity to work for a positive, non-profit community.

Application deadline: Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Expected start date: As soon as possible

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Salary: $20.00-$25.00 per hour

COVID-19 considerations:
Masks are required for all indoor spaces. Visitors must register upon entry. Hand sanitization supplies are available at each entrance. Remote work possible when required.

Season of Creation

Adult Education Book Study

Parish Office Hours

Paperless Bulletins

Readings for September 5, 2021

2021 RESOURCES

Diocesan Resources

Anglican Church of Canada resources

PWRDF resources

Ecumenical resources

Conspire 2021 BC (by Zoom)

Fri Sept 24 - Sun Sept 26

A Conference of the Center for Action and Contemplation, and Webcast-in-Community

Although we hope to be able to celebrate in person with our recipients, it is likely that numbers will be limited. Please plan to join us online. The service will be live streamed on the diocesan and cathedral websites.

A list of 2021 recipients will be published in early October. Look for more in the Diocesan Post and on the diocesan and parish websites then.

About the Order

Rank

Honorary positions

Nominations

Regalia

Motto

ORANGE SHIRT DAY

Part-Time Youth Leadership Opportunities

Ladies' Guild Fundraising

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