Around Town: The Gathering, James Houston, Christine Boyle, JustWork

‘Bloom Where You’re Planted.’ Regent College has always made a point of teaching, training and equipping people to live out their faith in their daily lives.

Sometimes the talk has been stronger than the walk. But my impression is that the school has recaptured much of its early vision – and The Gathering is one good example among several recently.

Here is how they describe Bloom Where You’re Planted (May 9 – 10):

The Gathering is an annual event for church leaders and pastors seeking to refresh and build lifelong friendships for resilient pastoral ministry. As a non-conference conference, we focus on encounters over information-exchange.

Through worship, prayer, teaching, dialogue, sharing food and recreation, we will grow our pastoral imagination.

In 2024, our theme is to ‘Bloom Where You’re Planted.’ We will explore what it looks like for a church to truly belong to its neighbourhood. We will ask: What would it look like for a church to recognize that Christ has placed it in the neighbourhood, to bless and be blessed in his name?

Ray Aldred will consider how we relate to land and place.

We will explore these questions over the course of two days. Come, join other church leaders (both pastors and laity) from a variety of denominational traditions to:

- Learn from Ray Aldred, Director of the Indigenous Studies Program at VST, on how we relate to land and place
- Hear lived stories from Dannae Pierre, Co-director of City to City North America, on how we can engage with our neighbourhood
- Explore how to nourish local witness in our churches and communities through dialogue and mutual learning
- Spend time in prayer, with others or alone
- Choose from a variety of roundtable workshops and activities to attend to your soul
- Fellowship and build lasting connections
- Play at the beach!

Go here for registration information; ticket price covers two plenary sessions, three workshop sessions and three meals (Thursday lunch, dinner, Friday lunch) and coffee, tea and pastries.

Recapturing roots

James Houston recently celebrated his 101st birthday.

Speaking of Regent College and perseverance, it was such a blessing to see a video featuring James Houston – the Oxford University Lecturer in cultural and historical geography who became the first Principal of Regent College – celebrating his 101st birthday.

After quoting from The Psalter (Psalm 91:16), he began:

I’m so grateful that I can celebrate my 101st birthday, for as we get older, as I have been asked, “How can I pray for you,” my response has always been, “Oh Lord, keep me faithful to the end.” . . .

He continued:

God didn’t promise salvation, He acted, and the action is the evidence of the cross. We have to embody what we believe. . . .

And concluded:

People constantly, when they come to see me, [ask] “How can I pray for you?” – and the answer is simply, “Lord, make me faithful to you, to the end. That our Lord Himself, having loved which were in the world, He loved them unto the end. That’s all.”

The Mark Glanville Trio in Regent College’s Atrium. Mark will co-host ‘Bloom Where You’re Planted.’

A quick scan of recent and coming events demonstrates Regent’s renewed care for the surrounding culture. For example:

Thinking Through the Arts (March 25 – 26): “Ever wondered about the interplay between the arts, the world around us and our inner lives?”
Moral Machines: Social Values, Technology and Critical Constructivism with Andrew Feenberg, Canada Research Chair in Philosophy of Technology, Simon Fraser University (March 26); Hosted by the Houston Centre for Humanity and the Common Good, “a five-year initiative of Regent College, grounded in Dr. James M. Houston’s comprehensive vision of integrative scholarship. Its main task is to foster interdisciplinary and interreligious dialogue on the central question of the late-modern world: what does it mean to be human?”
Improvising Church Book Launch with Mark Glanville (April 5): The Mark Glanville Trio led a beautiful evening of music and reflection in Regent’s Atrium, focusing on artistic creativity and getting out into the broader community. Mark will co-host The Gathering with Fiona Watts, Executive Director of West Vancouver United Church.
Incarnational Humanism Book Launch with Jens Zimmerman (April 9): “Incarnational Humanism offers a theological understanding of what it means to be human. This understanding is rooted in the incarnation of Christ, the supreme expression of true humanity and true Godhood in one. From this centre, it charts a course for Christians to engage – and to transform – culture for the life of the world.” Also sponsored by the Houston Centre,
Working Blessedly Forever Book Launch with Paul Stevens (April 18): “Surveying six decades of my own working, ministering, teaching, advocating and writing, I have come to some observations about the state of the good movement of God in faith and work integration.”

None of the above is meant to suggest that Regent ever lost its concern for the culture and lay education. Definitely not. But we do see encouraging signs of renewed vision.

Christine Boyle chosen

Christine Boyle will run for MLA with the NDP in Vancouver-Little Mountain this fall.

Vancouver City Councillor Christine Boyle will be the BC NDP’s candidate in the Vancouver-Little Mountain riding in the upcoming provincial election.

A CBC News article reported April 5:

Christine Boyle, who leads the OneCity municipal party, secured the nomination after defeating former city councillor Andrea Reimer. Boyle says there is a lot of work to do ahead of this fall’s election

“Elections are always about connecting with the residents . . . . a lot of door-knocking and community work and I look forward to it,” Boyle told CBC News during a Zoom interview.

The nomination race came after B.C.’s longtime environment minister, George Heyman, announced that he is not going to run in this fall’s provincial election..

Heyman, who has been the MLA for Vancouver-Fairview since 2013, endorsed Reimer to seek the NDP nomination in the newly-formed riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain.

Boyle was first elected to city council in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. She said that she would like to see “another strong progressive” take her city council seat if she is elected in Vancouver-Little Mountain this fall.

Boyle is ordained as a United Church minister and has participated in a number of Christian events over the years, from the recent Reimagining Church, Land and Community gathering to a Missions Fest panel and a WayBase meeting.

Reimer also worked with the Christian community. In 2016 when she was a City Councillor. For example, in 2016 she both helped Pastor Trevor Vanderveen of First Christian Reformed Church of Vancouver as he sought changes to the Grandview-Woodland Community Plan and spoke at the City Summit (memorably suggesting a plan for how churches could work together: ‘One City, One Sermon’).

JustWork closed

Making Connections (Canadian Baptist of Western Canada) reported in its April newsletter that JustWork has ceased operation:

Nearly 20 years ago, Grandview Calvary Baptist Church in Vancouver had a vision of helping the growing number of people in the Grandview-Woodlands neighbourhood struggling to find work.

Through this desire, JustWork Economic Initiative was incorporated as a charity in 2006, and operated three social enterprises; JustPotters, JustCatering and JustRenos.

In January, it was announced that JustWork made the difficult decision to close, citing that financial struggles caused by the current economic climate were too much to overcome.

JustWork shared this statement on their Facebook Page:

Big THANKS to our amazing community! As JustWork comes to a close, we reflect with awe and gratitude on those who have walked alongside us. This work will resonate meaningfully throughout our community and the lives of those we have served, leaving a lasting impact for years to come.⁠

We started in 2006 with a dream and a mission to fill a critical employment gap and help those facing the most significant barriers. It has been a privilege to give people the opportunity to sustain an income through our social enterprises for 18 years. . . .

The heart that Grandview Baptist had all those years ago led to years of touching and changing many lives. We are so proud of the work that JustWork has done, and wish everyone who was involved the very best in their next chapter!

Go to the JustWork site for more information.

Apr 2024

May 2024

Cultivate: Church Planting Conference 2024 – Rhythms & Rituals – May 2, 2024 - May 4, 2024 at All Day
Dr. Stefan Paas: Christian Mission in a Post-Christian Society – May 3, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Worship for Justice Tour presents Don Moen & Paul Baloche, with Brooke Nichols – May 3, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
'You Alone, Lord' Moms Retreat – May 4, 2024 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Bible Saturday: Bruce Waltke – How to Read and Understand the Creation Account of Genesis I – May 4, 2024 at 9:30 am - 11:45 am
Multicultural Temple Tour – May 4, 2024 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
The Chosen Bible Study – May 4, 2024 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Amabilis Singers Spring Concert 2024 – May 4, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Vespers in the Valley with Kim Greenwood & Friends – May 5, 2024 at 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Regent College 2024 Convocation – May 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Addictions Course with Dr. Quentin Genuis (2 evenings) – May 7, 2024 - May 14, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Vancouver School of Theology 2024 Convocation Ceremonies – May 7, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
March for Life Victoria – May 9, 2024 at All Day
The Gathering: Bloom Where You're Planted – May 9, 2024 - May 10, 2024 at All Day
Western Regional Conference on Christianity & Literature 2024 – May 9, 2024 - May 11, 2024 at All Day
BC Leadership Prayer Dinner – May 9, 2024 at 5:15 pm - 8:00 pm
57th Annual BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast – May 10, 2024 at 7:30 am - 9:15 am
Deep & Wide: A Conference on Ecclesial Engagement with Disability Across Canada – May 10, 2024 - May 11, 2024 at 4:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Crochet & Knitting Club – May 11, 2024 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Good Noise Gospel Choir 20th Anniversary Gala Concert – May 11, 2024 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Lions Gate Sinfonia – May 11, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Pulling Out All the Stops – May 11, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Welcome Table: Journey Home Spring Gala – May 14, 2024 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
A Case for the Existence of God – May 16, 2024 - June 9, 2024 at All Day
FaithTech Vancouver | Discovering Redemptive Technology – May 16, 2024 at 6:00 pm - 7:45 pm
May 'Almost' Silent Retreat – May 16, 2024 - May 18, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Living Laudato Si': The Challenge and the Promise – May 17, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
GO Day 2024 – May 18, 2024 at All Day
International Day for the Unreached – May 19, 2024 at All Day
Women in Leadership Collective Webinar – May 21, 2024 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
The Gospel, Discipleship & Cultural Engagement – May 22, 2024 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Stephen Fearing – May 24, 2024 at 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Cross Cultural Ministry Training (two gatherings) – May 24, 2024 - October 19, 2024 at 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Higher Calling – May 24, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Politics In The Pulpit Conference: The Local Church’s Responsibility in Political Engagement – May 25, 2024 at 9:45 am - 3:00 pm
Sweet Sounds on Sussex with Linda Szentes & Friends – May 25, 2024 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Vespers in the Valley 'Caribbean Style' featuring the Steel Drums of Sweet Pan – May 26, 2024 at 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
20th Anniversary Celebration Ridge-Meadows Celebrate Recovery – May 26, 2024 at 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
17th Annual FIRST UNITED Golf Tournament – May 27, 2024 at 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
CityReach’s 20th Celebration Open House – May 28, 2024 at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Prayer & Fasting Gathering: Loving Muslims Together Network – May 31, 2024 at All Day

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