September 2, 2026

Today is the official start of the Season of Creation. In this video, (above) Archbishop John Stephens reflects on why we need a Season of Creation and the importance of recapturing our wonder and awe of the natural world.

Archbishop John is also pleased to share that the Diocesan Climate Ministry will be offering workshops to help parishes identify and work toward their climate goals. Learn more about the workshop and how parishes can sign up, visit this page on the diocesan website.

Keep an eye on our social media for more videos throughout the Season of Creation.

Still looking for liturgical and other resources for the Season of Creation? A menu of resources is available here.

News

Fall Grant Cycle Open

Diocesan Parish Development and Children, Youth & Families grants are also accepting applications.

Application forms and deadlines are available here.

Say Yes to Kids! Success Stories

The Anglican Foundation of Canada's Say Yes to Kids! campaign recently wrapped up. Two local parishes received support through the program: St. John the Divine in Squamish, and Church of the Epiphany in Surrey.

Read about their experiences and what the support has enabled their parishes to do HERE.

Anglican Church Calendars

It's that time of year again: the Anglican Church Women are accepting orders for the 2027 Anglican Church Calendar.

The deadline to order is September 15, 2026. The calendars cost $8 each.

Orders may be mailed with payment or emailed to the Calendar Secretary, Sylvia Enga at sylviaanneenga@gmail.com.

Order forms are available HERE.

Job Openings

Youth Missioner (Parental Leave Coverage) - Synod Office

Parish Administrator - St. John's, Shaughnessy

Buy Nothing: Church Edition

St. Barnabas parish in New Westminster is looking for chairs to improve the worship space. About 40 chairs appropriate for the sanctuary are needed. The parish wants to borrow the chairs for a time to test how it affects the worship space.

If you have any chairs that might suit this purpose and are able to lend them out for a while, please email Rev. Matthew Nichiporuk

Save the Date: Flu Shot Clinic

On Tuesday, October 27, from 10am-2pm, St. Michael's, Surrey, is hosting a flu shot clinic. All parishes are welcome to come and get flu shots at this clinic. If your parish wants to make use of this clinic, please email St. Michael's with the numbers attending. That will help ensure enough doses for everyone planning to attend. Please email saintmichaels@telus.net

SAVE THE DATE: 2026

Clergy Day on New Safeguarding Program: September 22 at the Synod Office. (mandatory for active clergy)
November 24-25: 50th Anniversary of the Priesting of Women. Registration open HERE. Hosted by Diocese of Island and Inlets.

IN MEMORIAM

Rev. Wendy Eyre-Gray

Born September 15, 1947, in Lytton, B.C.

Passed Away August 21, 2026, in Abbotsford, B.C.

Wendy Eyre-Gray passed away peacefully in Abbotsford on August 21, 2026, age 78, with her daughters by her side.

She is survived by her four children, Lisa (Gary) Keis, Tamara Singleton (Scott Renne), Scott Singleton, Chad Singleton, and her "good man" and devoted companion, Georges Mineault. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Wendy was predeceased by her brothers Allan, Brian, and Keith Gray, and her sister Beryl Alendal.

Wendy lived an extraordinary life as a mother, grandmother, teacher, spiritual leader and friend, and later in life she was ordained as an Anglican priest. She impacted many lives with her servant's heart and her thoughtful counsel.

The family would like to acknowledge the loving care Wendy received at the Mayfair Senior Living and Care, where she had resided since January 2024.

A Service of Remembrance will be held September 10, 2026 at 1 p.m. at St. Matthew Anglican Church in Abbotsford.

FORMATION & SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Full event listing available here

Would you like to explore and deepen your Christian faith in shared reflection and study? If so, then Education for Ministry (EfM) may be for you. EfM is designed to use everyday experiences to connect our hearts and heads, bridging between the Bible and our lives.

Some of the core practices of EfM include:

· Living in community

· Regular prayer and worship

· Theological reflection

· Vocational discernment

· Christian tradition

When we embody the Core Practices of EfM, we create a community where discernment is both a series of “aha” moments and a gradual, evolving understanding.

We meet weekly (3 hr per week for 36 weeks each year). You come as you are and become part of a community that explores the relation between faith and life. If you are interested, please contact Jim Berger or your pastor.

AROUND THE DIOCESE

Full event listing available here

September 6 - Choral Evensong. 4pm at St. John's, Shaughnessy

September 12 - Everything But the Closet Sale. 11am at St. Philip's, Vancouver.

September 12 - Becoming the Answer: What we can do about the climate crisis. 2pm to 4pm at St. Dunstan's.

September 19 - Cycling for Seafarers. 7am to 2pm, with BBQ at 11:30am at Mission to Seafarers Waterfront Centre.

September 19 - Trivia Night Fundraiser. 6pm at St. George, Ft. Langley

September 19 - From Westminster Abbey to Vancouver: St. James Music Series with Tina Christiansen. 12:30pm at St. James.

September 23 - Metro Vancouver Alliance Municipal Election Assembly. 7pm at St. Andrew's Wesley.

Archbishop's Calendar

September 13 - St. George, Ft. Langley - 125th Anniversary

September 20 - St. Timothy's, Burnaby

September 27 - St. Dunstan's, Aldergrove

HAVE NEWS OR AN UPCOMING EVENT TO SHARE?

-Want to submit an article for Topic? Contact Alicia with your proposal at least eight weeks before the publication date.

-Have an event to include on the diocesan online events calendar? If your parish uses a Tithely website, you can share News and Events directly from your website to ours using the "share" feature. If you don't use a Tithely website, you can submit your event using the form available here. Ideally, aim to submit your event at least three weeks before the event date.

-Something newsworthy coming up in your parish? Contact Alicia with information and we'll find the best way to share it with the diocese.

You can contact Alicia at communications@vancouver.anglican.ca