This week I’m impressed by all the welcoming initiatives around Metro Vancouver – and the wide range of invitations extended – to refugees, neighbours, homeless, hungry, First Nations, politicians, the community and spiritual seekers.
Here are some of the events that I have posted on the Church for Vancouver Calendar over the next week or so. (There are similar events all year round, but it is good to stop and take note once in a while).
- Making a Home for Refugee Claimants
‘A Network of Churches Welcoming Refugees’ will convene a broad gathering of churches, ministries and individuals who would like to collaborate in Making a Home for Refugee Claimants. Fleetwood Christian Reformed Church in Surrey will host the meeting next Saturday morning (November 2, 9 am – noon).
Here is how they describe it:
Our goal: At this gathering we aim to build connections between churches and agencies welcoming refugee claimants in the Vancouver area with churches and individuals in Surrey and beyond. In building these connections, we hope that people in Surrey and the surrounding region might open their homes to refugee claimants who have been living in Vancouver so that they might find homes that are (at least marginally) more affordable.
What you’ll hear:
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- Stories of the challenges refugee claimants are facing around housing and poverty.
- Theological rational for why and how the church can be a key respondent to this vulnerable population by providing welcome, community and housing.
- Stories of people who have answered the call to welcome.
- About resources and supports available to equip you to welcome refugee claimants into your church life and your home
CityGate Vancouver has sponsored the gathering. Tenth Church and Christ City Church are key participants, along with Journey Home Community, Kinbrace Refugee Housing and Support, and Inasmuch Community Society.
Journey Home will also host Love Without Borders: Welcoming Refugee Claimants Orientation at Willingdon Church November 16.
- New Hope Grand Opening
On the very same day (November 2, 2 – 4 pm), New Hope Community Services will celebrate the opening of their second apartment:
We invite you to join us at our grand opening to celebrate New Hope’s expanded capacity to house more newcomer refugee families! Enjoy light refreshments, remarks, and tours of our common spaces.
Remarks will be held outdoors at the rear of the building under a canopy, so please dress accordingly. You’ll also have the opportunity to join our “buy-a-brick” campaign, supporting New Hope’s operational expansion, and necessary repairs and renovations at 608 Tenth Street. We look forward to celebrating with you
- Kits Cares / Kits Prayer
Several churches work together on Kits Cares.
Redemption Church will host two welcoming events today (November 24):
- Kits Cares Community Market: “a weekly community market that provides low cost and subsidized groceries to those with food challenges in the community. It is run by local churches working together to meet a community need.”
- Joint Church Kitsilano Prayer Meeting: “Join us for the next prayer meeting with Redemption, Christ City and Lord’s Grace Church, Kitsilano. We are encouraging all to attend as we pray for this community, and the prospect of a joint Alpha course.”
- Pray Ridge Meadows
Joint church prayer has been flourishing in the Maple Ridge area for some time. Go to the Pray Ridge Meadows site for specific information:
There are many congregations but only one church in Ridge Meadows because we are redeemed by our one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Together we pray for God’s Kingdom to come to Ridge-Meadows. Intercessors from congregations and ministry in Ridge Meadows pray together weekly in four venues. Please choose one that works for you.
- An Evening with NightShift
NightShift cares for people experiencing homelessness, addiction, poverty and mental illness in Surrey.
This Friday (October 25) will feature An Evening with NightShift at Newlands Golf & Country Club, celebrating 20 years of ministry:
An Evening With NightShift will not only honour the past, but shine a light on the future. We will be announcing a very special fundraising project that will not only expand our outreach space in Surrey, but increase accessibility to life-changing care for people experiencing homelessness, addiction, poverty and mental illness.
This is a foundation for the next 20 years of ministry and we want you to be a part of it!
- White Rock / South Surrey Leadership Prayer Breakfast
Also on Friday, Rev. Dr. Carson Pue will address the 39th annual White Rock / South Surrey Leadership Prayer Breakfast.
Please join us as we pray for the leaders in our community; our elected officials in federal, provincial and municipal governments, our local and regional public safety officials and servicemen and women, our military, our pastors, our teachers, our elders, our local outreach and volunteer leaders, and our youth.
- MCBC Indigenous Relations Coffee House
On Saturday (October 26), Mennonite Church BC will host the Indigenous Relations Coffee House:
Our annual coffee house fundraising event is coming. This year we are aiming to raise $10,000 in support of the Elijah Harper Fund which seeks to assist Indigenous students in the pursuit of graduate and post graduate theological studies. Live music from musical group J.D. Miner and musician John Williams.
- Alpha ‘Come & See’
Two days later (October 28), Coastal Church is welcoming people to Alpha ‘Come & See:
‘Come and See’ is a wonderful opportunity to gather with other church leaders who are:
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- Exploring Alpha and wonder whether Alpha could work in their context.
- New to Alpha and are keen to see it modelled up close.
- Experienced in running Alpha but are curious as to how to position Alpha beyond a program or course and toward developing a culture of sharing the Good News of Jesus and radical hospitality that the whole church is excited to be a part of.
- Welcoming Our Neighbour
Another two days after that (October 30), Willoughby Christian Reformed Church in Langley will host a Union Gospel Mission Welcoming Our Neighbour workshop:
How do we better create an environment to allow guests to remain in our churches after they come into the doors?
This workshop aims to equip people to welcome others using a trauma-informed lens. We will ground our approach in the Biblical narrative surrounding the orphan, widow and foreigner.
We will consider how to best care for those requiring different approaches, including those struggling with homelessness, newcomers to Canada, people in active addiction, mental health challenges, and accessibility needs.
- Christian Advocacy Society 35th Anniversary Banquet
The Christian Advocacy Society of Greater Vancouver is holding its 35 Anniversary Banquet November 5 at the Italian Cultural Centre:
We are a non-profit charity serving the vulnerable in our community. All peer counselling services are provided free of charge – a gift from the church community to those in crisis. We provide help for those facing an unplanned pregnancy, grief after abortion, domestic abuse and sexual assault.
- Relearning the Art of Neighbouring
CityGate Vancouver is also supporting Relearning the Art of Neighbouring – focused on “sharing values and practices of neighbouring” – in a number of homes, including at 6649 Fremlin Street in Vancouver, November 5.
Halloween light
We also have many Halloween-related (or alternative to Halloween) parties coming up, many of which also welcome the community. For example:
- Oct 25; Freedom Church: Pumpkin Carving Party (posted on the City of New Westminster website)
- Oct 25: Willingdon Church, Burnaby: Under the Big Top
- Oct 26: Blue Ocean Movement: Hallelujah Night (at Trinity Western University)
- Oct 26: St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Vancouver: Trick-or-Treat
- Oct 27: Tenth Church, Vancouver: Trunk or Treat (several other churches as well)
- Oct 31: Fraser Lands Church, Vancouver: Funfest 2024
- Oct 31: Riverside Calvary Chapel, Langley: Light in the Night
- Oct 31: Redemption Church, Vancouver: Pit Stop
Many other churches as well; whether fully participating, collaborating or rejecting Halloween, the holiday is widely recognized by the church community.
Bible and work
Paul Stevens has thought, taught and written about Christianity and work for many decades. He will be joined by two other speakers and several workshop leaders during the one-day conference organized by the Institute for Market Transformation.
What the Bible Says About Work will take place at West Point Grey Baptist Church November 2.
Here is a description of the event – which, like the events noted above, is focused on interaction with the broader community – and the three presenters:
The conference is about how Christians can have more integration, meaning and thriving in their daily work.
- Dr. Al Erisman
Al is currently a writer, speaker, professor and board member including chair of the board for the Theology of Work Project and chair of the board for KIROS. Al has a PhD in applied mathematics at Iowa State University, worked 32 years at The Boeing Company, most recently as the Director of Technology. While at Boeing he was on numerous scientific boards sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the National Academy of Sciences and the National Institute for Standards and Technology.
- Dr. R. Paul Stevens
Paul is Professor Emeritus, Regent College, and has been a pastor, a student counselor, and a business person. His mission is to empower ordinary people to integrate their faith and life. His most recent book is Working Blessedly Forever, Vol. 1: The Shape of Marketplace Theology (Cascade Books, 2024)
- Dr. Byron Lambert
Byron has over 30 years of business and leadership experience working at a Global Healthcare and Research corporation, and has a heart for equipping pastors and churches to help their members integrate their faith with their work. He is also the Executive Director for the Institute for Marketplace Transformation.
There will also be two workshop sessions, where participants can hear from two out of eight workshop speakers.
Events & Jobs
Events are listed below, but there is also an Events page and a Jobs page on the Church for Vancouver site.
No Events