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Lent 2025 at St John’s

Lent feels very much needed this year – a time of reflection, self-examination (as individuals, a community, even as a nation), a time of giving and a time of discipline - all things to help us build our ‘spiritual muscles’ as we find ourselves in difficult and confusing times. Here is a summary of all that is happening, we will update as Lent continues, click on the highlighted words to follow links. 

Ash Wednesday

We will, as always, mark Ash Wednesday (March 5th) with two Eucharists and by having, if we wish, our foreheads marked with ash from last year’s Palm Crosses – the 10am Eucharist that day will be a simple, said, service and the 7pm service will be Parish Eucharist with Choir.

A Retreat Day

Leading us into Lent, Ruth Mcintosh and Cornelia Van Voorst will be encouraging us to be a community that is ‘Cultivating Courage’ on Saturday 8th March – the Soul Space retreat will run from 10am  to 1pm with a Soup Lunch provided. There is no charge, but a $10 donation will help cover costs for the day. Sign up on the sheets in the Church and office, or by calling the Parish Office, or email communityarts@stjohnthedivine.bc.ca

Our Lent Study

Our Community Book Study this year will be based on Bishop Marianne Budde’s book, "How We Learn to be Brave". Bishop Budde spoke at the inaugural service for the US President in January and showed us an example of a brave, prophetic voice We will be reading her book and discussing it on Wednesdays 12th March to 9th April, with a soup lunch in the Denson Lounge (Parish House)  from 12:30-1:45pm and on Thursdays 7:30-8:45pm  via Zoom.

The book is available online from Canadian Sources, and also by ordering via our own local booksellers. If you have any trouble sourcing a copy, or need a complimentary copy, please contact incumbent@stjohnthedivine.bc.ca

A Service of Compline

As has become our custom we will have a short service of Compline on Thursday Evenings at 9pm via zoom and our Facebook Page, this is a short (15 minute) service of quiet reflection and chanting led by Alastair, Stephanie Wood, and Richard Routledge.

Monday Quiet Space with Music

The church will be open on Monday afternoons, March 10 – April 7, from 12:30 – 2:30 for a quiet respite from the busyness of our lives and the stresses of our time. Various musicians will offer a 1/2 hour of music each day.

A Daily Blog

There will be reflections each day on the Theme of “A Courageous Faith” on our blog page www.stjohnthedivine.bc.ca/blog beginning on Ash Wednesday. As in previous years, all members of the community are invited to write and/or share artwork/poetry/music as part of this blog – anyone who would like more details, please contact Alastair incumbent@stjohnthedivine.bc.ca