Around Town: The Gathering, James Houston, Christine Boyle, JustWork

‘Bloom Where You’re Planted.’ Regent College has always made a point of teaching, training and equipping people to live out their faith in their daily lives.

Sometimes the talk has been stronger than the walk. But my impression is that the school has recaptured much of its early vision – and The Gathering is one good example among several recently.

Here is how they describe Bloom Where You’re Planted (May 9 – 10):

The Gathering is an annual event for church leaders and pastors seeking to refresh and build lifelong friendships for resilient pastoral ministry. As a non-conference conference, we focus on encounters over information-exchange.

Through worship, prayer, teaching, dialogue, sharing food and recreation, we will grow our pastoral imagination.

In 2024, our theme is to ‘Bloom Where You’re Planted.’ We will explore what it looks like for a church to truly belong to its neighbourhood. We will ask: What would it look like for a church to recognize that Christ has placed it in the neighbourhood, to bless and be blessed in his name?

Ray Aldred will consider how we relate to land and place.

We will explore these questions over the course of two days. Come, join other church leaders (both pastors and laity) from a variety of denominational traditions to:

- Learn from Ray Aldred, Director of the Indigenous Studies Program at VST, on how we relate to land and place
- Hear lived stories from Dannae Pierre, Co-director of City to City North America, on how we can engage with our neighbourhood
- Explore how to nourish local witness in our churches and communities through dialogue and mutual learning
- Spend time in prayer, with others or alone
- Choose from a variety of roundtable workshops and activities to attend to your soul
- Fellowship and build lasting connections
- Play at the beach!

Go here for registration information; ticket price covers two plenary sessions, three workshop sessions and three meals (Thursday lunch, dinner, Friday lunch) and coffee, tea and pastries.

Recapturing roots

James Houston recently celebrated his 101st birthday.

Speaking of Regent College and perseverance, it was such a blessing to see a video featuring James Houston – the Oxford University Lecturer in cultural and historical geography who became the first Principal of Regent College – celebrating his 101st birthday.

After quoting from The Psalter (Psalm 91:16), he began:

I’m so grateful that I can celebrate my 101st birthday, for as we get older, as I have been asked, “How can I pray for you,” my response has always been, “Oh Lord, keep me faithful to the end.” . . .

He continued:

God didn’t promise salvation, He acted, and the action is the evidence of the cross. We have to embody what we believe. . . .

And concluded:

People constantly, when they come to see me, [ask] “How can I pray for you?” – and the answer is simply, “Lord, make me faithful to you, to the end. That our Lord Himself, having loved which were in the world, He loved them unto the end. That’s all.”

The Mark Glanville Trio in Regent College’s Atrium. Mark will co-host ‘Bloom Where You’re Planted.’

A quick scan of recent and coming events demonstrates Regent’s renewed care for the surrounding culture. For example:

Thinking Through the Arts (March 25 – 26): “Ever wondered about the interplay between the arts, the world around us and our inner lives?”
Moral Machines: Social Values, Technology and Critical Constructivism with Andrew Feenberg, Canada Research Chair in Philosophy of Technology, Simon Fraser University (March 26); Hosted by the Houston Centre for Humanity and the Common Good, “a five-year initiative of Regent College, grounded in Dr. James M. Houston’s comprehensive vision of integrative scholarship. Its main task is to foster interdisciplinary and interreligious dialogue on the central question of the late-modern world: what does it mean to be human?”
Improvising Church Book Launch with Mark Glanville (April 5): The Mark Glanville Trio led a beautiful evening of music and reflection in Regent’s Atrium, focusing on artistic creativity and getting out into the broader community. Mark will co-host The Gathering with Fiona Watts, Executive Director of West Vancouver United Church.
Incarnational Humanism Book Launch with Jens Zimmerman (April 9): “Incarnational Humanism offers a theological understanding of what it means to be human. This understanding is rooted in the incarnation of Christ, the supreme expression of true humanity and true Godhood in one. From this centre, it charts a course for Christians to engage – and to transform – culture for the life of the world.” Also sponsored by the Houston Centre,
Working Blessedly Forever Book Launch with Paul Stevens (April 18): “Surveying six decades of my own working, ministering, teaching, advocating and writing, I have come to some observations about the state of the good movement of God in faith and work integration.”

None of the above is meant to suggest that Regent ever lost its concern for the culture and lay education. Definitely not. But we do see encouraging signs of renewed vision.

Christine Boyle chosen

Christine Boyle will run for MLA with the NDP in Vancouver-Little Mountain this fall.

Vancouver City Councillor Christine Boyle will be the BC NDP’s candidate in the Vancouver-Little Mountain riding in the upcoming provincial election.

A CBC News article reported April 5:

Christine Boyle, who leads the OneCity municipal party, secured the nomination after defeating former city councillor Andrea Reimer. Boyle says there is a lot of work to do ahead of this fall’s election

“Elections are always about connecting with the residents . . . . a lot of door-knocking and community work and I look forward to it,” Boyle told CBC News during a Zoom interview.

The nomination race came after B.C.’s longtime environment minister, George Heyman, announced that he is not going to run in this fall’s provincial election..

Heyman, who has been the MLA for Vancouver-Fairview since 2013, endorsed Reimer to seek the NDP nomination in the newly-formed riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain.

Boyle was first elected to city council in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. She said that she would like to see “another strong progressive” take her city council seat if she is elected in Vancouver-Little Mountain this fall.

Boyle is ordained as a United Church minister and has participated in a number of Christian events over the years, from the recent Reimagining Church, Land and Community gathering to a Missions Fest panel and a WayBase meeting.

Reimer also worked with the Christian community. In 2016 when she was a City Councillor. For example, in 2016 she both helped Pastor Trevor Vanderveen of First Christian Reformed Church of Vancouver as he sought changes to the Grandview-Woodland Community Plan and spoke at the City Summit (memorably suggesting a plan for how churches could work together: ‘One City, One Sermon’).

JustWork closed

Making Connections (Canadian Baptist of Western Canada) reported in its April newsletter that JustWork has ceased operation:

Nearly 20 years ago, Grandview Calvary Baptist Church in Vancouver had a vision of helping the growing number of people in the Grandview-Woodlands neighbourhood struggling to find work.

Through this desire, JustWork Economic Initiative was incorporated as a charity in 2006, and operated three social enterprises; JustPotters, JustCatering and JustRenos.

In January, it was announced that JustWork made the difficult decision to close, citing that financial struggles caused by the current economic climate were too much to overcome.

JustWork shared this statement on their Facebook Page:

Big THANKS to our amazing community! As JustWork comes to a close, we reflect with awe and gratitude on those who have walked alongside us. This work will resonate meaningfully throughout our community and the lives of those we have served, leaving a lasting impact for years to come.⁠

We started in 2006 with a dream and a mission to fill a critical employment gap and help those facing the most significant barriers. It has been a privilege to give people the opportunity to sustain an income through our social enterprises for 18 years. . . .

The heart that Grandview Baptist had all those years ago led to years of touching and changing many lives. We are so proud of the work that JustWork has done, and wish everyone who was involved the very best in their next chapter!

Go to the JustWork site for more information.

Apr 2024

The Trip to Bountiful – April 11, 2024 - April 14, 2024 at All Day
Tomatoes Tried To Kill Me, But Banjos Saved My Life – April 11, 2024 - April 13, 2024 at All Day
Kentro Webinar: Elephant Hunting – April 11, 2024 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Speed Dating: Christian Singles (Ages 27-44) – April 11, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mental Health First Aid: Supporting Youth – April 12, 2024 - April 13, 2024 at 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Created for Connection: Hold Me Tight® for Christian Couples (2 Saturdays) – April 13, 2024 - April 20, 2024 at 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Service of Lamentation for the Victims of the Opioid Crisis – April 14, 2024 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Bruce Hindmarsh: Holy Club 2.0 – Early Methodism in the Young George Whitefield’s Diary, 1735–36 – April 15, 2024 at 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
Loaves and Fishes: Vancouver's Hidden Helpers – Presentation / Reception – April 17, 2024 at 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Jazz Evensong @ Brentwood: Nancy Newman & Friends – April 17, 2024 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Big Picture – April 18, 2024 - April 20, 2024 at 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Paul Stevens: Book Launch & Lecture – What I Have Learned About the Faith & Work Connection – April 18, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Brentwood Katz, with Rhian Walker – April 19, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
1Life Foundations Conference: Called to Lead – stewardship, leadership & the generosity of God – April 20, 2024 at 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Together for Good Marriage Workshop – April 20, 2024 at 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Bible Saturday: Rikk Watts: Exploring Jesus' Identity & Understanding of His Death in Isaiah 40 & 53 – April 20, 2024 at 9:30 am - 11:45 am
Earth Day Event – April 20, 2024 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Requiem Mozart: Life, Love & Loss – April 20, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dawn Pemberton in Concert with Michael Creber – April 20, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Steve Dawson & The Hooded Mergansers – April 20, 2024 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Partnership as Mission: Essays in Memory of Ellie Johnson – April 21, 2024 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Fundraising Concert with The Soda Crackers – April 21, 2024 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Jazz Vespers in the Valley with The Trevor Whitridge Quartet – April 21, 2024 at 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Jazz AWE – April 21, 2024 at 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Grieving Faithfully: A Night with Tim Challies – April 21, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Earth Day Neighbourhood Clean Up – April 22, 2024 at 12:45 pm - 3:00 pm
Acts Once Again: Reaching Canadian Cities for Christ – April 22, 2024 - April 24, 2024 at 1:30 pm - 12:00 pm
2024 Human Resources & Employment Seminar – April 24, 2024 at 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Jazz Evensong @ Brentwood: Michelle Carlisle & Friends – April 24, 2024 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
One Conference – April 25, 2024 - April 26, 2024 at All Day
Peace Portal Alliance Church Tax Clinic – April 25, 2024 - April 30, 2024 at All Day
Tax Clinic – April 25, 2024 - April 30, 2024 at All Day
Tax Program – April 25, 2024 - April 30, 2024 at All Day
Tenth Tax Help – April 25, 2024 - April 30, 2024 at All Day
Public Meeting about the Online Harms Act – April 25, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Prayer & Fasting Gathering: Loving Muslims Together Network (last Friday of each month) – April 26, 2024 at All Day
Intercultural Development Workshop: Expand Your Intercultural Horizons – April 26, 2024 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Suicide Intervention Training with Dr Laura Bulk and Michael Lee – April 27, 2024 - April 28, 2024 at All Day
Spring Craft Fair – April 27, 2024 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Fraser Valley Festival of Praise (2 events) – April 28, 2024 at All Day
Woven In: The Story of Job – April 28, 2024 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Jazz Vespers with Leora Cashe – April 28, 2024 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jacob Moon – April 28, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Alpha Canada: Come & See – April 30, 2024 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

May 2024

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