Around Town: ’Caps Faith Night, Culture Seep, (in)finite, Commuter Challenge …

“Cheer on the ‘Caps and enjoy an evening of soccer, salvation and worship.” That’s the offer from the Vancouver Whitecaps for the sixth annual Whitecaps Faith and Family Night, next Saturday (June 3).

The game with Atlanta United FC will be followed by a post-match worship session and a message of faith delivered by Whitecaps FC forward Fredy Montero.

Montero’s signing was a coup for the Whitecaps earlier this year. Here’s what they said about the three-time MLS all-star:

“A prolific scorer with a penchant for the improbable.”

That’s how NBC described Fredy Montero in the opening line of a 2011 documentary. A little dramatic? Maybe. But Montero scores goals – often in spectacular fashion.

He always has, no matter where he’s played.

And now, he’s coming to Vancouver.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that the club has acquired Montero on a one-year loan from Chinese Super League club Tianjin Teda in what is arguably the biggest signing in club history. The 29-year-old Colombian striker joins Whitecaps FC as a Designated Player, just in time for the start of the 2017 season.

On April 14, he scored two goals in a 2-1 victory over his former club, the Seattle Sounders. The winner was a header from a corner by Kendall Waston, who spoke at last year’s Faith Night.

 Chris Morrison of the Whitecaps organization says, “We are offering specially rated tickets at $27 per person to come together with their friends, family and co-workers and enjoy the match.” Go here for Faith Night tickets.

A free exhibition featuring “artwork of a spiritual nature from artists working predominantly in textile and fibre media” will be hosted by Christ Church Cathedral from May 25 – June 4.

(in)finite: Spiritual Conversations in Cloth is overseen by Vancouver-based textile and liturgical artist Thomas Roach, and features work by 25 artists from across Canada – though the majority are from the west coast.

Here is the organizers description of the show:

An impressive array of traditional and innovative textile media and processes are included: tapestry and jacquard weaving; piecing and quilting; hand and machine stitching; dyeing and printing; embroidery and embellishment. The work reveals that spiritual conversations in textiles are an important means through which Canadian artists seek inspiration both artistically and spiritually.

Whether these artists are challenging their concepts of the unknown and the immensity of the cosmos, or looking inward to engage in private meditations, they find in their work a means to contemplate the world around them, participate in the act of creation and engage in prayer.

Local artists included in the exhibition are Terry Aske (New Westminster), Linda Coe (Vancouver), Melanie Delva (Vancouver), Trish Graham (New Westminster), Elma Harder (Burnaby), Kaija Rautiainen (Vancouver), Katie Stein Sather (Maple Ridge), Robb Schinnour (Burnaby), Shamina Senaratne (Port Moody), Joan Taylor (Richmond), Judy Villett (New Westminster), Sheila Wex (Vancouver) and Janet Wheeler (Vancouver).

Members of the curating circle, along with Roach, are Barbara Heller and Debra Sparrow.

Billed as a ‘conversation on Vancouver culture and worship,’ Culture Seep will be hosted by First Christian Reformed Church in Vancouver next Tuesday evening (May 30).

Organizers present the event in this way:

James K.A. Smith argues, in Desiring the Kingdom, that humans are not primarily thinkers, but lovers: creatures who desire. But there are warring factions for our desires; our surrounding culture provides us with compelling visions of “the good life” that often differ drastically from the vision of “the good life” given to us in scripture.

We are shaped toward these contrasting visions through shared ritual (liturgies) – our gathered Christian worship on the one hand, and various cultural practices and habits on the other. But what happens when cultural habits and visions enter into the way we gather as Christians? Is culture always a negative influence? Do we want cultural patterns to enter our patterns of gathered worship without consideration to their effect?

Presenters at Culture Seep will be Stacey Gleddiesmith, worship arts director at Columbia Bible College n Abbotsford, and David Warkentin, who runs the Columbia One program, also at Columbia Bible College.

For several years the Commuter Challenge has been running in workplaces across Canada, “to encourage employees to leave their cars at home and celebrate active and sustainable modes of transportation for one week, coinciding with Canadian Environment Week.  This year, Faith & the Common Good – a “national charity which supports diverse faith and spiritual communities contributing to greener, healthier, more resilient neighbourhoods” – has partnered with the Commuter Challenge team to introduce the Faith Commuter Challenge.

This is their proposal:

Did you know that transportation comprises 40 percent of an average faith community’s carbon footprint? Transportation is the second largest source of Canada’s GHG [greenhouse gases] emissions. That’s why travelling green is one of the most important ways we can be stewards of our planet. . . .

Between June 2 – 11, people of all faiths are invited to pick a day and travel to worship on foot, by bike, or by public transit and carpooling. Participating faith groups will have a chance to win special recognition and take part in a nation-wide friendly, climate-action challenge.

On that day, participants will be able to log in to track their trips to worship and also see their GHG emission reduction, calorie consumption, distance and fuel cost savings. They’ll be able to check out which faith communities and cities have the highest percentage of participating travellers.

Salal + Cedar and Fossil Free Faith will kick off the Faith Commuter Challenge locally with a Blessing of the Bicycles May 29, 4 – 6 pm, at Christ Church Cathedral.

May 2017

A Rocha's Barn Raiser – May 25, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Talks With Tom: Human Trafficking – May 26, 2017 at 7:30 am - 8:30 am
Dr. James Houston & Chris Houston: For Goodness' Sake – Christian Identity & Business Leadership – May 26, 2017 - May 27, 2017 at 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Chapel Unified – May 26, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Global Outreach Day – May 27, 2017 at All Day
Greater Vancouver Chinese Missions Conference – May 27, 2017 - May 28, 2017 at All Day
ISMC Fellowship Breakfast – May 27, 2017 at 8:30 am - 11:00 am
Storytelling and Digital Media Workshop: Video and Photography with Kenton MacDonald-Lin – May 27, 2017 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
I Stop Traffick Run/Walk – May 27, 2017 at 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Pastors & Leaders: Voices Together Informational Brunch – May 27, 2017 at 9:30 am - 11:30 am
EMBER : Worship & Prayer – May 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Screening: Over 18 – May 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Pilkey Sisters – May 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Vancouver Bach Choir: Oh Canada! – May 28, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Steve Maddock – May 28, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Kairos Course (Condensed) – May 29, 2017 at All Day
Concert and Reading with Sam Rocha: Tell Them Something Beautiful – May 29, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Culture Seep: How Vancouver Culture is Changing the Way We Worship – May 30, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Douglas Moo: How to Discover the Will of God – New Covenant Transformed Thinking – May 31, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Natalia Pardalis & Friends – May 31, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Jun 2017

(in)finite: Spiritual Conversations in Cloth – June 1, 2017 - June 4, 2017 at All Day
Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation – June 2, 2017 - June 4, 2017 at All Day
More Than an Art Show – June 2, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Un-Stuck: Inspiring Movement Toward Christ and His Mission – June 3, 2017 at 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Christian Estate Planning Seminar – June 3, 2017 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Praise in the Park – June 4, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm
City-wide Prayer: Global Day of Prayer – June 4, 2017 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Concert and Reading with Sam Rocha: Tell Them Something Beautiful – June 5, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
ARC Canada Conference 2017 – June 6, 2017 - June 7, 2017 at All Day
Experience Regent – June 6, 2017 at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Reading the Bible in China – June 6, 2017 at 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Greater Vancouver Youth Unlimited Golf Tournament – June 7, 2017 at 10:30 am - 7:30 pm
Business By the Book: Darian Kovacs – June 7, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Made in God's Image – June 7, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mark Buchanan: Truth and Reconciliation – How Do We Respond? – June 7, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Gordon T. Smith: Being Christian in a Secular Society – Getting Beyond the Culture Wars – June 7, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Armi Grano & Friends – June 7, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Anabaptist Theology: Methods and Practices Conference – June 8, 2017 - June 9, 2017 at All Day
Mackay: The Black Bearded Bible Man – June 8, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Stanley – June 8, 2017 - June 10, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Family Matters Preview Conference – June 9, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
IN SPIRED: An art show and poetry reading – June 9, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Bible Confronts Patriarchy: A Workshop on Gender Equality – June 9, 2017 - June 10, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 12:00 pm
Some Like it Hot: An alternative, biblical view of climate change – June 9, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Run for the Nations: DRIME 2017 annual charity fundraiser – June 10, 2017 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Catholics & Evangelicals: What Can We Learn From Each Other? – June 10, 2017 at 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Thousands Not Billions: The results of the RATE project on the age of the earth – June 10, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Hymn Festival – June 10, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
One City, One Message – June 11, 2017 at All Day
Jazz Vespers: Glenda Rae, Brett Wade & Miles Black – June 11, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Song-cology BC Cancer Fundraiser – June 11, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
A Gospel Sing-Along Evening with Richard Stepp – June 11, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Philosophers' Cafe: What do you think about C.S. Lewis’s views on love? – June 12, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Laura A. Smit: Beauty as Iconoclast – June 14, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Natasha D'Agostino & Friends – June 14, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
UGM: Call for Artists – June 15, 2017 - June 16, 2017 at All Day
Generous Space Launch Party – June 15, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Steve Imbach: Spiritual Direction – Contemplative Prayer Night – June 15, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Serving Refugees – June 17, 2017 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
St. Andrew's United Church 12th annual Teddy Bear Picnic – June 17, 2017 at 10:30 am - 2:00 pm
Market Day for Cambodia – June 17, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Organ Concerti: Gail Ovington, Carmen Ranta – June 17, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
World Refugee Sunday – June 18, 2017 at All Day
Point Grey Fiesta: Ecumenical Service – June 18, 2017 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Beyond 150: A Street Party in Honour of National Aboriginal Day – June 18, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Screening: Countdown to Sanctuary Wood – June 18, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Church Leaders Forum: Flying in Formation – June 20, 2017 at 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Mental Health, Faith and Community – June 21, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Migration, Mission and Multiplication Movements – June 21, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
National Aboriginal Day Observance – June 21, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Marcos Flo & Friends – June 21, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Grace W.S. Tan: Through the Eyes of Agape – June 22, 2017 at All Day
Charles Montgomery: Soul and the City – June 22, 2017 at 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Between the Sheets – June 22, 2017 - June 24, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Jenny Banai & Bre McDaniel – June 23, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Over 18 Film Screening – June 24, 2017 at 9:15 am - 12:30 pm
Martin Luther Remembered – June 24, 2017 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Walk for Water – June 24, 2017 at 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Borders to Beginnings – June 24, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jeremy Pearsons – June 24, 2017 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Pastor Anil Kant and Family – June 24, 2017 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Ember – June 24, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
World Refugee Sunday – June 25, 2017 at All Day
Jazz Vespers: Karen Graves & Miles Black – June 25, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Quintessential Jazz – June 25, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Pastor Anil Kant and Family – June 25, 2017 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Vancouver International Jazz Festival: Cyrus Chestnut Trio – June 27, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm