Around Town: Refugee claimants, St. Herman’s cupola, Catholic stories missed

More than 70,000 asylum seekers will be arriving in Canada this year.

Refugee protection claims have risen steadily over the past year, so this is a good time to learn how to participate in the process.

Fortunately there is a very timely way to find out from several ministries and churches which have been very active in the process – Refugee Claimants & Your Church: Discovering Transformative Ways to Welcome.

The three-hour gathering, followed by lunch, will take place the morning of February 11 at St. Andrew’s Hall on the UBC campus.

Here is what is on offer:

From its earliest days, the church has provided care and safety for people seeking refuge. This year, over 70,000 asylum seekers will arrive in Canada asking for refugee protection. Your church could be a vital lifeline of welcome with and for refugee claimants.

We are privileged in Metro Vancouver to have a number of organizations like KinbraceJourney Home, the Christian Reformed Church and Inasmuch that have been faithfully supporting asylum seekers for many years.

These organizations have learned a considerable amount about healthy engagement with people seeking refuge and have developed a host of best practices – they will all be participating.

At this hybrid gathering, engage and learn from people with lived refugee claimant experience, welcoming churches, and frontline communities.

In-person and online registration available.

Build your church’s knowledge and capacity to bear witness to the love of God among one of the world’s most vulnerable displaced groups.

Go to the CityGate Vancouver website to register.

St. Herman’s cupola

The cupola has now been placed on St. Herman’s new building. Image from video on their site.

Fr. Lawrence Farley has been the pastor of St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church ever since it began in Langley in 1987. The community is a parish of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), a part of the Archdiocese of Canada.

The church has faced challenges as it has developed a new building for worship. Late last year, uncharacteristically, Fr. Lawrence sent out an appeal for funds. In a January 30 blog post he reported good progress, capped by a symbolic triumph:

Many people from around the world have kindly contributed to my parish of St. Herman of Alaska in Langley, BC, helping us and saving us from financial catastrophe as we struggled to build a new church temple on our property, striving to overcome many unforeseen obstacles and problems.

Fr. Lawrence Farley

Recently we reached another architectural milestone, in that we finally, after many, many delays, crowned the building with a large cupola.

The cupola weighed 6,000 pounds, the maximum that the large crane could lift – actually, perhaps a bit more than the crane could lift, so that we all prayed hard for the final cupola installation and blessed it with Holy Water on the Sunday prior to the installation.

When it finally sat atop the church, I felt a bit like Zerubbabel bringing the top stone of the Temple, and wanted to cry out with him, “Grace! Grace to it!” (Zechariah 4:7).

As a small token of gratitude I would like to share a video of the ongoing construction project, a series of images accompanied by the singing of our church choir (and also that of another men’s Byzantine choir, singing the tropar and kontakion of St. Herman). The link to the video can be accessed here. Bless you and thank you for everything!

A grand opening for the new church building will be held this summer.

Catholic stories missed

Paul Schratz, editor of The B.C. Catholic wrote January 26 on the topic ‘Here are the stories you would have missed.’

The article began:

In 2022, only a single Canadian newspaper reported on the fact there was a 260 per cent increase in anti-Catholic hate crimes from the previous year.

The same lone paper revealed B.C. hospital patients were being pressured by medical personnel to kill themselves with euthanasia.

And the same newspaper broke the news that a Canadian military panel was trying to ban some chaplains (Catholic) because of their religious beliefs.

He pointed to other stories found only in The B.C. Catholic, including:

  • The republishing of a B.C. writer’s out-of-print book about residential school survivors.
  • How pregnancy centres were being threatened with loss of tax status, and an inside look at the life-saving work they do.
  • The Archdiocese of Vancouver and a pride organization resolving a human rights dispute and beginning mutual dialogue.
  • The Archdiocese apologizing for its role in coerced adoptions.

Go here for the full article.

There is no doubt that the Christian community does not receive the amount of coverage it ought to, especially related to positive stories. However, I have pointed to many instances, over the years, in which CBC News, The Sun, Global TV, etc. have taken note of good works, so it can be worth reaching out to them.

Feb 2023

Jazz Evensong @ Brentwood: Dalannah Gail Bowen & Michael Creber – February 1, 2023 at 8:00 am - 9:00 am
Ghislain Brown-Kossi: Future Artifact II - Opening Reception – February 1, 2023 at 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Can I Trust the Bible? – February 1, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
The Chosen: Season 3 Finale – February 2, 2023 - February 6, 2023 at All Day
The Chosen: Season 3 Finale – February 2, 2023 - February 6, 2023 at All Day
Public Lecture & Panel Discussion: Euthanasia in Canada with Dr. Brian Bird – February 2, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Workshop and Performance with Louise Rose – February 3, 2023 - February 4, 2023 at 12:00 am
Raise, Raise the Voice – February 3, 2023 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Strategy Seminar: Youth Ministry Training – February 4, 2023 at 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
2023 Canadian Religious Freedom Summit – February 4, 2023 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Loreto Aramendi: The Virtuoso Organist – February 4, 2023 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Songs of Freedom – February 4, 2023 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
An Evening with Bruce Cockburn – February 4, 2023 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Tony Furtado Acoustic Trio – February 4, 2023 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Numbers in the Bible: A Learning Retreat – February 8, 2023 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Book Release Lecture by Dr. Andrew Kaethler: The Eschatological Person – February 8, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Working Towards Freedom Webinar - Anti-Human Trafficking – February 8, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Jazz Evensong @ Brentwood: Candus Churchill & Friends Play Nina Simone – February 8, 2023 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Restoring Mental Health in the Church – February 9, 2023 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Brian Bird: Conscience and Democracy – February 9, 2023 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
4th Annual Jesuit Scotch Tasting Reception: City in Focus – February 9, 2023 at 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Joy Banks: Waymarkers – Reception + Artist's Talk – February 9, 2023 at 6:15 pm - 8:30 pm
Book Launch: George Guthrie – Reading the Bible Better – February 9, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Importance of Being Earnest – February 9, 2023 - February 11, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dr. Chloë Reddaway Lecture and Workshop – February 10, 2023 - February 11, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 12:00 pm
Sacred Jazz Suites – February 10, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Gesualdo Six Return – February 10, 2023 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Being a Church in a Time of Sexual Questioning: A Day with Bruce Miller – February 11, 2023 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Refugee Claimants & Your Church: Discovering Transformative Ways to Welcome – February 11, 2023 at 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Reconciliation & Deeper Hospitality – February 11, 2023 at 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Testimony of Hope: Piano Recital with Julia Lowe – February 11, 2023 at 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Sam Rocha Trio at St. Mark's Chapel (featuring Kevin Eng) – February 11, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Jazz Vespers in the Valley with the Marcus Mosely Ensemble – February 12, 2023 at 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
The St. Francis of Assisi Exchange with Sultan Malek Al-Kamil – February 13, 2023 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Diane Stinton: Musings on the Magnificat – from 21st Century World Perspectives – February 15, 2023 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Contributions of Religions to Modern Japanese Identity – February 15, 2023 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Care for the Sick in Catholic Health Care – February 15, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Fr. Harrison Ayre – Mystery and Modernism: The Sacramental Foundations of Human Existence – February 15, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Jazz Evensong @ Brentwood: Company B for St. Valentine's Day – February 15, 2023 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Under the Needle – February 16, 2023 - February 18, 2023 at All Day
Joy Banks: Waymarkers – Lunch Time Talk – February 16, 2023 at 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Spiritual Formation in the Life of the Local Church – February 17, 2023 at 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
#HackPoverty 2023 – February 18, 2023 at 12:00 am
Gospel Music Workshop – The Best of Mahalia Jackson – February 18, 2023 at 9:00 am - 9:30 pm
Bible Saturdays: The Apostle Paul and the Gospel of the In-Between (Inaugural Event) – February 18, 2023 at 9:30 am - 11:45 am
Meaningful Aging: Finding Hope in Later Years – February 18, 2023 at 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Tyler Staton: What's next in the 24-7 Prayer Canada movement? – February 18, 2023 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Prodigal Son Suite Benefit for Hummingbird Ministries – February 18, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
The Best of Mahalia Jackson – Concert – February 18, 2023 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Taizé Service – February 19, 2023 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Paul Stevens: Preparing for the Ultimate Transition – February 20, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Supporting Canadians to Live: On MAiD and How the Church Can Engage – February 21, 2023 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Jazz Evensong @ Brentwood: Marcos Flo & Friends, featuring Dutch Robinson – February 22, 2023 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Broken Chord – February 23, 2023 - February 25, 2023 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jesus Revolution (movie, 4 shows) – February 24, 2023 at 12:00 am
Jesus Revolution (several Cineplex Theatres) – February 24, 2023 - March 2, 2023 at All Day
Rebekah: Women of Revival Glory Gatherings 2023 – February 24, 2023 - February 26, 2023 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
WomanCare Pregnancy Centre: 12th Annual Trivia Night – February 24, 2023 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Healing and our Bodies with Hillary McBride – February 24, 2023 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jesus Revolution (movie) – February 24, 2023 at 7:15 pm - 9:15 pm
The Long, Long Night of Hope – February 25, 2023 at All Day
Business As Mission Conference 2023 – February 25, 2023 at 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Coldest Night of the Year: Cloverdale Community Kitchen – February 25, 2023 at 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Coldest Night of the Year: Langley (Salvation Army Gateway of Hope) – February 25, 2023 at 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Coldest Night of the Year: Vancouver Broadway – February 25, 2023 at 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Coldest Night of the Year: Vancouver DTES – February 25, 2023 at 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Taste of the World – February 25, 2023 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Help. Thanks. Wow: A Benefit Night for Pacific Theatre – February 25, 2023 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Small Glories – February 25, 2023 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
African Fountain Chapel Black History Month Service – February 26, 2023 at 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Jazz Vespers in the Valley with the Dan Reynolds Band – February 26, 2023 at 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Jazz Vespers with Diane Lines and Sam Ellington – February 26, 2023 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
A Monument of Unaging Intellect: Hagia Sophia and the Politics of Preservation – February 28, 2023 at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
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