Around Town: Good Seed Sunday, The Shape of a Girl, Sun Run Service . . .

Several local churches will be taking part in Good Seed Sunday April 23 with A Rocha Canada. The Christian conservation organization is sponsoring a “time for Christians across Canada to honour the Creator as they celebrate and care for creation” on the Sunday following Earth Day.

Tenth Church celebrates Good Seed Sunday, but also makes it clear that their concern for the earth lasts throughout the year:

Caring for creation is not a passing trend or political card to be played, but rather central to the biblical story and integral to our Christian faith. As followers of Christ at Tenth Church, we want to be people that lead the way in caring for God’s good world.

Senior pastor Ken Shigematsu said:

“Our church has benefited immensely from A Rocha’s fantastic training, teaching and resources. Inspired and equipped by A Rocha, over the past few years we have established a community garden on our church property, started composting all our food waste and scraps from community meals, and now use 100 percent recycled paper and compostable paper cups and plates. A Rocha’s Good Seed Sunday Project has been a catalyst to help us put our beliefs about caring for creation into practice.”

Emmanuel Mennonite Church holds an annual e-waste recycling Sunday.

Pastor April Yamasaki of Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Abbotsford describes her church’s practical efforts at caring for creation:

Emmanuel’s Green Team focuses on raising awareness related to creation care and greening our church and homes in a variety of ways. So we have buckets in our church foyer for recycling batteries and compact fluorescent light bulbs; after church meals we collect organic waste for composting; we’ve begun a community garden; we hold an e-waste recycling Sunday once a year, and plan to add recycling Styrofoam as well.

A Rocha provides free downloadable resources for Good Seed Sunday, from sermons to Sunday school curriculum to ideas on practical creation care projects, hoping to help “kick-start a creation care movement in your church and neighbourhood.”

(A Rocha will be hosting a Barn Raiser at Vancouver Convention Centre May 25 to raise funds so that its 1930s heritage barn at the Brooksdale Centre can be transformed into a Learning Centre for environmental education.)

The Shape of a Girl

The bullying and murder of Reena Virk is a story familiar to most British Columbians. Next week (April 26 – 29) Stone’s Throw Productions grapples with the issues raised in that tragedy in The Shape of a Girl:

. . . a thought-provoking exploration on bullying and violence between young girls. In this one-woman show, 15 year old Braidie recounts the bullying she has seen within her own friend group from childhood through to adolescence. . . . The Shape of a Girl by Joan MacLeod is an important reminder of the scary progression of bullying, the long-lasting damages it can cause, and how doing nothing contributes to the circle of violence.

Vancouver Presents wrote this:

In 1997, Reena Virk was murdered in Victoria at the age of 14. She was lured to a party where she was swarmed and beaten by a group of her peers. She was then followed by two of them and murdered. Seven of the eight charged with aggravated assault or second degree murder were females.

“When people think about young women bullying each other, they may think of cattiness or gossip. With popular comedic movies like Mean Girls, I worry that people underestimate the long-lasting harm words can cause and the malicious violence young women are capable of.” – producer and performer, Lindsay Curl

Many others stood around and watched Reena Virk be beaten. In The Shape of a Girl, Braidie plays the role of the bystander. While watching TV, Braidie sees a group of girls facing trial for assault and murder. She then comprehends that her friend group is not all that different. MacLeod poses the question, “Why are humans so willing to sit back as the unthinkable unfolds?”

Stone’s Throw Productions operates under the aegis of Pacific Theatre, offering non-professional community members opportunities to work alongside theatre professionals in its community shows.

Tickets at the door – pay-what-you-think-it’s-worth after the show.

Godspeed: Sun Run Service

People have been known to skip church in order to take part in the Vancouver Sun Run, so it is good to see that Christ Church Cathedral is offering Godspeed: The Sun Run Service, this Sunday (April 23) at 8 am.

They say:

Spiritually prepare for the race with music, readings from scripture and inspirational preaching. All are welcome!

Register early, get your number and come on in to Christ Church Cathedral – located right on the starting line! Doors open at 7:30 am.

Briefly noted

Village Church looking to build

Village Church only started in 2010, but it is already one of the largest churches in Canada, with several thousand people in eight services at three locations, two in Surrey and one in Langley. The church has not had a permanent location, but now has bought property at 148 Street and Highway 10, and is hoping Surrey City Council will permit rezoning to allow them to build a permanent structure. Go here for an overview.

New book about Oscar Romero

Matt Eisenbrandt, the Vancouver-based author of Assassination of a Saint – a new book about the men who killed Archbishop Oscar Romero while he celebrated mass 37 years ago – says the subject is still dangerous to talk about. Eisenbrandt is now legal director of the Canadian Centre for International Justice. Go here for the B.C. Catholic story.

Franciscans leaving

The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are leaving BC after more than 80 years, due to dwindling numbers. The news comes just ahead of a significant milestone for the thriving parish they developed (2,800 families registered). In June, St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Richmond will celebrate 50 years since the friars built their current church structure.

New kitchens

Two churches have completed brand new kitchens so they can serve their surrounding communities better: North Shore Alliance Church and St. Timothy’s Anglican Church in Burnaby.

Apr 2017

Stone's Throw Productions: The Wolves – April 20, 2017 - April 22, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Open House at the Gardens of Gethsemani – April 21, 2017 - April 22, 2017 at 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
St. Andrew's Celebrates Earth Day – April 22, 2017 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Stronger Together: Bridging the Gaps – April 22, 2017 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
The Way of Light: A Journey Through the Story of Easter, with Catherine M. Kelly – April 22, 2017 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Ratanak International Emerald Gala – April 22, 2017 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
First Nations Cultural Awareness Dinner – April 22, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Good Seed Sunday, delivered by A Rocha – April 23, 2017 at All Day
Godspeed: The Sun Run Service – April 23, 2017 at 8:00 am - 9:00 am
Jazz Vespers: Hot Mammas (Arntzens) – April 23, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Salvation Army Harbour Light Open House – April 25, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Milleraires Concert for PWRDF – April 25, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Juhli Conlinn & Friends – April 26, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Violet Behzadian: Song of My Salvation – April 28, 2017 - April 30, 2017 at All Day
Brian Thiessen CD Release Concert – April 28, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Graham & Aaron Ord – April 28, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Next Gen Vision Night – April 28, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Mirror Year End Dance Show – April 28, 2017 - April 29, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Stone's Throw Productions: The Shape of a Girl – April 28, 2017 - April 29, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Marriage Mentoring: Building Healthy Marriages Through Friendship and Community with Randy Hamm – April 29, 2017 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Habitat Restoration for Families – April 29, 2017 at 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
People's Climate March: Jobs. Justice. Climate – April 29, 2017 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Mental Health Recovery in Relationships – April 29, 2017 at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Over 18: A Documentary About Porn – April 29, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Sundays at 3: David Poon – April 30, 2017 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Refuge: Music to Celebrate Vancouver's Refugee Heritage – April 30, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Together: City Church Worship & Prayer Gathering – April 30, 2017 at 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm

May 2017

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Around Town: Good Seed Sunday, The Shape of a Girl, Sun Run Service . . .

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