It's the feast of Pentecost and it's, well, a bit different (as it should be). 

At 1:15pm we gather at the United Commons in the Sanctuary for a special 'retro' celebration of the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada with 1925 liturgy and hymns with band and guest organist. The liturgy is here.   Michelle will read the original inaugural sermon, Matt and Rob will play in the band and Rob will preside at Holy Communion, circa 1925.   There will be cake after - and folks are welcome to watch the National 100th anniversary livestream (see below) if they'd like. This is a joint worship with our friends at Fairfield United Church.

At 4pm we'll gather around and with our own Poet-in-Residence the Rev. Reba Yeo as they are ordained a priest in the Church of God!  It happens at Christ Church (Anglican) Cathedral.  If you can't make it in  person, you'll find the livestream here and the leaflet is here - with Matt serving as litanist.

THERE WILL BE NO 4pm AbbeyChurch worship tomorrow at the United Commons.  We'll be back NEXT Sunday, June 15th at 4pm for the celebration of the Trinity.

Veni Sancte Spiritus!  Come Holy Spirit.

A happy birthday to The Emmaus Community - the monastic-inspired intentional Christian community -  as we celebrate our 11th anniversary.   Emmaus is the 'parent' community of AbbeyChurch. 

A small group, taken under the wing of Anglican nuns, discerned a rule of life committing to prayer, presence and simplicity and prayed together for the first time on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday in 2014.

Next week, Emmaus will hold a day long retreat, set their new 'customary' (shared practices for the next year) and are also quietly looking a properties which have potential for their monastic hub and cooperative housing.  

Please continue to hold the Emmaus Community in your prayers.

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 or just want to come along - 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.

Check out the sermon at the link below, or head to our archive on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbbeyChurch

And read along with the liturgy at this link.

+ 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 - 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.

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

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'.

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!

Watch the livestream this Sunday - link and liturgy are below.  The liturgy is here. 

What Does Church Growth Look Like Through Decolonizing and Intercultural Movements?

Please register via the Jotform link here and invite your friends!

From Ha Na Park at Broad View United who has issued a special invite for folks at AbbeyChurch:

"We’ve entered the month of June—and it’s not just any June, but a once-in-a-lifetime moment: the 100th Anniversary of the United Church of Canada! Each week this month, we’re reflecting on how the United Church has changed through each decade—following shifts in history, culture, society, and spiritual values.

Jordan currently lives in Saskatoon and has served as a national staff member in the role of Growth Animator. One of Jordan’s most widely recognized contributions as Moderator was being one of the very first to visit every Indigenous United Church community and spend time listening to their stories and wisdom.

Personally, I was deeply moved by Jordan’s capacity to truly listen. When I once shared with them (many years ago now) how a regional staff told me the reason I was called to ministry was because I was “cheap,” Jordan didn’t dismiss it—they truly listened.

As Moderator at General Council 43 in 2018 (which I also attended as a Commissioner), Jordan helped create a turning point in the United Church’s anti-racism work. At the time, even having the word “racism” in a proposal title made some people uncomfortable, and there were absurd suggestions to remove the word altogether. But on the last night of GC43—Friday evening, when everyone was exhausted and just waiting to go eat—a white ally stood up in tears during a “Point of Privilege.” They said that BIPOC voices were trying to be heard, but the space to truly hear them wasn’t there, and we hadn’t responded well. Jordan, wearing their signature gender-nonconforming wizard-like hat, was moderating. After listening carefully, they created a pause and invited the room to hold space. Jordan asked white participants to step back and made it clear that Indigenous Elders, racialized members, and BIPOC voices would be prioritized. What followed was a line of BIPOC members sharing honest, heartfelt stories. That evening—now often referred to as “GC43 Friday Night”—has since been written about in books, articles, and academic papers. It became a turning point for anti-racism within the United Church. And not one person complained that the meeting ran late or was tiring—because we all knew something transformative had happened.

That’s why I’m so glad that we’ve invited Jordan Cantwell to be part of BVU’s 100th Anniversary celebration—and that we’re planning a workshop/semi-retreat on the theme: Rethinking Church Growth Through Decolonizing and Intercultural Movements, at BVU (Saturday, June 28th, 9:30(doors open)/10:00 am to 1 pm, including bag lunch; Youth and child care provided.) This gathering is for both clergy and lay leaders from across Victoria and Vancouver Island."

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

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

All are welcome.

YouthTREK VERNON is a three-day gathering that will bring youth (12-15yrs) and their leaders together! We’ve been dreaming, planning, and gathering, all to make these events full of joy.

What will we do, you ask?

Play, sing, worship, gather around food, talk about things that matter to us, support the community, meet new friends, and greet old ones, all in a place of radical, inclusive Christian welcome, and so. Much. Joy.