Congratulations, Halen Storm!

We are proud to celebrate Halen Storm on his graduation from Grade 12!

This fall, Storm will begin an exciting new chapter as he attends the University of British Columbia, where he will be study Engineering. His dedication, hard work, and determination have prepared him well for this next step in his academic journey.

Halen is also looking forward to continuing with Air Cadets as he pursues his dream of becoming a pilot. His passion for aviation and commitment to achieving his goals continue to inspire. 

In addition to his academic and aviation pursuits, Halen is excited to continue sharing his love of music by singing with Vancouver Youth Choir - Voices program .

We congratulate Storm on all he has accomplished and wish him every success and blessing as he embarks on these exciting new adventures.

God of Joy and Hope, 

We thank you for the gift of all students graduating this year: for those completing grade school and for the completing their high school journey. By your grace, you have sustained them through every challenge and blessed them with growth and knowledge. 

We especially pray for Halen. 

As he steps into the future, send your Holy Spirit to guide his path.  Grant him wisdom to discern your will, courage to walk in your truth, and peace in knowing he belongs to you.  Enable him to discern what is right, good and just, and to use his gifts wisely in service to others. And may the overwhelming blessings of the One who created all things follow him all the days of his life. Amen.

We are pleased to welcome Natalie Reddy to Gloria Dei this summer as our Historical Archivist. This summer student position was made possible through the Canada Summer Jobs program.

Over the next 9 weeks, Natalie will be gathering, organizing, and preserving photographs, documents, and other records that tell the story of our congregation's 65 years of ministry. This project will help ensure that the history, memories, and milestones of Gloria Dei are preserved for future generations.

Natalie will be at the church each week from Tuesday to Friday from 9 - 5PM. If you drop by during the week, you can find her in the Nursery Room. Please take a moment to introduce yourself and share a warm welcome. If you have photographs, newsletters, programs, or other memorabilia that may be of interest to the archive project, we encourage you to speak with Natalie or contact the church office.

June is Indigenous History Month and we celebrated in style!

On the morning of June 14 we gathered in the narthex (a church's inside entryway just outside the sanctuary) for a ceremony to dedicate a beautifully designed and crafted art quilt featuring Anishnaabe fabric art panels. We were honored to have both Wendy Watson, president of the Symour's Quilters Guild and Riva Nelson,  the maker of the quilt join us for this special occassion in the life of our congregation. Following prayers and words of reflection by Riva Nelson and Pastor Vida,  Cari Klaassen blessed the quilt with smudging ceremony, drumming and the singing of the Bear Song handed down from generation to generation and which she learned from her brother. Wendy Watson was inspired to give the quilt the name, "The Reconciliation Quilt" because it's design invites us to ponder how we can enter more deeply into the work of reconciliaton.  

Because in the end, this is not only about a quilt.

It is about how we live with one another,
how we carry what has been entrusted to us,
and how we learn, slowly,
to walk in a way marked by respect,
truth, and gentleness.

You are invited to learn more about the quilt by reading Riva Nelson's Arist Statement, Journey to Sacred Earth on our website blog.  

You can also view the smudging ceremony on our FB page here.

As our choir takes its customary summer break, we offer our sincere thanks to our choir members and Sonja, our Music Director for their faithful ministry among us.

In a congregation our size, every voice matters—and week after week, your voices have helped to lead ours. 

We are especially grateful for the anthems offered on festival Sundays, which have enriched our worship and proclaimed the gospel.

Thank you for sharing your time, gifts, and dedication with the people of God at Gloria Dei. We wish you a restful summer and look forward to hearing your voices again in the fall.

I am planning to refresh and refurbish the Women’s washroom beginning in July. If anyone has leftover paint that they are not using, donations would be greatly appreciated—especially white paint, though other colours are also welcome.

God of love and relationship,

We give you thanks today for the many ways care, guidance, protection, and wisdom are shared among us.
For those who have nurtured us, taught us, walked beside us, and helped shape who we are—
we offer our deep gratitude.

We honor all who embody fathering in its many forms:
parents, mentors, elders, caregivers, and companions—
people of every gender who offer strength, presence, and love.

We hold before you the fullness of this day:
the joy of connection and celebration,
the longing for what has not been,
the grief of loss or strained relationships,
and the complexity many carry quietly.

For those who have lost fathers or children,
for those whose relationships are broken or distant,
for those who hoped to parent and could not—
surround them with your comfort and tender care.

For those who show up day after day to guide, protect, and nurture others,
give strength, patience, and deep joy.

Open our hearts, O God,
to recognize and honor the many ways your love is lived out among us.
Help us to move beyond assumptions,
to widen the circle of belonging,
and to celebrate the sacred calling of caring for one another.

We trust that however we come today—
with joy, grief, gratitude, or uncertainty—
we are held in your love.

In your holy and life-giving name, Amen.

            Courtesy of ReconcilingWorks