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From the Rector's DeskAugust As we begin the month of August, we continue to worship in ordinary time, although there is nothing “ordinary” about Vancouver Island. We are blessed to live in such a beautiful place and to be enjoying a good summer. We keep in our prayers the many places in the country and the world that are dealing with the effects of global warming and renew our own efforts to do what we can regarding climate change. We will soon be moving into the Anglican Season of Creation which will give us opportunities to consider this urgent imperative and our own role in responding to it. We will be holding our Sunday worship outside on the following Sundays: August 13th and September 3rd. I would like to express my deep appreciation to Rev. Karen, who presided over the liturgies and responded to pastoral issues while I was on vacation. I am grateful also to Cory and Joan, our wardens who carry out their ministry always with consistency, reflectiveness, and love. A special thank you to Joan who has been working steadily on Tuesday mornings to dig out the weeds in the labyrinth. This is beautiful weather for walking the labyrinth and I encourage to take the opportunity to do that. I am enjoying the individual conversations that I’m having with some of you and remind you that I am available for these times of connection. Just let me know and I’ll be glad to make an appointment with you. A reminder too that if you are unable to come to Sunday worship, I am happy to bring communion to you and pray with you. Blessings Rev. Colleen For more infomation visit:
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Rwanda Risingannual report & story from John Jordan Dear Friends, I have many positive accomplishments to report from our last 12 months in Rwanda. I’ll start, however, with my news - complete recovery from 4th stage melanoma. Immunotherapy worked a wonder. Further, I found a volunteer living in neighboring Uganda to assume many of my duties as Project Field Manager. Julie Roberts is a Victoria native with lots of experience managing an African NGO and her role ensures continuity to our efforts. This allows me to focus better on donor relations, namely ensuring you learn of the excellent outcomes of your investment in our beneficiaries. All of what we accomplished in previous years continues: The 80 kids in two nursery schools, 30 in school lunch programs, 44 in secondary boarding schools, 9 scholarship students in university, the housing repair and food relief. I want in this annual report, however, not to share details of all of that but rather the voices of a few of the secondary graduates who earned University Merit Scholarships by their performance in National Exams last year. Their life story has been a struggle similar to most of our sponsored kids. So is their resilience and determination. Education is where we invested 60% of 45,000 CAD donations we received last year. It is also where we get the most dramatic results. At whatever age we are offering support to these kids - from our nursery schools to our mentoring after university graduation, we are empowering their potential and their confidence to rise above harsh circumstances and bring many others with them. We are the foundation for a huge impact in Rwanda. Important!! I am changing our charitable agent. I trust the switch will simplify my work of accounting for every dollar spent and of justifying each transfer of funds to our project. In the last few years new demands at ICO have made these the most stressful parts of my job and with my new agent, Transform International, (TI) much of that will be relieved. TI Canada is newly established here in Victoria and is an offshoot of TI, USA. I know the founder and the CEO well. I am just now preparing my website material but the financial system is fully functioning for online donations. https://transforminternational.ca Address checks to TRANSFORM INTERNATIONAL and mail to me directly: 178 Beach Dr, Victoria, BC, V8S2L7. I ask you to continue your kind funding of Rwanda Rising and I assure you we will continue to produce a huge benefit from it. On June 1, the Oncology Nurses rang the graduation bell for me after 2.5 years of successful treatment. 25 fellow patients applauded. I am feeling blessed and energized. Blessings to all of you, John For more infomation visit:
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Sunday WorshipSunday, August 6, 2023 This week: The Transfiguration of the Lord Upcoming Readings DANIEL 7:9-10, 13-14 PSALM 99; 2 PETER 1:16-19 LUKE 9:28-36 For more infomation visit: http://stmatthiasvictoria.ca/events/sunday-worship--206/2023-08-06
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Thursday Morning EucharistCeltic Liturgy with Rev. Colleen, Coffee, and Conversation - Thursday, August 10, 2023 Join us weekly on Thursday mornings for a small and prayerful sharing of communion in the Chapel. All are welcome. Thursday morning worship begins at 10am with refreshments to follow at 11am. We use a Celtic liturgy from the wonderful book 'Celtic Daily Prayer Book Two, Farther Up and Farther In.'
For more infomation visit: http://stmatthiasvictoria.ca/events/thursday-morning-eucharist/2023-08-03
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Labyrinth GothicLabyrinth Maintenance in Action Our fearless Warden, Joan Wilson, can be found on Tuesday mornings, before the Warden's meeting with a garden tool in hand working away at maintaining our Labyrinth. During this work, Joan has enjoyed connecting with neighbours who have stopped to chat and enjoy the Labyrinth. Joan also recruited Peter, a wonderful neighbourhood volunteer who has joined her in the task of edging the labyrinth on Tueday mornings. Thank you Peter! Do go and have a look at the Labyrinth - and maybe even a meditative walk - it is looking very neat and nicely edged! And COMING SOON... We're getting closer to a Little Free Library joining the labyrinth area. Rev. Colleen has been working away at getting our Little Library ready with several coats of paint and an artistic design. Stay tuned!
For more infomation visit:
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Looking for verger (cleaner/ janitor) servicesKnow someone who might be interested? Thanks for thinking about people in your circle of acquaintance who might like this flexible, part-time job. Please note, we don't specify "hours" because people will do this at their own speed and we don't specify hours (but we don't want cleaning of the church to happen during worship, etc.!).
For more infomation visit: http://stmatthiasvictoria.ca/news/looking-for-verger-cleaner-janitor-services
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A Christianity To Call Home
Join Bishop Anna and The Rev. Christine Conkin for a week of theological exploration towards a Christianity to Call Home. To register, visit this page: https://sorrentocentre.ca/events/coming-home-to-yourself-564/ For more infomation visit: http://stmatthiasvictoria.ca/events/a-christianity-to-call-home/2023-08-06
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Cathedral ToursDiscover the Cathedral - tours available in August and September Tour our grand Gothic cathedral and hear the tales of how it was created and the history of the people involved. For more infomation visit:
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