Spruce Island

Christmas Services!

2009-12-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve Vigil 6 PM

Christmas Day Liturgy 9 AM

Note Early Times!!!!!

NO meal after liturgy Christmas Day, but

Gascoignes have invited any who wish to join them at their house for brunch.

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Diaconal vespers & NO study Sat. Dec. 26th

Fr. Lawrence will serve liturgy on Sun. Dec. 27th. NO catechumen class.

Fr. Lawrence will then be on vacation till Jan. 2nd.

There WILL however still be vespers on Wed. Dec. 30th

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Dn. Gregory & Mat. Ana will be hosting an open house on Dec. 28th.

7313 201B st. Celebrating the feast from 7 -11

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Did I miss anything? PHEW! Busy but wonderful Holiday Season. See you at church!

2009-12-21T17:58:00.001-08:00

on a sunday in december:

2009-12-16T03:02:00.001-08:00

Women's Quiet Day 2009

2009-12-16T01:57:00.001-08:00

Furnishings for sale

2009-12-13T16:48:00.000-08:00

Posted on behalf of Georgia & her family.

Sofa/Loveseat, $300 OBO
Bedroom Set $250 OBO

the seller is Georgia and she can be reached at 604-513-3669

Christmas Day Agape

2009-12-12T20:38:00.001-08:00

We'd like to invite one and all to our new (old) house on Christmas Day after liturgy to share some yummy breakfast. Anyone who would like to come and share a truckload of bacon with us is welcome. Offerings for the table (besides bacon and eggs, I mean) are not necessary but certainly welcome too :)

Ask us for directions after church!

rhi

Looking ahead-- post-Christmas Open House at the Wrights'

2009-12-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

Dn. Gregory & Mat. Ana will be hosting an open house on Dec. 28th.

7313 201B st.

Celebrating the feast
from 7 -11

on Monday, dec. 28th.

Women's Quiet Day coming up this Sat. Dec 12th!

2009-12-07T09:46:00.000-08:00

Date:	Saturday, 12 December 2009
Time:	11:00 - 17:00
Location:	Theresia L's house on the mountain

Beginning with an akathist, then a day of sitting about the fire, chatting, knitting, taking a walk outside.

An oasis of relaxation and feminine fellowship in the middle of the pre-Christmas rush.

Leave the kids with dad to catch up on their Christmas shopping!

The day will linger till time to leave for vespers or thereabouts.

Bring some Advent-friendly food to share (fish is allowed).

Write on the wall of the Facebook Event or comment on Spruce Island if you want to car pool with others in your area.

-- reposted as a reminder--MatD.

House Blessing!

2009-11-30T19:32:00.001-08:00

BIG BIG THANK YOUs TO everyone who helped us with our two moves!!!!

All the hardworking helping hands, the material support and kind wishes are just overwhelming to our family.

We are so glad to be a part of the wonderful thing that is the Saint Herman's community.

We invite all members and friends of the parish to join us next Sunday to bless our house
and celebrate with us at a Saint Nicholas Day dinner.

Sunday December 6th

4 pm

9626-148th St. unit 313

guest parking underground or on 148th Street.

A change in the moving schedule

2009-11-23T13:27:00.000-08:00

Thanks everyone who has offered to help out the Farleys and Gascoignes with our double move this coming weekend!

In case anyone didn't get the news of the change via Facebook or e-mail--

A change for the better is that we get possession of our new condo on Thursday. So this means we can move our stuff out to make room for the Gascoignes to move their stuff in.

We still begin the procedure on FRIDAY at 5 PM, but instead of beginning at the church trailer we begin at our house, 9642-139 Street. The rest will follow on as it goes!

Time-Sensitive local items for St. Hermanites

2009-11-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

Attention, Saint Hermanites --

Just re-posting three time-sensitive local items that have unfortunately been bumped down:

First, Fr. Lawrence is speaking tonight at the UBC Holy Cross Chaplaincy. 7 PM at St. Mark's Chapel UBC

The chaplaincy folk would love to have our support tonight and on the other scheduled occasions when local clergy will be speaking there. You can get the full schedule and information from Fr. Justin's post and the Holy Cross site.

Second, a reminder that there is a Festal Liturgy early at 9 AM this Sat. Nov. 21 for the Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple.

Third, as our plea for moving help was only up briefly and everyone may not have seen it, the Gascoignes and Farleys will both be moving not this weekend but the next, Friday Nov. 27- Saturday Nov. 28. With a double move, any help you can give us at any point of this process would be very much appreciated. Details in the moving post here.

Thank you!

Egeria Orthodox Home Exchange is live!

2009-11-16T22:33:00.001-08:00

Hello friends!

It's been a long time since I posted here. Life has been very full for the last two years, to say the least! Your community has been in our thoughts and prayers, and we enjoy getting visitors from the Mainland on the rare occasions when y'all are able to cross the waters! Anyone for Habit? Mole? Pagliacci's?

One of the projects I have been working on has finally come to a sort of fruition today - Egeria Orthodox Home and Hospitality Exchange is live and ready for visitors and membership registration!

For those who may not have heard yet, Egeria is a member-based service website matching Orthodox Christians and their friends for home and hospitality exchange worldwide. It is also a place to find Orthodox B&Bs around the world, or even to create your own B&B listing! So you can sit at home and make money off your Spare Oom. Yup.

On the site there is an extensive FAQ page to answer questions, plus lots of other travel tips and ideas. For a limited time only, we are offering one-year memberships for one penny! Sign up now; we will go to our regular prices soon!

To view the site itself, please visit EGERIAexchange.com

Thanks for reading. Happy travels!

Matushka Jenny Hainsworth
Egeria Orthodox Home Exchange, proprietor

Double Move-- we need help!

2009-11-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Sprucies,

most of you will have heard about our upcoming move Friday November 27th-Sat. November 28th.

Because we are moving not one but TWO households in the 23 hour period Friday 5 pm to Sat. 4 pm, (yes, we are now wondering if we are all crazy!) we really need some extra hands!

The van will load at the Gascoigne caravan by the church late Friday afternoon, and unload in the Farleys' current garage and kitchen as soon as can be managed.

Reloading of the van with Farleys' household effects will begin Friday evening if at all possible, continue early Saturday morning, and be complete (God willing!) by noon, when we get the key to our new condo just a mile from what will then become our former residence and the new Gascoigne residence. We need to complete all the unloading and exchange the washer/dryer sets with the Gascoignes by 3pm Saturday so Greg can return the rental truck. WHEW!

I am especially concerned that we get a bit of muscle on Saturday to keep Fr. Lawrence from doing something to injure himself moving furniture. I hear he will be blessing the people doing this hard labour to have some meatless pizza and beer when the day is over....but if anyone participating prefers to keep the fast more strictly, we will order some sushi as well.

There -will- be vespers on Saturday the 28th, thanks to Fr. John Bingham's kindly serving. Choir might be a little thin, though, so if you attend, please be understanding! :-)

If you can help at any phase of this operation, please do call Fr. Lawrence on the church phone, or e-mail matdonna at shaw dot ca Any kind of help at all will be much appreciated by our two families!

Festal Liturgy Saturday Nov. 21st 9AM

2009-11-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

Nativity of the Theotokos

note the early 9AM hour.

fish permitted at brunch afterward.

This is one of our rare chances for a Saturday Festal Liturgy.

Great way to start the day before you go out to (shudder!) start the Christmas shopping! :-)

Missionary Speaker James Hargrave to Speak next Sunday November 15th

2009-11-08T17:15:00.000-08:00

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is sending out missionary speakers to raise awareness, and one of these is Mr. James Hargrave, missionary to Tanzania.

He will be at St. Herman's next Sunday, November 15th, and will be talking to us about Orthodox Mission at lunch hour after liturgy.*

But if you can't be there, Mr. Hargrave will also be speaking at the Holy Cross Chaplaincy at UBC Fri. Nov. 13, 7 pm. Details at the Chaplaincy website.

And there is one other chance to hear him-- after Vespers Sat. Nov. 14th at St. John's in Vancouver.

* don't forget, next Sunday is the first day of Advent. Fish is allowed, but please no meat, eggs or cheese at the post-liturgy lunch at church.

Annual Advent Quiet Day for women of St. Herman's and friends

2009-11-07T10:30:00.000-08:00

Date:	Saturday, 12 December 2009
Time:	11:00 - 17:00
Location:	Theresia L's house on the mountain

Ladies & friends of the parish

2009-11-02T12:35:00.000-08:00

Calling all lovely ladies to

Amy L's house on

Friday, November 6th at 7:00pm.

Leave the kids at home with the men and come out to a (much needed, I'm sure) fun night out!!! No real agenda, just a group of awesome... ladies having fun and getting out of the house.

I live in Chilliwack and can email you directions if you need them. Please bring an appy or dish to share. I'll have some goodies out and a pretty good share of drinks (alcoholic and non alike), coffee, tea, etc.

PLEASE try to come out - it has been waaaaaaay too long since us ladies had our "breakfast" night out! :)

- Amy

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Addendum from Mat. Donna: Macrina & I are both hoping to car pool from Langley. Deanna C from St. John's plans to join us, and she has a mini-van with room for several more passengers. If you are looking to car pool, please add a comment!

Upcoming Holy Cross Chaplaincy speakers

2009-10-31T13:51:00.000-07:00

Glory to Jesus Christ!

It has been a long while since I posted anything here, but I thought that a few of the upcoming UBC chaplaincy special events and speakers might be of interest to some of the members and diaspora of St. Herman's!

On Tuesday, November 3rd, at 7pm, Fr. Mikhail Fourik will be serving Vespers and speaking about Russian Orthodoxy in Vancouver at St. Mark's College chapel at UBC.
On Friday, November 13th, at 7pm, OCMC missionary, James Hargrave, will be speaking to the members of the Holy Cross Chaplaincy and other UBC Christian clubs about Orthodox Missions at St. Mark's College chapel at UBC. (Note: He will also be speaking at St. Herman's after Liturgy on Sunday, November 15th, and at St. John's after Vespers on Saturday, November 14th.)
On Tuesday, November 17th, at 7pm, Fr. Lawrence Farley will be serving Vespers and speaking about English-language Orthodoxy in Vancouver at St. Mark's College chapel at UBC.

Holy Cross Orthodox Chaplaincy is a pan-Orthodox ministry to the students of UBC blessed by Archbishop Seraphim (OCA). Vespers, followed by a time of fellowship, is held at St. Mark's College chapel every Tuesday at 7pm while classes are in session at UBC. All are welcome!

2009-10-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

As you may know "Hallowe'en" is the Eve of All Saints in the Western Church calendar.

Some of you may have seen a Facebook link to this Orthodox blogger's post (I snatched the above photo from there, I am sure they won't mind!):

An Orthodox Hallowe'en idea

You may want to try this at home.

Meanwhile, Fr. Lawrence has given us his blessing to set up an icon and candle container in the church porch Saturday evening, and hopefully we can get some pumpkins carved with crosses or the like to place in the church driveway to encourage trick or treaters to come. I for one am donating candy to give to any trick-or-treaters who come by, and we will offer them the chance to light a candle before the icon. The blogger who first got this idea says that the kids who come to his door almost never turn down this chance.

I think it possible we may not get many little visitors this year-- the weather is not expected to be good, and the majority of houses near the church are still under construction. If so, candy for lunch on Sunday! :-)

Please say a prayer for the safety of the children, community and emergency workers this Saturday too.

And finally, please remember that this weekend is also the end of Daylight Saving Time. Set your clock back one hour Saturday night for an extra hour of sleep!

Notes: Memorial Saturday Oct. 24, Women's gathering Fri. Nov. 6

2009-10-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

This Saturday please bring the names of the departed to be remembered in a trisagion after vespers.

Advance note: There will be a women's gathering at Amy L's Fri. Nov. 6.

For all upcoming parish events and announcements, be sure to regularly check the calendar & notes at http://www.saintherman.net/

Welcome baby Adam!

2009-10-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Baby Adam F. has arrived. He and mom Andrea are reported doing well.

all is love.

2009-10-08T11:51:00.001-07:00

The Shack

2009-10-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

Review of ‘The Shack’, by William P. Young, published by Windblown Media

Despite its best-selling status in the Evangelical Protestant world (or perhaps because of it), I had resolved to somehow avoid reading this novel. The many questions and citations from the book with which I had already been bombarded by a parishioner told me all that I needed to know and more than enough to confirm my jaundiced opinion of it. But when another parishioner held the book up to my face after Liturgy with the request that I please read it and give my opinion, I felt that being a good pastor meant that I would have to slog through it after all.

I found that it was not heavy slogging, but was actually well-written and quite readable. I also found it to be quite heretical. Polite people, I’m told, don’t use the h-word anymore, and I myself like to save it for just such occasions as this. That is, the book does not just contain doctrinal errors. The presence of some errors do not justify use of the h-word. I use the h-word because the Trinity it proclaims is not recognizable as the holy Tri-une God revealed in the Scriptures. As St. Irenaeus says regarding heresy, it is as if someone deconstructed a mosaic of the face of the King and rearranged the pieces to create a mosaic of a fox, saying that this was the face of the King. All the pieces (or Scripture verses) used by the heretics are the same, but they have been dramatically altered out of all recognition. Though The Shack is a compelling read and has many valuable insights regarding the human heart and the state of Evangelical religion, I can no longer recognize the face of the King.

The novel tells the story of a father tragically bereft of his young daughter at the hands of a serial killer. Her body is never found, only her blood-soaked dress, which was recovered in an isolated shack. It is this shack to which the father is invited, much later, by God (in an apparently hand-delivered letter, signed only ‘papa’), so that God can reveal Himself, teach him some lessons and reform his heart (Christmas Carol, anyone?) The father, “Mackenzie” by name, goes alone to the shack to meet this ‘papa’, not knowing what to expect. Then God reveals Himself in a weekend-long retreat, full of good southern cooking, good weather and heart-warming laughter. And here is where the book makes me reach for the h-word.

The Trinity is revealed as three persons: not three hypostases, three persons. The Father is an older African-American woman, complete with southern accent (‘sho nuff’) who answers to the name ‘papa’, though she is “rather fond” of the name “Elousia”. (‘El’—God, and ‘ousia’—essence, get it?) She reminds me suspiciously of the Oracle in the movie The Matrix. The Son is a young man, “appearing Middle Eastern” and dressed in a tool belt and gloves, jeans and a plaid shirt; the Holy Spirit is a “small distinctly Asian woman” whose name is Sarayu. (I asked myself, why an Asian woman? Perhaps because Asians are supposed to be exotic and mysterious? Whatever.) The three are always affirming one another, saying how much they love each other, laughing, kidding around with each other, and giggling. I’m not making this up: giggling. And apparently, the Father appeared to Mackenzie as a mother because he had trouble with his father. Later, He would appear as an older man, with “silver-white hair pulled back into a pony tail, a gray-splashed moustache and a goatee”. (He reminded me of Willie Nelson.) And, straining to be profound, the author offers a fourth member, the woman “Sophia”. Sergius Bulgakov’s reaction can be imagined.

So, what’s the problem? Where to begin? For one thing, the Scriptures teach that the invisible Father, “whom no one has seen or can see” (1 Tim. 6:16) is made visible only in His Son, who is “the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). Thus, the Father reveals Himself in His eternal Logos, so that all Old Testament theophanies of the Father were revelations of the Son, which is why St. John could write that Isaiah saw the glory of Christ when the prophet had his vision of the Lord of Hosts in the Temple (Is. 6:1f, Jn. 12:41). The Father and the Spirit, never having been made incarnate, have no visible image—they cannot be seen as two men, much less as two women.

But more alarmingly, the Trinity as pictured in The Shack is utterly devoid of any awe-inspiring numinus Moses may have been full of fear and trembling at the manifestation of the God of Sinai (Heb. 12:21), Isaiah may have declared himself undone at the sight of the Lord of Hosts in the Temple (Is. 6:5), Ezekiel may have fallen on the face before the Lord at the River Chebar (Ezek. 1:28) and even St. John fell at the feet of the glorified Christ as if he were dead (Rev. 1:17). But the sight of the Trinity in this volume excites no such reaction at all. All is warm and casual, comforting and cozy—a God who giggles, and calls you ‘honey’, a God who drops and breaks crockery, a God who never condemns or is disappointed in any of us. In short, the God who is your buddy, so characteristic of modern Evangelicalism and celebrated in their feel-good choruses. It is not the God invoked in our baptismal service, “whose glance dries up the deep, whose interdict makes the mountains melt away”, the God who “touches the mountains and they smoke, who clothes Himself with light as with a garment”. All of the other errors and mis-steps of the volume pale in comparison with this basic mis-presentation of the divine. The awesome God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has become the comfortable demi-god of the emergent church. The face of the King has been distorted to resemble the face of a fox.

A commendation on the book’s cover says that the book “has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his”. For the sake of our Evangelical brethren, we can only hope not.

--Archpriest Lawrence R. Farley

Langley, B.C.

Saturday Oct 3rd Pilgrimage

2009-09-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hey,

Is anyone going to Holy Resurrection on saturday? we are looking for a ride for a couple of islanders to and from the church from the ferries. We have a few options, but we thought this would be a good pond to fish in.

Thanks!

David

Vehicle for sale

2009-09-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Angie Pyper asked me to post this. She felt Horst would have liked people from our community to have first chance at his vehicle. Please call her at the number given if you are interested.-- Mat. D.

FOR SALE

1996 MAZDA MPV 4WD

LOW KILOMETERS

$4000

Contact: Angie Pyper(Horst Arnekker’s daughter)

604 513 1707

1996 Mazda MPV 4WD, 176,393 KMS. Sony CD/MP3 Player, Standard safety equipment includes dual airbags, anti-lock brake system (ABS), and rear child safety locks. 3.0-liter 155-horsepower V6 engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission. Power windows, reclining front bucket seats and body-side moldings. Tilt steering wheel, cruise control, power mirrors and door locks. Regularly Serviced at Wolf Langley Mazda, no accidents, second owner.