Join us as for Sunday worship as we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany!

We will chalk the doors!

Rob preaches on the ways of Herod and the ways the way of the Magi, asking how we are to be in these days of miracles & wonder... and terror...

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

Reba brings a poem...

Jake and the youth gather and Tressa is with the younger ones...

The band lead us in joyful song...

There will be bread and wine.  Come...

The order of service leaflet is available here.

Join us in house for 4:00pm or livestream online at this link. 

Image: Epiphany at Gethsemane Abbey

On Sunday we will chaulk the doors of the Church and bless chaulk for you to take home and chaulk your own doors! 

We offer these simple instructions and prayers if you wish to bless your home in this way: 

Instructions for Blessing the Home

Using the chalk mark the lintel of your front door (or front porch step) as follows: 20 + C + M + B + 25 while saying:

The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and twenty-five ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.  

Then offer the following prayer: 

Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. God of doors and homes, bless this home this year and every year. Bless all who come and go through this door, both those who live here and those who visit. May all who enter through this door come in peace and bring joy. May all who come to this door find welcome and love. May the love and joy in this home overflow and spread into the community and the world. Through Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.

If you missed us these past weeks, you can watch our Christmas Eve service here.  You can also check out all the rich Advent and Christmas highlights on our YouTube channel here.

+ 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 (nor on December 30). 

+ Tuesdays at 9am -  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.

We're humbled to be asked to host the first few months of an enduring tradition, started by the downtown churches many years ago.

Join us for candles, chants and prayer in the way of Taize.

It happens once a month on select Fridays in the new year - Jan. 17, Feb. 14 and March 21 at 6pm.

 A note from Kassandra Matthews, M.Div student at the Atlantic School of Theology:

"My name is Kassandra Matthews, and I am conducting research as part of a phenomenological study on the experiences of individuals participating in emerging forms of church within the United Church of Canada. The study is titled "Encountering New Expressions of Faith: A Phenomenological Study of Emerging Church Forms in the United Church of Canada.” The purpose of this study is to understand what draws people to new expressions of church, and how they experience these new ways of being church. I am particularly interested in learning about your experiences, joys, struggles, and your understanding of ecclesiology in these settings. This is a qualitative study, and data will be collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. These interviews will last approximately one hour and can be conducted either in-person or online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, depending on your preference and availability. The interview will be audio-recorded, and field notes may be taken to ensure an accurate reflection of your experiences. Participation in this study is completely voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time without any consequences."

Let us know if you'd be interested in participating in an interview and we'll connect you with Kassandra.  Thanks!

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.  The treasure chest is at the back of the church and is empty at the moment.

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!

We're excited to bring Martyn Joseph to town for a sixth time in 2025.

A few folks connected with AbbeyChurch are looking for housing - either part time or short term.  If you have a spare suite that's unused and available, drop us a line and we can let you know who is looking!

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

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

We  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'.

Save the Date!  - Solidarity is the Political Version of Love - Book Tour

Rabbi Alissa Wise and Rebecca Vilkomerson, co-authors of the recently published Solidarity is the Political Version of Love, will be appearing at the Broad View United Church on Monday January 27 2025 at 7 pm.

• As the international movement for Palestinian liberation movement gathers strength and momentum, what is a politics of solidarity?
• What does the politics of solidarity look like in practice, and how can left-wing organizations grow — in numbers and power — while remaining accountable to the broader movements of which they are a part?

Against the backdrop of rapid and often devastating political developments, Solidarity is the Political Version of Love explores how Jewish Voice for Peace grew larger as the organization shifted to the left and helped to alter the public narrative about Palestinian liberation, while also navigating the tensions of organization-building and creating a space for Judaism liberated from Zionism. Their insights help contextualize the intense suppression of activism for Palestinian freedom, while illuminating the roots of today’s flourishing Jewish solidarity with Palestinians worldwide. In addressing their shortcomings and failures no less than their inspiring successes, Vilkomerson and Wise deliver an account of JVP’s organizing during the 2010s that offers crucial strategic lessons for anyone engaging in the collective work of building organizations and fighting for justice as our movements evolve over time.

Rebecca Vilkomerson has worked in social justice movement building for several decades, as an organizer, fundraiser, organizational development consultant and strategist. From 2009-2019 she was the Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace. In 2022, the Solidaire Network published her report “Funding Freedom: Building Support for the Palestinian Freedom Movement in Philanthropy.” She is currently the Co-Director of the Funding Freedom project. 

Rabbi Alissa Wise is an organizational consultant, community organizer, educator, and ritual leader with over two decades of movement-building experience. Rabbi Wise co-founded the JVP Rabbinical Council in 2010. From 2011-2021 was Organizing Co-Director, Deputy Director and Interim Co-Executive Director of JVP. She is currently the Lead Organizer of Rabbis for Ceasefire which she founded in October 2023.

This event is co-hosted by Independent Jewish Voices, Broad View United Church, and Labour for Palestine.