Several local cities are supporting the UN’s World Interfaith Harmony Week, February 1 – 7. Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, New Westminster and Port Coquitlam have issued proclamations urging dialogue and understanding between faiths.
Roman Catholic Archbishop Michael J. Miller approves of the initiative, as noted by a recent article in The B.C. Catholic:
“I welcome local municipalities’ recognition of United Nations Interfaith Harmony Week,” said the archbishop.
“At this time when there is so much division and hatred in the world, and religion is often perceived as a contributing factor, it’s important that people of faith show the world that religion plays a crucial and beneficial role in all societies. . . .
The archbishop noted “Catholics, Christians and all religious believers are engaged in ongoing respectful dialogue and mutual co-operation as they work to build a culture of peace and serve those in need.”He said the week is “an important opportunity for believers and all people of goodwill to break down barriers that divide us and prevent us from recognizing our common humanity.”
Go here for the full story.
Catalyze for Climate
“Do you want to take action on the climate crisis with other like-minded Christians?”
That is the basic questions Earthkeepers will be asking during their Catalyze for the Climate 2021 virtual conference this Saturday morning (February 6).
Here is what they have in mind for the two hour gathering:
On the eve of 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reminded the world that this decade is crucial for climate action. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic showed us the connections between destroying nature and harming ourselves.
After Vancouver passed the Climate Emergency Action Plan, we still need to build momentum and press for bold climate action.
We invite you to join us for Earthkeepers’ Catalyze for the Climate 2021 Virtual Conference. When you register, please select a breakout group. We strongly recommend you read ahead of time the group’s participant kit (below) which describes what you should know and what you can do to prepare for your time in the breakout group effectively.
The conference will feature an overview of Earthkeepers, followed by an engaging, facilitator-led session centred on these five themes:
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- Group 1. Climate change communication to Christians (Group 1 Kit)
- Group 2. Intercessory prayer (Group 2 Kit)
- Group 3. Civic action: ‘Stopping the Flow of Big Oil’ / Expansion of Oil Sands (Group 3 Kit)
- Group 4. Civic action: Just Renewal and Decarbonization (Group 4 Kit)
- Group 5. Greening our faith spaces (Group 5 Kit)
Go here to register.
Florence Li, pioneer
Florence Li Tim-Oi is featured in a stain glass window at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale.
A recent article in the South China Morning Post featured Florence Li Tim-Oi:
The name Florence Li Tim-oi may not ring a bell with many people today, but the Hongkonger was a women’s rights pioneer and a stalwart of the Anglican Church known for her tireless work with refugees during the second world war.
Li was the first woman ordained a priest in the Anglican Communion, the third largest Christian communion after the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. Her ordination took place on January 25, 1944, in Zhaoqing in Guangdong province, southern China, and was presided over by Ronald Hall, an Anglican bishop of Hong Kong. . . .
Hall – himself not an advocate of the ordination of women – made the unprecedented move for practical reasons: the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and of parts of China during the second world war meant Anglican priests could not get to Macau, the then Portuguese territory on the opposite side of the Pearl River Delta to Hong Kong, to carry out their work. . . .
Li stepped down as a priest following the war, to prevent further controversy about her role. She continued to serve the church, suffering through the Cultural Revolution, before moving to Toronto in 1983. She was reinstated as a priest in 1984. Go here for the full story.
The local connection is, admittedly, tenuous. But there are a couple of links.
First, Melissa Skelton, who will step down as Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster February 28, had Florence Li as a model.
Reflecting on her installation as bishop, The Venerable Stephen Rowe wrote in the April 2014 Topic:
On February 26th in the Anglican Church of Canada we celebrate the life of the first Anglican woman to be ordained priest. This was in extraordinary circumstances during the Second World War, and for almost 40 years afterwards, Florence Li Tim-Oi, whilst retaining her priest’s orders, did not exercise them.
This seemed very fitting just a few days before we gathered to participate in the consecration of Melissa Skelton. . . .
Second, Florence Li has served as an inspiration to many in the local Anglican church. St. Mary’s Kerrisdale keeps her memory alive in a stained glass window. Go here for a description of the window, which was installed August 22, 2010. Fortuitously, with Lent beginning February 17, it “depicts Florence wearing a white cassock alb and stole of the season; in this case, purple for Lent.”
Feb 2021
Canada Chinese Christian Winter Conference – February 5, 2021 - February 7, 2021 at All DayG. Peter Kaye Lectures: Understanding Jesus Means Understanding Judaism – February 5, 2021 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Being Human in a Technological World: John Behr – Pointers from Patristic Anthropology – February 5, 2021 at 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Catalyze for the Climate 2021: Virtual Conference – February 6, 2021 at 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Virtual Book Launch Party: Wonderfully Made by Esther Leung-Kong – February 7, 2021 at 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
A Literary Expedition into 'The Abolition of Man' – February 7, 2021 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Food Security in the time of COVID-19: an IDW Panel – February 8, 2021 at 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Andy Crouch: Building for the Future in the Context of Lament – Navigating and Implementing Organizational Change – February 9, 2021 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
6 Principles to Navigate Revelation, with Dr. Darrell Johnston – February 9, 2021 at 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Alpha Webinar: The Time is Now – with Vijay Krishnan and Nicky Gumbel – February 10, 2021 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
TWU Live: Bringing Campus to You – February 10, 2021 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
David's Crown: An Evening with Malcolm Guite on the Psalms – February 11, 2021 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
SIM: Faithful Witness in Forgotten Communities – February 11, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Jens Zimmerman – Who Am I? Personhood, Technology and Human Flourishing – February 12, 2021 at 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
David Baird: The Power of Civility – February 13, 2021 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Goodness of Creation and Human Responsibility – February 18, 2021 - February 20, 2021 at All Day
The Southern Cross: Navigating New Horizons in 21st Century Global Evangelicalism – February 18, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Canada, the Churches, & Bill C-15 – February 18, 2021 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Trinity Western University and the Court of Public Opinion: A Closer Look at the Role of Religion in Society – February 18, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Business As Mission Virtual Conference 2021 – February 19, 2021 at 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Mission Central Conference: GROW – February 19, 2021 - February 20, 2021 at 6:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Coldest Night of the Year: Several Events – February 20, 2021 at All Day
A Literary Expedition into 'The Abolition of Man' – February 21, 2021 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tax Clinic – February 22, 2021 at All Day
Keeping Up the Pressure: The Role of Faith Communities in COP26 – February 22, 2021 at 8:00 am - 9:00 am
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day Webinar – February 22, 2021 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Lisa Marie Bowens: Reading the Bible Right Now – February 24, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Global Leadership Summit: Special Edition – February 25, 2021 at 8:30 am - 11:45 am
Earthkeepers: Climate-themed Lent Prayer Night – February 25, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
SIM: What Do Missionaries Do? And Why? – February 25, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Communities of Welcome for Refugee Claimants: Discovery Meeting – February 25, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Empowering Temporary Foreign Workers during COVID-19 – February 26, 2021 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Thomas Fuchs: Embodied Cognition and Psychiatry in a Technological World – February 26, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Mission Central Conference: CREATE – February 26, 2021 - February 27, 2021 at 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Black History Month with Marcus Mosely: Songs of Freedom – February 26, 2021 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
CHAT Canada Webinar, with Sandi Smoker: The Art of Grandparenting (bi-weekly, Saturday mornings) – February 27, 2021 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Just 58: Journeying with Justice – February 28, 2021 at 7:15 pm - 8:13 pm
Mar 2021
Deborah Haarsma: Christ and the Cosmos – The Universe Seen Through the Eyes of Biblical Faith – March 2, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pmDeborah Haarsma: One Human Family – Christian Reflections on Racism and Science – March 3, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Deborah Haarsma: Christian Ministry in Pandemic Times – March 3, 2021 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Linda Woodhead: Values are the New Religion – March 4, 2021 at 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Cardus Forecast: A Canadian Addendum to Davos and McKinsey – March 4, 2021 at 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Academic Symposium 2021 – March 5, 2021 at 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
David Lewin: Education, Enhancement and the Pursuit of the Good – March 5, 2021 at 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
A Literary Expedition: Michael Polanyi – March 7, 2021 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Standing Strong Through the Storm – March 9, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
On Mission: Innovation in Missions – a Global Perspective – March 10, 2021 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Peter Legge Interviews Rick Goossen on Public Speaking Laws of Success – March 10, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Ray Aldred on Truth and Reconciliation – March 10, 2021 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Spiritual First Aid Summit – March 11, 2021 at 12:00 am
Reading the Bible Right Now with Dr. George Guthrie – March 11, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Kathryn Chan: The Adjudication of Religious Refugee Claims – March 11, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Eleanor McLaughlin: Disability, Technology and Human Flourishing – March 12, 2021 at 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Building Relationships: Elder Care and Christian Political Advocacy – March 13, 2021 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Kim's Convenience by Ins Choi | Reunion Reading, Pacific Theatre – March 13, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Values for a New World: Panel Discussion, with Noam Chomsky, Miroslav Volf, Esi Edugyan, Linda Woodhead – March 16, 2021 at 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Alpha Webinar: Leading with Hope – March 17, 2021 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Refugee Highway Partnership: Workshop on Biblical Kinship – March 17, 2021 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Book Launch with Makoto Fujimura – Art and Faith: A Theology of Making – March 18, 2021 at 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
The Diakonia Project: Religious Faith in Action – March 18, 2021 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Prayer Night for Bold Climate Action – March 18, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Harnessing the Power of the Church to End Domestic Abuse – March 19, 2021 at 6:00 am - 7:30 am
Ashley Moyse: Education by Dissent: A Theological Interrogation of Transhumanist Anthropology – March 19, 2021 at 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
A Cross-Canada Day of Prayer for Hong Kong – March 21, 2021 at All Day
A Conversation with Tom Holland, hosted by Iwan Russell-Jones – March 22, 2021 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Reflection on Uyghur Witness & Voices – March 22, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Alpha Webinar: Transforming your Alpha through Prayer – March 23, 2021 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Alpha Webinar: Youth Leader Gathering – Student Empowerment – March 24, 2021 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics – March 24, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
ACTS Seminaries Theology Symposium: The Church's Ethical Imperative in a COVID Age – March 24, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Alpha Webinar: Run Alpha Q & A – March 25, 2021 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
A Conversation with Laura Fabrycki – March 25, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Zaac Pick presents 'Passages — Unplugged' Virtual Show – March 25, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 – March 25, 2021 - March 27, 2021 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Joshua Chestnut: Three Questions for a Pornified Imagination: Finding Hope for Unwanted Sexual Behaviour – March 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Songstage Livestream: Host Ivan Boudreau with Chris Ronald & Scott Cook – March 26, 2021 at 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm
A Lenten Vigil for the Silenced – March 27, 2021 at 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
Easter at the Shining Rose with Brian Doerksen & Friends – March 28, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
A Conversation with Dr. Ross Hastings, hosted by Dr. Jens Zimmermann – March 29, 2021 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Beauty & Brokenness: A Journey to Easter – March 31, 2021 at 9:00 am - 9:45 am
CRISPR-Cas9: From Anti-Viral to Going Viral – March 31, 2021 at 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Remembering the Forgotten Level of Government: Christian Engagement in Local Politics – March 31, 2021 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm