Irving Park in James Bay - 250 Menzies Street

Free Drop In from 2pm - 4pm Saturday and Sunday, June 24 & 25, 2023

Join sopranos Caleigh Aalders and Jennifer Turner and poet Eli Mushumanski for a free, drop-in, interactive music and poetry event.

W̱SÁNEĆ elder Carl Olsen is eager to reschedule with us, having been called away to a family event this week. While our hope was to welcome him this Sunday to speak about the need for habitat preservation at SELE₭TEL Goldstream River and Goldstream Park, the urgency of the matter will still be very much in view in the coming weeks.  It will be an opportunity as well for us to realize what is being asked of us in the work of honouring treaty rights. Stay tuned for the new date.  In the meantime, check out this article in the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council Newsletter which speaks briefly to Carl's concerns.     

Sunday, June 25th: 10:15am In Person and LiveStreamed 

What thresholds are you aware of crossing as you move through the day? When you begin to become aware of them, you’ll notice they are everywhere!  Even moving from reading this newsletter to whatever is the next thing you will do is to cross a threshold. The Celts describe thresholds as ‘thin times or places’, opportunities that hold the possibility of deeper connection with the divine.  The canoe landing protocol some of us witnessed on National Indigenous Peoples Day at the Esquimalt Lagoon was a powerful demonstration of the possibilities for life that can arise through honouring thresholds.  This and more will be part of our reflection on Sunday.  AND for anyone wishing to make a donation to the Reconciliation Contribution Fund, this is the last day for making your contribution through James Bay United Church.

Rev. Karen Dickey

Click HERE for the post-Service Zoom link. ( Meeting ID: 848 8764 1402 Passcode: 680529)

Our team has a plan and we need your help to make it come alive. 

First we need your assistance in creating our entry – it’s about ‘Opening Doors to God’s Love’ – so please join us in the lower hall and patio area July 1st (morning) and July 2nd (after coffee time). The more, the merrier and many hands make light work!

Second we need you with us in the parade...

We’ll have a casual ‘get all the details and ask your questions’ gathering after coffee on July 2nd!

Get your Pride on and let’s tell Victoria we are here and we are inclusive!!

The city is humming as summer is officially here. And there's a lot of music in the air all over town.

Two things to check out on Michigan Street this week:

Swing and Tea - featuring the music of Django/Grappelli on Saturday afternoon

Tuesday Night Jazz - featuring the Attila Fias Trio

A live community conversation about the forgotten voice in solutions to homelessness: our frontline workers and volunteers.

Reserve your spot here (free admission).

Tuesday June 27th, 2023 ~ Doors: 6pm   Event: 6:30pm - 9pm

The Dock Centre for Social Impact: 300-722 Cormorant St, Victoria, BC V8W 1P8

Karen Dickey's Farewell Party

Friday, July 21st, 2023: 6pm - 10pm
James Bay Community School Centre (140 Oswego Street), Victoria

If you are attending, please respond here.

The next session in this fabulous information series (curated by our own Cliff Boldt!) happens in a few weeks time. 

Our audience: seniors, their caregivers and/or immediate family members.
When: Wednesday afternoons
Where: Sanctuary, James Bay United Church (access through the west RAMP doors)
What: great information sessions, and an opportunity for questions over refreshments afterwards

July 12th - 1:30pm - 2:30pm:
Getting prepared:  Representative Agreement, Wills, Power of Attorney, DNR’s
Presenter: Kevin Doyle, lawyer

Register Now

Our thanks to Lesli Boldt and Boldt Communications Inc. for sponsoring our refreshments!

Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees (VICCIR) is culturally, linguistically, and financially accessible to support newcomers through mental health services. VICCIR is seeking flexible childcare volunteers to supervise children while their parents are receiving counselling. 

Many of VICCIR’s clients are newcomers to Victoria, so they lack the support network and financial resources to find qualified childcare as they receive mental health services. If you are willing and able, VICCIR would love your help in providing much-needed childcare for these families. If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Abeer Smadi, the volunteer coordinator, by email.

Photo by Erika Fletcher on Unsplash 

There’s a dip in the stone step
in the threshold of the old cathedral,
worn where thousands of pilgrims have stepped
as they entered the darkness to pray.