The cherry blossom tree outside St. A's is blooming!
Keep an eye out for this, and other natural wonders (big and small) as you are out and about these days. Sometimes spending a moment with a new bloom, or watching a small bird, or marveling at how the tree canopy looks against the sky can replenish your hope--and the more hope, the better.
This Sat, Jan 31, St. A's will be hosting a celebration of contemplative poet-monk Thomas Merton -- and the Thomas Merton Society of Canada, which is wrapping up after 25 years of building community around Merton in Canada. (An article about the TMSC will be coming in the next St. A's newsletter).
Sat. Jan. 31
5 - 8 pm
There will be second-hand Merton books, we have many to give away! Please join us and share some memories over music (jazz, of course), poetry, nibbles, and wine. See you there!
Today! A hot meal catered by @alovingspoonful, with gratitude to Sharing Abundance.
Doors at 12:45pm, lunch at 1pm.
$2, max. capacity 80 folks.
Coldest Night of the Year is coming!
Walk with First United on Feb. 28th from 4 – 7 pm to show you care about ending poverty in the downtown east side and demonstrate your belief in the power of dignity, belonging and justice. Or call First United if you would like to support a team instead of walking. The walk starts and finishes at 312 Main Street, with both a 5 km and 2 km route.
For more info, please contact Will Goldbeck, Event Director at First United, or visit cnoy.org/location/vancouverdtes
#FYI: Rev. Judith's email has been hacked. Please know that she (and any St. A staffer) does not and would never send an email asking for VISA gift cards. if you get an email like that, please ignore it.
A few tips for cyber safety:
- Check the address of who sent the email. If you don't recognize it, don't open it.
- Never click on links in emails you aren't sure of. (Best practice: never click on links in emails period. Write the URL into a new browser window yourself instead.)
- If you aren't expecting an email from the person at the time you get it, and if the email content is coming out of nowhere, it's better to ask the person directly before opening the email.
Thanks!
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This Sat, Jan 31, St. A's will be hosting a celebration of contemplative poet-monk Thomas Merton -- and the Thomas Merton Society of Canada, which is wrapping up after 25 years of building community around Merton in Canada. (An article about the TMSC will be coming in the next St. A's newsletter).
Sat. Jan. 31
5 - 8 pm
There will be second-hand Merton books, we have many to give away! Please join us and share some memories over music (jazz, of course), poetry, nibbles, and wine. See you there!
Have you visited Highlands United Church's new Thrift Store?
Hours: Thurs. to Sat. from 10 am to 2 pm
*(free 2-hour parking under Thrifty’s—enter via Ayr Avenue).
You can drop off your new and gently used donations on Saturday mornings between 10 am and noon. The Drop-Off Centre is located in Highlands’ main parking lot.
PS: Jan 29-30-31 they're having a big clothing sale (all white tags will be half price). Check it out!
Congregational #FYI: St. A's Board will be setting the date for the next Annual Congregational Meeting shortly (likely for sometime in March). Stay tuned for info about that.
Thanks!
📷 from a few winters ago.
All are welcome at our free, weekly community lunch and bread ministry today: doors at 11:30, lunch served at noon.
Thank you to the City of North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, and the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program for their generous financial support.
And thank you, Cobbs Bread, Westlynn Bakery and the Salvation Army for the weekly food donations.
Grateful for everyone involved in these filling & fulfilling meals!
Today, join us for the first A Loving Spoonful lunch of 2026!
Doors open at 12:30, lunch is served at 12:45.
$2.
For up to 80 guests.
This upcoming weekend, join us for some fun community times:
🥗Sat. Jan. 24 = monthly community dinner, run by North Shore youth (with help from St. Andrew’s, Harvest Project, Botto Real Estate and West View Bakery). Doors at 3:30pm. Questions? Email nvancommunitydinner@gmail.com.
🎵Sun. Jan. 25 = Jazz Vespers with Joelle Lush & Friends! 4-5pm. Don't miss this opportunity to take in Joelle's beautiful voice, and the super-talented stylings of Diane Lines (piano), Josh Roberts (guitar) and Tony Chamberlist (percussion).
Hope to see you there!
Tonight! Join us this evening for our regular drop-in meditation session, run by Paul Belserene and Greg Sutton from Vancouver Shambhala Centre.
6:00pm in the Sanctuary.
FYI, we're compiling “A Year in Review” for 2025 which will be available next Sunday at worship.
Join us in reflecting on the past year, and looking forward to the next!
We are searching for 3 to 4 people to serve on our Ministry & Personnel Committee in 2026. The M&P Committee reports directly to the Church Board. Training and support will be provided by the Pacific Mountain Regional Council. Please send expressions of interest to the Board before the end of January.
Qualifications: knowledge of United Church policies and practices; good interpersonal and communication skills; experience working in ministry at St. Andrew’s; human resources or personnel training or experience; conflict resolution skills; a variety of backgrounds and life experience.
Long-time Event Coordinator, Susan Cowan, retires this Friday following nine years of service at St. Andrew’s. Please drop by or phone this week to thank Susan for all she’s done over the years to promote ministry at St. Andrew’s—or join us at Steamworks Brewing (114 21st St. E., North Vancouver—across from London Drugs) on Fri. Jan. 16 from 4 – 6 pm to congratulate Susan on her retirement in person.
The more the merrier!
Congratulations Susan! Thank you for being such a lovely person to work with over the years. All the best on your journey! 🙏😍🎶
All the best to you, Susan!!❤️🙏🏻
Open Sanctuary is back! Weekdays from 9am to 1pm, but you can always call the church to confirm the times.
This Sunday, Jan 18, at 4pm join us for this month's contemplative Taizé service.
As Rev. Judith explains, during Taizé "we enter St. Andrew’s candle-lit Sanctuary in silence and remain mostly in silence until we leave. Instead of coming together to talk to God, we gather to listen. Instead of talking about the Scripture, a Scripture is read and left to speak for itself in the silence. By singing simple songs of prayer over and over again, the mind calms and the soul opens up: God speaks and the heart hears."
Experience worship in a different way this Sunday!
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📷Mike Labrum on Unsplash.
Mark your calendars!
Sun, Jan 18 at 4pm: contemplative Taize service in the Sanctuary.
Sun, Jan 25 at 4pm: Jazz Vespers with Joelle Lush & Friends (by donation).
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📷 Behnam Norouzi on Unsplash.
The weekly catered lunch with A Loving Spoonful will resume on Wed, Jan 21.
($2. Limited capacity of 80 guests.
Doors at 12:45pm, lunch served at 1pm.
All are welcome!)