Around Town: Bill Chu, Wally Buono, For the Love of God, Handel’s Messiahs . . .

Friends and supporters joined Bill Chu recently at the Gingeri Restaurant in Richmond’s Lansdowne Centre to celebrate 30 years of activism with Canadians for Reconciliation Society (CFRS) – and his 70th birthday.

Enjoying the multi-course meal with him were co-labourers from several of his projects over the years. Several spoke appreciatively of his work, including Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, head of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.

Chu, a retired engineer originally from Hong Kong, described how CFRS began on his website:

Chinese Christians In Action Society was founded in 1989 to express its support for the student’s democratic movement in China. In 1990, the Oka Crisis in Quebec forced some of us to think if we were concerned about the ones crushed at Tiananmen Square, shouldn’t we be concerned about those Aboriginals to be crushed at Oka? 

That initiated a movement to find the theological basis as well as earthly ways for caring of the world, as those topics were by and large missing in Chinese church teachings. Among our subsequent areas of engagement, the one with Native people led to improved public understanding of their plight in Canada. By 2001, we have witnessed so many major conflicts with Aboriginals in Canada that we were convinced reconciliation with the Aboriginal deserved a focused treatment and CFRS was born in September.

At the dinner he followed up on that theme. He referred to some of the CFRS’s other undertakings – “initiating the first major Chinese New Year celebration in a shopping centre, leading the lengthy anti-gambling campaigns, lobbying and stopping Vancouver from imposing a social service use permit on churches serving the poor” – but said he would focus mainly on the group’s participation in Aboriginal issues.

Chu said:

I wish to acknowledge we are meeting on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish People, on the Musqueam’s traditional land. However I also want to acknowledge that we are meeting in God’s creation, as the former without the latter is problematic for the following reason.

With the majority of BC’s land mass still without treaties with the original Indigenous nations, acknowledging only the former is alike to me acknowledging that I stole your cell phone, but I am not going to do anything beyond that! Given a chance, I would like to steal the cell phones from other members of your family, and life for me will go on as usual!

So the reason to add the second acknowledgement is to remind the settlers of God’s mandate for his people to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and thereby wake Canada up to its original sin.

As he prepared to show some pictures, he said:

If you find the summary difficult to remember, please try to remember them with the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 2,000-plus:

• 1 is our one goal of reconciliation.
• 2 is the number of BC minority history we have dug into and publicized.
• 3 is the three levels of government I have engaged with either directly or less directly in the process leading to three formal apologies.
• 4 is the number of Chinese heritage sites in BC I have defended from further destruction.
• 2,000-plus is the number of folks I have brought to Indigenous reserves over the years.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip attended the meal to honour Chu, even though he had spent a couple of tiring days at the annual BC Cabinet and First Nations’ Leaders Gathering and still had to drive home to Penticton that night.

He said the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is “enormously grateful” to Chu:

When I think of Bill Chu, the word that comes to mind is ‘relentless.’ Reconciliation is not an event, it’s a lifelong commitment to creating, nurturing and sustaining a relationship. . . .

On behalf of the UBCIC I want to thank you Bill for all your good work over the years. . . . He’s widely known and deeply respected by our people.

Chu said it is surprising that CFRS has achieved as much as it has with “no employees, no office, no money, no fund-raising.” He thanked those who have worked with him, but also acknowledged that replacing him would be an issue if the group were to carry on. He will take it easier now, but several speakers expressed doubts about whether he will really be able to retire.

Chu concluded with these thoughts:

There is also no road map or model that I can follow except those in the good book. It is against all these odds that I was called to start CFRS. For many who stereotype all Christians as narrow-minded or selfish characters who just focus on life after death, they have a surprise now as I have been concerned with life before death as well, and try to manifest God’s will within our culture and history. . . .

[My summary] will serve as a road map of sorts for the younger generation, who still will have to face a society with largely un-reconciled relationships, and with growing populism and nationalism. . . .

Bear in mind though, CFRS has wound down due to succession difficulty; we are not at the end of reconciliation but just the beginning.

