Carolyn Arends will take on a new role with Renovaré this fall.
NOTE: I will be taking August off; next weekly update September 2.
Carolyn Arends announced recently that she will soon take on a new role. This fall she will begin as director of education with Renovaré – the organization Richard Foster founded after he wrote Celebration of Discipline in order to encourage and nourish intentional spiritual formation.
She will oversee several initiatives, including their Institute of Christian Spiritual Formation. The position will also include opportunities to write and teach.
Arends, who lives in Surrey with her husband and children, is probably best known as a musician; she has released 11 albums and toured widely, both on her own and with artists such as Stephen Curtis Chapman and Rich Mullins. She has also written for a wide range of magazines, including six years as a bi-monthly columnist for Christianity Today, often writing on issues related to spiritual formation.
For the past 10 years she has served as a speaker for various church groups, camp organizations and schools, including Regent College, where she completed her MA in Theological Studies last year. She has also been teaching at ACTS Seminary, Columbia Bible College and Pacific Life Bible College.
Arends said this about Renovaré, and how it will fit into her life:
I’ve been a beneficiary and advocate of Renovaré resources and principles for a very long time – basically ever since my friend and producer Roy Salmond gave my husband Mark and me the Renovaré Devotional Classics collection right before my first tour 20 years ago. The first retreats I ever led were entitled “Holy Habits” and were based on Foster’s seminal book, and there have been countless intersections between my own life and Renovaré’s ever since. . . .
This position feels very much like a continuation and culmination of the things I’ve been working on the past several years. I’ll covet your prayers as I dive in.
So am I quitting music? Nah. Music is my second language (maybe my first) and I’ll be speaking it ’til I die (and then, I imagine, I’ll speak it some more). I’m excited to record a 20th anniversary project with Spencer and Roy in August (my first CD was released August 15, 1995).
Beyond that – well, the plan will reveal itself in good time. Renovaré has a long track record of allowing their initiatives to be shaped in part by the giftings of their team members, so I am excited to see what that looks like down the road.
Conrade Yap: Master book reviewer
Conrade Yap shares his love for books in several settings.
Vancouver pastor Conrade Yap has made it to the Amazon Top 1000 Review List. Apparently he is #989 on the list of most prolific reviewers for the omnipresent book-and-everything-else site.
I’m not surprised, having followed his book reviews over the past couple of years. How he manages to write (useful) weekly reviews about books on a wide range of subject material topics while also pastoring and spending time with his family is beyond me. Apart from the reviews he posts on Amazon, he has two main sites – Panorama of a Book Saint and Yapdates.
Yap, who has degrees in engineering (Singapore) and business (Warwick, UK) as well in theology (Gordon-Conwell, Regent College), spent 15 years in IT-related business with various multinational corporations before moving into the pastorate. He is now associate pastor at Lord’s Peace Chapel in the Marpole area of south Vancouver.
He says this of his enthusiasm for reviewing books:
Reading is a passion of mine. Since the introduction of the blogging platform, I have been reading and reviewing books actively. As a teaching pastor, books (both printed and electronic) are the mainstay of my ministry. There are millions of books out there in the market. Many are being published each day. I have done hundreds of reviews, many published on my main blog Yapdates since 2005.
It has come to a point that I need to dedicate one blog just to do that. This is the blog. [Panorama of a Book Saint] attempts to accomplish three purposes:
- Help promote good books for authors who have a message worth telling;
- Share with readers about these books;
- Sharing my views from a Christian lens.
I have benefited from Yap’s reviews and I hope more Metro Vancouver readers will take advantage of his and insights and industry.
Affinity fraud alert
Rev. Patrick Blaney of St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in North Vancouver posted a warning for his parishioners recently – and it could be relevant for other church members as well:
It has been brought to my attention that a number of our parishioners, and in particular our senior citizens, have been contacted on the phone by persons who are clearly engaging in some kind of financial fraud. These phone calls either promise something if you send money to them, or in some cases, pretend to be a government official who say you owe money.
This sort of crime is called affinity fraud as it targets certain members of a community, in this case seniors. Please be on your guard for such calls in the future. [Brochures] from the RCMP . . . and the links below offer some very good tips of what to look for and what to do should you be contacted. . . .
Reporting Scams And Frauds RCMP
August events
Simon Gau and Broadway Church Band will be at Coastal’s Regen August 19.
Because I will be taking a rest from updating Church for Vancouver weekly during August, I will note a couple of highlights coming up. Also see the Calendar listings for the month, below:
* Praise Fest: August 1 at the Stetson Bowl in Cloverdale. TobyMac, Peter Furler and many more.
* Regen: August 5 (and every Wednesday until the end of the month). Youth-oriented speakers and bands at Coastal Church.
* Jazz Evensong: August 5 (and every Wednesday until the end of the month). Great jazz in a comfortable setting at Brentwood Presbyterian in Burnaby.
* The Global Leadership Summit: August 6 – 7 at Broadway Church. Also at Cedar Grove Church in Surrey.
* Josh Garrels in Concert: August 20 at the Vogue Theatre. Not to be missed.
* Caring for Aging Parents: August 27 lecture at Carey on the UBC campus; part of a series of events co-sponsored by Carey and St. Mark’s.
Jul 2015
A Rocha: Are You a Survivor? – July 29, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pmRegen: Sergio Najarro – July 29, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
David Kim: Exilic Discipleship - a New Paradigm for Discipling Millennials – July 29, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: The Noah Franche-Nolan Trio – July 29, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Godspell – July 30, 2015 - August 1, 2015 at All Day
Roger Feldman: Remnant Future – July 30, 2015 at All Day
Mozart's Don Giovanni – July 31, 2015 - August 2, 2015 at All Day
A Rocha: Farm Day for Kids – July 31, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Aug 2015
Praise Fest – August 1, 2015 at All DayDr. Michael Goheen: Introduction to World Religions – August 2, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Athletes in Action: Southside Community Church Soccer Camp – August 4, 2015 - August 7, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sanctuary's Coach Recruiting Session – August 4, 2015 at 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
'Shining with Divine Light': Making a Jesus Prayer Rope Workshop – August 4, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Business By the Book: Dr. Peter Chung – August 5, 2015 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Regen: Todd Lueck & City Life Church Band – August 5, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Early Music Vancouver: Pergolesi's Stabat Mater – August 5, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: LJ Mounteney – August 5, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Global Leadership Summit – August 6, 2015 - August 7, 2015 at All Day
The Global Leadership Summit – August 6, 2015 - August 7, 2015 at 12:00 am
Hymn Playing Workshop – August 6, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Sam Rocha: Three Sets – August 6, 2015 at 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm
The Tourist Company – August 7, 2015 at 8:45 pm - 10:00 pm
OMF Open House and Potluck – August 8, 2015 at 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
The Tourist Company – August 8, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm
Strings of Hope – August 8, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Seeds of Hope Youth Choir from Zambia – August 9, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Athletes in Action: Pacific Grace Soccer Camp – August 10, 2015 - August 14, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Athletes in Action: White Rock Baptist Church Soccer Camp – August 10, 2015 - August 14, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Seeds of Hope Youth Choir from Zambia – August 10, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Kickers Soccer School (Ages 3 - 5) – August 11, 2015 - August 15, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Kickers Soccer School (Ages 5 - 14) – August 11, 2015 - August 15, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
You are Not for Sale – August 11, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Regen: Mike Bidell & Daylight Worship – August 12, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Darlene Ketchum – August 12, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Seeds of Hope Youth Choir from Zambia – August 13, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cebu Clergy Performing Artists – August 14, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Seeds of Hope Youth Choir from Zambia – August 14, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Summer Nightslide Concert: Hosted by The Russ Rosen Band – August 14, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 11:55 pm
Ten White Trucks – August 15, 2015 at All Day
A Rocha Summer BBQ – August 15, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 9:30 pm
The Tourist Company – August 15, 2015 at 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Armenian Genocide Centennial Event: Concert – August 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cebu Clergy Performing Artists – August 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Royal Heirs in Concert – August 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Cebu Clergy Performing Artists – August 16, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
2015 Directions in Aboriginal Ministry – August 17, 2015 - August 20, 2015 at All Day
Cebu Clergy Performing Artists – August 17, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Regen: Simon Gau & Broadway Church Band – August 19, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Jennifer Scott & Rene Worst – August 19, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Ministry Leadership Summit: Inspiring Generosity – August 20, 2015 at 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Josh Garrels in Concert, with Mike Edel – August 20, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Skillet in Concert, with Colton Dixon – August 20, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Totem Pole Journey: Film and Community Dinner – August 21, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
African Enterprise Flower Sale – August 22, 2015 at 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
3-on-3 Basketball Tournament – August 22, 2015 at 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Worship in the Park: Breaking Free 2015 – August 22, 2015 at 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm
A Night in Honour of Freda Huson and the Unist'ot'en Camp – August 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Tourist Company – August 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Arctic & Friends – August 22, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Soul Care for Maturing Adults – August 24, 2015 - August 27, 2015 at 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Keep Our Land Leadership Luncheon with Stockwell Day – August 25, 2015 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Leadership Luncheon with Hon. Stockwell Day – August 25, 2015 at 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Celebration of Ukrainian Independence with Bria Blessing – August 26, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Regen: Ken Shigematsu & Tenth Street Church Band – August 26, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Brian Tate – August 26, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Caring for Aging Parents: Straight Answers that Help You Serve Their Needs Without Ignoring Your Own – August 27, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Freedom Session Leadership Training – August 28, 2015 - August 29, 2015 at All Day
Kevin Pauls – August 28, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
The Vineyard Centre Presents Rob Berg and The Arctic – August 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Sep 2015
World Day of Prayer for God's Creation – September 1, 2015 at All DayCasting Crowns in Concert – September 1, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Business By the Book: John Neate, founder of JJ Bean Coffee Roasters – September 2, 2015 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Word Guild: BC Members Meet and Greet – September 2, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm