Beloved in Christ: I know that departures are always difficult for some, saddening for others, and for a few, an answer to prayer. No matter where you may fall on this spectral line, I want to thank each of you for your love, care, support, and understanding over the past twenty months. Together, we have been through a lot. As Bishop Anna stated in her address to the congregation present in church, and those with us via livestream this past Sunday, “you have been in a liminal space” and have gained a “PhD in ‘liminality’.” It is now time for us to move forward, because we can not turn back. New horizons, new adventures, and new challenges await us all.

I wish to thank each of you for your generous gift which was presented to me by the wardens, on Sunday morning. I have been blessed to be an associate priest and later as interim priest-in-charge here at Church of The Advent. I depart with the knowledge that I have many friends here at Advent. 

Now, the parish is about to enter a new season of discovery, excitement, challenge as you welcome your new incumbent priest, Sister Ingrid. 

May the joy of the season, the coming of the Christ-child, and the expectation of things to come be for each of you a blessing. 

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge of God our Creator, Jesus our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit our Comforter. And may the blessing of our Creator, His Beloved Son the Savior, and the Spirit who moves in and through us, keep you this day and forever more. Amen 

Paul+ 

Our new monitoring alarm system will be activated today. The panel is located inside to the right of the door as you enter.

A reminder again to those who have keys to please contact the office for your personalized code. You may come in person or call Caroline at 250-474-3031 to set up your 4-digit passcode. You can choose whatever combination of numbers you prefer.

Please read the following information carefully:

1. If you are the first person to enter the building, you must use the front entrance. If you enter through the back entrance, you will have only 30 seconds to reach the panel and disarm the alarm.

2. When you are leaving the building, please only arm the system if you are certain you are the last person left. If you arm the system but there is still someone floating around the building, the alarm will sound. Everyone will need to be aware of who is in the building.

3. If by mistake you set off a false alarm, the monitoring station will immediately call the church. You can pick up the call in the church kitchen. They will ask you for a code word to authenticate that it is a false alarm. The code word is "ADVENT."

Instructions to disarm:

You will have 30 seconds from the time you enter the building to disarm the system. The system will be beeping as you enter. Press “disarm” on the panel and key in your 4-digit code.

Instructions to arm:

Press “arm” and then “arm away” followed by your 4-digit passcode. You will have 60 seconds to leave. (Don't forget to lock the entrance too.)

Any questions? Please contact either Caroline in the parish office or Gary Robertson.

Please read the attached letter from Bishop Anna regarding updates to Rev. Ingrid Andersen's expected arrival time.

There are many offering envelopes in the Narthex ready to be picked up. Please feel free to pick your box up on Sunday or, if you are unable to attend on Sunday, you can pick it up anytime during church office hours which are Monday to Thursday from 9 am to noon.

Christmas pastoral letters have been mailed out this week, so everyone should be receiving theirs soon. If yours doesn't arrive, please notify Caroline. Some parishioners who regularly attend on Sundays may find their letter available for pick up in the Narthex. If it isn't found there, then the letter has been mailed.

We are inviting nominations for the position of warden in 2022. If the position appeals to you, please consider putting your name forward. Alternatively, if there is someone whom you believe would be perfectly suited for the role, we welcome your nomination on their behalf.

Thank you to all who contributed Shoeboxes to Street Hope Ministry Victoria! Your gift will remind someone in need that they are thought of and cared for. 

A total of 44 shoeboxes were collected. Way to go, Church of the Advent!

For your time of quiet reflection and preparation, here are the readings we will share this Sunday in our worship services:                                                                                                                

Zephania 3:14-20

Canticle 3 "Song of Thanksgiving (Isaiah12:2-6)

Philippians 4:4-7

Luke 3:7-18

Advent begins with the prophets telling us that God is about to do a new thing. By Epiphany the world has been transformed by the Christ child and, like the Magi, we are all called to go home by another road.

In this second reflection, Bishop Anna brings the wilderness prophets of old forward into our time to confront the pride and hypocrisy of our day.

To subscribe to receive From Advent to Epiphany via email click here. Follow the prompts and select the series from the list of subscription options. Be sure to confirm your subscription by responding to the email in your inbox. If you are already subscribed to our newsletter, you will be prompted to edit your subscription preferences via email. The series will also be available here on the diocesan website as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Download a written transcript of this episode below.

As we approach the holiday season, this is to confirm current diocesan COVID-19 protocols regarding public worship and group gatherings on church property. This is subject to change on short notice as the situation evolves in the coming weeks. 

THE BASICS
• Masks must be worn for all group indoor activities (see guidance for office staff)
• Continued availability and use of hand sanitizer and wipes
• Limit capacity to a maximum of 50% (with respectful distancing), using all available space.
• As per PHO groups of 50 or more meeting in the church buildings for non-worship activities, participants must show proof of vaccination.

The above ensure we meet or exceed the public health order guidelines and apply to all worship services including weddings, funerals and third-party rental activities (with exceptions).

WORSHIP
Unvaccinated individuals over the age of 12 will be asked to participate in worship virtually only for the next few months, while vaccination rates continue to improve, and the threat of the new variant is assessed. People whose home parish does not have an online option are encouraged to participate in the livestreamed services being offered elsewhere, including our cathedral. We will not be checking for proof of vaccination at the doors of Sunday worship and will trust folk to respect these restrictions. The same standards will apply to weddings and funeral services.

• Greeters only at distance
• Outdoor services when and where possible
• Respectful distancing except with family groups or established bubbles
• Sharing of the peace through smiling and nodding
• Communion in one kind
• Singing is permitted outdoors or indoors when all are masked and distanced. Singing must always be approached with caution as it is a high-risk activity.
• Outdoor socialization/coffee hour is permitted with distancing; indoor is not permitted. Participants may bring their own beverages.

FOOD AND BEVERAGES

At this point, social activities including but not limited to coffee hours indoors, potlucks, congregational church dinners, tea or meals at bazaars etc are not permitted. Small meals or food service at meetings for groups of no more than ten as per provincial guidelines (committees, Bible studies, training programs etc.) may proceed under the following conditions:

a) All attendees must be double vaccinated
b) No one should attend who is experiencing symptoms of COVID or who have had possible exposure
c) Masks, sanitizing and social distancing for all in attendance
d) Use tables for meals that are large enough to allow spacing of participants
e) All participants should be informed of protocols ahead of time and all must agree and be comfortable with those protocols
f) Bring your own food, or individual meals are the safest. Potluck meals should not occur
g) Masks should only be removed once people are seated.
h) A record of attendance should be kept

Please use safe practice and common sense when planning these events.

THIRD-PARTY USERS
All third-party users of church buildings must have their own safety plan which complies with the most recent provincial health order.

Parishes are welcome to exceed these guidelines as appropriate in their context. Please contact your regional archdeacon if you have questions or concerns.

Thank you for your ongoing patience and support in keeping everyone safe.

Join youth from across the diocese in an informal opportunity to gather, share, raise questions or concerns, and get to know each other and our bishop. 

Bishop Anna will be on hand to take questions, report on the activities of diocesan council (the governance committee of the diocese) and to talk about #Candles4Climate and how youth can get involved.

Contact Grace to register for this event.

About Youth Forum

The diocese of the Islands and Inlets youth forum:

1. Connects youth from across the diocese
2. Provides an approachable way for youth to engage with other members of the diocese, particularly diocesan leadership so they can raise questions, concerns, and motions.

How we gather

Youth forums happen four times a year (currently via Zoom), and also connect via Discord. Events are planned by the youth and parish youth leaders.

Sign-up to get on our mailing list. 

 Two Shows: 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm 

Join us in celebrating the holiday season with vocalist Edie DaPonte and the smooth musical rhythms of the Bob Watts Trio. Featuring musical styles from jazz to gospel and spanning several musical genres, these incredible musicians will be performing everything from jazz standards to holiday favourites.

The Kitchen currently serves over 850 families and individuals who are living on low income in our community. All proceeds raised from ticket sales and throughout the event will provide vital funding to support The Kitchen's programs and services.

A generous anonymous donor has even offered to match all funds raised through this event - up to a total of $25,000! What a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays, to double the impact of your donations, and do some good in our community.

Come out to enjoy an evening of beautiful music in support of The Kitchen!

In this issue: Watching for the light, God wishes us small, Seeing Christmas through Herod's eyes...and more.

Download an 8 1/2 x11 printer-friendly version of this issue below. Available in high resolution (ideal for high quality printing) and low resolution PDFs.

Human Rights Day is celebrated every year on December 10 — the day on which the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

Learn more about how you can take part

Custodian / Janitor Grace Lutheran Church

1273 Fort Street, Victoria, BC  V8V 3L4

250-383-5256    

hiring@gracelutheranvictoria.ca 

Hi! We at Grace Lutheran Church are seeking a custodian to join our team.  This is a part-time contract position of 8 (eight) hours per week, beginning January 3, 2022.  Duties will include keeping our building in orderly condition and liaising with the Administrative Assistant regarding cleaning tasks.                 

Please send a note of interest to the above email address if you wish to receive a complete job description and apply.  We would be interested to know what has attracted you to the position, and any related work or personal experience you could bring to the job.  

Thank you for your interest. 

Watch the awards video below this post.

This week more than one hundred grant and bursary applicants received some welcome news that they will receive funding from the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC).

“I am delighted to say that the Board of Directors of AFC has approved close to $650,000 in grants and bursaries to 110 applicants as part of its fall 2021 grant cycle,” says Dr. Scott Brubacher, Executive Director. “This brings the 2021 grant awards total to more than $835,000, one of the most generous years in AFC’s 64-year history.” Brubacher says an additional $125,000 or more in disbursements from some of AFC’s trusts may yet see the 2021 grants total hit the $1 million dollar milestone.

Pushing the grant program to new heights was an astonishing $468,000 in funding for the Say Yes! to Kids Request for Proposals (RFP): the largest one-time investment in youth-focused ministry the Canadian church has seen.

“AFC supporters embraced Say Yes! to Kids with a spirit of generosity last spring,” says Brubacher, “and applicants responded to that generosity with a spirit of innovation and creativity this fall. “For that initiative alone,” says Brubacher, “a total of 84 applicants applied for nearly $520,000. It was the largest, and most diverse funding request—in terms of regional spread and social impacts—we have ever seen.”

AFC’S spring peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, combined with two very generous leadership gifts—and an 11th hour rally from AFC supporters for a stretch campaign to close the funding gap—enabled the Board to approve 90% of the RFP funding request. Brubacher credits AFC’s generous family of donors as well as the exceptional volunteers who manage AFC’s investments, growing our capacity to fund for impact.

“We are closing in on two years since the onset of the pandemic,” says Archbishop Linda Nicholls, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and Chair, AFC, “and we know our churches continue to face challenges. But the entire Board feels so energized by our capacity to fund these innovative, missional projects and to support Canadian Anglicans in their vision for an engaged, compassionate church. There are creative, visionary projects from across the country here and we are praying for all of them.”  

“I am immensely grateful for this grant in support of our regional high school lunch program,” says Kevin Alkenbrack, Executive Director, Morningstar Relief Mission, in the Diocese of Ontario. Morningstar was one of nine RFP grant projects geared towards alleviating hunger and poverty. “Throughout the pandemic we have seen first-hand the food insecurity, loneliness, and mental health strain on individuals and families,” says Alkenbrack, “Schools are open, but cafeterias are closed, and this lunch program will help us bridge a significant gap and benefit those students who find themselves without the means or support to feel fed, nourished and valued.”  

Grants awarded in the fall 2021 cycle range between $1,000 to $15,000 and fall within AFC’s key impact zones: Community Ministries, Diverse Infrastructure, Indigenous Ministries, Leadership and Education, and Music and Sacred Arts. Watch our fall 2021 grant awards slide presentation which provides a full list of all Say Yes! to Kids as well as regular grant award recipients.  

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Diocesan grants awarded:

The following projects submitted by the diocese of Islands and Inlets received funding in this grant cycle:

1. Aboriginal Neighbours on behalf of First Peoples' Cultural Council - Revitalization of Indigenous Living Languages
2. Anglican Chaplaincy at UVic Multifaith Centre - Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
3. St Peter, Comox - Comox Valley youth program
4. Christ Church Cathedral - Intercultural day camp
5. Emmaus Community - Spiritual direction with kids

For more information please contact:  

Michelle Hauser | Development Consultant Anglican Foundation of Canada
169 Bridge Street West | Napanee, ON | K7R 2V5 Home office: 613-354-6387 |  www.anglicanfoundation.org

Order homemade marmalade and pies by contacting Lydia at 250-478-4564, or email chezfrogbc@gmail.com.

To purchase TruEarth Laundry Strips, call Jose at 250-857-3025 or 250-857-3025 (cell), or email her at joseinvictoria@shaw.ca. 

For Fairway Cards, please contact Joan at 250-474-5446, or email jnlhoffman@telus.net

The Ladies's Guild very much appreciates everyone's support!