This Sunday we continue exploring our Creation Time theme of water. We assume a tone of lament as we consider destruction that goes two ways: water destroys by way of floods, calving glaciers, and hurricanes; we destroy by polluting, over-extracting, and altering natural systems. These days, it seems like decisions that are favourable to water are becoming more rare. But as we live into God’s promise of new life and reconciliation, we can work together for the protection of water.

Please note that our Sunday Service begins at 10:30. You are warmly invited to gather with us from 10:15 am, in our Sanctuary or online, for a time of musical reflection.

We kicked things off last night, and today the main celebrations begin. Woohoo!

Saturday, September 19

11:00 am–3:00 pm
Parking Lot Party with dancing, music, thrifting, BBQ, nerf battle, games — all sorts of fun!

6:20–9:30 pm, doors open at 5:50 pm
Dinner + Movie Night (Potluck)

Sunday, September 20

12:00–1:00 pm
Singing in Harmony — an open rehearsal with our Sunday Worship Choir, leading up to the September 27 service

1:30 pm swing dance lesson, 2:00–3:30 pm show
Sunday Jazz Matinee Series: Aaron Watson's Cold Cut Combo

Monday, September 21

7:00–8:30 pm
Community Guitar Class with Aaron Watson

See the full schedule for September 22–25 here

Come discover what life looks like at our seven-days-a-week church! It’s a wonderful chance to explore, meet our community, and try programs that usually require registration or a fee.

If we haven’t met, my name is Scott Jantzen, and I am your board chair.

In June, I reported to you after the board’s retreat, and I promised that you would hear from us more often. This report is part of keeping that promise.

In late May, many of you shared with us — at the lunch meeting, through an online feedback form, and through our mid-week ministries and programs. You shared what is going well, what is not going so well, opportunities that we need to keep in mind, and situations, both internal and external, that may threaten our church. Those responses were gathered into a summary that we have kept close through the summer, and that has informed the board’s work.

Reading across everything you told us, we saw a few clear themes >>

As previously announced, Community Lunch will be taking a short break to give our dedicated volunteers some well-deserved time to rest, recharge, and reset.

We will be closed beginning September 24 and look forward to welcoming everyone back when lunches resume on October 22.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support!

Our Monday morning online Centering Prayer, led for several years by our own Cheryl Macpherson, has come to an end. We give thanks for Cheryl’s faithful leadership and the space she has held for us to be still, listen, and draw closer to God.

Thursday Morning Prayer continues on Zoom from 8:00 to 8:30 am, and you are always welcome to drop in. Together, we make room for silence, contemplation, and the sharing of our personal prayers for the coming day and the life of the world.

Do you know any young people looking for a safe, fun, free after school activity? The Emerge Youth Chorus is welcoming new members aged 9 to 15 years this coming Thursday September 24th.

Come meet the leadership team, Christine Chepyha and Gordon Miller, and stay for the demonstration rehearsal/open-house.

This is a great opportunity for parents, grandparents and guardians to see first hand the joy of group singing and to introduce their young people to a life-long hobby that has so many proven emotional, social and cognitive benefits.

Help our friends at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (924 Douglas St) celebrate their 160th anniversary by singing your favorite hymns on Sunday, September 27, at 2:00 pm. They know that singing together is good for your health and warmly invite you, as well as members of other faiths and denominations – and of none – to come along and join in the fun of an old-fashioned hymn sing-along.

Admission is by donation! Proceeds from the event will go towards a new baby concert grand piano in the Sanctuary.

Speaker Harold Rosen examines justice not only as a legal or political concept, but as a moral, spiritual, and social force connected to peace, unity, human rights, reconciliation, and the flourishing of humanity. His experience as a community educator, interfaith activist, researcher and author helps us to understand justice as restorative, transformative, and essential to building a more compassionate and interdependent world.

Please join us with your family and friends for discussion, participation and refreshments.

Multifaith Centre entry is accessible via West Campus Gate with free Sunday parking (lot 6).

You are warmly invited to two events marking the launch of Through Their Lens: The Impact of Climate Change on Older Adults’ Mental Health on the International Day of Older Persons, October 1, 2026.

There will be a webinar and virtual gallery launch from 12:00-1:00 pm with speakers from mainland BC and Ontario.
Sign-up here for the virtual panel

On the evening of October 1 an in-person panel and exhibition launch with a different group of speakers will take place from 5:00–7:00 pm at the Greater Victoria Public Library Central Branch, 735 Broughton St.

This exhibition features photographs by older adults in British Columbia exploring how climate change impacts their mental health. The purpose of this exhibition is to amplify public dialogue about climate change and aging through arts-based engagement. 

Please RSVP for the in-person panel to Helen Boyd at cvnhe@telus.net by September 26th.