Around Town: Lion, Witch & Wardrobe, Shift, St. Casimir’s, Himalayan Life

Pacific Theatre’s founding artistic director Ron Reed clearly has a lot of time for C.S. Lewis. Earlier this year he presented Tolkien, which focused on the relationship between the two great scholar/writers. Freud’s Last Session was a fictionalized encounter between Sigmund Freud and Lewis. He also played Lewis in Shadowlands and welcomed The Great Divorce to the stage.

And at the end of the month (November 30), Pacific Theatre will again take on Reed’s The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe. Directed by Sarah Rodgers and featuring just two actors – Rebecca DeBoer and John Voth – the play is described in this way:

One rainy day, the Pevensie children discover that an old wardrobe is actually a doorway to the enchanted land of Narnia. A magical re-imagining of C.S. Lewis’s classic tale of hope, change and sacrifice in a world where it is always winter and never Christmas.

How do we make our world magical?

Vancouver Presents interviewed both Reed and Rodgers:

“Narnia is magic because the audience brings magic to it,” says Reed. “Without our audience, we’re just a bunch of ordinary people putting on someone else’s clothes and talking weird. To me, co-creation of the play is the essence of live theatre.”

Sarah Rodgers, who directed last season’s The Christians at the theatre, is eager to bring her own creative vision to Narnia and its denizens.

“The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe was one of my favourite books growing up. I think I spent most of my childhood on a quest for Turkish Delight,” she says. “I am so thrilled to be guiding Ron Reed’s delightful adaptation with two inventive, witty, talented actors while collaborating with Vancouver’s finest designers: Lauchlin Johnston, John Webber, Julie Casselman and Sheila White. I feel like I have entered a magic wardrobe myself.”

The play runs until December 29. Also at Pacific Theatre next month, on the nights that TLTW&TW isn’t being performed (December 9 – 10, 16 – 18, and in the Valley on the 22nd) will be Christmas Presence:

Pacific Theatre’s favourite Christmas tradition. With poems and prose that range from the heartfelt to the hilarious, mixed in with songs both old and new, Christmas Presence is an intimate and warm way to usher in the holiday spirit.

The un-slickest Christmas show in town!

The Chapel Movement has been very successful at gathering young people and youth leaders. From their early meetings at South Hill (now Christ City Church) in 2011 and then John Oliver Secondary School to full-house gatherings at the Chan Centre at UBC, Alpha Courses in public schools and regular regional hub meetings, Chapel has been a key part of youth ministry in Metro Vancouver.

But they are sounding a somewhat sober note as they look forward to their Shift conference at First Baptist Church this weekend (November 23 – 24):

There’s a shift happening in youth ministry in Metro Vancouver. In recent years God has been stitching together a generation of youth and leaders who are united around a common desperation to see things change.

Sometimes it feels like the enemy is the on the doorstep and discouragement can creep in. But we’re taking heart in the fact that when God’s people gather together in faith and press into His promises and His power that miracles can happen.

So we’re shifting our eyes off our strategies and efforts and onto Him. We invite you and your students into an authentic conversation about what Jesus is doing in our city in our time.

Chapel is hoping that lots of high school students – not just youth leaders – will join them.

Several media outlets took note of vandalism at a church building in East Vancouver recently. The B.C. Catholic reported:

Archbishop Miller has condemned the Remembrance Day vandalizing of St. Casimir Parish’s daycare building in Vancouver.

Churchgoers Sunday arrived to find “antifa” and “Nazi raus” (German for Nazis out) written on the side of the building at East 27th Avenue and Inverness Street.

In a statement, the Archbishop said the vandalism at the Polish parish “is a disturbing example of hatred, and for whatever reason – political or religious – it is unacceptable in a country that enshrines freedom of speech and religion in its Charter of Rights.

Global News, CTV News and The Georgia Straight also covered the vandalism.

Markku Kostamo is best known for his work guiding A Rocha Canada (which he co-founded with his wife Leah in 2001). But while he has been on medical leave from leadership over the past year or so, he has re-engaged with Nepal, where he grew up.

He visited Himalayan Life projects there earlier this fall and is now helping to promote The Forgotten Ones, a film premiere and fundraiser this evening (November 22) at Kay Meek Theatre in West Vancouver.

The film “tells a story about bringing the street children of Nepal from a place of ‘not-life’ to life and our adventures capturing it on film.”

Himalaya Life describes its work in this way:

Under the direction of Daniel Burgi, founder and CEO of Himalayan Life, we have been rescuing, nurturing and protecting marginalized children in the Himalayas for over 20 years. Having encountered children who have been abandoned, abused and neglected in Nepal and India, we are intervening on their behalf to ensure they have access to food, education, shelter and activities such as hockey and mountain biking.

Beyond meeting the children’s immediate needs, we have developed career apprenticeship programs to help the children develop vocational skills. We run homes for abandoned children, slave children and street children. Our school in the heart of the earthquake ravaged area in the northeast of Nepal provides a fresh start for families who have lost so much in the 2015 earthquakes.

Along with the film there will be a Q&A with Burgi and music featuring sitar musician Prosad.

Nov 2018

Salvation Army Harbour Light Open House – November 22, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Himalayan Life: The Forgotten Ones – November 22, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Christmas at the Museum! – November 23, 2018 - November 24, 2018 at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Shift: Chapel Conference 2018 – November 23, 2018 - November 24, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
"Education Together" event and 50th Anniversary Celebration – November 23, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Promise Keepers Canada National Men's Conference: DISRUPTIVE – November 24, 2018 at 8:45 am - 5:00 pm
Children & Worship Vancouver Basic Training – November 24, 2018 at 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Emmaus Experiment – November 24, 2018 at 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
Christmas Bazaar – November 24, 2018 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Christmas Craft Fair & Keen Shoe Sale – November 24, 2018 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Holiday Craft Fair by the Gogo Groups of Vancouver – November 24, 2018 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Christmas Bazaar – November 24, 2018 at 10:30 am - 1:30 pm
Jazz Vespers @ St. Andrew's United Church – November 25, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Sax a la Mode Serenade – November 25, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
The YP Lounge: Are conservative, traditional values more risky to express in the workplace? – November 26, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Science, Faith & Original Sin – November 27, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Christmas Story: A Choir Presentation – November 27, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
EFC Webinar on Youth Renegotiating Faith at Christian Postsecondary Schools – November 28, 2018 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
David Robinson: Beyond 'Design' – Evolutionary Biology & a Theology of Preservation – November 28, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Book Launch Celebration – November 29, 2018 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Purpose & Victory Conference – November 29, 2018 - December 2, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Upside-Down Christmas – November 29, 2018 - December 1, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Withdraw, Be Silent, Be at Peace: A Day Retreat for Frontline Workers – November 30, 2018 at 9:00 am - 2:45 pm
Journey Home Community Christmas Celebration – November 30, 2018 at 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Darin Martin: Songs & Stories – November 30, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Handel's Messiah & Saint-Saen's Oratorio de Noel (day 1) – November 30, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Dec 2018

Lighthouse Harbour Ministries Advent Breakfast – December 1, 2018 at 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Faith Work Seminar – December 1, 2018 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Christmas Craft Fair – December 1, 2018 at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Holly Berry Fair – December 1, 2018 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
St. Anselm's Christmas Fair – December 1, 2018 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Surviving the Holidays – December 1, 2018 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Christmas Fair – December 1, 2018 at 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Christmas Tea & Bake Sale – December 1, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Handel's Messiah & Saint-Saen's Oratorio de Noel (day 2) – December 1, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Christmas Tales & Banquet – December 1, 2018 at 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
The Firs Noel, with Greg Otterholt – December 1, 2018 at 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Sounds of Christmas, with Miss Lillie Knauls & more – December 1, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Handel's Messiah – December 1, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
24-7 Vancouver Prayer Week – December 2, 2018 - December 8, 2018 at 12:00 am
Christmas with the Bach Choir – December 2, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Sing-Along Messiah – December 2, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Trinity Western's Christmas at the Chan Concert – December 2, 2018 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Entering Advent – December 2, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Casting Crowns: It's Finally Christmas Tour – December 2, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Christmas Tales – December 2, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
7th Annual Christmas Jazz Concert – December 2, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Abendmusik Advent Vespers – December 2, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Christmas Tales – December 3, 2018 at 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Hope in the City Breakfast – December 5, 2018 at 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Christmas Artisan Fair – December 5, 2018 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Business By the Book presents Belief – December 5, 2018 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
10th Annual Mission Possible Gala – December 5, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Hanukkah and Christmas – December 5, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
David Hogan – December 5, 2018 - December 6, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Denis & Tatiana Music School presents Christmas Concert – December 5, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 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