Re: The Allegations against Abp. Seraphim

By now most of you have heard that our Archbishop is under investigation by the Winnipeg police. He is on a leave of absence, which was announced on OCA.org. That announcement is also quoted by Bishop Irenee in a newly posted letter,which can be read via this link:

http://archdiocese.ca/news/2010/20101006-Leave-of-absence.htm

Some of you were present at vespers on Wednesday when we prayed about this matter, along with various other requests for particular needs, as we do every vespers. At that time, Fr. Lawrence gave a brief message prepared by him with help from Dn. Kurt and Dn. Greg. Several people have since asked for a copy, so it is now being posted here. You will find that Fr. Justin has also posted a helpful message on the St. John's blog.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
No doubt most of you will have heard about the allegations made about our Archbishop in the media. Regarding this situation, I would like to say the following:
1. The first thing to remember is that Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He is the true head of our Church, not Archbishop Seraphim or Fr. Lawrence or anyone else. As such, we continually look to Him for support. As the Scripture says, the joy of the Lord is our strength.
2. The archdiocese is currently in the capable and loving hands of Vladika Irenee, who has been given the task of being the Administrator of the Archdiocese for the present time. He has been at our church, and we have already experienced his pastoral care. 
3. The clergy of the Archdiocese, to the best of my knowledge, do not know anything beyond what they have read in the media and on the official OCA website. We found out about this situation when everyone else did.
4. The Archbishop has not been charged yet with anything. Certain allegations have been made, but to date, no charges have been laid.
5. The Church is cooperating with the police, and is also conducting its own investigation, as mandated in its Policies, Standards and Procedures on Sexual Misconduct. 
6. The early date of the alleged offence has no moral significance for the question one way or the other--the passage of time in itself does not lessen any offence.
7. The sacramental acts done by any cleric are not dependent upon his moral state--any baptisms or ordinations done by the Archbishop will remain valid regardless.
8. The proper response to the situation is prayer for all concerned, not speculation.
It is tempting to cope with the situation by talking endlessly about anticipated or feared outcomes.
The hardest thing is to simply wait and pray. But we must not let either any love for our Archbishop on the one hand, or any sense of moral indignation regarding the alleged offence on the other, dislodge us from our posture of prayer. We do not know the events of the past, or the outcomes of the future. All we know is that we are all in the hands of God.

All my love in the Lord,
Fr. Lawrence

Thanksgiving next weekend-- please bring your harvest baskets for blessing!

Sorry this announcement got missed yesterday! 

Sun. Oct 10th—Liturgy w. blessing of 

THANKSGIVING HARVEST

Please bring your harvest bounty (on Saturday night or early before liturgy) to decorate the temple and be blessed with holy water.

Via: OnlineSchools.org

Baby Shower for Baby Bishop

On Sunday, November 28th the church women will gather at Ana Wright's house at 2:00pm for a baby shower for the newest little Bishop. Robyn is due at at the end of October/beginning of November so by then the wee one will have arrived.

Robyn has advised that she and Ryan need a stroller. So if you would like to contribute towards the stroller please let me know. I'm away from church for the next 2 weeks but after that I will collect money for and then buy the stroller.

Feel free to do your own gift as well!

Feel free to bring some snacky foods for us all to share while we ooh and ahh over the baby!

I am part of a large family

SHORT NOTICE-- VISIT OF RELICS OF ST. VLADIMIR TO VANCOUVER!

Archdiocese of Canada BC Clergy have just received the following URGENT last minute notice about this historic event from Abp. Seraphim.

Please see the info on the archdiocesan website: 

http://archdiocese.ca/  


(nb. the Holy Resurrection website says the service will be held at Saturdy vespers and at Sunday liturgy, but I gather from HE's message that perhaps there was some sort of delay, and now there will be a service held Sunday evening at 6 pm. I am also told that Fr. Michael hopes to have English as well as Slavonic used in the service.)  --- Mat. Donna 


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Dear Brothers,

I am writing to tell you that the Relics of the Holy Prince Vladimir of Kyiv are in Holy Resurrection Sobor this week-end. An Akathist will be served there Sunday evening at 1800 hrs. You are all welcome.

I am sorry for short notice. We could not tell until the last minute when and how the Relics would come from the Kyiv Caves, and we had to devise our agenda at the last minute.

Love in Christ,
+Seraphim

ordinations

full album here

full album HERE!

Christie's Goodbye Party!!!!

Hey everyone!

Don't forget that Christie's goodbye party is THIS FRIDAY at the Gascoigne residence. That's 9642 139th St in Surrey. She's away to Winnipeg indefinitely at the end of this month a deserves a proper send -off: so y'all turn up ok?

The festivities begin at 4-ish. I will provide calories in the form of flourless cake (Christie is gluten intolerant) and a few other snacks and drinks, but we'll appreciate any other contributions to the table.

Also, don't forget this is a FORMAL occasion-- which means it will be MUCH more fun if people turn up dressed the nines for a cocktail party. We won't turn anyone away for being underdressed of course, but we may have other "decorations" to utilize if your attire appears to need it. Trust me, it'll be terrific fun.

Looking forward to a stellar night. Contact Rhiannon if you have any questions about what you can bring!

Thanks!

Gascoignes

Hierarchical Liturgy EARLY this Sunday Sept. 12th!

Vladika Seraphim will be with us to visit on Sunday, and one of our readers will be ordained to the subdiaconate. (I don't know if he wants a fuss made, so I am not posting his name just now. :-)

There will be NO matins, and instead we will formally greet the bishop upon his arrival at 9:30 AM  

It would be wise to arrive well -before- 9:30 if you can. Also, please remember to bring a little extra food as these visits always draw attendance from beyond the parish. As a monk of course Vladika does not eat meat, so cheese, eggs and fish will not go amiss. Plenty of green veggies are also good for his health.

Marriage Encounter

Dear brothers and sisters,

On Sunday September 26^th a couple from Marriage Encounter will be visiting St. Herman’s to give us a presentation during coffee hour, regarding Marriage Encounter Weekends.

Marriage Encounter offers Christian married couples a unique tool to help grow communication in their marriages, in a private setting, during Marriage Encounter’s planned retreat weekends.

Marriage Encounter is a program which was founded by the Roman Catholic Church, however, it has been adapted and used by Orthodox and Protestant Denominations as well.  The closest Orthodox Marriage Encounter is in California, thus this Marriage Encounter will be presented by the Roman Catholic Church.  As the message in any Christian Marriage Encounter is the same as the Orthodox Marriage Encounter, namely growing communication and love in marriages, while recognizing Christ as the focal point in the Christian marriage, the upcoming Catholic Marriage Encounter will undoubtedly be useful to the married couples in our community.

I deeply encourage all of the married couples in our community to attend a marriage encounter weekend, as Marriage Encounter is a program designed for GOOD Marriages, to help good marriages grow stronger by encouraging communication and mutual love in Christ.

Please plan on hearing the upcoming presentation on Sunday September 26^th. If you wish to look into Marriage Encounter in advance, their website is www.wwme.org

Your servant in Christ,

Dn. Gregory

Women's Night - Sit 'n' Stich

There has been talk about starting up monthly women's nights, now that the summer is over and most people are back from their holidays. Because we are already hosting youth group in September, I would like to offer to host a women's night Chez Hall on Friday October 29th. We can make parking and car-pooling arrangements since our area isn't particularly favorable when it comes to parking!


Also, I was thinking of canvasing the community to see if anyone was likewise interested in putting together a regular Sit 'n' Stich. Imagine if you will, a cozy room with comfy chairs, fire roaring in the corner, steaming cups of tea and coffee and hot chocolate grouped on a coffee table, and mountains of yarn and fabric creations gracing the laps of a small collection of individuals who have gathere for a common interest: creating with their hands something not only functional, but beautiful! This kind of get-together would provide a neat opportunity for getting to know people with whom we might not otherwise socialize. Since there are a LOT of knitters and crocheters and quilters and other crafty gals in our ever growing community, this would be a great excuse to get together semi-regularly... not to mention get those projects done!!

For those who don't have specific projects in mind, there is also the possibility of gathering a collection of hand-made scarves, hats and mitts to contribute to the Diakonia, and keep warm the bodies of those who will suffer in the cold and wet this coming winter.

September events

Here are the September events from the newsletter-- hard copy available at church this weekend. Also, don't forget to update your info in the draft copy of the directory in the narthex. 

                      

Wed.  Sept 8  7 pm.  Nativity of the Theotokos

                               Vesperal Liturgy  Fish allowed at meal after

                          

Sun. Sept. 12   9:30 am     Greeting of Bishop

                        10:00 am Hierarchical Liturgy

Tues. Sept. 14  7 pm Vesperal Liturgy & Lenten Meal

Fri. Sept. 17     7 pm Farewell for Christie G at Gascoignes’

================================================= 

Fasting this month

Regular Wed & Fri fasts:  NO meat, fish, dairy or eggs

 except:

Wed. Sept. 8th Nativity of the Theotokos Fish permitted

Fri. Sept. 24th Holy New Martyrs of Alaska fish permitted.

