Every fall the City of Vancouver “joins communities and organizations throughout the region to mark Homelessness Action Week” (October 7 – 13).

And every year, in the West End, the Advocacy Office of St. Paul’s Anglican Church partners with First Baptist Church to provide some much-needed services for the homeless.

The city’s Homelessness Action Week page profiles the groups which have received grants for their work during the week. For example:

In partnership with other churches in the downtown area, St. Paul’s Connect event will take place on Monday October 8th, and will bring together many health-related services, such as optometry, dental hygiene and hearing aid care, all under one roof to make it easy for the homeless to access them. Food and toiletry/care kits will also be provided.

Also involved will be Union Gospel Mission, Dr. Peter Centre, medical professionals and tax accountants. All the activities will take place between 10 am and 3 pm at First Baptist Church.

Alzheimer Café

First Baptist will be hopping that week, because it will also host an Alzheimer Café next Saturday (October 13). Here is the introduction:

Plans are being made for the opening of a monthly Alzheimer Café (AZ Café) this fall as a ministry of the church. There was a very encouraging response from First Baptist Church to the Alzheimer Café / Dementia Care sessions held in April with Dr. Gemma Jones.

An AZ Café planning committee has been formed by the Maturing Adults Ministries Committee to oversee the development of the cafés which will be held from 2 – 4 pm in Pinder Hall on October 13th and November 10th.

We encourage you or someone you may know in your networks who are living with dementia or providing care for someone with a dementia-related diagnosis and may benefit from being involved in the cafés to join us.

All of this activity at First Baptist is taking place while the church is experiencing the first signs of their massive Heart for the City redevelopment. Work will begin on the church building to some degree this fall, and buildings on neighbouring lots which are part of the project will be demolished later in the year.

For a current video update about the state of redevelopment go here. I have written up First Baptist’s plan in several earlier updates.

Saturate Everyday

I have seen Jeff Vanderstelt teach in a number of settings now, and it is always worthwhile listening to him. He will be here with his team at the end of next week (October 12 – 13) to lead Saturate Everyday at Christian Life Assembly in Langley.

This is how the event is presented:

This immersion is for all who aspire to being missionaries in the everyday stuff of life.Get a framework for avoiding mission burn out. Learn practices and methodologies that are transferable, reproducible and scalable.

Our desire is to equip everyday people to move out into the world for God’s purposes armed with effective tools so that every man, woman and child would have a daily encounter with Jesus.

Vanderstelt leads Saturate, which “is committed to seeing a gospel saturation movement happen in North America and beyond.” He loves “training disciples of Jesus to make more disciples of Jesus.” He also leads the Soma Family of Churches and is the vision and teaching pastor at Doxa Church in Bellevue, Washington.

Following is a brief portion from his book Saturate:

At one of these dinners, about three courses into an amazing five-course meal, it dawned on us: “This is a great picture of the kingdom of God!” While immersed in the feast of food and life together, we recalled Jesus comparing the kingdom of God to a feast where everyone is invited in (Luke 14:12–24).

Together we started to imagine what the church would be like if we all believed we were a picture of God’s kingdom breaking into the world in ways that felt like a party. One of us said: “If the church believed this, it would radically change what we do and how we live! We would be known as the most celebratory people around. Word would spread. People who wouldn’t normally want to come to a church event would come to our homes. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?”

A seed was planted in our hearts at that moment, and the conversation never really ended. We began to ask questions: What if we were to start a church that feasted and celebrated around Jesus together? What if our homes were intended by God to be some of the primary spaces in which the ministry of the church should take place?

People could be welcomed in, cared for, and experience belonging to a people who enjoy one another and life together. This would transform people’s perceptions of the church. Their understanding of who the church is and what she does would be very different from others’.

Go here for the full excerpt.

Saturate Everyday is sponsored by C2C Network (a North American church-planting network serving across more than 30 denominations), which recently merged with MB Mission (a global mission agency serving in more than 30 countries worldwide) to form the global church-planting agency Multiply. The official launch will take place in January.

Oct 2018

Edith Krause: Adam/Adamah – October 4, 2018 - October 5, 2018 at All Day
ACTS Seminaries Open House – October 4, 2018 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Kim's Convenience by Ins Choi – October 4, 2018 - October 6, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Forever and Ever, the Christian Musical – October 5, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
A Skeptical Look at Atheism with Dr. Andy McIntosh – October 5, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Chris Woods' Way of the Cross Painting Seminar – October 6, 2018 at 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Creation: The Cardinal Truths & the Wonder of Hearing with Dr. Andy McIntosh – October 6, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
The Intricacies of Flight with Dr. Andy McIntosh – October 6, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Homelessness Action Week – October 7, 2018 - October 13, 2018 at All Day
Creation and Biblical Infallibility with Dr. Andy McIntosh – October 7, 2018 at 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Creation and the Cross with Dr. Andy McIntosh – October 7, 2018 at 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
An Evening with Ari Sorko-Ram – October 7, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Jeremy Benjamin: I Am Not My Own – October 7, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Connecting the Ends (part of Homelessness Action Week) – October 8, 2018 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Webinar: Renegotiating Faith – October 10, 2018 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Missions Pastors Roundtable Discussion – October 10, 2018 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Anglicanism & Indigenous Spirituality (Wednesday evenings) – October 10, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Inklings Institute of Canada: Book Night: The Tao of Right and Wrong – Rediscovering Humanity’s Moral Foundations – October 10, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Colleen McLaughlin Barlow: Whale Dreams – October 11, 2018 - November 16, 2018 at All Day
Kairos Course (Thursday evenings, plus Nov 23-24 weekend) – October 11, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Sharing Stories with Indigenous People (Thursday evenings) – October 11, 2018 - November 1, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Windows into Heaven: Epiphany Sacred Arts Guild 15th Anniversary Exhibition – October 12, 2018 - October 20, 2018 at All Day
Elevate Conference 2018 – October 12, 2018 - October 13, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Life on the Margins Workshop – October 12, 2018 - October 13, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Saturate Everyday – October 12, 2018 - October 13, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 2:30 pm
The Marriage Course (Friday evenings) – October 12, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Revival Meeting with John Razz – October 13, 2018 - October 14, 2018 at All Day
Wonder Worship Conference – October 13, 2018 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
DivorceCare (Saturday mornings) – October 13, 2018 - November 17, 2018 at 10:15 am - 12:15 am
Supreme Court Decision in the TWU Law School Case: Implications – October 13, 2018 at 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Alzheimer Café – October 13, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Blessing of the Animals – October 14, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Benefit Concert for Homeless Action Week – October 14, 2018 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Village Missions Funraiser – October 14, 2018 at 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
A Night of Worship with Martin Smith – October 14, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Journey 101 (Tuesday evenings) – October 16, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Bruce Hindmarsh: Re-enchanting the Universe – Evangelicals & the Rise of Science – October 16, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Dao Zi: Turning Blood into Ink – October 17, 2018 - November 16, 2018 at All Day
Dao Zi: Turning Blood into Ink – Opening Reception – October 17, 2018 at 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Craig Allert: Early Christian Readings of Genesis One – October 17, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Our Children, Our Future: Educating for Tomorrow – October 17, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Global Leadership Summit – October 18, 2018 - October 19, 2018 at All Day
Dao Zi: Blood & Ink – a Chinese Christian Vision for the Arts – October 18, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Ken Shigematsu Book Launch: A Survival Guide for the Soul – October 18, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe – October 19, 2018 - November 10, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Disciple-Making Movements: Why Not Canada? – October 20, 2018 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Adam Robert Thomas & Band – October 20, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Alongsiders Update with Craig Greenfield – October 21, 2018 at 12:45 pm - 2:30 pm
Taizé Contemplative Service – October 21, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
C2C Network Celebration Evening – October 22, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
New Hope Annual Gala – October 22, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Game of Love and Chance – October 23, 2018 - November 3, 2018 at All Day
Experience Regent for a Day – October 23, 2018 at 9:45 am - 4:00 pm
Myron Penner: The Bible, Science & Human Flourishing – October 24, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Dmytro Bintsarovkyi: Union with the Unknown – John Meyendorff on the Essence-Energy Distinction – October 25, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Dr. Caroline Leaf – October 26, 2018 - October 28, 2018 at All Day
Into the Neighbourhood – October 26, 2018 - October 27, 2018 at 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
NightShift 12th Annual Gala of Light – October 26, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Hallelujah Night – October 26, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Ignite (awesome worship night, special speaker, refreshments etc) – October 26, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Y2Y Nite of OMF Heart for Asia Conference – October 26, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
City in Focus Breakfast with L'Arche: Transformation Through Togetherness – October 26, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Jacob Moon – October 26, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
MinistryLift: Responsible Discipline – October 27, 2018 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
OMF Heart for Asia Conference – October 27, 2018 at 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Right Here, Write Now – October 27, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Ember – October 27, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Vespers @ St. Andrew's United Church – October 28, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Bill Sample & Darlene Ketchum – October 28, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Nov 2018

Crossroads Community Meal: 20th Anniversary – November 1, 2018 at 4:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Christian Writers' Weekend: From Revelation to Reality – November 2, 2018 - November 3, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Joint Mission Conference: One Church, One Mission – November 2, 2018 - November 3, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Shari Ulrich Trio – November 2, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Livestream: Eugene Peterson Service of Witness to the Resurrection – November 3, 2018 at 11:45 am - 1:00 pm
BC Lions Faith & Family Night: Tribute to Wally Buono – November 3, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Grateful: An Evening with Brian Doerksen – November 3, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
The ART of ART: A Westcoast Formal, by Youth Unlimited – November 3, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Hymn Festival: He Keeps Me Singing – November 3, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Call Mr. Robeson: A Life, With Songs – November 3, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church – November 4, 2018 at All Day
Caught in the Middle with Dr. Hans Werner – November 4, 2018 at 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Mozart Requiem – November 4, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Story & Song: A Benefit Concert featuring Steve Bell – November 4, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
CBTE 2018 – November 5, 2018 - November 6, 2018 at All Day
International Conference on Competency-Based Theological Education – November 5, 2018 - November 6, 2018 at All Day
Jens Zimmerman: Who Am I? – Personhood, Consciousness & Transhumanist Visions – November 6, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Entrepreneurial Leaders Forum – November 7, 2018 at All Day
George Grant: Canada's C.S. Lewis – November 7, 2018 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Faith Formation Through Worship: Children Grow in Faith Through Worship – November 10, 2018 at 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Alzheimer Café – November 10, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Chelsea Amber presented by Front of the Line Productions – November 10, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Threnody: Requiem and Remembrance – November 10, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Ladies of Company B – November 11, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Solitary Refinement – November 13, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:45 pm
JustWork: A Taste of Dignity – November 14, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Moral Life & the Modern Marketplace – November 15, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
FLY - Freedom Party – November 16, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
All Handmade Sale – November 16, 2018 - November 17, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Uncovering Vision: Eastside Culture Crawl – November 17, 2018 - November 18, 2018 at All Day
Composing Missional Worship: Glen Soderholm & Roy Salmond – November 17, 2018 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm