Sarah Hall will create ‘Welcoming Light’ (at left) for Christ Church Cathedral.
Renowned glass artist Sarah Hall has been chosen to create a 30-metre tower of steel, the top 18 metres of which will be clad with stained glass, on the property of Christ Church Cathedral at the corner of Burrard and Georgia.
Describing the work as part of its “final phase of rejuvenation,” the church says:
The glass spire, entitled Welcoming Light, will be one of the most significant investments in permanent Canadian public art in the province in recent decades. Four custom bronze bells installed in the spire will ring at the beginning and end of each work day, on Sundays prior to church services, in celebration of holy days, and to mark the civic events and holidays of our interfaith neighbours.
Sarah Hall lives in Toronto and is known for her many large-scale installations in public buildings (often places of worship) around North America; she describes Welcoming Light in this way:
Bill Chu at the Annual Women’s Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women in 2012, with former National Chief Shawn Atleo (left) and Regional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould (right).
Professor David Lai, who specialized in North America Chinatown history at the University of Victoria, indicated that according to BC’s Heritage Conservation Act, any cultural heritage site encountered during construction should be reported to the government, who would then appoint archaeological experts to evaluate. If there is any difference of opinion between engineering and archaeological experts, then the APEGBC’s modified practice guideline will have a constructive effect. . . .
Professor Lai also said, based on what Bill Chu described, the APEGBC resolution will prompt engineers to pay attention to the historical heritage of BC. This will provide an added safeguard for the protection of Chinese pioneers’ cemeteries and archaeological sites.
Your other community centre
I love the openness to the community expressed in this recent email update from South Delta Baptist Church to its members and supporters:. . . We decided to have a small focus group of local non-church attending people to see what resonated with them when they thought of SDBC [South Delta Baptist Church]. This was the message that we crafted with them: ‘Your Other Community Centre.’
This group dialogued and reflected that they appreciate the programming, the community and the helping hand and support of the body of Christ here at SDBC. This feedback seems to happen even before they understand and appreciate the why we do it, which is to re-introduce Jesus to our community and see people transformed by a saving relationship with God.
During the Christmas season, thousands visited our church with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, various school productions and for our Christmas Eve service. Many people were able to interact with our church building and experience the people in it. We hope that when those same visitors look for more meaning in their lives and beyond, they choose SDBC as the place to start their journey.
Vancouver Christian Counselling Centre closes
If you go to the website of Vancouver Christian Counselling Centre, this is (part of) the message you’ll see:
The board of directors of the Vancouver Christian Counselling Centre Society met on June 9, 2014 with the staff and counselors and informed them that VCCCS is ceasing operations as of December 31, 2014 to move into a restructuring mode. This decision was made in light of several factors and with the approval of the church leadership team, the members of the Society. The board of directors would like to express their gratitude to the staff and counsellors and the church who have recognized the need for professional Christ-centred counselling in the city.
First Baptist Church’s (FBC) building project has space for a beautiful first class counselling centre so the church has a heart for this ministry. There is no question that there is a need for renewal in the future for this is an important service in the city. It is hoped that other churches or donors might come alongside to join in supporting the centre so that affordable professional counselling can continue to be provided. . . .
We want to acknowledge that without the generous financial support from FBC this ministry would not have been able to operate. We are also aware and acknowledge the work that the counsellors have done over the years and the people they have helped. Suspending the operation was a difficult decision to make but we hope that a counselling ministry in this neighbourhood and this corner will once again be an effective ministry.
Jan 2015
Russell Leng: Peach Beach – January 15, 2015 - January 21, 2015 at All DayLife Lines Art Show: Opening Reception – January 15, 2015 at 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Watoto Choir in Concert – January 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Talks with Tom: Tom's in the Hot Seat – January 16, 2015 at 7:00 am - 8:30 am
Watoto Choir in Concert – January 16, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Unity Not Uniformity, Diversity Not Division – January 16, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Christian Unity: Have We Answered the Call? – January 17, 2015 at 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Neighbourhood Engagement Weekend: Life in the Neighbourhood – January 17, 2015 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Unity Not Uniformity, Diversity Not Division – January 17, 2015 at 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
OMF International Day of Prayer – January 17, 2015 at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Vancouver School of Theology Faculty Speaker Day – January 17, 2015 at 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Taize Service: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 17, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Watoto Choir in Concert – January 17, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Ecumenical Service: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 18, 2015 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Watoto Choir in Concert – January 18, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
C.S. Lewis and Thomas Merton: Soul Friends (Four Monday evenings) – January 19, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dr. Barth Netterfield: Back to the Very Beginnings - Probing Cosmic Origins – January 20, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Watoto Choir in Concert – January 20, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Sideshow Musical Improv – January 20, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
UBC Graduate & Faculty Christian Forum Lectures: Craig Mitton - The Challenge of Sustaining Excellence in Canadian Health Care – January 21, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Adaptations of the Hobbit: Killing the Book? – January 21, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Ecumenical Service: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 21, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: Craig Stevenson Scott – January 21, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2015 (ecumenical services in various churches) – January 22, 2015 - January 25, 2015 at All Day
The January Series of Calvin College – January 22, 2015 - January 27, 2015 at 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Justin Tse: 'What Can I Do For This City?': The Hong Kong Protests and Evangelical Theology – January 22, 2015 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Ecumenical Service: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Watoto Choir in Concert – January 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
CYWC Regional Training – January 23, 2015 - January 24, 2015 at All Day
Brooke Fraser in Concert – January 23, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Ecumenical Service: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 23, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Watoto Choir in Concert – January 23, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Watoto Choir in Concert – January 24, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Dare to Be / Wear Love Out – January 24, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:45 pm
Jeannette Petkau: 'Unshakable' Worship & Concert Night – January 24, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Haydn's Seven Last Words: Crucifixion of the Earth – January 24, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Holy Land Familiarization Tour - with ICEJ Canada – January 25, 2015 at All Day
Ecumenical Service: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 25, 2015 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Jazz Vespers: Genuine Jug Band – January 25, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Manafest Concert – January 25, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Taize Service: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 25, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Watoto Choir in Concert – January 25, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Canadian Quintessence: The Conductors' Concert – January 25, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
C.S. Lewis and Thomas Merton: Soul Friends (Four Monday evenings - 2) – January 26, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Experience Regent – January 27, 2015 at 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Send North America Labs / SNA Experience Tour: David Platt, Shane & Shane and more – January 27, 2015 at 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Metro Vancouver Alliance Transit Forum – January 27, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Open House: Surrey Christian School – January 28, 2015 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Living the Reality of the Creative, with Deb Sears, voice-over artist – January 28, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm
Watoto Choir in Concert – January 28, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Ross Hastings: Is Holiness a Pipe-dream? – January 28, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: Sandra Mae Luykz – January 28, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
As Little Children – January 29, 2015 - January 31, 2015 at All Day
Go! Conference 2015 – January 29, 2015 - February 1, 2015 at All Day
Thomas Merton Symposium – January 29, 2015 at 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Underneath the Lintel – January 29, 2015 - January 31, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Missions Fest 2015 Conference: Across the Street - Around the World – January 30, 2015 - February 1, 2015 at All Day
Chapel at Missions Fest – January 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
This Kingdom: Worship & Prayer & Fellowship – January 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Christian Lane: 2011 Canadian International Organ Competition Winner – January 30, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Storytelling and the Spiritual Lives of Children – January 31, 2015 at 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Red Light / Green Light Screening – January 31, 2015 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Atesto: Respond at Missions Fest – January 31, 2015 at 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Watoto Choir in Concert – January 31, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Thomas Merton's 100th Beerthday, uh Birthday, Party – January 31, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm