Guest preacher Rev. Greg Powell (of James Bay United) preaches on how God loves us so that we can love others  - and how the love of others softens the stings of life.  The band leads us in joyful song with guest musician, the amazing Anna Bigland-Prichard.

Rob presides at Jesus' table of welcome.

Reba brings a poem.

Barbara is on prayers.

Lucy is with the youth.

Amaya and Abi are with the younger children.

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: The New Jerusalem and the River of Life (Apocalypse XII), Beatus de Facundus, 1047

We'll be having our regular last-sunday-of-the-month potluck next Sunday May 25th after worship (around 5:15pm).  Feel free to bring a contribution or just yourself - there's always enough for all. 

We'd also love some help with cleanup if you can.  

Rebecca Yeo and Mona Smart will be ordained at 4pm on Sunday June 8th, 2025 at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria. 

All are welcome! A reception will follow the service.

The AbbeyChurch will not be worshiping at 4pm on this day, but we encourage AbbeyChurch folk to join at Reba's ordination at 4pm at the Cathedral AND/OR participate in a joint service (with Fairfield United) - see below - celebrating 100 years of the United Church of Canada at 1:30 the same day.

In June 1925 the Methodist, Congregationalist and many Presbyterians came together to form the United Church of Canada.  Join us as we celebrate 100 years of the 'deep, bold and daring' witness of The UCC.

1:15pm – We'll have all the classic hymns, liturgy and a reading of the original sermon from the 1925 inaugural service - with joint AbbeyChurch and Fairfield musicians on organ and with band. The Rev. Michelle Slater (AbbeyChurch), the Rev. Beth Walker (Fairfield UC) and the Rev. Rob Shearer (AbbeyChurch) will lead us in this traditional and joyful Pentecost celebration!  

2:30pm – You're welcome to stay for cake and a livestream of the national celebration coming live from Newfoundland. You can also watch the national livestream here.

Please note that The AbbeyChurch will not be worshipping at 4pm on Sunday the 8th.  Some AbbeyChurch folk will also attend the ordination to priesthood of our poet-in-residence, the Rev. Reba Yeo (they/them) at 4pm at the Anglican Cathedral - see above.  Come to one or both events that day!

On Thursday June 12 from 4pm to 7pm Qom Qem is offering a seafood feast in honour of those who volunteered or donated in the Night Outreach program we ran in collaboration with them, AbbeyChurch and the North Park Neighbourhood Association.

If you volunteered or donated, you're invited!   Come by the church hall at 4pm and celebrate.

PS> We don't have solid plans yet - but we're hoping to continue this important collaboration as soon as possible.

We here at AbbeyChurch are an intentionally ecumenical worshipping community.  As part of both The United Church of Canada and The Anglican Church of Canada, we locate ourselves in communion with a wider web of Christians all over the world. 

And although both of our traditions are Protestant in their roots, we nevertheless pray to and follow the same Risen Christ as our siblings in Rome.  And so, we celebrate the new Pope and pray that his life and example may reflect that of Christ, both as he leads the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics, and as he is a public figure that the remaining world will see.   As the old adage says, those outside the Church may not read the Bible, but they are reading the Christians.

Even as we decry our protestant history of anti-Catholic sentiment, as an affirming community, we are aware that many have experienced harm from the Roman Catholic church; particularly around reproductive freedom, gender, gender identity, colonialism and sexuality.  Accordingly, we join Christians around the world - Protestant and Catholic alike - with a hope for a more open, inclusive, anti-oppresive church (we all have lots of work to do, siblings in Christ!)  At the same time, we're also grateful to the witness of Catholic social teaching around ecology, subsidiarity (localism!), labour, war and the death penalty, other important issues of justice as well as the liturgical, cultural and mystical jewels of that Tradition. 

Here is an excerpt from a homily given by the now Pope Leo: 

Several of our youth, clergy (Rob and Michelle) and lay delegates will be attending the United Church Pacific Mountain Region's 2025 Annual Meeting.  Talk to Rob or Michelle if you're interesting in going.  

The amazing Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers is the keynote. Stephanie is one of the Episcopal Church’s leading thinkers around 21st-century ministry and mission. The author of "The Church Cracked Open" and "Radical Welcome," she recently wrapped up nearly a decade as canon to the Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. She currently assists at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in New York and is at work on a new book exploring what nonreligious young Americans (the “Nones” and “Dones”) can teach us about the future of faith. Read more about Stephanie's book here. 

AbbeyYouth are coming together every second and fourth Monday of the month, from now until summer and beyond!

This twice-monthly event will include opportunities to run and get our energy out, play games together, work on homework together, engage in spiritual practices, and cook and eat a meal together.

Youth can come straight from school to the United Commons, and come into the large gymnasium directly off of the main doors at the parking lot.

Any questions? Call or text Lucy at 587-700-6470

Note : There will be NO Abbey Youth on June 9

+ 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. NOTE NO MORNING PRAYER FOR MAY 19 HOLIDAY MONDAY

+ 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 on 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.

Check out this sermon at the link below - or all our archive on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@AbbeyChurch

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'.

On Wednesday May 21st, St. John's in North Saanich  will be showing the film “Mama Bears” in their church sanctuary, 6 - 7.30 pm, with opportunity for discussion afterwards. This film documents the journey of some evangelical Christian mothers as they embrace the struggle to love and support their transgender children.

We've at Emmaus and AbbeyChurch have been a part of helping out on hampers for a while.  If you can help out somewhat regularly, please do drop them a line!

3703 St Aidan’s Street - allow extra time for construction.

Let us enter together into the mystery of God’s presence.

All welcome.

Next Prayer June 20 (also at Broad View)

The folks from West Coast Reach asked us to share this concert happening at the United Commons and said this: "We are organizing a wonderful benefit concert in Victoria in support of the Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees (VICCIR)    The counselling work they do with those who have experienced signficant trauma (and sometimes torture) is truly life changing. Like many agencies helping newcomers, they have recently experienced significant funding cuts.  We are trying to help by organizing the HOPE AND BELONGING Benefit Concert on May 24th in Victoria featuring more than 60 wonderful performers."