A few weeks ago, I received a call from someone at Canada Trust downtown, responsible for the estate of a woman called Margaret Hansen. Margaret had requested that her funeral be held at St. Anne's and that her ashes be put into our memorial garden.

I had never heard of Margaret, but I haven't been here that long, so I asked around to some of the members of our congregation. They had never heard of Margaret either.

I have since learned that she went by the name 'June' and that she had been suffering from dementia for some time and had been in long-term care.

June (Margaret) had no children, and her husband had predeceased her by several years.

So, not wanting to have a service that no one came to, I decided to remember June and give thanks for her life within a Sunday liturgy, so that is what we are going to do this Sunday, April 27th. Together we are going to remember June, who had some connection to our church, and that's important, even if none of us knows what that connection was.

And it turns out, we will be joined by a few people who remember and love her. Once I decided what we would do, the executor of her Will let the people they had contact information for know, and they decided to come.

This is exactly the kind of thing that the church can do: we can be a community that creates space to remember, to celebrate, and to welcome those who come.

You never know what kind of impact that can have on someone.

See you on Sunday.

With gratitude for our ministry together.

Marnie

Readings for next Sunday include:

ACTS 5:27-32; PSALM 150; REVELATION 1:4-8; JOHN 20:19-31

You can see the full readings here

Our Choir is participating in Richmond Sings this year!

Come out and show your support! For morning information, you can see their website here

Beginning May 1, we will welcome VST student Chris Clark, who will do his field placement with us until the end of August.

Chris will be offering a summer program on the Mystics, and he has asked us to fill out this survey to help him with that.

I know that you will join me in making him feel welcome.

A little bit about him:

Chris Clark is a joint Master of Divinity and Master of Arts (Theological Studies) student at the Vancouver School of Theology with a deep love for ancient wisdom, Celtic spirituality, and the sacred mischief of the Holy Spirit. With over two decades in the nonprofit world—working in harm reduction, mental health, and community care—Chris brings a heart for justice and a knack for finding God in the messy, beautiful, everyday places. A contemplative by nature and a preacher by calling, Chris is passionate about creating spaces where people can show up as their whole, unfiltered selves. The mission: to "rewild" the church. 

Wan Li Zhang, a member of our 10am and Zoom congregations, has an art show in West Vancouver.