*NB  Tues.  Sept. 14th Holy Cross Day is a strictly Lenten fast.  Please remember to bring NO meat, fish, dairy or eggs to the post-liturgy meal that evening.

 =================================================

A visit from our Archpastor

Sunday Sept.12th 10 AM

Hierarchical Liturgy served by

Archbishop Seraphim

Please arrive EARLY so that we may greet  our Vladyka

 ============================================

 Youth plans 2010-2011

First meeting of the New Church Year will be at the Halls’ in Langley on Fri. Sept. 24th 7 pm.

The traditional Pumpkin Patch outing will take place on Sun. Oct. 24th.

A Winter Youth Retreat is being planned for February. More info coming!

  

    

Prayers

As some of you may be aware, last week a young girl (15) from the Lower Mainland was reported to have jumped out of her mother's moving vehicle after an argument with her and died from a head injury caused on impact of her fall.

A friend at work knows the family well and has given me their names that our church and wider community might remember them in prayer. The family's name is Delesalle, and the mother (who is likely particularly distressed at this time) is named Patricia. They have two other children.

The funeral for the young girl was today.

Thank you,
macrina

Reminder-- fast day on Sunday August 29th Beheading of John the Baptist

The Beheading of St John the Baptist, a Feast day established by the Church, is also a strict fast day because of the grief of Christians at the violent death of the saint. In some Orthodox cultures pious people will not eat food from a flat plate, use a knife, or eat food that is round in shape on this day. 


Please remember to bring only strictly lenten food to church this Sunday-- no meat, fish, eggs or dairy. 

The Orthodox Church magazine online

The spring/summer issue 2010 includes an article by Fr. Richard Rene, formerly of our parish and now rector of St. Aidan's Cranbrook.

(see full resolution photos HERE)

Christopher update, and thanks

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear brothers and sisters;
Macrina Lewis has passed on her deepest gratitude to all of you at St Herman's, for the card and generousity her family received.
Her husband Christopher is done with his three (!) surgeries on his leg and is mending- he's nearing the end of a very fragile 10-day resting time following the final surgery.

From one of Macrina's emails:
"...But I did get loud and clear that this was a VERY complex break, with bits and pieces 2.5" away from where they should have been. And [the doctor's] impression on opening it all up was that he's rarely seen an injury like that. The upshot of his brief report was that the knee is now "mechanically sound" and that his part went smoothly. He also reiterated that it will be 12 weeks of non-weight-bearing, with some exercising of the knee after about 3-4 weeks."

Please keep them in your prayers, and thanks for your love.

-Mark Basil
(PS given it's after sunset... Blessed Feast Day to you all!)

August 9th Our Patron Saint's Day!

Edit 2015. St. Herman's Day falls on a Sunday this year. Here is some material about St. Herman:

Read the Life of Saint Herman


Listen to Alaskan singing in Yup'ik

-- the Tropar of Saint Herman of Alaska! 

Transfiguration Vesperal Liturgy & blessing of grapes tonight!

....with the Blessing of Grapes and other summer fruit harvest, so please remember to bring these with you! 

Fast from noon in preparation for receiving communion tonight.

Also fish will be permitted at the festal meal afterward, as we celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord tonight on the eve of the Feast.

Painters needed

reposting to bring this to the top-- not sure if anyone has volunteered yet? MatD

Painters Needed

I am looking for painters to help paint the church's exterior this saturday and the next friday+saturday.

We will start at 8am on saturday. Please contact me if you are available (604-727-1014).

Johann

dwong[at]ecuad.ca

Hey look, I'm on Spruce Island!

This is neat. Hi folks! I know this sounds a little sad, but I figured it can't really hurt. I'm hoping to move back to Langley from Burnaby this September, so I thought I'd send out a shout: if there's anybody who happens to know of a two-bedroom home for rent at a fairly low price in Langley or east Surrey, or of a good job opening in town, please let me know! My lovely roommate-to-be and I are on the prowl. (Well, only I am on the prowl for a job. She has a job. We're on the prowl for a home.)

Many thanks!
Erin

Painters Needed

I am looking for painters to help paint the church's exterior this saturday and the next friday+saturday.

We will start at 8am on saturday. Please contact me if you are available (604-727-1014).

Johann

dwong[at]ecuad.ca

AUGUST EVENTS at St. Herman's

Apologies for not having the bulletin printed in time for Sunday. What with the assembly (and having to wait for Fr. Lawrence's report to go in the bulletin), the bulletin was completed but not printed. It will be available at Wednesday vespers. Meanwhile, here is a reminder that the next special event is the Vesperal Liturgy on the Eve of Transfiguration  7 pm this Thursday Aug 5th. FISH permitted at the meal afterward. Here are the upcoming August special events & fasting rules:   

AUGUST SPECIAL EVENTS

Thurs. August 5  7 pm.  Eve of Transfiguration

                         Vesperal Liturgy,  Blessing of Grapes

                           Fish allowed at meal after

Sun. August 15    Dormition Liturgy w Blessing of Flowers

Sun. August 22    Bingham Farewell after Liturgy                             

Fasting this month

Dormition fast runs August 1– August 14.

 NO meat, fish, dairy or eggs except that

fish is permitted for:

Aug. 6th   Transfiguration

Aug. 9th   St. Herman

Aug 13th   St. Tikhon

No fast on Dormition Sunday Aug. 15th, after which 

regular Wed/Fri fasting applies again.

**Special note on Feast of Beheading of John the Baptist:

Sunday August 29th Like Holy Cross Day, this feast is also a strictly Lenten fast. As it falls on a Sunday, please remember to bring NO meat, fish, dairy or eggs to the post-liturgy meal that Sunday.

 

Finally, a big thank-you to the Lerches for hosting another wonderful BBQ. Rumour has it that next year we may hold vespers right there on the mountain!

See you at church, and may your fast be blessed.

  

for the address of the bbq in ryder lake:

check out this old post

and here is the google-maps version if you want to use that and print directions:

View Larger Map

Breaking news!

We will have an Archepiscopal visit from Vladyka Seraphim on a Sunday in September! Details TBA....

St.Basil the Blessed - fool for Christ

this was the video we did in the video workshop at camp this year (headed by moi!). the kids were real troopers and so patient. I think they did an excellent job, and I was impressed at how seriously they took their task. I had them scouting locations and putting together their own make-up and costumes. they had a great time. I did too. enjoy the fruit of our labour! :D

APB: pics of canada day party

I'm putting together some visual documentation (photographs, sketches, bits of ephemera, etc) of the first few years of life at the mission and hope to include some of the recent canada day party. In particular, if you have any images of the dance lessons showcasing the new space, and would be okay with them being part of a presentation, i'd love to include them. In the event, that none are discovered, we may need to re-enact this entire event.

Please send them to: kfrancis@ecuad.com. with photo credit details.

BBQ at Kai and Theresia's July 31st!

You are cordially invited
to the
5th annual Ryder Lake BBQ

Saturday July 31st, 2010 

 

from 13:00hrs to 18:00hrs

At the home of Theresia and Kai Lerche

 

Food and beverages will be provided, however "if you must," bring your own special brew....!

...and your own chair!

...We see you

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear brothers and sisters;
One of our friends from Camp, Macrina, who was the music director and is an amazing woman of faith, had to leave camp early as her husband Christopher fell and broke his leg. They could not afford insurance for him, and he has been the only breadwinner for over a decade.
I have corresponded with Macrina and, full of faith, they are not worried and trust in God's provision. Still, I am interested in organizing a small donation for her family. I will ask Camp staff if they would put in $5-10; a small amount as many of us are not well off ourselves. But a token of love that can go with our prayers.
I will collect the money and send it with a card from all who care to give.

Anyone interested, please look for me at St Herman's either tonight at Vespers, or tomorrow at Liturgy (I plan to visit).
If anyone cares to give more, I can help with this.
Another great way to support them is to buy their products! They run Anaphora Press.

Love;
-Mark Basil

(email me at: manorthey at gmail dot com )

...and the rest of July....

Please keep the Archdiocesan Assembly Mon. July 26th-- Fri. July 30th in your prayers, and everyone who will be travelling to and from it. Fr. Lawrence and our lay rep, Zane G. will be there for the week, and several observers from our parish, including our deacons, will be there for all or part of the week as well.

While Fr. Lawrence is absent, in an emergency do please call and leave a message on the church answering machine, and he will be contacted and get back to you as quickly as possible. If you don't get a quick response, do feel free to try the deacons or Fr. Bingham as well.

Finally, don't forget the Annual BBQ  Saturday July 31st, 2010 from 13:00hrs to 18:00hrs

At the home of Theresia and Kai. Let them know you are coming so they can plan better. 

Food and beverages will be provided, however if you must, bring your own special brew....!
and your own chair!

The parish calendar for August will be available at church this weekend.

you must read "Work & Priesthood" over at Pithless Thoughts.  really.  you must.

(he also has an excellent article "Homeless, Hungry, God-bless" over at AFR)

Gavin's Icons

 
Gavin Campbell is a longtime member of St. Herman's who has been studying under master iconographer Heather McKean.  Gavin says, "My learning experience has been a lesson in meekness.  When your teacher tells you your work isn't any good, you have to turn the other cheek."

Gavin's training continues, but recently Heather approved the icons pictured here as finished.

The first two icons are now privately owned, by Andrew F and by Ryan & Lora-Lynne H. 

 

These others are available for purchase as follows:

Spas3 - 12" x 18" approx.;- $500

WOHands - 6" x 7" approx.;-  $300

Kazan - 6" x 7" approx.;- $250







Please contact Gavin if you are interested.

HELLO VLADYKA IRENEE, GOODBYE FR. JOHN & MAT. ANNA!

****UPDATE-- change of date for Binghams' farewell

Dear All:
    Having spoken with Matushka Bingham (by email), it seems that the best date for the official farewell is *Sun. Aug. 22*, since Fr. John will still be here until that date.  That will perhaps work better than July 18, since it would seem odd to say goodbye and then to have them linger for a month.  Sorry for the confusion; when the date was first set, Fr. John and Matushka were not able to guarantee their presence here much past the beginning of August.   --as ever,   Fr. Lawrence


Saturday July 17th 6:30 PM-- Bishop Irenee joins us for Great Vespers and a social time afterward. Please be there if you can (unavoidably, of course, this is also during Camp Week!) Bishop Irenee is interviewed at this website.

SUNDAY AUG 22-- we bid a fond farewell to Fr. John and Mat. Anna Bingham

A new Jordahl!

For those of you who did not get the udpate:

Phil, Biss, & Macrina are pleased to share with you the arrival of
Anna Elisabeth Claire Jordahl.
After a brief and intense labour, Anna was born at home at 4 a.m. on July 1, 2010.
Anna's baptism is scheduled for August 15, 2010 at the Theotokos of the Life-Giving Spring Mission in Winnipeg. She is named after St. Anna the Prophetess.

(Biss, I hope you don't mind me posting this on your behalf!)

BUSY BUSY JULY!

It's great to be back!  

Thank you St John's & St. Nina's for hosting the Canada Day BBQ. It was a wonderful time despite gloomy skies, and it is great to see how things are developing at the house. Also best wishes on your patronal feast tomorrow Sat. July 3rd. (Fr. Lawrence will be serving with Fr. Justin at their 9 AM liturgy, I'm sure they will be delighted to have anyone else from St. Herman's join them too)

The new calendar & bulletin for July will be available at church this weekend. Not only do we have Camp and the Assembly this month, there are some other VERY IMPORTANT EVENTS. I want to give you advance notice here of two of the biggest; you can also find all the July items on the updated Google online calendar in the sidebar.

Saturday July 17th 6:30 PM-- Bishop Irenee joins us for Great Vespers and a social time afterward. Please be there if you can (unavoidably, of course, this is also during Camp Week!) Bishop Irenee is interviewed at this website.

Sunday July 18th after liturgy-- we bid a fond farewell to Fr. John and Mat. Anna Bingham Again it's still camp week-- but this was the best date we could find for this send-off for the Binghams as they prepare to head off for Saskatchewan.

canada day aftermath at St.John's/St.Nina's

Aaron H has extended the invitation for people to sleep over after the festivities if they would like (I would imagine you need your own bedding.. sleeping bags and such).

Breakfast will be served on the promenade deck the following morning at precisely 9am.

Canada Day at St. John's!

How could one possibly improve upon the age-old Orthodox tradition of celebrating Canada Day at the Jordans'? Hmm... How about *more* Orthodox friends and family? And maybe a slightly more central location?

Seriously, though, when we heard from Dn. Kurt, last time he was here at St John's, that his family was *not* planning to host the traditional Canada Day celebration this year, how could we not offer to host it here at our house? Come one, come all!

Here, then, is the official announcement (by Jeremy, with a few minor edits from Fr. Justin):

Meet at the church (St. John's, that is, at 1967 Napier Street, Vancouver) RAIN OR SHINE on Thursday, July 1st at around 4.00pm!
There will be enough hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone to eat (at least 1 or so)!
The BBQ will fire up around 5pm!
Including buns and condiments!
If you feel like bringing vegetarian options, (or any other food you wish to be fried on the BBQ) please do so, and they will be fried up!
Bring lawn chairs if you have them!
Bring some food to share as well!
Bring something good to drink! (Please note: While all the usual non-fasting beverages are highly encouraged, this is a family affair, so don't go crazy or nothin!)
Bring any/all of your family and friends!

This invitation is especially going out to our family and friends from St. Herman's and Holy Nativity (hence the posting here on Spruce Island), and to other Orthodox parishes around the Lower Mainland. Deacon Kurt and the Jordan family have hosted this famous Canada Day extravaganza at their home for some 20 years. [Editor's note: Has it really been that long?] This is the first time that we're doing it in Vancouver and at our house (St. John's)! How exciting is that?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:1967 Napier Street, Vancouver, BC

Baby Shower!

Hi people,

It may be late in coming, but baby Kassia deserves a big welcome! Naomi would like to get together with all of us girls--some evening before Lareina goes back to Japan--but it will have to be mid-week as they are going away most weekends between now and when Lareina leaves. I have volunteered the Gascoigne house for this little get together and Naomi suggested Tuesday the 14th of July.

What do people think?

RHI

this was june:

wanted!

some big burly men to help the deacon and I get a piano into a trailer in Deep Cover tomorrow. (no need to come out to Chilliwack, just need some muscle to get it into the trailer) Can pay you in gratitude and 6-packs! (of beer, not pop.. or abs..) We could even have you over for our apostle's fast salmon feast afterwards!

we miss you and remember you in our prayers. God be with you on your new journey (in the USA!)

Senior Youth group meeting

an additional youth get-together has been put on the schedule, for the senior age youth only: 

6:30 PM Thurs. June 10th 

at the Farleys' in Surrey

for more info, see Magdalen. 

don't forget there is also a regular Youth event for both junior and senior groups at 7pm Friday June 25th.

There will be NO youth event in JULY, as camp will be held July13-18th

Update on Fr. John Bingham in YT and Men's night this Friday

Mat. Anna Bingham sends this post--MatD. 

This is (finally) a short update for Spruce Island, concerning Fr. John's Whitehorse adventures.

For those who do not know, Fr. John drove up to Whitehorse, arriving on May 6 and managing to dodge all the buffalo, moose, etc along the way. I am most thankful for that! He is serving liturgy, Saturday night vespers and holding a mid-week teaching/discussion time. All three  have been attended by a faithful few, and he is still hoping and praying for some new faces as well. John and Sharon Gryba are presently in Ottawa, returning this coming Saturday; in the meantime, he has had to do the set-up by himself, which is a fair bit of work as everything is set up and then stored away each week. But perhaps the physical aspect of the process is kind of satisfying, in a way.

As most will know, I am here in Langley until the end of June when my teaching year is finished. Then I'll fly up to Whitehorse, and Father John and I will drive back down to Langley to stay until sometime in early August. I am presently staying at the Mountains' home.

Many have asked me about Father John, and I will try and pass on news via Spruce Island periodically. He and I are in touch daily, and so I pass on your greetings to him as requested. Please pray for him, for endurance and encouragement in the Lord. I know he really appreciates this.

Also, Andriy  asked me to ensure that his/their address was on Spruce Island for the men's breakfast on Friday. It is 6123 - 216 Street, Langley. A sign on the property says Ground Effects Nursery.

Blood Money

Passing on this link from Wendy M. to a new pro-life movie project

Change of Date for Youth Night

Youth night will now be  

THIS FRIDAY 

May 21st at 7 pm. 

Location TBA, 

please contact Magdalen or Seraphim for details. 

**Men's night is still NEXT Friday May 28th 7 pm at Andrij's.

ASCENSION Vesperal Liturgy this Wed. May 12th

Festal Vesperal Liturgy

Wednesday May 12th 

7 pm

Eve of Ascension 

Fast from noon before receiving communion

bring FESTAL food to share at the meal afterward

Wednesday-Friday Fasting begins again on Friday May 14th.

Kelsy's blog

About her volunteer visit to Romania can be found here.  


It is also now in the blogroll with other blogs by Spruce Islanders in the sidebar to the right as you view the screen. Like all of those feeds, whenever a new post is added, the blog will appear at the top of the blogroll.