Ash Wednesday is a very special day. It marks the beginning of Lent, the 40 day period of preparation for Easter. In this powerful ceremony the faithful are invited forward to receive the imposition of ashes: the sign of the cross is made upon the forhead and the words from the funeral liturgy are intoned: “Remember that thou are dust and to dust you shall return.”

For Christians, rather than being a morbid fixation with death, it is a reminder of how precious life is, of the cross where death brings healing and salvation, of how we should treasure those whom we love.

You can  join us for one of two services: 11:00 am or 7:00 pm. We will have a simple potluck in the narthex at 6:00 pm before the evening imposition of ashes.

(Narthex: n. Anglican speak for place outside the main sanctuary. Great place for potlucks)

You don’t need to be a senior to join us at our annual Senior’s Tea and Hymn Sing. We enjoy having someone else pouring the tea and enjoying a few seasonal treats and enjoy singing traditional carols together. We will be lead by our marvellous music director, Kathryn Koslowsky-Schmidt and rector, Rev.’d Craig Vance. Please join us, and bring a friend!

Photo by Robb Priestley

For those intrepid souls who want to we will hike The Chief in Squamish. We will meet at the church at 9:00 am, carpool to Squamish and hike to the top of the Chief (1800 foot vertical). We will have Eucharist on top. We will likely be back about 5:00 pm.

It is a vigorous hike, not a walk. It takes about 2 hours to the summit on a steep but good trail. Bring water, a daypack to carry it in, hat, sensible footwear (not sandals) sunscreen, a favourite walking stick and such. Please reply by email if you are coming and if you can provide transportation or not.

More Information

Visit TrailPeak.com for more information about the Chief

Featured banner photo by Evan Leeson (Creative Commons Licensed)

Ceilidh!

Gesundheit!

(No, it’s Irish for “party”!)

Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church believes that there is no better way to end off the year before summer than with a most excellent party and so are throwing their second annual Irish Ceilidh with the most excellent Celtic band, Blackthorn. A Ceilidh (pronounced “kay-lee”) is a Celtic gathering with live music and dancing. There will be called Celtic dancing, lots of fun, no experience necessary and of the sort that even a Baptist could handle. Blackthorn were received enthusiastically at last year’s ceilidh. The band is excited to be back as well: Said leader Michael Viens “Christ the Redeemer put on such an excellent Ceilidh last year that was just so much fun that we wouldn’t miss it again for the world”. The event will be family friendly and childcare will be offered. It is also an excellent event for singles. Please call ahead to the church office and we can have a host to guide you to a table of friendly folks if you are coming solo. The rector was asked if this was a sneaky way to get people to invite their friends to something religious. “Absolutely!” said Rev. Craig Vance, eyes twinkling, “Especially if you find a righteous toe-tappin’ Irish fiddle band and a mug of Guinness a transcendent experience”. (and who doesn’t?) There will be suitable Irish themed food and beverages to be purchased at the event (“Vitamin G” as some Irish pubs refer to it!). Tickets are $12.00 in advance, $15.00 at the door and $30.00 for a family. Childcare is $5.00/hour onsite if you would like some adult time. Food and beverage is extra.

Date

June 24th, 7:00 pm – 11:00pm

Location

Christ The Redeemer Anglican Church

16613 Bell Road, Surrey BC

(near 168th and 57A st)

Tickets

Call to reserve or purchase tickets: 604-576-2216, or email at admin@ctrchurch.com’

Why is it that we can change the oil on the car faithfully, check in with the investment counsellor, schedule our work lives, and forget to schedule a tune-up on the relationship? This workshop is a three evening study into the insights of psychologist and author Steven Stosny. Dr. Stosny’s work has been featured on Oprah and his book “How to Work on Your Marriage without Talking About it” has brilliant insights on why most “self-help” books on relationships do not work. With his co-author Dr. Patricia Love he writes on how fear and shame work in our intimate relationships. They discuss how it is that we shoot ourselves in the foot as male and female. Rev. Craig Vance attended a workshop with Dr. Stosny and has been utilizing the insights gleaned in parish life. After enough people said “you should do a workshop on that sometime” he agreed.

Cost. $50/couple including Dr. Stosny’s book. “How to Work on Your Marriage without Talking About It”.

Childcare. There will not be childcare. You need to tell your parents or someone else suggestible that your priest told you that you have to go to this workshop, for three weeks. Then we will have a potluck. You are welcome to bring a bottle of wine to share and after the workshop you can take the long way home: almost a date!

Call the church office (604-576-2216) or email to reserve a place.