Around Town: Walk for Reconciliation, Santa Ono, Light Up the Choirs . . .

The Walk for Reconciliation this Sunday (September 24) will overlap with many church services, but there will still be lots of church-goers in attendance. Many will skip their normal services, but some churches, especially around the downtown core, are fitting the walk into their schedule, or vice versa.

Sponsored by Reconciliation Canada and supported by an ecumenical coalition and many others, the walk will be:

. . . a positive movement to build better relationships among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians. This bold vision calls on everyone of all ages, all backgrounds, all cultures and all faiths to come together as communities and as individuals. . . .

How we build relationships today affects our next generations. Through walking in the spirit of reconciliation you honour intergenerational lives taken, honour survivors and those impacted by the Indian residential school system, and show your support for the youth in all communities.

Join and support the spirit of ‘Namwayut – we are all one.

Walkers will gather at Georgia and Cambie at 9:30 am, and the walk is scheduled to begin at 9:45. They will walk two kilometres to Strathcona Park, where a Reconciliation Expo (10:30 am – 3 pm) will feature a series of Indigenous and multi-cultural performances and a keynote speech.

Many churches will work around their services to participate, including Christ Church Cathedral, Artisan Church, St. James Anglican Church, Shaughnessy Heights United Church and many more.

The Walk for Reconciliation will be followed by the Reconciliation Expo (10:30 am to 3 pm), featuring a series of Indigenous and multi-cultural performances and a keynote speech at Strathcona Park.

Among the highlights will be music by Emmanuel Jal (a former child soldier from Sudan who I wrote up when he was at the Folk Festival this summer), Susan Aglukark, George Leach and Sister Says, along with performances by several dance troupes (Royal Academy of Bhangra Dancers, V’ni Dansi, Loretta Leung Dance Academy and Eagle Song Dancers).

The keynote speaker will be Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde, about whom organizers say:

National Chief Bellegarde is a strong advocate for the implementation of Inherent Aboriginal and Treaty Rights. He has made presentations at the national and international levels in many forums, including the United Nations Committee for Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and various United Nations bodies on the subject of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Several key government leaders will speak as well, including BC Premier John Horgan, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould. Councillors from the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh nations will also speak.

Go here for more on the Walk and the Expo.

Also on the 24th, Tenth will be hosting UBC president Santa Ono. He will be speaking about his faith journey, apparently at four services, three at the main campus at 10th Avenue and once at the Kitsilano gathering (so it should be possible to both take part in the Walk and hear Santa Ono).

I wrote about Ono just before he moved to UBC in the fall of 2016). He has also taken part in Chapel evenings at the Chan Centre and spoken to the BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast since he arrived in Vancouver.

The BC Choral Federation has come up with a creative approach to wildfire relief which involves both community- and church-based choirs. Five concerts will take place this weekend (September 22 – 24):

Here in the Lower Mainland, we’ve had to deal with no worse than a couple of weeks of smoky atmosphere, and some spectacular sunrises and sunsets. In other areas of the province, communities have been burnt out, homes and livestock destroyed, businesses have ceased to function, and people are working together to care for each other in refugee situations.

Some among those people are also members of choirs. It’s hard for them to know when their choir lives (let alone everyday life) will be approaching “normal” in any way. So we will sing for them; we will come together in our own choir communities in Metro Vancouver, and offer our music and our encouragement, as well as encouraging singers and audiences alike to donate through BCCF to the Red Cross.

There are five concert venues:

• Vancouver – Friday, September 22, 7 pm @ Magee Secondary School
• TriCities – Saturday, September 23, 3 pm @ Alderson Elementary School
• North Vancouver – Saturday, September 23, 7 pm @ Highlands United Church
• Richmond – Sunday, September 24, 3 pm @ Fraserview MB Church
• Langley – Sunday, September 24, 7 pm @ Willoughby Christian Reformed Church

Among the church-based choirs are Highland Spirit Singers, Grace Community Choir, Richmond Church Choirs and the Trinity Western University Chamber Choir. The roster will not be the same at each concert.

Sep 2017

Alister McGrath & Michael Shermer / TWU Faculty Panel: Is God a Figment of Our Imagination? – September 21, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Colonialism & Indigenous-Settler Relations – September 21, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Dr. William Willimon: Continual Conversion in a Collapsed Christendom – September 21, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Embracing a Culture of Encounter with the Poor – September 22, 2017 at 9:00 am - 1:15 pm
Stephen Muir: Why Do They Stay?: Lay Church Leaders and the Demands of Institutional Change – September 23, 2017 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
The Gift of Disappointment – September 23, 2017 at 10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Vancouver Urban Ministries Walk for the Children – September 23, 2017 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Walk the Wall 2017 – September 23, 2017 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Light Up the Choirs – September 23, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Blind Boys of Alabama with Ben Heppner – September 23, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Walk for Reconciliation – September 24, 2017 at 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Light Up the Choirs – September 24, 2017 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Anita Eccleston – September 24, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Kristian Braaten Quartet with Laura Crema – September 24, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Movie: Is Genesis History?, presented by Dr. Del Tackett – September 24, 2017 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Light Up the Choirs – September 24, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Elevation Project 10th Anniversary – September 24, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Building Leaders Who Build Churches – September 25, 2017 - September 27, 2017 at All Day
Roy Henry Vickers: Reconciliation & the Four Directions of Stewardship – September 25, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Book Launch: Ross Hastings - Echoes of Coinherence – September 26, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Angel Gospel Music Competition: Audition – September 27, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Cultivating Caring Children: The Roots of Social Responsibility by Deborah McNamara – September 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evenson: Glenda Rae & Brett Wade – September 27, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Reformation! Change Your Mind, Transform Your Life – September 28, 2017 - October 1, 2017 at All Day
Verge Conference – September 28, 2017 - September 29, 2017 at All Day
Gender Cafe: Mama Rwanda & Panel Discussion – September 28, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Drive Out Addiction Golf Tourney – September 29, 2017 at All Day
Talks with Tom: Facing and Transcending Retirement – September 29, 2017 at 7:30 am - 8:30 am
Family Matters Conference – September 29, 2017 - September 30, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 5:30 pm
St. James' Music Series presents Donald Hunt, Organ – September 29, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Ride for Refuge – September 30, 2017 at All Day
Prepared to Answer: Where Faith & Culture Collide (Simulcast) – September 30, 2017 at 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Our Stories Shape Us: History, Faith & Practice of the Indigenous Church in Canada – September 30, 2017 at 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Technology & My Child: iPads, Laptops and the School Year – Parenting in a Digital World – September 30, 2017 at 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Missions Fest: Sponsoring Church Representative Orientation – September 30, 2017 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Luther Movie and Soup – September 30, 2017 at 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Documentary Screening: 19 Days – September 30, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
BT & Worship Invasion 20 Year Reunion 1997 - 2017 – September 30, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Oct 2017

LEGACY Hymn Sing – October 1, 2017 at 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Ecumenical Prayer Service for Unity – October 1, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Vancouver Life Chain – October 1, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Soultrax – October 1, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Intelligent Love Course: Ending Sex Trafficking By Addressing Root Causes (Tuesdays) – October 3, 2017 at All Day
Mully: Theatre Opening – October 4, 2017 at All Day
Vancouver Pastors Prayer Fellowship – October 4, 2017 at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Business By the Book: Tara Teng – October 4, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
James Nesbitt: Faith & Shadows in the Land of Promise – October 5, 2017 - October 12, 2017 at All Day
The Christians by Lucas Hnath – October 5, 2017 - October 7, 2017 at All Day
Evan Kreider: Reformation – October 5, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Brian Doerksen CD Release Event – October 7, 2017 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
A Rocha: Harvest Celebration – October 7, 2017 at 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Laura Crema – October 8, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Thanksgiving – October 8, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Surrey Aglow Luncheon: Celebrating Aglow 50th Anniversary – October 10, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Evening of Worship & Justice – October 11, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
ARPA Canada Fall Tour: Who is Sovereign? – October 11, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Mully: Theatre Opening – October 12, 2017 at All Day
Barth Netterfield: Back to the Very Beginning – Probing Cosmic Origins – October 12, 2017 at 9:25 am - 10:40 am
An Evening with Kelley Nikondeha – October 12, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
April Yamasaki: Stories of Life – October 12, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Kairos Course (Thursday evenings) – October 12, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Barth Netterfield: Back to the Very Beginning – Probing Cosmic Origins – October 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Annual Health & Wellness Fair: Lifelong Learning – October 13, 2017 at 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Spark – October 13, 2017 - October 14, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Tim & the Glory Boys: The Hootenanny Tour! – October 13, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Spike Psarris: What You Aren't Being Told About Astronomy – Distant Starlight – October 13, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
AWANA NextGen Conference – October 14, 2017 at 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Peer Support Facilitator Training (Living Room & Family Room) – October 14, 2017 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Book Launch: "Under Siberian Skies" by David Funk – October 14, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
No One Leaves Alone: M2/W2 Gala – October 14, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Jazz Vespers: Jamie Croll Group – October 15, 2017 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
ICR Concert: Royal Heirs / Tass Saada Testimony – October 15, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
C2C Banquet – October 16, 2017 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Buyers Beware: Ending Commercial Sexual Exploitation – October 16, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Book Launch for Dr. Bob Ekblad: The Beautiful Gate – Enter Jesus' Global Liberation Movement – October 16, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
TWU Dead Sea Scrolls Institute Guest Lectures – October 17, 2017 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Back to Basics: 500 Years of the Reformation – October 17, 2017 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Missions Fest: Mission Pastors' Roundtable – October 18, 2017 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
From Congregation to Protest March – October 18, 2017 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Jessica Graieg-Morrison: Dwelling – Opening Reception – October 18, 2017 at 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Evelyn Underhill & C.S. Lewis: Literary & Contemplative Affinities – October 18, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Eyes and Wings Prophetic Conference, with Bill Johnson – October 19, 2017 - October 21, 2017 at 12:00 am
Global Leadership Summit – October 19, 2017 - October 20, 2017 at All Day
Leader Impact Forum with Braden Douglas – October 19, 2017 at 7:00 am - 8:30 am
Open House: Vancouver Christian School – October 19, 2017 at 1:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Chapel Conference – October 19, 2017 - October 20, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
In Theatres: Same Kind of Different as Me – October 20, 2017 at All Day
The Risk of Isolation: The Role of Community in Mental Health – October 20, 2017 at 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Ruth Everhart: Shame - Hope and Healing – October 20, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The French Symphonic Organ – October 20, 2017 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Gather Rise 2017 – October 21, 2017 at 8:30 am - 7:30 pm
Building Blocks of Faith-Based ELL Ministry Conference – October 21, 2017 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Made in God's Image – October 21, 2017 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Our Town: A Lianna Klassen Exhibition – October 21, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Women's Prayer Conference – October 21, 2017 at 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Creation Science Meeting: Hugh Ross vs Carl Wieland (video) – October 21, 2017 at 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
A History of God on Vancouver Island: Featuring Storyteller/Journalist Phil Hood – October 21, 2017 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
BC Lions Faith & Family Night – October 21, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
EMBER: Pursuing His Presence and His Heart for Our City – October 21, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:15 pm
Reformation Hymn Festival – October 21, 2017 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm