Just a reminder that daylight saving time will end on November 6th! Clocks will be set back by 1 hour.

Join us this Sunday at 8:30 or 10:00 am for a Remembrance Day service. Those in uniform and/or with medals/commendations are welcome to wear them.

Bring your friends and family for a fabulous time at our annual Christmas Craft Fair and Tea on November 19th from 10 am to 3 pm.

Get your Christmas shopping in early, pick up some delicious goodies from our bake sale, and then stop for a tea hosted by our wonderful Ladies Guild.

You won't want to miss this special annual event!

Sign-up sheets are now in the Narthex. Please have a look through and see where you may be able to offer some of your time. There are various duties to fill and many time slot options.

We appreciate your support in making this exciting fundraiser a joyous experience!

For anyone who is unable to attend Donna Brandle's funeral service, you are welcome to tune in through the livestream.

Please follow the link below. The service begins at 3 pm on Saturday, November 5th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEDePYbhbsY

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be sent to victoriahospice.org.

October was our Stewardship month. Please make sure you have filled in your Time & Talent survey! They can be dropped off in the gold box located in the Narthex. 

Church of the Advent really appreciates our volunteers.

As part of our Christmas Outreach initiatives for 2022, we are supporting two wonderful programs for those in need, particularly people who are without houses: the Rock Bay Project and Street Hope Shoebox Ministry. 

Beginning this Sunday, we will be accepting donations of blankets, towels, adult backpacks, and gently used clothing/shoes for Rock Bay.

For the Shoebox Ministry, we will be accepting donations of empty shoeboxes for people to take and fill. We are also accepting already filled boxes with small items such as scarves, gloves, socks, toiletries, gift cards, non-perishable snacks (with plastic utensils if needed), etc. We ask that you please not seal the boxes in case the contents need to be checked. If you have any questions about what items can be included, please speak to either Joan Hoffman or Elizabeth Bennett.

For some, Christmas is not a time of joy and celebration, but a time of loss and grief - whether it be the death of a loved one, broken relationships, loss, or estrangement. 

This year, we will be offering a Blue Christmas service, a time when we can, with others, acknowledge the "blue" feelings we have at Christmas time. We can lift to God the reasons for our sadness.  

Join us in the Chapel on Saturday December 10 at 5 PM for a short service of scripture and prayer in a safe, loving and healing space.  

Please consider inviting others who are in need of loving care during the Christmas season. 

Our parish family would like to support Bob and the Brandle family during this difficult time by providing them with already prepared nourishing meals. We will want to ensure Bob receives regular meals over the coming weeks, and that the family is provided with a larger meal on the day of the funeral (Nov. 5th).

We are asking interested volunteers to speak with Bev Somers about how they can participate. Please email Bev at bev@somersfamily.ca. Your support means so much. 

Sr Ingrid and Barb Gossman are offering a fun, hands-on basic course for children and youth about the Anglican liturgy and the Eucharist on Saturday mornings: 3rd, 10th, and 17th December at 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. 

For more information, please contact Sr Ingrid. 

Please RSVP with Caroline in the office.  

November will be a busy month with the upcoming Christmas Craft Fair on the 19th, so we are putting the call out now for all bakers to prepare and stock up their pantries. Thank you for your support! 

For your time of quiet reflection and preparation, here are the readings for this Remembrance Day Sunday:

Haggai  1:15b – 2:9        

Psalm 145

2 Thessalonians  2:1-5, 13-17

Luke  20:27-38

Does the current news make it difficult to have hope for peace?  Wonder what you can do?  Come to the second program in the Greater Victoria Peace School series and learn about civil society organizations already at work to bring about a lasting peace.

It was gratifying to see members Church of the Advent at the first program. Please plan to join them on Monday, November 7th at the beautiful new pavilion in Gorge Park.

For more information, go to victoriapeaceschool.com or contact Bill Geimer at tarheel@shaw.ca.

Nov 8 – Christmas Craft Fair Committee, 9 am, St. John’s Room

Nov 8 – What-Sew-Ever, 10 am, Main Hall

Nov 9 – Midweek Prayer Service, 10 am, Chapel

Nov 9 – Ladies Guild Meeting, 1:30 pm, Main Hall

Nov 10 – Online Bible Study, 10 am, ZOOM

Nov 16 – Book Club, 10 am, St. John’s Room

Nov 18 – Christmas Craft Fair Evening Set-up

Nov 19 – CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR, 10 am – 3 pm

Nov 27 - First Sunday of Advent (Advent Birthday Party)

Dec 4 - Second Sunday of Advent & HANGING OF THE GREENS

Dec 10 - Blue Christmas Service, 5 pm, Chapel

Dec 11 - Third Sunday of Advent

Dec 18 - Fourth Sunday of Advent & PAGEANT SUNDAY

Dec 24 – Christmas Carols from 6:30 - 7 pm                

               7 pm Christmas Eve Service

               10 pm Christmas Eve Service 

Join us for high tea as Elizabeth May speaks on the topic of faith and politics at the St. Barnabas Church Hall.

We expect this will be a popular event, so please register by emailing admin@stbarnabaschurch.ca as soon as possible.  Online (free) tickets to the general public will be available on October 24th at the Eventbrite page.

This encore presentation proudly produced by Vancouver Island Performers Guild

Songs of David

New choral settings of the Psalms by Victoria Compoer Robert Overman

Featuring the Overman family and a choir of special friends.

Tickets $20 can be purchased at: https://www.vipguild.ca/tickets

St Dunstan's Anglican Church - Friday Nov 25th at 7:30pm.

St Mary the Virgin Anglican Church (Oak Bay) Sunday Nov 27th at 2:30pm.