Join us as we celebrate Harvest Thanksgiving 2024! 

Matt preaches on the gifts God gives and the hearts long journey towards gratitude (and how the poets and the wildflowers teach us to be more human!)

Lynn presides at Christ's table of welcome... 

The children and youth with a St. Francis classic movie during the sermon with Jake (Tressa and Maya away this week)...

The band leads us in song with some Dylan, a classic hymn, a Taize chant, some Tom Wuest, a protest song... all about gratitude!

There will be bread and wine.  Come.

The order of service leaflet is available here.

Livestream option is available here (direct link) and at our YouTube page.

Image: “Gratitude Prayer” Sapha Bouamara, CC BY-SA 4.0  via Wikimedia Commons

We're taking Sunday Oct 13 off but will be back the following week after worship.

We are excited about this AbbeyChurch/Emmaus partnership with QomQem coastal connections and the North Park Neighborhood Association.

We have been receiving donations of food goods which will support their street outreach on Sunday evenings.

Here is the list of desired items:

• large bags of soft candies to make up mixed candy bags (thinking dinosours, sour keys, cherry blasters etc)
• Large jars of peanut butter, Nutella or jam
• Tins of Gatorade powder
• Tins of hot chocolate powder (once it starts to cool)
• Sweet treats like pre wrapped Rice Krispie squares, wagon wheels, ding dongs etc 
• Fruit cups
• Flavoured Apple sauce cups 
• Soft chew granola bars (nutragrai  etc) 
• If folks are dropping off food later in the week or on Sundays, small easy peel oranges and bananas are also great!

We'll have a basket at the back of the church for collection.

Thanks for any help you can be in this amazing work!

5 of our AbbeyChurch Youth are attending the UCC YouthTrek, along with Jake, our youth leader! If your youth is interested in joining in, talk to Jake or check out the information / register here.

AbbeyChurch welcomes Maya Church to our staff as Children's Ministry Leader (Intern).  We're excited about the experience and passion that Maya brings for community as she comes to be a presence to share the sacred stories of our faith, deepen the spiritual practices among our youngest.  Welcome Maya.

Here's her intro:

Hi, my name is Maya Church (she/her). I am currently a second year student at the University of Victoria studying Biology. I have worked at summer camps for the past four summers, and I love leading arts and crafts with children and youth. I highly value community, so I’m excited to be joining The AbbeyChurch community!

Rob told the story of St. Francis' life for our times and Meagan served at Jesus' table of welcome. An original poem from Reba.  

Image: St. Francis - modern saints by Gracie - support the artist - https://www.themodernsaints.com/

Throughout the Fall, we're going to have a potluck each month on the last Sunday of the month.  All are welcome to come, whether you have a contribution or not - there's usually lots of food!  Folks can warm things in the kitchen stove during worship if you'd like.

Our next potlucks are  October 27 and November 24. 

November 24 will also be an AbbeyChurch congregational meeting to review budget, approve governance stuff (don't worry we'll keep it fun!)

We worship from 4pm until 5:15ish - so come for worship and / or just for the potluck.

Hope to see you there.

NO MORNING PRAYER ON THANKSGIVING MONDAY + Mondays at 9am - Morning Prayer with Centering Prayer @ AbbeyChurch office (off the Balmoral parking lot, metal stairs up) - in-person only.  There is not usually AM prayer on holiday Mondays. 

+ Tuesdays at 9am - Note NEW TIME / location:  Morning Prayer @ AbbeyChurch office (off the Balmoral parking lot, metal stairs up) - in-person and zoom.  

+ Thursdays at 8:15am - Morning Prayer - @ AbbeyChurch office (off the Balmoral parking lot, metal stairs up) / hybrid zoom.

+ Fridays at 8:15am - morning prayer - on-line zoom only

Our weekday common prayer is liturgical in nature and based on ancient monastic practices. 

It's open to all who wish to join in-person or online.

We sometimes chant the psalms, listen to a reading or readings assigned for the day, have a short period of silence, sharing and intercessory prayer.

The liturgies and psalter for weekday prayer are posted here.  

Please do email for a zoom link if you are joining online.

As Fall sets in, a number of things have been happening!

Click the button below for a number of updates coming from our Emmaus Community Meeting, about our building, polity, youth and childrens' ministry and budget!

We're grateful for your contributions to our common life as both Emmaus and the AbbeyChurch.

We are now our own registered CRA charity and have our own bank account!

NEW! We now accept e-transfers to treasurer@emmauscommunity.ca for charitable donations.  If you'd like a charitable receipt, please email your contact information to that same address or fill out this form so we can send you a receipt at tax time.

In addition to the many ways to participate, there are a number of ways you can give finanically - including PAR (monthly withdrawl), CanadaHelps (one-time giving) and by cash or debit (via Square) on Sundays at AbbeyChurch. 

You can read more about the options and a bit about our finances here. 

The Emmaus Community, which is a neo-monastic intentional community of ordinary people who commit ourselves to following Jesus in ways akin to the monastic life. The AbbeyChurch is a Sunday worship expression of the Emmaus Community.  Not all AbbeyChurch folks are part of Emmaus - you're welcome to be a part of AbbeyChurch regardless of connection to Emmaus!

As a witness to unity and diversity, we are an ecumenical shared ministry of The United Church of Canada and The Anglican Church of Canada. We intentionally draw on the 'jewels' of these traditions, as well as the wider church.

The Emmaus Community and the AbbeyChurch acknowledge that we worship, take action and pray on the stolen territory of the Songhees and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations, the Lək̓ʷəŋən  peoples'.