Around Town: Dunbar Ryerson, Refugee Guide, Reformation, Heritage Hill . . .

Dunbar Ryerson United Church has made an application to redevelop its property. The current church building (on the left) would remain, but several new buildings would be added.

Dunbar Ryerson United Church has made an application to redevelop its property. The current church building (on the left) would remain, but several new buildings would be added.

Dunbar Ryerson United Church recently announced plans to redevelop its Kerrisdale property – and there is already a Ryerson Neighbours website and campaign to block it.

The church owns two parcels of land on the north side of 45th Avenue, on either side of Yew Street, just west of West Boulevard. The area is fairly quiet and residential, though it is close to the shopping district on 41st and there are a number of highrises in the area. Many will know the church as a regular host of concerts.
 
The City of Vancouver posted a Notice of Rezoning Application and Open House February 14. The proposal includes:
 
East Site:
• an 8-storey market residential development with 2.5-storey
townhouses along 45th Avenue and a 4-storey podium
along the adjacent lane to the north, with a total of 40
dwelling units
West Site:
• restoration and heritage designation of the church
• a 5-storey infill building with a new community activity
centre and 32 units of affordable rental housing
 
No doubt the open house – which will take place next Monday (February 27), from 5 – 8 pm at Dunbar Ryerson’s Memorial Centre – will also be a full house.
 
The full name of the Ryerson Neighbours website includes this tagline: ‘Opposing rezoning of church lands,’ and it is urging people in the area to voice their concerns, both online and at the open house. Following is their raison d’être:

We live near Ryerson church, in a community just like other single family neighbourhoods. And change is happening. The main arterials (i.e. E and W Boulevard) have new apartment/commercial buildings (with 4 storey height restrictions) and we are adjusting to and welcoming many of the changes.

Like other neighbourhoods, we reject spot up-zoning off main arterial routes, welcome the retention of corner stores which evolve into community coffee shops and enjoy the bike routes that weave together these oases of calm.

We refuse re-zoning for an 8-storey-plus-penthouse tower to overshadow the church and the street where we bike.

Please join us in rejecting re-zoning on W 45th Ave.

I noted three weeks ago that Dunbar Ryerson is a recent amalgamation of two United Churches – Ryerson (on the property in question) and Dunbar (near Dunbar and King Edward). The church’s Moving Together FAQ page says:
 
The West 45th location will be extensively redeveloped starting sometime in the next two years. When the redevelopment is finished, the congregation will move permanently into the new church facility on 45th Avenue.
 
Churches are in an awkward spot when it comes to redevelopment. The city is encouraging greater densification, but neighbours generally aren’t keen on the idea. The open house should provide a good opportunity for members of other churches to get a firsthand look at one such initiative.
 
Prep for refugee hearings
 
kinbracerefugeeresourcesKinbrace launched a resource for refugee claimants February 16, just in time to meet the needs of increasing numbers of refugee claimants arriving in Canada seeking refugee protection. 
 
Kinbrace said of its new initiative:
 
Ready for My Refugee Hearing is designed to strengthen access to refugee protection for asylum seekers, making two national offers – the Refugee Hearing Preparation Guide and READY Tours – readily available.
 
Asylum seekers arriving in Canada face huge challenges, including the risks of getting into the country and the work of finding safe shelter, a basic human need.
 
Midst this quest for survival, refugee claimants must scramble to engage Canada’s inland refugee protection system – a complex legal bureaucracy designed to protect those who are refugees. The key moment for decision-making by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada – Refugee Protection Division happens at the refugee hearing, when the claimant tells their story with supporting documentation.
 
Built on collaboration with non-government, government and intergovernmental agencies across the country, Ready for My Refugee Hearing strives to connect refugee claimants to the best people and information in the country to bridge the gaps and overcome the barriers inherent in the refugee determination system, in order for them to be as ready as possible for the refugee hearing.
 
Kinbrace is a faith-based work in Vancouver which provides housing and support to 35 refugee claimants each year. It has been widely recognized for its work in developing a series of published resources under the title of Refugee Hearing Preparation Guide. The booklets appear in several languages and are now being distributed in major cities across Canada, where almost all inland refugees are located.
 
Cooperating on the Reformation

randallzachman1There may not be complete unity in the church, but there is a strong sense of amity, and it will demonstrated again this Friday (February 24) as four theological colleges on the UBC campus – mainline, Catholic, evangelical and Baptist – join forces to examine issues related to the Reformation, a time, 500 years ago, of considerably less amity.

