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Guidance for Gathering and WorshipResponding to the March 10 Lifting of Covid-19 Restrictions From Pastor Vida: On March 10, BC's Public Health Officer lifted the mask mandate as well as capacity limits. While we welcome the return to greater normalcy, we recognize that we will all have different post-mandate comfort levels. Some are celebrating and ditching their masks while others may feel more vulerable and anxious. We need to continue to be kind and considerate of one another. Going forward we will practice the following: - Stay home if we we are sick - Sanitize our hands before entering the sanctuary and again at social coffee times following the service. - Masks are no longer mandatory in the building, including the sanctuary during worship. You may sing without a mask. Pastor Vida will conitnue to don a mask at the distribution of Communion. - In recognition of different comfort levels, the southwest pew section will be reserved for those who prefer to be seated with other masked worshippers only. - Physical distancing is not mandatory, but we continue to encourage everyone to spread out and to use all of the pew sections in the sanctuary, as well as respect the need of others to maintain a little distance during social conversations. - We will continue to keep physical distance during the distribution of communion, by standing on the "X's" around the altar. We will remove the "X's" on Palm Sunday, April 10. - We will continue to share the Peace with a nod or a bow and phase it back in later this Spring. |
Finger Food
On March 27th following the worship service we are holding our AGM and so we don't get hungry it would be nice if folks could bring some finger food to share. Coffee and tea will be provided. If you would be able to help with set up and clean up that would be great! |
Vigil for PeaceFriday, March 18, 2022 The unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens peace in Europe and indeed the whole world. Situated as we are across an ocean and continent, we may feel helpless as we watch cities being bombed and civilians fleeing for safety. But there is something we can do. We can come together to pray. Some of us may question whether prayer does any good. But regardless about how we feel about its power, prayer is an expression of our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. When we engage in prayer we preserve our own humanity as we intercede for members of the human family suffering under this brutal and unjust war. Bishop Kathy Martin together with pastors from our Synod have organized a short 15 min online prayer vigil every Friday evening at 7:00PM. The vigil will continue every week until further notice. I urge each one of us to make this prayer gathering a priority, have a candle ready to light and participate as your scehdules permits. Topic: Vigil for Peace - Prayers for Ukraine and the World Join by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82643051883?pwd=MDk4ZEZjZzhBMnh0WnhGUXhJWDZtQT09 Dial in by phone: +1 778 907 2071 For those of who cannot join, you can pray for Ukraine during the week. Light a candle and pray for Ukraine in these or other words. O Lord our God, look down with mercy on the Ukrainian people. Protect and save them from the unjust aggressors who seek to subdue them. Give them strength and courage to defend what is good, right, and holy. Keep them safe from harm and provide for all their needs, both temporal and spiritual. Grant them steadfast trust in your mercy and protection. Hear our prayers, O Lord, and deliver us from distress, for You are merciful and compassionate and love all whom you have made. To You we give glory: Creator, Redeemer and Sustainor now and forever and ever. Amen.
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Poem from Ukraine
* * * someone stands between you and death — but plucking the stems off strawberries from the garden my heart whispers: Death, he hasn’t ripened yet by Halyna Kruk, translated from the Ukrainian by Sibelan Forrester |