St. Marys' Metchosin | Anglican Church in Victoria, BC

Second Sunday in Lent
Worship Leader: Rev. Lynn Mills

Readings:

Lamentations 2:10-11
Ps 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 13:31-35

Our Sunday Morning Service is in-person. Come and experience God’s blessings in the community. Families with children of all ages are welcome. There is a corner with comfy sofas perfect for young families. Our Sunday school program welcomes children of all ages and abilities. Bible stories, games and crafts keep everybody busy. We’ve got something that works for everyone.

Things have been moving forward with this project! The Metchosin Foundation will formally announce our specific part of the larger project in the April Metchosin Muse.

Here is a preview of the draft Muse Article. Please do not share this until it comes out in the Muse.

Networking for Community & Environment

In the short and darker days of January, an opportunity for multi-agency collaboration emerged, bringing diverse parties together to celebrate intersecting interests and values. When representatives from St. Mary's Church, Bilston Creek Farm and the Metchosin Foundation got together to discuss a potential joint project, the very act of connecting with each other to formulate a shared project vision felt like an expression of resilience and optimism, in the face of disturbing events on the global stage.

From initial, exploratory dialogue with the Church and the Farm (adjacent landowners located at the southern or downstream terminus of the Foundation's Bilston Conservation Corridor Project), subsequent communication has blossomed into a compelling vision for an interpretive pathway that will lend itself to contemplative walkers of all ages and abilities. By offering very generous access to portions of their land, a plan for an ~ 300-metre trail connecting the beautiful Douglas-fir and arbutus forest on the Church property to a hidden Garry oak meadow and a venerable old orchard on Farm property has unfolded.

Collectively, we envision a phased project that, through interpretive signage, will celebrate the diverse ecosystems, flora, fauna and fungi as well as a long and celebrated history of local agriculture, within the Bilston Creek watershed. A sign at the pathway entrance on Church property will provide visitors with information about the Foundation's multi-year Bilston Conservation Corridor Project - an ongoing initiative based on collaboration with local landowners who aspire to have ecosystem features and local biodiversity protected for future generations.

A concept sketch of the budding collaboration between Church, Farm and Foundation shows the notional pathway route. This initiative will proceed in phases and at a pace determined by available funding and the Metchosin Foundation will play a lead role in corresponding grant applications and charitable receipts issuance to donors. At this early stage, we see exciting potential opportunities for further collaboration with local groups including ArtPod and Bilston Watershed Habitat Protection Association, among others.

With Earth Day 2025 approaching on April 22, this new multi-agency initiative provides a community-centered focus for appreciating the local lands and waters that sustain us.

St. Mary’s Metchosin Challenge
Sharleen Thompson 18 Feb. 2025

St Mary’s Metchosin has, for the 9^th year, put together a Lenten Challenge. This year, for the first time, we are having a non-secular topic, exploring modern religion. We are still reaching out to the whole community, not just Anglicans. We are trying to look at the religions around us from different perspectives. What are some of the issues, different forms of worship and big issues facing us.

The challenge is running Tuesday nights during Lent from March 11^th to April 15^th at 7 pm at St Mary’s Metchosin Church at 4125 Metchosin Rd across from the Golf Course. All but one of the presenters will be there in person but we offer a Zoom option as well so those not in Victoria can attend. Here is the zoom link. https://vst.zoom.us/j/89279807957?pwd=ITcX9fLKiSCEhVJj7mAJHoC8bMLitz.1

Schedule:

March 11^th: The Venerable Dr. Lon Towstego will look at religion as community and in the community. View recording HERE

March 18^th: Margaret O’Donnell will present on the Taizé way of being together by many types of Christians.

March 25^th: The Rev Dr. Ross Lockhart will speak on how the very secular Pacific Northwest is different from the rest of the continent and the challenges that it brings. He is from St Andrew’s Hall and Vancouver School of Theology in Vancouver, so will be presenting on Zoom.

April 1^st: The Rev Dr. Travis O’Brian will speak on Mystery in the Church; the draw and the role of it in modern faith.

April 8^th: Patricia Lane, a lawyer who challenges the churches to be the leaders in the climate and environmental struggles. Patricia will present on how the Canadian Churches can or should respond to President Trump.

April 15^th: Our own Dean Jonathan Thomas will talk about what is spirituality. So many people say that they aren’t religious, but they are spiritual. They usually try to end the conversation this way, but what are they saying? What is spirit anyway?

St Mary’s is hoping that other congregations will join us in-person or by Zoom and listen to the ideas and participate in the conversations around them. There are some of the other presentations from other years on our web site, if you are interested in listening to these. We are hoping all of this deepens our thoughts and enlivens our conversations and maybe even propel action in some people.

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