Thank you to everyone who anticipated last Sunday in our visioning session. I have collated all of the ideas, and suggestions and we will be working through them as we move forward. Our visioning session raised the question of “how are we to be a Christian community during this liminal time?”  It is good for us to ask “what wisdom is there in this space? How can we live with intention in our current circumstances.  Starting this Sunday, we will have a discussion table in the hall during coffee hour and a question for those who would like to take our conversation to the next level. As we journey through Advent, we come to these discussions with hope for the possibilities on our journey of faith, confident that God is always with us and always calling us onward. 

Blessings,

Rev Colleen

Upcoming Sunday with Readings 

Nov 27 First Sunday of Advent - HOPE

ISAIAH 2:1-5 

PSALM 122

ROMANS 13:11-14 

MATTHEW 24:36-44

Advent (meaning “coming”) is the church’s way of greeting the beautiful feast of Christmas.  It’s an opportunity to prepare our hearts in a way that is not focused on in recorded music in shopping malls, or in the “hustle and bustle” we sometimes see around us.    

During the Sundays of Advent, starting November 27th   at 9:20 am, please join us in a quiet time to walk our labyrinth.  As the article from our website points out, the labyrinth is common to many faith traditions. In this season, especially, when we mark the shorter hours of daylight before the winter solstice, it’s lovely to take a few moments for reflection and quiet.   https://www.stmatthiasvictoria.ca/pages/labyrinth   

As always, all are welcome.  Everyone is warmly invited to stay and join us for worship, but we have no expectations.  So … spread the word … the labyrinth is always “open.” It’s a gift we are delighted to share, all day, every day.  

The stable is empty just now.  But we’re just entering the season of Advent, which means “coming.” And that, in turn, calls us to mark that special time by preparing our house of worship to celebrate the wonderful miracle of our Redeemer who joined us as a vulnerable infant. 

In practical terms:  we welcome all to help us with our simple, but loving approach to decoration!  This Sunday, you’ll see our Advent wreath and notice the changing of the seasonal colour.  Scheduling still being developed, but we’re likely to convene on the next Saturday or Sunday to get started. 

If you’ve got talent, greenery, energy to share --- check in with us at church on Sunday or send an email to wardens@stmatthiasvictoria.ca or leave a phone message for Cory in the church office at 250.598.2833. 

Warmest thanks!! 

You may have noticed the basket of nametags at the back of church… would you like one of your own?  Easy!!! Just give your name (so we spell it correctly) to one of the greeters, or slip it in the offering basket during the service, or give it to one of the folks already wearing one!  We’ll make sure that Jessie, our wonderful Administrator, makes you a name tag that’s more professionally done than the one you see above.   

But wait … there’s more!  Would you like to receive our weekly or monthly newsletters?  We’re happy to include you in our distribution list (which we do not share or give to anyone else).  Just give us your email address.  We try to keep our website current with our events and news (and we post things on our website Homepage as well), but this is just a bit extra.  

And still more …! If you’ve joined us in worship at St. Matthias and feel this could be your community of faith, please give us your name and full contact information.  No obligations, no formal “signature required,” just our way of offering a friendly hug or handshake.  Again, just write the information on a slip of paper (we might even have some at the welcome table for your convenience) and give it to a greeter, in the offering basket, etc.    

Everyone is welcome at St. Matthias … even if you don’t want a nametag!  Please know, we are delighted to see you! 

The Chapel Gallery cordially invites you to tea.

This tea is hosted as part of the current exhibition "Dames, Divas & Icons" featuring the fabulous needlepoint felting and mailart collection of artist Dale Roberts. 

Special Guest Dame Mailarta will be attending and tea party attire is encouraged.

All welcome!

Dames, Divas & Icons

Exhibit dates: November 18th - December 4th, 2022

The Chapel Gallery at St. Matthias Anglican Church

GALLERY HOURS: 12-4pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until December 4th.

Thursday morning worship with refreshments to follow at 10.am. During this season, we will be using a several Celtic liturgies from the wonderful book 'Celtic Daily Prayer Book Two, Farther Up and Farther In.' 

This is not a ‘Celtic’ service in the sense that it recreates a Communion Service from the Celtic monastic era, but it is a service shaped by a Celtic theology. The potential strength of this service is its simplicity. It aims to get to the ‘essence’ of this meal that all Christians share. In it, also, are echoes of the meal at Emmaus, the Passover Seder meal and the sharing of bread and wine that is part of the ritual binding between brothers, like David and Jonathan.  

All are welcome. 

Photo by Dennis Kummer on Unsplash 

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.

Join in a solemn commemoration of the Holodomor, meaning “death inflicted by starvation,” that occurred in Ukraine in 1932-33 when millions of people starved to death in this enforced famine.  The event will consist of a memorial service, speeches and Ukrainian songs. Donations will be accepted at the door for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation which delivers humanitarian aid to Ukraine. www.cufoundation.ca.  Everyone is welcome.  

Prior to the start of the commemoration, a candlelight vigil will be held at 4.15pm on the south lawn.

Holodomor Memorial Day is recognized internationally on the 4th Saturday in November. The Government of Canada, provincial governments including British Columbia in 2018, and cities and municipalities formally acknowledge the Holodomor as a genocide inflicted on the people of Ukraine in 1932-33 by the Russian regime under Stalin. Sponsored by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Victoria Branch. 

This event will also be livestreamed - www.christchurchcathedral.bc.ca

St Mary's, Oak Bay is pleased to announce the 2022 Advent concert series, Notes of Joy! Local performers contribute their gift of music as we prepare our hearts for Christmas, and support a local charity. Once again, we are pleased that donations will support the work of the Victoria Hospice Bereavement Fund.

The Advent noon concert series was established in 2007 by the late Catherine McFadden Dunning Young.

The Concerts

Each concert will be open for in-person attendance (masks are recommended but not manditory), as well as live streamed and viewable on each concert's event page (see links below as the season progresses), on St Mary's live stream page, and on Facebook. Please don't forget to take a moment to make a donation in support of our charity parter for the series, the Victoria Hospice Society's Bereavement Services.

Donate powered by CanadaHelps

All concerts begin at 12:00 noon

November 30:  Carols & Classics for Advent and Christmas

Marnie Setka-Mooney, soprano, Diane Berry, flute, Curt Bergen, keyboards. More details...

December 7: A Little Chamber Music

Hollas Longton, Kate Rhodes, Lisa Moody, Paul Terry and Pamela Whiston. More details...

December 14: Piano Classics for the Christmas season

Victoria Conservatory Outstanding Young Pianists, celebrated studio of Ingrid Henderson. More details...

December 21: Home for Christmas

The Bergen Family, Rachel, Elizabeth and Curt. More details...