We are drawing near the end of our Lenten pilgrimage and this Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday. Laetare means “rejoice” in Latin, and the name is taken from the day’s traditional Introit from Isaiah 66:10. You will also hear it in our psalm "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart."

"Laetare Sunday, also sometimes called “Refreshment Sunday,” serves as a break, about midway through the penitential Lenten season, an opportunity for one day to "rejoice" and look forward, with hope, to Easter."

In the UK, Laetare Sunday is also known as Mothering Sunday, a name taken from the practice of returning to the “mother church” (the church of one’s baptism, or the cathedral) on this day. It was also a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family.

I hope you will find refreshment and joy this 4th Sunday in Lent as we celebrate the extravagant love of God who runs to embrace us as we come to ourselves and make our way home. 

We are excited to have our children singing with us again!

The first rehearsal for our special Easter music will be this coming Sunday (March 31st) after worship. 

If your child or grandchild would like to come and sing, we would love to have them! 

Tasma passed away peacefully, with family by her side on Ash Wednesday. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, raised in Campbell River, Shawnigan Lake and Victoria, BC, she attended St. Margaret's and graduated from Oak Bay High School, moved with her family to Singapore, completed her medical training in Geelong, Australia and lived her single years in Vancouver, BC, nursing at St. Paul's Hospital. While volunteering in the Canadian Army Reserves, she met Brigadier General Roger Lucien Lacroix during the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. 
Tasma raised his three daughters to adulthood along with their new pride and joy baby boy. They moved to Ottawa and after a few cold winters, built their dream home on the Gonzales Bay waterfront in Victoria, BC. Tasma dedicated her life to the well-being of others, saving lives of strangers and loved ones.

The celebration of Life will be held in the church at 3pm.

We keep the family and friends of Tasma in our prayers during this difficult time.   

Palm/Passion Sunday – April 14th 10 am – Hosted by St. Matthias

On Palm Sunday after hearing the reading, we participate in “the Procession of the Palms.” We will process around the church and enter back in, waving our palm branches and singing Hosanna! At the end of the service, we participate in the recollection of the Passion by reading together the trial and death of Jesus.

“Maundy” Thursday – April 18th 5:30 pm -  foot-washing and potluck dinner - Hosted by the Abbey Church

Overnight Vigil – April 18-19th 7 pm - 10 am in the Chapel Gallery

“Good” Friday – April 19th 3 pm – Reading of the Passion and veneration of the cross - Hosted by the Abbey Church

“Holy” Saturday - On Holy Saturday, a day of quiet prayer as we remember the time that Christ spent in the grave. We wait in silence, lament and hope.

Easter Sunday – April 21st 10 am – Hosted by St. Matthias - Feast of the Resurrection! Bring your flowers to decorate the cross.

Pyx Sutherland’s moving exhibit that offers an untraditional reflection for Lent, “As above So below II,” continues through April 18.  And, on April 26, come to the 5 pm opening of our next exhibit.  

Marney Ward, Floral Watercolours, “The Tangible Presence of Light,” greets the Easter season.  This exhibit will continue to May 25.  Gallery hours:  Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, from 10 am to 2 pm.  

To learn more about our Chapel Gallery, the artists, and the exhibits, visit www.stmatthiasvictoria.ca/chapelgallery

Our Monthly Chat and Chew Community Luncheon is taking off and we are having a great time! Our next luncheon is April 24th and it looks to be one of our biggest yet! Last month our lunch was fantastic and the talks and readings were informative and great fun! For April we have Victorian Vogue Historical Fashions coming to do a fashion show and tell us some history of the clothing and fabrics. These clothes are all hand made by this very talented group! http://victorianvogue.ca/who_we_are

In February, Michael served mango chutney with the meal and a number of people were interested in getting some. Michael has made a batch! There will be bottles of The King's Mango Chutney available for sale at the next luncheon. He will also have more of The King's Seasoning as well!

Come join us! Where in Victoria can you socialize, get a 3 course meal, and entertainment for $5.00!

With your support and our amazing volunteers, the March sale raised $1050.  The volunteers have earned the month of April off however, Threshold Housing Recycling will still take place on the parking lot on Saturday, April 27.  If you have donations for the May sale, please contact mdenton@stmatthiasvictoria.ca or call 250 361 9677

If you are new to the Anglican Church, you may be wondering about all this talk of ‘the diocese’ or the ‘diocesan assessment.” For some, “the diocese” may seem like an external entity, but a diocese is actually a geographical area under the jurisdiction of a bishop. ‘The diocese’ finds its expression in the local communities in which it serves, in the form of parishes and special ministries. In other words, we are one church not a confederation of individual parishes and ministries. As such, we are governed by a diocesan synod.

Unlike the United Church, an Anglican church like St. Matthias is not an independent congregation. “Parishes in the Diocese of British Columbia are not corporations and therefore have no legal existence apart from the diocese. Parishes can be created, merged, and disestablished by the synod or the Diocesan Council.”

Our clergy are not employees of the parish, but of the diocese and licensed by and to the Bishop, who is the incumbent of all parishes, and whose ministry is shared by the clergy. A part of the work of the clergy, therefore, is always to serve the wider church as well as the local expression of the diocese. 

As a parish, we are care-takers commissioned with the sacred duty of stewarding this local expression of the diocese, as long as we are able, with the knowledge that others will come after us to do the same or different ministry in this place on behalf of the whole church.

Each year, along with all of the other parishes of the diocese, a portion of our parish budget goes to support the church as a whole. Together, we enable the ministry of the diocese and the global church. Locally, this work is expressed in emerging ministries like the Chapel Gallery, Emmaus Community, Refugee Sponsorship Program or the UVIC chaplaincy, to name a few examples. Our tithe towards this common work of the Anglican Church and the diocese, as it is expressed elsewhere, is our diocesan assessment. 

Our parish directly benefits from the common purse this tithe contributes to, and is supported to do our own work through access to expert administrative, communication and legal advice and support, as well as pastoral leadership and care, interim ministry coverage, lay and clergy formation, and sometimes even by receiving funds back from the common purse.

Our diocesan website has more information and I encourage you to learn more about what makes us who we are as just one part of this diverse community of Anglicans on these islands and inlets. bc.anglican.ca