To all JBUC Staff and Ministry and Program Leads:

Save the date — October 18, right after the service, in the sanctuary. This is the first of the three fall gatherings the Board wrote to you about in September: a chance for us to listen to your concerns and share our thinking on the governance model and the revised picture of our organizational structure — which includes ministry and program clusters and Ministry Stewards.

About 45 minutes; no lunch provided.

We are delighted to share with you that a team has joined together and begun the Affirming Process with support from Affirm United for James Bay United Church. All with the blessing of our Church Board.

Affirm United is a proud partner of The United Church of Canada for the support of all gender identities and sexual orientations.

You are invited to join us as we explore ways to become more inclusive; to discover how we can learn more about each other. We plan to listen to stories, speakers, films and each other as we unpack how to draw our circle wider, build a more encompassing community and do our best – all of us – to practice radical acceptance.

The CanUS Jazz Band has been keeping the flame of traditional New Orleans jazz and early swing burning for over 40 years!

Fans of the Flying Saucers will be delighted to hear familiar favourites Al Pease on reeds, Clark Brendon on guitar, and Joey Smith on bass, joined by Alfons Fear on trumpet, Lauri Lyster on drums, and Toni Blodgett tickling the ivories.

Swing dance lesson before the show — no experience needed!

Admission by donation ($20 suggested). All are welcome regardless of funds.

Victoria-raised singer-songwriter Cari Burdett returns to her hometown with her newly released album Don’t Forget and a five-piece band featuring some of BC’s wonderful professional musicians.

Almost ten years after her previous album Magnolia, which was nominated for Best World Album at the 2016 Western Canadian Music Awards, Don’t Forget marks a significant return to original music and performing for Cari.

During the making of the album, Cari lost her singing voice to a paralyzed vocal cord and, for a time, believed she might never sing again. Years later, her voice returned, she completed the album, and she is now bringing the songs to communities around the Salish Sea.

SLIDING SCALE TICKETS
$20 / $25 / $30 / $35
No one turned away for lack of funds.

Let’s fill the church and celebrate live music and community together!

Drop by James Bay Community Project on October 30th for their fun and friendly fall community gathering!

– Free hot apple cider and popcorn
– Button-making
– Prizes & Halloween treats
– Live music

Location: James Bay Community Project, 547 Michigan Street (the building that houses LifeLabs and UPCC)

October 30th, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

All ages welcome, free of charge! Costumes are welcome but not required.

Our neighbours are also excited to share their new mission and vision, which will guide JBCP's work in supporting the community in the years to come.

Our Wednesday Taiji classes have undergone some exciting changes, and our Friday classes have had a few updates, too!

Read the updated class details, bring comfortable clothes and shoes, a notebook and pen, and a water bottle. We look forward to welcoming you!

At the James Bay United Church Community Lunch, we have a table with food from the Mustard Seed FoodShare warehouse for guests to take home. Volunteer drivers pick up the food and bring it to the lunch every Thursday.

We have a pickup appointment at 11:15 am. Drivers pick up boxes of food from the warehouse loading dock, load it in their vehicles and drive it to the church. At the church we have a cart to bring the food down the ramp to the basement where the lunch takes place. Other volunteers at the lunch will help to unload the vehicle.

If you’re interested in joining our driver team, you can contact Bob Crane, at 250-413-7835 (phone or text).

Gardener God who has delighted in

the delicate unfurling of every fern frond,

smiled at the slow, sun-blessed ripening of each peach

and pomegranate since the first,

forgive us latecomers, tenants, when we fail to see

the hidden worth of a radiant grain head

nodding perfect in the breeze,

but only its market value,

the sea-shore sound of countless grains

piled up to the roof of our gated granaries.

Take our hands in your own

bark-gnarled, green and ancient ones

and make them sensitive,

that we may know through them

the secrets of the earth,

the quiet, never-resting activity of life,

the invisible threads of energy pulsating

and connecting, healing and blessing

all with love, a love which can also flow through us.

Amen

from The Healer’s Tree