November 18, 2025

Ordinations

On Saturday, December 6, Archbishop John Stephens is scheduled to ordain four new priests, and one transitional deacon. The ordinations will take place at 10:30am at Christ Church Cathedral. All are welcome to attend. Clergy are welcome to vest. The liturgical colour is blue/violet.

The ordinands are:

The Rev. Sarah Lehman (priest)
The Rev. Dara Crandall (priest)
The Rev. Neil Jongbloed (priest)
The Rev. Claude St-Denis (priest)
Shawn Bullock (deacon)

News & Updates

Job Posting: Business Administrator

The Business Administrator is a new position within the structure of the Diocese of New Westminster replacing the Director of Finance. This Senior Management (Director-level) role will be responsible for the stewardship and optimization of the Diocese’s physical and financial assets. With oversight of approximately 70 properties across the Lower Mainland and leadership of the Finance department, the Business Administrator will play a pivotal role in ensuring the long-term sustainability and operational excellence of the Diocese.

Please read the full job description, key responsibilities and desired qualifications HERE.

Applications for this position will be received until close of business on Friday, November 21st, 2025.

New Rector for St. Paul's,

Archbishop John Stephens has appointed the Rev. Ron Culmer as Rector of St. Paul's, effective May 1, 2026.

Rev. Culmer has served as rector of St. Clare's Episcopal Church in the San Francisco Bay Area for 23 years.

Induction: The Rev. Amanda Ruston

The Rev. Amanda Ruston will be inducted as Rector of St. James on December 1. The service takes place at 7pm.

Clergy are welcome to vest. The liturgical colour is red.

Seeking Parishes to Co-Sponsor Refugees

The Diocesan Refugee Unit is seeking parishes to co-sponsor refugees to come to the lower mainland. Several community groups who have approached us, hoping to sponsor refugees. In each case, the community group is ready and willing to provide the financing and settlement support required once the refugees arrive.

Full details about what a co-sponsor parish does, and details on current co-sponsorship opportunities are available HERE.

Buy Nothing: Church Edition

Does your parish have an altar cloth that needs a new home? St. George’s, Ft. Langley is in need of a “new-to-me” Altar Cloth. The altar at St George’s measures 66” in length and 27” in width. A cloth this size, or one that could be altered to suit, would be very much appreciated.

St. George’s is also looking for small cruets. Do you have any that could use a new home?

If your parish has items to pass along to St. George’s, please contact the St. George’s Altar Guild. Email office@stgeorgeanglican.ca ”attn Altar Guild.”

'Christmas at Sea' Cards

Mission to Seafarers is already preparing for for Christmas, collecting gifts for seafarers.

Christmas at Sea gifts are even better with cards. Anyone can send a card for seafarers, and we will happily add them to one of the gifts we will be giving out.

Would your school or Sunday school class/youth group be interested to prepare cards for seafarers? Or you can do it individually or with a small group.

Click here for details on how to prepare your cards for seafarers, and how to get them to MTS.

SAVE THE DATE: IMPORTANT DIOCESAN DATES 2025-2026

November 17-19: Clergy Retreat
December 6: Ordinations at Christ Church Cathedral, 10:30am
May 30: Mission Conference, 2026

FORMATION AND SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

Full listings avaialble via the Learning Centre and Centre for Spiritual Formation

Advent Series With the Archbishop

Spend four evenings in Advent taking a journey with the pilgrim characters of the Advent season: Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, and John the Baptist. Archbishop John will offer teaching on their stories and the Prologue from the Gospel of John. The sessions will include small group discussion and use scripture, image, song, and poetry to help us deepen our own pilgrim journeys as we search for Emmanuel.

This series takes place on Zoom.

WHEN: Tuesday Evenings from November 25 to December16

TIME: 7pm

Contemplative Activism in Challenging Times:

facilitated by Cynthia Bourgeault

Contemplatives of all spiritual pathways are invited to join together for this online teaching. Cynthia will draw from spiritual and psychological sources to show us how to strengthen our inner resources and deepen our commitment.

WHEN: Saturday, November 29
TIME: 10am to 12pm Pacific
COST: $60 or pay-from-the-heart

REGISTER HERE

AROUND THE DIOCESE

Full event listing available here

Christmas Fairs in the diocese are listed here.

November 18 - Jazz Vespers. 7pm at St. Bartholomew's, Gibson.

November 19 - Beyond Paul-o-Phobia. 6:30pm at St. Thomas, Chiliwack.

November 22- Light the Night: Hosted by the Diocesan Youth Movement. 4pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, Delta.

November 23 - Neighbourhood Gospel Band Benefit Concert. 4pm at St. John's, Shaughnessy.

November 23 - Evensong at St. John's, Sardis. 7pm.

November 29 - Bards of Bloor St, Early Music Vancouver. 3pm at St. Anselm's.

November 29 - Vancouver Xiao Ping Chorus Holiday Concert. 3pm at All Saints, Burnaby.

November 30 - Advent Lessons & Carols. 4pm at St. James.

November 30 - Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long. 3pm at St. Christopher's, West Vancouver.

December 5 - Advent Messiah. 7:30pm at St. Dunstan's, Aldergrove.

December 6 - Time with Mary: Advent Morning Reatreat. 9:30am to 12pm at St. Dunstan's, Aldergrove.

December 13 - A Concert Evening: Christmas Hymns & Classics with violinist Uli Janzen. 7pm at St. Thomas, Chiliwack.

December 17 - Longest Night Service. 6:30pm at St. Thomas, Chilliwack

December 19 - Advent Lessons & Carols featuring music of The Forest Archive. 7pm at St. Alban's, Burnaby.

Archbishop's Calendar

November 23 - Holy Trinity, Vancouver

November 30 - St. Hilda's, Sechelt

December 7 - St. John the Baptist, Sardis

December 14 - St. Helen's, Point Grey

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 on-line events calendar? Send us details three weeks before your event.

-Something newsworthy happening 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