Beloved people of God: 

Once again we are coming to the conclusion of the church’s liturgical year. Friday, November 1 is the Feast of All Saints which we will celebrate this coming Sunday, November 3. I invite you to bring photographs of your loved ones whom we no longer see but who we believe live in the presence of God and are still with us in ways that we don’t yet fully understand but somehow know. The church teaches us that our beloveds who are now part of the communion of saints are still with us, interceding for us and very much with us as we navigate our own journey home. I invite you to bring photographs of your beloveds to place at the altar on Sunday. 

This coming weekend is the Diocesan Synod. Cory is our synod representative who will participate in the decision-making process as it affects our diocese as a whole, not specifically St. Matthias. All are welcome to attend the opening liturgy at the cathedral on Friday evening which will also be live-streamed. 

On November 10^th we will put our attention on Remembrance Day. Looking further ahead, we will again host Christmas dinner in the parish hall on Christmas day. If any of you would like to be involved in planning, shopping. cooking or entertainment, please let me know. Once again, all are welcome. 

Advent begins on December 1^st and while the world frantically spins around us, we are invited as Christians to enter a time of quiet reflection, ready to welcome the Lord into our lives in new ways this Christmas. 

Trusting that the Spirit of God continues to guide us and show us the way forward. 

Blessings 

Rev. Colleen+ 

This is it ... your long-awaited extra hour of sleep!  Officially the time changes at 2 am on Sunday, November 3, but we are practical folks!  If you're not planning to party long and hard on Saturday, you might just change your clocks before you go to bed.  However you do it, we look forward to seeing you for 10 am Pacific Standard Time on Sunday!!

Diocesan Synod 2024 will open with an All Saints Day Service at Christ Church Cathedral on November 1st at 7pm.  If you can participate in person, wonderful!  If you want to participate by watching the livestream, here's the link:  

https://www.christchurchcathedral.bc.ca/live

This is an important element of our church life.  That said, there's nothing as dramatic as an election or even major new initiatives on the agenda.  Please click on the link to see the Bishop's invitation video and all the synod materials.  They're on the website.  A committee has completed work on a revision to the canons, which is essential legal drafting, but doesn't contain changes to how we're governed.  At St. Matthias, we owe great thanks to Brian Rendell who's been part of the committee, making sure that the document internally "works," that the canons are structured in more understandable formats (such as consistent usages for cross-references, consistent use of terminology).  It's such tough work that the canons haven't had a thorough "spring cleaning" since the 19th century!  

https://bc.anglican.ca/collections/synod-2023

Sunday, November 3  - celebration of All Saints; bring photos of the beloveds no longer with us.

Sunday, November 10 -  Remembrance Sunday

Sunday, December 1 - First Sunday of Advent

Wednesday, December 25 - Christmas Dinner: invitation to join the team, participate in the meal   -- or both!!