You've been waiting and your chance to bid on the beautiful quilt pictured above is finally here. The quilt togther with othr handcrafted items will be on display this Sunday in the office wing by the doors to the sanctuary. There will be a bid sheet available for you to start placing your bids.  Bidding will be open all week, so tell your friends to drop by the church during office hours 9:30- 1:30PM  at 1110 Gladwin Drive to view the quilt and other items and place their bid.

The silent auction will culminate at our Pancake Supper next Saturday, February 18. For a poster you can download and share with friends click on "read more" below which will take you to our website event page.

Inquiries: 604-988-5838

Please join us for Feasting, Fellowship and fun Pancake Flipping races!  

WHAT is A CAPPELLA Sunday?  

The Center for Congregational Song designates one Sunday every year for congregations to focus the singing of hymns and worship songs in a cappella style - without instrumental accompaniment. 

WHEN? The First Sunday in Lent is designated as A Cappella Sunday. This year,  the 1st Sunday in Lent is February 26. 

WHY? Spending one Sunday a year  singing a cappella has many benefits and purposes.

• It connects us to the history of the church. For thousands of years, a cappella singing was the mainstay of the church’s song. By recognizing this and exploring this way of music-making, we are acknowledging and honoring the saints of the past.
• It connects us to many Christian denominations, traditions, and regions of the world that continue to use a cappella music as their primary mode of music-making in corporate worship. Those include but are not limited to many Mennonite denominations, the Church of Christ, many Orthodox traditions, the Church of God in Christ, and South African Methodists.
• It offers to God something that is, for many congregations in the North America, a gift that is different from our usual music-making. Psalm 96:1 tells us to “Sing a new song to the Lord,” which can be achieved for some of us by singing a cappella.
• It encourages the congregation’s song by building up confidence in their own voices. Many in our congregations believe that they can’t sing, or can’t sing well. Singing a capella presents those people with the best opportunity to hear themselves and others singing, giving them a fresh perspective on their assumptions of their own abilities and the ability of the congregation’s combined voice.
• Singing  a cappella is fun! By removing our typical means of accompanying song, our minds are often challenged to come up with new and creative ways to sing together that maintains energy and vitality. It can bring out the best in the congregation! 

Memorial Services:

Feb. 18 at 10:30am:  Celebration of Life in memory of Warren MacIntyre.

Feb. 24 at 1:30pm:  Memorial Service with Holy Communion in memory of  Herb Storm. 

Silent Auction, Suppers, A Cappella Sunday, and Services in Lent: 

Feb. 11 at 10:30am -  Choir Rehearsal for anthem on A Capella Sunday. 

Feb. 12 to Feb. 18 - Silent Auction - you can bid on items all week during office hours beginning on Sunday, Feb. 12. 

Feb. 15 at 10:00am - "Truth and Reconsiliation Conversation" on Zoom hosted by Church of the Cross in Victoria - see post elsewhere in this newsletter for details. 

Feb. 16 at 7:30am:  Council Meeting via Zoom

Feb. 18 at 5:00pm: Pancake Supper and Silent Auction Fundraiser for CLWR and for our own English Language Conversation Circle for Ukrainian newcomers.   

Feb 19 at 10am: Livestream Service. Following the service we will have a short "run-through" the hymns we will sing for A Cappella Sunday. 

Feb. 22 at 12:30pm - "Ashes to Go" in Edgemont Village. Pastor Vida and Rev. Sharon Smith from St. Catherines will be at the Village centre ready with ashes for  passersby. 

Feb. 22 at 7:00pm - Ash Wednesday Service with Imposition of Ashes (no communion) at Gloria Dei

Feb. 26 at 10:00am: First Sunday in Lent - with A Cappella singing by the congregation and special a cappella anthem by our choir. 

March 4 at 1:00PM - Start of Spring Session of our English Language Circle for Ukrainian Mothers. More info at this link.

Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and festivities that honour the legacy of Black people in Canada and their communities. The theme for this year is "Ours to Tell". This theme represents both an opportunity to engage in an open dialogue and a commitment to learning more about the stories Black communities in Canada have to tell about their histories, successes, sacrifices, and triumphs. You are invited to learn more when you click here.

Black History Month is also a time of awareness building and learning in order to help deepen understanding and strengthen relationships in the whole of the human family. The BC Synod will be sharing an article each week in February lifting up a Black leader in British Columbia.  

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) joins with our partner Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) in calling for prayers for those affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria and to give generously to support their urgent humanitarian needs.

On February 6, during the early hours of the morning, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the border region, with a second major earthquake hitting Türkiye again just hours later. Aftershocks have been felt across the region since.

Key infrastructure, including residential buildings, roads and power grids have been destroyed. Historical landmarks - some that have stood for more than 2,300 years - have also been heavily damaged.

Among those affected are millions of refugees and displaced people living near the border of Syria and Türkiye (commonly known as Turkey, but whose traditional name has been recognized by the international community since 2022.)

The situation for these already vulnerable and displaced populations has been made almost inconceivably worse, as their makeshift camps are not equipped to withstand an earthquake of this magnitude, and many have lost their homes during a cold snap with overnight temperatures below freezing. 

Individuals and congregations wishing to support relief efforts can donate as follows:
- Make a designated offering for "Türkiye and Syria Earthquake" through any ELCIC congregation
- Call CLWR at 1-800-661-2597 (locally at 204-694-6502) to donate or go online toclwr.org/earthquake
- Send a cheque made payable to CLWR and mailed to CLWR, 600-177 Lombard Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0W5. Please indicate that you wish to contribute to "Türkiye and Syria Earthquake"