In a lecture titled When Should Christians Break Stuff?, world-renowned scholar of the Reformation, Dr. Randall Zachman, will:

. . . examine a range of positions on the use of images in the worship, life and piety of the 16th century. [He] will explore the historical positions, and propose ways in which this Reformation debate may inform and enrich our deployment of the arts for faith and life in our own time.

After Zachman’s paper presentation, a panel with a member from each of the theological colleges in the consortium at UBC (Regent, St. Mark’s, Carey College and VST) will respond. Panelists are as follows:

  • Dr. Iwan Russell-Jones, Eugene and Jan Peterson Associate Professor of Theology and the Arts, Regent College
  • Dr. Axel Schoeber, Associate Professor of Supervised Ministry and Director of the Mentored Ministry, Carey College
  • Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan Kaplan, Director of Inter-religious Studies and Professor of Jewish Studies, Vancouver School of Theology (VST)
  • Dr. Paul Burns, Dean of Liberal Arts for Corpus Christi College, St. Mark’s Corpus Christi

The event is presented by VST in partnership with Regent College. It takes place as part of Regent College’s 500 Years of the Reformation, a yearlong commemoration, featuring panels, courses and public lectures on the theme of the Reformation.

Heritage Hill release, concert
 
heritagehilloutofthesea1The other day, Brandon Dorsey got in touch about some of the great music coming out of Westside Church these days. I hadn’t realized they had been so busy on that front.
 
The ​latest release is​ the debut EP (released February 16), Out of the Sea, from a group of young women making indie folk/americana music under the name Heritage Hill.
 
Listening to them, you could imagine yourself down at Jericho Beach at the Folk Festival – though the lyrics might be a little too R(Religious)-rated for the crowd. (They could make it on talent, though, and I hope they try.) Go here to listen to the songs.

Dorsey is a local music producer involved with the production ministry at Westside Church. He says:

We’ve been blessed to have many gifted songwriters and musicians serving at our church. Over the past few years we’ve been working to write and produce quality music that we hope glorifies God and moves his people to worship.

Westside will be hosting Backstage Bash! this Friday (February 24), which will be an evening of music, worship and missions, featuring Heritage Hill and another Westside band, Patriot Sail, all in aid of India Missions.
 
To check out all Westside’s music – Heritage Hill, Patriot Sail, Westside Church, Westside Sings, All Tribes and Compilations – go here.

Feb 2017

Rise Up, Sister! – February 23, 2017 - February 26, 2017 at All Day
Art + Design Alumni Exhibition: Bayit / Lament – Opening Reception – February 23, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Corleone: The Shakespearean Godfather by David Mann – February 23, 2017 - February 25, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
When Should Christians Break Stuff?: Passing from the Image to the Prototype – February 24, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Bre McDaniel – February 24, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Trinity Western University’s SAMC Faculty + Friends Presents: Seasons of Life and Landscape – February 24, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Backstage Bash!: Worship Night & Heritage Hill EP Release Party with Patriot Sail – February 24, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Christians at Work: Finding Your Calling, Making a Difference – February 25, 2017 at 8:30 am - 11:30 am
Brad Eastman: The Parables You Thought You Knew – February 25, 2017 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Canadian Chamber Choir Guest Performance – February 25, 2017 at 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Festival of Hope Prayer Walk – February 25, 2017 at 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Randall Zachman: Every Christian Should Be an Astronomer – February 25, 2017 at 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
A Rocha: Winter Workshop & Seed Swap – February 25, 2017 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Coldest Night of the Year: CityReach Care Society – February 25, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Coldest Night of the Year: Cloverdale Community Kitchen – February 25, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Coldest Night of the Year: First United Church Walk – February 25, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Coldest Night of the Year: Fundraiser for MOMS – February 25, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
International Student Ministry: Concert and Fundraiser – February 25, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Festival of Hope: Prayer Week – February 26, 2017 at 12:00 am
Prayer Current: Engage the Conversation (Sundays) – February 26, 2017 at 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Sundays at 3: Gerald Harder in Concert – February 26, 2017 at 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Jazz Vespers @ St. Andrew's United Church – February 26, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: LJ Mountenay – February 26, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Olaf deShield – February 26, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Redeveloping Dunbar Ryerson United Church: Open House – February 27, 2017 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Medical Assistance in Dying – February 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Mar 2017

Business By the Book: Kevan Dobsin – March 1, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Darlene Ketchum & Friends – March 1, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Commissionaires / Jacob Moon – March 2, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
disPlace: Refugee Stories in Their Own Words – March 2, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Hope for the Sold: Over 18 - A Documentary About Pornography – March 2, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Greater Vancouver Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham – March 3, 2017 - March 5, 2017 at All Day
Medical Assistance in Dying: Walking pastorally with those impacted by it – March 3, 2017 at 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Apologetics Canada Conference 2017 – March 3, 2017 - March 4, 2017 at 5:30 pm - 4:00 pm
disPlace: Refugee Stories in Their Own Words – March 3, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Sideshow – March 3, 2017 - March 4, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Terrance Richmond: That Love Album Release Concert – March 3, 2017 at 9:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Tax Clinic – March 4, 2017 at All Day
Finding God in All Things: Praying with Scripture and Imagination – March 4, 2017 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Jill Schuler & Joy Kirkwood: Biblical Creativity and Storytelling Through the Arts – March 4, 2017 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Liveword Conference – March 4, 2017 at 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Many Paddles, One Canoe, with Bill McKibben – March 4, 2017 at 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Today's Modern Women of Faith Conference – March 4, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Terrance Richmond: That Love Album Release Concert – March 4, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tim & the Glory Boys – March 4, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
disPlace: Refugee Stories in Their Own Words – March 4, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Hope for the Sold: Over 18 - A Documentary About Pornography – March 5, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Entrepreneurial Growth and High Performance Workshop – March 7, 2017 at All Day
Summit Pacific College 75th Anniversary Dinner – March 7, 2017 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
United in Compassion: A Multifaith Devotional Service, Roundtable Conversations and Dessert – March 7, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
International Women's Day Special Event: Men Talk About Women – March 8, 2017 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: Patty Verner & Friends – March 8, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Capernwray Harbor Bible School Worship Night – March 10, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Hope for the Sold: Over 18 - A Documentary About Pornography – March 10, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Michael W. Higgins: Thomas Merton and John Moriarty: Epic Visionaries of Human Unity – March 10, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Norm Strauss – March 10, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
How to Become a Saint: a Lenten Retreat – March 11, 2017 at 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Film Screening: Before the Flood – March 11, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Norm Strauss Concert – March 11, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Resist Sin – March 11, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Abendmusik: Lenten Vespers – March 11, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Vespers: Linda Szentes and Friends – March 12, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Hope for the Sold: Over 18 - A Documentary About Pornography – March 12, 2017 at 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The Grenz Lectures 2017: The Crisis of Meaning in Canadian Culture – The Myths of Private Faith – March 12, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Abendmusik: Lenten Vespers – March 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
One Pass Ahead: Spring Break Basketball Camp – March 13, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Surrey Aglow Luncheon – March 14, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Addressing Grief & Loss In Community Meals & Other Supportive Programs – March 14, 2017 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
God and Reason: A Free Public Lecture Series (Wednesdays) – March 15, 2017 at 12:30 pm - 1:20 pm
Jason Lepojarvi: How Many Loves? A Friendly Critique of C.S. Lewis's The Four Loves – March 15, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: Kristian Alexandrov / Shannon Gaye Trio – March 15, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Dr. Ron Rittgers: Secularization Through Solace - Reflections on the Reformation and Modern Identity – March 16, 2017 at 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Martin Scorsese's 'Silence' – March 16, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Dr. Ron Rittgers: Martin Luther – Evangelical Mystic? – March 16, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Why Do People Stop Believing? – March 16, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Graduate Art Exhibition: Passages – March 17, 2017 at All Day
Martyn Joseph – March 17, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Together in Christ: Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue – March 18, 2017 at 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Theo's Rock n Roll Feast – March 18, 2017 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Ember Vancouver – March 18, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Gungor: One Wild Life Acoustic Tour – March 19, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Theology Symposium: Philosophy, Language & the Possibility of Theology - Dr. Archie Spencer – March 22, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: LJ Mountenay Quintet – March 22, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Art + Design Alumni Exhibition: Bayit / Lament – March 23, 2017 - March 27, 2017 at All Day
Made in God's Image – March 23, 2017 at 12:00 am
Violet Behzadian: Song of Salvation – March 23, 2017 at All Day
Provincial Leadership Dinner – March 23, 2017 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Dr. Sam Reimer: Why Canadians aren’t Going to Church and What that Means for Evangelical Churches in Canada – March 23, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Why Do People Stop Believing? – March 23, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast – March 24, 2017 at 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Dr. Sam Reimer: Is Canada Becoming More Religiously Polarized? – March 24, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Rhythm & Cello – March 24, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Connect Conference – March 25, 2017 at 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Together in Christ: Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue – March 25, 2017 at 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Brian Doerksen Concert – March 25, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Gibson and Gretsch Jazz Band – March 25, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Brentwood Concert Series: The Gleusteen Duo – March 25, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
The Choir of King's College Cambridge – March 26, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Darlene Ketchum Quartet – March 26, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Diane Lines – March 26, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Share this story

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *