Social Justice

St. Andrew’s-Wesley has a long history of supporting refugees, working towards reconciliation, and taking action to address inequalities in our community. We don’t have to look far into the histories of Christian organizations across Canada to find opportunities for listening, learning, acknowledgement, and growth. Our current priorities are Reconciliation, Refugees, and Climate Action. For us, social justice is not just a value, it is a verb. It’s through the voices of our community that we hear the passionate calls to justice, so let’s talk.

Refugee Sponsorship Team

For over 10 years St. Andrew’s-Wesley has sponsored and accompanied over 17 refugees building a new life in Canada. Join our team to provide support and friendship by fundraising and connecting refugees with services. We welcome LGBT2Q+ members of our congregation to volunteer their time to help queer refugees and support their transition into a more inclusive, open society. Contact Rev Rhian to find out more!

Missing and Murdered Indigneous Women’s Walk

Join the community and show solidarity with the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre by honouring the lives of Indigenous women lost to violence. Every year we participate in the Women’s Memorial March on February 14 and commit ourselves to raising $1000 for the event. This donation provides blankets for the families who have lost daughters, sisters, mothers, aunts, and grandmothers. Contact Rev Rhian to get involved.

Climate Action

Our Climate Action Ministry is about changing behaviour and hearts. We run monthly educational events on Sundays, a contemplative action group called Holy Nature, and are looking for volunteers to work on campaigns and a climate audit of our church. To find out more, email Rev Rhian.

Upcoming Events:

Tue, Sep 17, 2pm – Talasay Tour: Spoken Treasures

Fri, Sep 20 – Global Climate Strike March. sponsored by FOR OUR KIDS

Sun, Oct 13, 12-1 – Climate Talk: Deepening our Understanding

Sat, Oct 19, 9:30am – Prayer Walk in Lynn Canyon

Sun, Nov 10, 12-1 – Climate Talk: Understanding the Basics of Climate Communication that Builds Community & Action

Indigenous Tours

Each year we take a tour that expands our understanding of Indigenous culture, history, practices, and art. Committing to learning from indigenous knowledge keepers is just one way settlers can decolonize their perspectives. Each year we work with partners to engage in a tour that expands our understanding of Indigenous culture, history, practices, and art. Contact Rev Rhian for more info. Next tour runs Saturday, Sep 23 at 2pm, sign up here!

Honouring the Children Reconciliation wall

This is an ongoing reconciliation project led by Reconciliation Matters. It acknowledges the United Church’s role in residential schools and includes a house post honouring the children who didn’t return home. Connect with us to learn more about this project as we enter the next phase. Contact Rev Rhian for more info.

Community

Christmas Services

*Doors will be open half hour before service start time. Dec 24 – 11am Parent & Tot Service, 3pm Jazz Vespers, 7pm Family Service, 11pm Traditional Service Dec 25 – 10:30am Christmas Day Service

Community & Worship

Jan 11

Eat Pray Love is a gathering for all ages. A time of singing and story and prayer, a time to to be creative and a time to share a meal and conversation together. We will be gathering 5 times this year to celebrate the seasons of Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. This gathering will happen at St. Andrew’s Wesley and at Christ Church Cathedral as we collaborate together.

Community & Spirituality

Wednesdays in January

The Heart of Christianity: this ancient spiritual path is liberating and life-giving, and can also be bewildering. What are we “supposed” to believe, and does belief even matter? How can we grow in faith? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus, and who was the historical Jesus, anyway? These and other essential questions will be addressed and discussed in our five-week Epiphany series that we all might be “rooted and grounded in love.”

Our Place
In the World

St. Andrew’s-Wesley respectfully acknowledges that we gather on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. For thousands of years, First Nations people have walked on this land and their relationship with the land is at the centre of their lives and spirituality. As a church, and settlers on these shores, we have a life-long responsibility to unlearn our misunderstandings of history, territory, and identity through critical reflection, acknowledgement, and listening.