Around Town: Connections, Unplanned, Hillsong, Epiphany/Surrey Food Bank ...

Connections Coffee House volunteers Helen and Carol along with pastor Don Dyck at the farewell barbecue.

Many churches are looking for creative ways to get to know their neighbours, but few have done as well as Brentwood Park Alliance Church, which has been running Connections Coffee House in a quiet Brentwood neighbourhood for the past eight years.

So it is a shame to learn that the neighbourhood gathering spot served its last cup of coffee May 26.

An article in Burnaby Now took note of the closure, speaking with long-time volunteer Sue From:

Connections opened with a vision of providing a community space to a rapidly densifying neighbourhood, From said. As more people moved into the area’s new highrises, they were looking for a place to meet their neighbours.

From said the café was a special, welcoming place.

“It’s a friendly atmosphere; it’s not like going into a Starbucks,” she said. “It’s all about community.”

Over the years, many regular customers became friends with the volunteer baristas and fellow patrons, From said. And many of them became so attached to the place, they became volunteers themselves.

“We’re a listening ear for a lot of people,” From said.

From said the café is unlikely to reopen somewhere else because its location is part of what made it necessary and viable as a volunteer-run operation.

Connections hosted a barbecue last weekend that was attended by some 300 people – a testament to its popularity in the community, From said.

The coffee shop posted this notice on its website:

Dear Valued Customers,

It is with great sadness we announce our last day of business will be May 26, 2019. Although we have been in negotiations for the last several months we were unsuccessful in renewing our lease.

We have thoroughly enjoyed being part of this community for the past 7 years. We have developed significant relationships with many of you and watched this neighbourhood become a very caring place. Although our future as a coffee shop is unknown we hope to find ways to stay in touch.

Yours truly,

Connections Coffee House

I posted a story about Connections just over two years ago.

Brentwood Park will host its 20th annual Canada Day event July 1.

Unplanned update

Last week I asked ‘Why isn’t the movie Unplanned being shown in Canada?” From a recent post on The B.C. Catholic site, it appears that the situation may be changing:

After much debate and controversy, Unplanned may soon be hitting theatres across Canada.

Co-director Cary Solomon says the filmmakers are currently negotiating to bring the pro-life project to movie theatres in 10 to 20 Canadian cities. A deal may be announced as early as this week.

Go here for the full story.

Hillsong United

Hillsong seems to come in quite a number of forms these days. It’s now a denomination in Australia, it’s a worldwide movement, it’s bucking church decline in England – and it is, of course, a major force in worship music.

This spring alone we have two manifestations in Vancouver. Hillsong Y & F visited our town in April and the Hillsong United’s The People Tour will be at the Pacific Coliseum this Friday (May 31).

While some bemoan the Hillsongization of worship, others clearly love their music. Many of us sing their songs at church, and tens of thousands are attending their shows.

Fader recently published a helpful overview of their history and influence:

“Hillsong is just this massive, massive presence in Christian music,” says ethnomusicologist Tom Wagner, who wrote the book The Hillsong Movement Examined. “There’s nobody with as much influence as they have, and even as someone who doesn’t believe what they believe, it is absolutely incredible the work that they are doing. They’ve just kind of taken over.”

Already, the community of Christians around the world have crowned Hillsong a staying power. Whether it is mammoth marketing, meditative songwriting, killer hooks, a movement of the Lord or just business savvy, there’s definitely something sticky about Hillsong.

The show may or may not be sold out. Premier Productions says it is, on Facebook, but not on its website – so it’s probably still worth checking if you’re keen to go.

Epiphany Anglican / Surrey Food Bank

It appears that Church of the Epiphany is getting closer to confirming plans for new buildings which will house the church and the Surrey Food Bank.

A May 16 update by Randy Murray, communications officer for the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster, said a new sign detailing the development proposal is an indication that the “partnership has come one step closer.”

Murray wrote in more detail about the partnership and prospects for the future in an earlier article. He said the church has a long history of supporting community groups, and that a coalition of churches started a food cupboard ministry in Surrey in 1981. The Surrey Food Bank (SFB) began officially a couple of years later.

He added:

SFB provides $30,000 worth of food a day to over 180 families from their principal facility and through other centres in Surrey, Cloverdale and North Delta. SFB also delivers hampers to 120 individuals with severe medical and mental health issues. . . .

In 2017, SFB and ‘Epiphany’ were brought together to see if a partnership that could produce significant opportunities to assist the neighbourhood and the greater community would be possible.

In their vision for the future, ‘Epiphany’ plans to host events related to community development as well as being a welcoming and well equipped meeting space for concerts and community gatherings. Among the parish’s goals is the desire to provide a safe and comfortable space for those who are new to Canada, seniors, young people and parents as well as others who use the SFB.

With these goals, Epiphany felt that SFB was the perfect partner, as they share similar ideals, and the vision of growing our community beyond hunger.

Go here for the full article.

May 2019

Thy Kingdom Come – May 30, 2019 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Cake – May 30, 2019 - June 8, 2019 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation – May 31, 2019 - June 2, 2019 at All Day
Hillsong United Tour 2019 – May 31, 2019 at 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm

Jun 2019

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