Several articles by and about Bill Chu have appeared in Church for Vancouver over the years, including here, here and here. He has been widely covered in the secular press as well.

Wally Buono Day

Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart named December 4 Wally Buono Day and welcomed the recently retired head coach of the BC Lions to Vancouver City Hall.

A CBC News report said:

Retiring B.C. Lions coach and CFL legend Wally Buono appeared at Vancouver City Hall to accept a citation proclaiming Tuesday “Wally Buono Day” in Vancouver.

“I’m quite humbled by it,” said Buono. “You do a job that you really love and have passion for, you work hard and do the things you need to do to be successful. To be recognized, it’s appreciated.”

Mayor Kennedy Stewart called the 68-year-old an inspiration to all Vancouverites.

“Wally’s unrelenting commitment to teamwork, leadership, service and family exemplifies the very best in civic spirit,” said Stewart.

Buono is the winningest coach in CFL history, as well as a former player and general manager.

He spent the final 16 years of his 46 year CFL career as head coach and/or general manager of the B.C. Lions, leading the team to two Grey Cup titles.

Buono is well known for his Christian faith. He spoke with Peter Stockland of Convivium magazine about it last summer:

Convivium: You’re identified as a public Christian. How do balance your visibility as a public person, a celebrated figure in professional sports, and your life as a person of faith?

Wally Buono: I don’t separate them. My little theme is that every day is Sunday. You just don’t use your faith when you go to church on Sunday morning. Your life, your family, your work, everything you do, your faith is a part of it in some way.

As a coach there’s a lot of stress, a lot of pressure. Being a man of faith helps you to put them in the proper perspective. It helps you to be able to cope. A lot of times, it will give you the strength to work through a difficult situation. I’m not in the position where I feel I can preach to the players and coaches in our meeting rooms. It’s not what I’m there for. But they know how, and on what, I base my decisions. They know how I deal with people based on what I believe from the Biblical point of view.

Do I have to keep hammering at you that I’m a Christ follower, or that I believe what the Good Book says? No. I don’t have to continually remind you of that. What I try to do as much as possible is live it. We all fail, and when you fail you have to be willing to accept it and move on, right?

David Ebner wrote a good article about Buono’s faith journey in the Globe and Mail November 11, 2016: B.C. Lions keep faith in Wally Buono, ‘grandfather of the CFL.’

For the Love of God

Regent College will feature a film and discussion next Thursday (December 13) which will grapple with what professed followers of Christianity have done in God’s name – and how we might respond. The organizers say:

For the Love of God: How the church is better and worse than you ever imagined is a documentary by the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) in Australia. It confronts the worst of what Christians have done, while also tracing the origins of Western values like human rights, charity, humility and non-violence.

For the Love of God goes back in time to examine the life and teachings of Jesus Christ to see how one man upended not just his world, but also ours. It travels the globe recounting how the followers of Jesus have actually followed Jesus throughout history – featuring stories such as ‘holy war’ during the Crusades, the German church’s capitulation to Nazism, but also the sacrificial care of the sick at a leper colony in Hawaii, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to non-violent resistance.

The film showing will be followed by a talk-back session with Simon Smart, one of the presenters.

Watch the trailer here.

Handel’s Messiahs

Every year there are a couple of opportunities to enjoy or sing along with Handel’s Messiah in the lead-up to Christmas. But this year there are several to choose from, and they come in variety of forms, from very professional to some that won’t require much expertise or even singing ability:

* Handel’s Messiah: Jon Washburn Conducts (Dec 7, The Orpheum)

In this 48^th season of the Choir, Jon Washburn will conduct his 48^th performance of Messiah, Vancouver’s perennial Christmas favourite. It features the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Pacifica Singers, Vancouver Chamber Orchestra and a stellar roster of Canadian vocal soloists — soprano Nathalie Paulin, countertenor Daniel Cabena, tenor Isaiah Bell and bass-baritone Stephen Hegedus.

* Handel’s Messiah (Dec 8, Bell Performing Arts Centre, Surrey)

For many, the holiday season isn’t complete without a performance of Handel’s Messiah. This year, we bring our beloved production of this time-honoured classic to the Bell Centre in Surrey. Joined by the newly founded Surrey City Orchestra, we celebrate a holiday favourite, in a production that celebrates the depth of local talent we enjoy in the Metro Vancouver area.

* Messiah in the Valley (Dec 13 – 16, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley, Aldergrove)

The Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra & Chorus invite you to experience the intimacy and drama of Messiah, Handel’s most beloved choral masterpiece. Messiah transcends cultural, geographic, and religious boundaries with its message of charity, peace, goodwill, and sacrifice. It also contains some of the most uplifting, touching, and magnificent music ever composed.

* Singable Saturdays: Messiah Edition (Dec 15, First Christian Reformed Church of Vancouver)

Join us for the Vancouver Bach Choir’s first ever Singable Saturday. Created from a love of sharing singing with our community, we invite you to join us for this free series. You’ll get the chance to sing major choral masterworks with Maestro Leslie Dala and pianist Stephen Smith, alongside new and old friends. Invite your friends! No experience required, and if you don’t read music you’re welcome to come and listen or sing along to the best of your abilities.

* Sing-along Messiah (Dec 22, Faith Presbyterian Church, Vancouver)

Everyone welcome. Scores will be provided. Sponsored by Hominick Music Studio.

Dec 2018

24-7 Vancouver Prayer Week – December 2, 2018 - December 8, 2018 at 12:00 am
David Hogan – December 5, 2018 - December 6, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Yule Duel – December 6, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
West Coast Family Gathering: We Welcome You King of Glory – December 6, 2018 - December 8, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Two Sides of Christmas – December 7, 2018 at 7:30 am - 8:30 am
Duncan Africa Open House – December 7, 2018 - December 8, 2018 at 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
North Shore Worship Choir: Never Alone (two nights) – December 7, 2018 - December 9, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Handel's Messiah: Jon Washburn Conducts – December 7, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Christmas Fair – December 8, 2018 at 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
musica intima: A Christmas Story – December 8, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This is Christmas: Women's Event – December 8, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Handel's Messiah – December 8, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
German Baroque Christmas – December 8, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
St. Faith's Christmas & Bake Sale – December 9, 2018 at 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Jazz Vespers: The Mighty Fraser Big Band – December 9, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The Magic of Yule – December 9, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Eye of the Beholder: Luci Shaw Poetry Reading – December 10, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
VSO Brass Quintet Concert – December 11, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Mending Time – December 13, 2018 - December 19, 2018 at All Day
Timberline Country Christmas – December 13, 2018 - December 19, 2018 at All Day
musica intima: Ding Dong! in East Vancouver – December 13, 2018 at 8:00 am - 10:00 am
A Classical & Inspiring Christmas – December 13, 2018 at 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Film Screening: For the Love of God – December 13, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by Ron Reed – December 13, 2018 - December 29, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Divine Radiance: Annual Christmas Concert – December 14, 2018 - December 16, 2018 at All Day
Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas – December 14, 2018 at All Day
Singing Christmas Tree – December 14, 2018 - December 16, 2018 at All Day
Music in the Morning: Pedja Muzijevic – December 14, 2018 at 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Music in the Morning: Pedja Muzijevic – December 14, 2018 at 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
A Joyful Christmas, presenting Nicol Matt from Germany – December 14, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Dundarave Festival of Lights: World Christmas – December 15, 2018 at All Day
Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas – December 15, 2018 at All Day
Singable Saturdays: Messiah Edition – December 15, 2018 at 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
North Shore Community Christmas Dinner – December 15, 2018 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Christmas Dinner Theatre – December 15, 2018 at 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Coastal Church: Christmas Grand Services – December 15, 2018 - December 16, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Messiah in the Valley – December 15, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Musicking at Brentwood Presbyterian: Fall 2018 (several dates) – December 16, 2018 - December 24, 2018 at All Day
Chantez Noel – December 16, 2018 at 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
musica intima: A Christmas Story – December 16, 2018 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Blue Christmas Service – December 16, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Christmas Tales – December 16, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Dude, You Hear What I Hear? – December 16, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Christmas Presence – December 16, 2018 - December 18, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas – December 17, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Christmas Tales 'Let's Give Them Hope' Fundraiser – December 18, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
musica intima: A Christmas Story – December 18, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Christmas Tales – December 19, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Blue Christmas – December 19, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong (Wednesday evenings) – December 19, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Blue Christmas – December 20, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
musica intima: Ding Dong! on the West Side – December 20, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
musica intima: Ding Dong! on the West Side – December 20, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
musica intima: Ding Dong! on the West Side – December 20, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
musica intima: Ding Dong! on the West Side – December 20, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Carols on Carrall Street – December 21, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Christmas Carol Service – December 21, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Two from Galilee – December 21, 2018 - December 22, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
musica intima: A Christmas Story – December 21, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Sing-along Messiah – December 22, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Vancouver Canata Singers: Christmas Reprise XVI – December 22, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm
Ember – December 22, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
CeleBirth: New Life Christmas Concert – December 22, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Vancouver Cantata Singers: Christmas Reprise XVI (New West) – December 22, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm
Jesus' Birthday Party for Children – December 24, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Hope & Love 4 U: December 25th Christmas Edition – December 25, 2018 at 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
DTES Churches Joint Gathering – December 30, 2018 at 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Jazz Vespers @ St. Andrew's United Church – December 30, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Celebrate New Years Eve 2019 with Worship Invasion. – December 31, 2018 - January 1, 2019 at 9:30 pm - 12:30 am

Jan 2019

Book Sale – January 2, 2019 at All Day
Kairos Course – January 5, 2019 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
OMF Day of Prayer – January 5, 2019 at 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Feast of Carols – January 5, 2019 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Jazz Vespers: Karen Graves & Mimosa – January 13, 2019 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Open House: Surrey Christian School (Fleetwood Campus) – January 15, 2019 at All Day
Open House: Surrey Christian School (Secondary Campus) – January 15, 2019 at All Day
Robert Mann: Science & Faith – Are They in Conflict? – January 16, 2019 at 12:30 pm - 1:20 pm
Professor Robert Mann: The Multiverse, Science & Theology – a Critical Inquiry – January 16, 2019 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Eve Leader: Through a Glass Darkly – Opening Reception – January 16, 2019 at 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Open House: Surrey Christian School (Cloverdale Campus) – January 17, 2019 at All Day
Robert Mann: Reflections on Science & Faith – January 17, 2019 at 11:45 am - 1:15 pm
Almost Silent Retreat – January 17, 2019 - January 19, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Robert Mann: Time and Eternity – January 17, 2019 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Missions Fest 2019: Mission: Discipling – January 18, 2019 - January 20, 2019 at All Day
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 18, 2019 - January 25, 2019 at All Day
Creation Care: Have We Gone Too Far, Or Not Far Enough? – January 18, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Dr. Hugh Ross – January 18, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Watoto Children's Choir: We Will Go – January 18, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Watoto Children's Choir: We Will Go – January 19, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Taizé Contemplative Service – January 20, 2019 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Watoto Children's Choir: We Will Go – January 20, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Service – January 20, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Open House: BC Christian Academy – January 21, 2019 at 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Inklings Institute of Canada: 'Are Women Human?': Dorothy L. Sayers – January 22, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Service – January 23, 2019 at 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Watoto Children's Choir: We Will Go – January 23, 2019 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Book Launch Lecture: Craig Gay – Modern Technology & the Human Future – January 23, 2019 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Susannah Adams – January 23, 2019 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Scott Cormode: Recalibrating the Church for Today's World – January 24, 2019 at 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Apostles' Creed Chapel Series: Dr. Harry Maier – January 24, 2019 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm