Jason Roberts in front of the now-fully-financed Oak House at Wagner Hills Farm. Image from his video
I wrote about some major changes at Wagner Hills Farm last May, and some exciting prospects – which are now coming to fruition.
The residential addiction recovery centre had decided to strengthen its work with men and transfer its work with women to Union Gospel Mission.
But as Helmut Boehm, co-founder of Wagner Hills, showed me around the rural property in Langley – north of the freeway, east of Fort Langley – one highlight he pointed out was a major building project.
Oak House, he told me, would replace the trailers which have been home to most of the men who normally live onsite. The new complex will have 50 rooms for 50 men.
Wagner Hills hoped to have it completed last fall, but, not surprisingly, it was not easy to raise the money needed for the project.
Wagner Hills has a lovely setting; co-founder Helmut Boehm gave me a tour last year.
Earlier this week, Wagner Hills Executive Director Jason Roberts posted a short video on Facebook with some good news:
If you remember, six months ago, right around Christmas, we were sitting at having raised around $12 million of the 14 we needed, as it seemed as though we were stuck. And looking back on it, it was a testing time – were we going to hold onto what God had told us about his providing or go with the option to borrow.
We decided not to borrow. We put out a video stating we weren’t going to borrow to finish the building, and we asked for help.
That video was shared to the Pattison Group and they answered the call at the beginning of the year. The Pattison Group was coming in with a million dollar match. That news sparked some excitement and shortly after the Pattison announcement, BC Housing got in touch with us and said they wanted to help us with a $1.5 million gift, with no strings attached. . . .
Today [May 23] we received the moneys from BC Housing and paid all our outstanding bills. We’re receiving our full matching gift from the Pattisons, which allows us to completely finish the building debt free. . . . We have truly been provided for; He knows what we need.
Within the next few weeks Wagner Hills will announce the move-in date. They are full already, with 17 guys on the waiting list.
Go here for the Wagner Hills site and here for the article I wrote last May.
Archbishop installed
Archbishop Richard Smith’s installation mass took place at Holy Rosary Cathedral. Photo: Paul Schratz
The new head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Vancouver was installed last Friday.
Nicholas Elbers and Paul Schratz reported in The B.C. Catholic:
Archbishop Richard Smith’s May 23 installation Mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral was resplendent in pageantry, flawless in organization, and liturgically solemn – and with thunderous applause, the faithful who filled Holy Rosary Cathedral welcomed Vancouver’s new Archbishop.
In addition to the overflow crowd that had to be accommodated in Rosary Hall next door, the livestreamed Mass was viewed by more than 7,000 people online. . . .
In his homily, Archbishop Smith said he was struck by two things: the traffic, and the monumental boundaries that define Vancouver, from the ocean and the mountains, to the American border on the south.
“I look forward to learning how these confines have come to shape the culture of the peoples they circumscribe,” he said.
The Archbishop said he can already see the spiritual world of Vancouver, without borders, that “exists in the very heart of this area.” Meditating on the multi-cultural reality of the city by quoting Peter in Acts 10, he said, “’God shows no partiality.’ The promise of salvation in Christ extends to all, without demarcation.” . . .
Archbishop Smith (left) and Archbishop Miller outside the cathedral after mass. Photo: Nicholas Elbers
The defining moment of the evening came near the end of Archbishop Smith’s final remarks in which he thanked everyone from high-ranking clergy, to friends and family who had travelled from afar, to cathedral staff and volunteers.
Then, with a pause, he added a final word of thanks: “that I offer on behalf of us all, Archbishop Michael Miller . . .”
He never finished the sentence. The cathedral faithful erupted in sustained applause, rising to their feet in a spontaneous standing ovation that left Archbishop Miller [who has been Archbishop of Vancouver since 2009] gazing silently at the floor until the minute-long show of appreciation subsided.
Go here for the full article.
United Church at 100
Local United Churches (and friends and well-wishers) will mark an important date next Saturday (June 7) at St. Andrew’s-Wesley Church in downtown Vancouver.
The Joint Worship Service will take place at 4 pm, with light refreshments served at 5:15:
Join us as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada with a joyful and spirit-filled joint worship service, bringing together congregations from across the Lower Mainland.
This milestone gathering will include St. Andrew’s Wesley, Canadian Memorial, Shaughnessy Heights, Trinity-Grace and other United Churches, united in gratitude, song and shared purpose.
Come celebrate a century of faith, justice and community. All are welcome!
The United Church’s history page begins:
The United Church of Canada is the largest Protestant denomination in Canada. We minister to over a million people in about 2,500 congregations. The history of the United Church is closely entwined with the history of Canada itself.
The United Church was inaugurated on June 10, 1925 in Toronto, Ontario, when the Methodist Church, Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada and 70 percent of The Presbyterian Church in Canada entered into a union.
Go here for more.
Events & Jobs
Events are listed below, but there is also an Events page and a Jobs page on the Church for Vancouver site.
May 2025
100 Days of Prayer – May 19, 2025 - August 27, 2025 at All DayClothed in Glory: Learning to Embody Christ – May 29, 2025 - June 12, 2025 at All Day
Meeting – May 29, 2025 - June 7, 2025 at All Day
Journey Home Community: The Welcome Table – Annual Spring Gala – May 29, 2025 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Girls Night Out: Living Life to the Fullest Tour – May 29, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation – May 30, 2025 - June 1, 2025 at All Day
The Paperboys (Trio) – May 30, 2025 at 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Connection Point 2025: A Night of Worship & Community – May 30, 2025 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Free Gospel Folk Concert: Lee Legare, Sing Together, Jordan Barr – May 30, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Parenting Conference: Sowing to the Spirit – May 31, 2025 at 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
United Voices Choir: Rejoice! Handel Coronation Anthems & Dixit Dominus – May 31, 2025 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
My Favourite Hymns: Concert & Art Show – May 31, 2025 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
HOME (Hub Open Mic Evening) – May 31, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Jun 2025
Meant for More: A Home of Hope Story – June 1, 2025 at 1:30 pm - 3:00 pmMeant for More: A Home of Hope Story – June 1, 2025 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
United Voices Choir: Rejoice! Handel Coronation Anthems & Dixit Dominus – June 1, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Bible Studies Q&A: Aubrey E. Buster & Madison N. Pierce – June 4, 2025 at 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Blessed are the Undone: a workshop on leadership and blessing in the face of changing Christian faith – June 4, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Aubrey E. Buster: Daniel 12 & the Hope of Glory – June 4, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Free & Empowered Conference with Doug and Teri Balzer – June 5, 2025 - June 7, 2025 at 12:00 am
Networking & Conversation About Disability – June 5, 2025 at 11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Blessed are the Undone: Conversations about Faith Deconstruction and Hope in Canada – June 5, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
End Times Conversation - The Big Picture and the Millennium – June 5, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
AC Summer School – June 6, 2025 - June 8, 2025 at All Day
Music Night at Pinder Hall – June 7, 2025 at 7:00 am - 9:15 am
We are Family – June 7, 2025 at 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
TLR Kickstart Weekend, with Jordan Barr & team – June 7, 2025 - June 8, 2025 at 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
100th Anniversary United Church of Canada Joint Worship Service – June 7, 2025 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
2025 Multicultural Worship Night – June 8, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Darrell L. Bock: Minding the Gap – from Event to Gospel – June 9, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Health Care Q&A: Dr. Quentin Genuis – June 11, 2025 at 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
Judith Wolfe: The Theological Imagination – June 11, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Hamlet – June 11, 2025 - June 14, 2025 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Provincial Leaders Dinner (with Sam Sullivan) – June 12, 2025 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Rising: A Night to Empower the Leaders of Tomorrow – June 13, 2025 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Freedom Worship Night – June 13, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
'Sugar and Sprice' Coffee House Fundraiser – June 13, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
58th Annual BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast (with Anthony Robles) – June 13, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Love Without Borders: Welcoming Refugee Claimants Orientation – June 14, 2025 at 9:00 am - 2:30 pm
St. John's Centennial Gala – June 14, 2025 at 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
God Will Take Care of You Hymn Festival – June 14, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Sweet Sounds on Sussex with Bruce Coughlan – June 14, 2025 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
2025 Vancouver Gospel Festival – June 15, 2025 at 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Prayer Pilgrimage – June 18, 2025 at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Kenya, Africa 2025 Partner Visit – June 21, 2025 - June 30, 2025 at All Day
New Roots Festival – June 21, 2025 - June 23, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Summer Gospel Concert: A Choir Movement – June 27, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm