Mark your calendars for our next Jazz Vespers this Sunday March 17^th at 7 PM, featuring the ever-popular Broke and Blue!

Pianist Kathryn LeGros and flutist Diane Berry share their repertoire of music inspired by Uwe Korn, Arthur Frackenpohl, Moe Koffman, Dave Brubeck, and some well-known jazz standards. 

This Sunday, March 17th at 12:00 PM in the St. John’s room, we will be holding a 1-hour Safe Church training. We will be sharing a pot-luck lunch just beforehand. This training is required by the Diocese for all church volunteers. If you volunteer your time at the church and have not attended a training yet, please sign up by notifying the parish office to let us know that you are attending.  Also, for anyone who has not had training in the last 5 years, we ask that you attend as well, as the certification expires after 5 years. For any further questions, please see Terry Mikkonen, and sign up for the potluck on the sheet in the Narthex. 

Mar 25-27- Mon, Tues, Wed- Holy Week Evening Prayer, 6 PM (Chapel)

Mar 28 - Maundy Thursday Agape Meal, 5 PM;
               Service at 7 PM

Mar 29 - Good Friday, Church, 10 AM

Mar 30 - Easter Vigil (Spanish & English), Chapel, 6 PM (baptism)

Mar 31 - Easter Sunrise Service, 6:30 AM at Esquimalt Lagoon
               Easter 8:30 AM Service
               Easter 10 AM Service (baptism)

March 28^th is our Maundy Thursday Agape Meal at 5 PM, followed by the service at 7 PM. The Agape will be a soup, buns, and fresh fruit meal. If you would like to attend, a sign-up sheet is in the Narthex. If you would also like to bring either buns or fruit, please indicate on the sign-up sheet.

All children and youth are invited to partake in a fun outdoor easter egg hunt to take place after the 10 AM Easter morning service.

We are once again holding a Dessert and Silent Auction evening on Saturday, April 13^th, at 7 pm.  Local celebrity, Jack Knox, is returning as auctioneer for the live auction of fabulous desserts, and everyone will have a chance to bid on an amazing array of items on the Silent Auction tables.  Tickets are $5 – this covers beverages and snacks.  This evening of merriment and fun is also a fundraiser for the Goldstream Foodbank, Qom Qem Coastal Connections (an indigenous outreach service) and our parish.

If you have an item, a gift basket or a service that you would like to contribute to the Silent Auction, please email Deb Wastle at churchadventdeb@gmail.com with your information.  If you would like to make a dessert, please email Jeanine Woodman at  jwoodman326@gmail.com.

Posters are available on the entryway table to help publicize the event.  Please take as many as you need and note where you will be posting them on the sign-up sheet.  Tickets will be available soon from Mary Wills or the office.  You can invite your friends and family and reserve a table for your group.  Any questions, please contact Mary Wills.

We celebrate Spring with our very popular Pot Luck Dinner on Saturday, April 20th at 5 PM!

Please sign up in the Narthex to tell us how many of you are attending, and what you are bringing.

Also, very importantly, we need people to sign up to help to set up and to tidy up afterwards - so the work is fairly shared out between many people.

Please remember that Church of the Advent functions are alcohol-free.

The Church of the Advent was built in 1985. As it ages it develops normal areas of damage that require maintenance, including the cedar siding, which is very important to keep the elements of nature away from the frame of the structure. Damaged siding can have a negative impact on the entire structure, letting water into vulnerable components, such as the building's frame. The repair of the siding has been an ongoing concern for some years, and potential solutions have been examined in the past. A new committee being formed will use and build on past information. We need to reassess the building to determine the extent and scale of probable damage, determine viable remediation options, and estimate the cost of the most suitable repair. 

We expect this research stage to last for 4-6 months and we need you! We are looking for volunteers who work in/have knowledge of construction, remediation, or inspection. Even if you don't have that experience you may be able to help. So if you are interested in volunteering please let Joel Glanfield or Sr. Ingrid know. If you know of someone else that has these skills or is interested, please let them know about this new committee being formed. Bob Brandle has been closely involved, advising us on behalf of the Synod Office, regarding their project oversight process.

Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey

Margriet Ruurs; illustrated by Nizar Ali Badr

This is a children’s picture book that deserves to be read by adults.

It is a refugee child’s story, simply told by Saltspring Island children’s author Margriet Ruurs in English, with a parallel Arabic text by Falah Raheem, and exquisitely illustrated with photographs of pebble art by Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr. The book is published in Victoria by Orca Book Publishers.

In the foreword, which is directed to adults, the author explains how the book came to be, and how she hopes that “it will help raise awareness of the plight of those who have to flee the horrors of war. “ This child’s tale, at least, has a happy ending.

Kirkus Reviews wrote in a starred review: “An astonishing book that allows the humanity of refugees to speak louder than politics and introduces readers to one of Syria’s incredible artists.”

Stepping Stones can be found this week as the centrepiece of the Top Shelf in the narthex, along with adult books suitable for Holy Week, and two children’s books for Easter.

Readings for this Sunday's services:

JEREMIAH 31:31-34

PSALM 51:1-13

HEBREWS 5:5-10

JOHN 12:20-33

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".

All are welcome to join us on Thursdays for our relaxed and interesting Zoom online Bible Study, to look at the readings for the following Sunday. No experience or prior knowledge is needed.

Time: 10 AM - 11 AM.

Zoom Link:  

https://bc-anglican-ca.zoom.us/j/88378461340?pwd=cU9wSUNEZG02M3h3bGVrUmpyMjRNZz09

Meeting ID: 883 7846 1340
Passcode: 4743031 

We Together is our regular (once every other year) diocesan conference to remind us of the ways we are connected; we are stronger together. We are bound in countless ways, in our structures, in our prayers, and through the stories we tell. We are each others concern, and we are each others gift.

This year we are continuing to focus on our context, building on the "here in this place" theme from We Together 2022 we will be looking at what it means to serve and minister in the most non-religious context in North America. We have unique challenges, and unique opportunities.

The conference will begin on Friday evening April 12th with an evening banquet at the Baumann Centre followed by an opening address by our Executive Director, Brendon Neilson. On Saturday we will gather at St. John the Divine in Victoria featuring our keynote speaker John Thatamanil, our Diocesan Theologian. John will be presenting two sessions with small group dialogue following each. We will end our time with the celebration of the Eucharist with Bishop Anna preaching and presiding.

Volunteers Needed: The synod office is looking for volunteers to support We Together 2024. Those interested in volunteering may attend the conference (both April 12-13) free of charge. Please email Anna van der Hooft at avanderhooft@bc.anglican.ca if you are interested in volunteering with We Together 2024 Volunteer in the subject line.

Mar 17 – Safe Church Training, St. John’s Room, 12-1 PM

                  Jazz Vespers, (featuring Broke and Blue) 7 PM

Mar 19 – Parish Council Meeting, Hybrid/St. John’s Room, 7 PM

Mar 25-27 – Holy Week Prayer Services, Chapel, 6 PM

Mar 27 – Ladies Guild Lunch, Hall, 12 PM

Mar 28 – Maundy Thursday Agape Meal, 5 PM; Service at 7 PM

Mar 29 – Good Friday, Church, 10 AM

Mar 30 – Easter Vigil Service (in Spanish & English), Chapel, 6 PM

Mar 31 – Easter Sunday Services at 8:30 & 10 AM

                     Sunrise Service, Esquimalt Lagoon Beach, 6:30 AM

Apr 3 – Book Club, St. John’s Rm, 10 AM

Apr 6 – Parish Council Retreat, Chapel, 9 AM – 12 PM

              Taize Service, Chapel, 5 PM

Apr 13 – Dessert & Silent Auction, Hall, 7 PM

Apr 15 – May 7      Sr. Ingrid away

Apr 27 – Messy Church, Rooms A/B/C, 10 AM

May 29- Apr 3 – Garage Sale Prep Week

Apr 4 – Garage Sale Day

Sunday
 8:30 AM - Traditional Eucharist, Book of Common Prayer
(no choir) Chapel

10:00 AM - Contemporary Eucharist, Book of Alternative Services,
with choir Main Church

First Saturday of the Month
5:00 PM - Taize service with singing  Chapel (except August and January)

Last Saturday of the Month
6:00 PM - Spanish Language Anglican Eucharist Service  Chapel 

Office hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

from 9 am until noon.