Announcements – 08 April 2026
Worship … at 9:30am. We hope that you will participate in person. If you are unwell, please join the live streamed service. Pastor is starting a new sermon series on 1 Peter.
To access the live streamed service, please go to the Knox’s YouTube channel or click here.
The printed service will be available before Sunday morning.
Sunday Coffee Hour … at 10:30am. Everyone from Knox and Hollydene are welcome to attend a shared social hour in the lounge.
Joys & Concerns…may we experience the healing presence of Christ as we uphold one another in prayer – sharing joys and concerns draws us together as a community of faith. Please pray for …
- Char Holcroft, who is experiencing some health challenges.
- Pastor Kathleen Busch, who has experienced a sudden loss in her family
Please remember to let Shannon know if there are changes to your prayer requests!
Celebrations
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- April 3 April Watt
- April 7 Kevin Chaval
- April 10 Doug Guille
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- April 14 Jim Reekie
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Knox Book Club … New attendees are always welcome! Here is a list of books and dates for 2026. The next meeting is Saturday April 11 at 1:00pm at Kittie’s house. Please contact Kittie for more information. Please read “A Harvest of Thorns” by Corban Addison.
Collective 2026 (Aug 12 – 15, 2026 at Brock University) … Join us on April 15th at 1:00 pm for an in-depth webinar designed to walk you through everything you need to know about Collective 2026, an event for youth, young adults, and their leaders. Register here
VIP (Victoria Island Presbytery) Women’s Retreat 2026 … at Camp Imadene, Mesachie Lake, Cowichan on April 24 – 26, 2026. Join us for a variety of workshops and worship throughout the weekend! Register before March 16 for $230 by filling out THIS FORM. For other information please contact [email protected] or 250-668-3299.
VIP (Victoria Island Presbytery) Summer Camp 2026 … A program of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. This year’s locations and dates are as follows: Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park June 8-12, Rathtrevor Provincial Park July 25 – 30, Rathtrevor Provincial Park July 30 – August 3. For more information go to our website or contact the registrar at [email protected].
VISTA … Free public lectures through the Vancouver Island School of Theology and the Arts (VISTA) are happening on Thursdays in April and May at 7 PM – venues to be determined. Go HERE for more information as it becomes available.
Esquimalt Earth Day Celebration 2026 … on April 15 2026, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at Highrock Cairn Park. Details available here.
Peace Dancer … On Saturday, April 18, 2-4 pm in the Oak Bay United Church Sanctuary. An all-ages community storytelling and art event, featuring author Robert “Lucky” Budd. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. For more information please go HERE.
Spring Concerts … at 2pm in the St. Andrew’s sanctuary. Presented by St. Andrew’s Music Outreach program in partnership with UVic School of Music. Donations are appreciated, and support our music program, and our musicians! Everyone is welcome to attend.
April 19 – Wanderlust (with The Sequoia Vocal Ensemble).
Pipe Organ Event … Piano students are invited to attend a morning with Dr. Mark McDonald and the Wolff organ at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, April 25 from 9 AM – 12 PM. Register by April 22 with the Royal Canadian College of Organists HERE.
Speech and Dramatic Arts Highlights Concert 2026 … on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 7:00pm-8:00pm. Welcome to the Speech and Dramatic Arts Highlights Concert for the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival! Experience the magic of live performances as participants from the GrVPAF display their skills in speech and dramatic arts. Be prepared to be entertained, moved, and inspired by the creativity and passion of these young artists. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support local talent and enjoy a memorable event!
Tickets are only available at the door:
Single Admission – $12 adults $8 seniors/students/children
Family Rate – $30 4 admission in the same family
Children 5 and under are free
Sunday, April 12, 2026 – Mission Moment
World Health Day aims to raise awareness about global health issues and promote actions to improve health and well-being worldwide. However, due to substantial cuts to global health funding in 2025, many communities and individuals have lost access to essential health programs. PWS&D collaborates with partners to support health initiatives in difficult environments. In Haiti, for example, PWS&D, in partnership with the Center for Nutrition and Education for Women & Children, is supporting maternal and infant malnutrition treatment and women’s mental health. For Choute Philomène, 34, the program is a welcome initiative. She was glad to receive maternal health support at her home, as she had planned to skip prenatal follow-up during her pregnancy.
Prayer Partnership
Wednesday, April 8 In this season of celebrating the resurrection and new life, we pray for congregations seeking a vision of God’s future, and for those serving them as intentional interim and transitional ministers. May God’s Spirit guide them as they continue in their journey of discernment.
Thursday, April 9 We pray for the Caribbean and North American Council for Mission (CANACOM) as they assist the people and churches affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Friday, April 10 We pray for the people and churches in Taiwan as they live and worship in precarious and dangerous geo-political conditions.
Saturday, April 11 We pray for members of the Atlantic Mission Society as they lead worship services on Mission Awareness Sunday. May their congregations be blessed as they focus on The Mission of Jesus…Then and Now.
Sunday, April 12 We pray for the people, ministries and mission of the Presbytery of Grey-Bruce-Maitland.
Monday, April 13 In this season of resurrection we celebrate and give thanks for Crieff Hills Retreat and Conference Centre as green appears in their fields and forests, lambs arrive in the barn, and the air is filled with the fresh smell of springtime.
Tuesday, April 14 We pray for the Change Leadership Team of the General Assembly as it explores innovative models of ministry, building on our beliefs that everyone is gifted for ministry and that Jesus shows up and equips us to be agents of hope and possibility in the world God loves.
Wednesday, April 15 Inspire, O God, those who teach and form students for ministry with enthusiasm for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thursday, April 16 We pray for the Rev. Sumarme Goble as she cares for the St. Andrew’s Hall community in her role as Chaplain and represents The Presbyterian Church in Canada in the Inter-Faith Chaplaincy at the University of British Columbia.
Friday, April 17 We pray for all God’s people working in faith formation in congregations, camps, campuses and communities.
Saturday, April 18 We pray for caregivers of people living with dementia, for strength and care as they navigate difficult times.
Social Action Spotlight: Environmental Racism and “Free Prior and Informed Consent”
Environmental racism is a term some people may not have heard a lot about. A form of targeted systemic racism, environmental racism names the reality that sites likely to be environmentally contaminated (toxic waste dumps, heavily polluting industries, etc.) are significantly more likely to be placed near Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities or nations. This form of racism also impacts what regulatory safeguards are developed, who decides them or how they are enforced, how quickly local communities are informed if there is a problem and how fast cleanup of dangers like spills happen. The impacts of environmental racism can be deadly and long lasting; one need look no further than the ongoing issues with mercury poisoning from the Dryden Pulp Mill near Grassy Narrows First Nation and Wabaseemoong Independent Nations or the serious health issues from contaminants in the Morvan Road Landfill experienced by residents of the historically Black Nova Scotian community of Shelbourne.
The church’s ongoing work to recognize and address its complicity in colonialism and systemic racism call it to action. Acknowledging the vital importance of Indigenous and treaty rights, the PCC recognizes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) as the framework for reconciliation. Article 29 of UNDRIP states that “Indigenous peoples have the right to the conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands…. and States shall take effective measures to ensure that no storage or disposal of hazardous materials shall take place in the lands or territories of Indigenous peoples without their free, prior and informed consent.” The PCC also has a history of advocacy for environmental protections and anti-racism measures dating back decades and Living Faith reminds us that the justice to which God calls us involves changing customs and practices that oppress (8.4.2) as well as concern for the well-being of all of life and creation (2.4.1).
Reflection Questions
- If there are environmentally sensitive projects in your region, are discussions and decisions involving them unfolding in a just and equitable way?
- Are there “customs and practices that oppress” you can think of that are part of your work or life? How could they be changed?
What can you do?
In June of 2024, legislation was passed to develop a national strategy promoting efforts across Canada to advance environmental justice and to assess, prevent and address environmental racism. The legislation draws on implementing UNDRIP and a national strategy is expected to be published this summer. You can:
- Read about the national strategy being developed here: ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/strategic-policy-branch/environmental-justice
- Consider writing your local officials about the strategy to address environmental racism and UNDRIP. Templates are available at: ca/resources/advocacy
