Announcements – 19 June, 2024
Knox is a caring and inclusive community of faith. All are welcome here!
Worship…10:00 AM – We hope you will participate in-person but if you are unwell, please access the live streamed service. This Sunday, guest speaker Ruby Koep will be reading poetry, playing music, and delivering a message regarding her experiences as a queer person growing up in the church!
To access the live streamed service, please go to the Knox’s YouTube channel or click here
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- The printed service will be available before Sunday morning
Be sure to pick up your ‘God’s love includes everyone’ stickers on Sunday!
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 …
Family, friends and colleagues in need …
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- Those within the Knox community of faith who are suffering at this time… Ina (Martha’s friend recovering from surgery); Richard & Yvonne Fowler; Earl; David; Toa; Neil; Pat & family.
- Congregations / faith groups in Victoria, Vancouver Island Presbytery, The Presbyterian Church in Canada…Trinity, Victoria / Knox, Sooke and the ongoing merger discussions between Victoria congregations – Knox and St. Andrew’s
- People, places and situations in the world that are broken and besieged… especially Ukraine / Gaza
- Consider those struggling with chronic illness, recovery from surgery, addiction, personal loss, and any within our circle of care unable to attend worship each week.
- Give thanks for the blessings you enjoy – for relationships, comforts and security – for unexpected or long anticipated pleasures – for the amazing beauty of creation.
Please let Laura know when your concern is no longer urgent and can be removed from the list.
June Celebrations
02 Jan Eamer
15 Valerie McNabb
17 Carolyn + Jim Johnson
23 Lillian Lin
24 Hinata Lam
25 Gary Hall
27 Anne Krauss
27 April + John Watt
29 Keith Elliott
29 Richard + Yvonne Fowler
Dear Knox Presbyterian Church,
On behalf of the Our Place family, thank you for nourishing change in those we serve, helping to give them hope and see a brighter future ahead. Your generosity is deeply appreciated by all of us, but especially by folks you may never meet who get to feel the direct benefit of your generosity.
Your gift helps hundreds of people have access to three nourishing meals a day when grocery bills are at an all time high. More than that, they can experience the care and community that they are often missing. Beyond providing nutritious food and basic needs like hot showers and clean clothes, you are helping to connect people to programs that can give them a hand up to a better future.
People like Fran, who found hope at our +55 Seniors Community. Impoverished seniors are among those at greatest risk of isolation and depression. Because of your kind donations to Our Place, we will be able to provide a place where elders can find companionship and community in programs like the 55+ Club. The Club fills a void in serving seniors who would otherwise fall through the cracks of limited resources and barriers. The few hours spent each week connecting with others in Our Place’s 55+ Club can mean the world to someone who is alone for reasons beyond their control.
Your donation can help to welcome more folks and open doors to hope and unconditional love that Fran is experiencing.
And we’re grateful for YOU. On behalf of everyone who will benefit from your kindness, thank you for your generosity – and thank you for choosing to support Our Place.
-Our Place Society
June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day; it is a time to celebrate and honour Indigenous peoples in Canada. These days may also be observed on National Indigenous Peoples Day Sunday (June 16 in 2024).
Pride Season … is a term that refers to the wide range of Pride events that take place over the summer (June to September) when 2SLGBTQI+ communities and allies come together to spotlight the resilience, celebrate the talent, and recognize the contributions of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. 2SLGBTQI+ is the abbreviation for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and additional sexual orientations and gender identities. Although special attention is put on the Pride events during the summer months, they happen throughout the year in many communities.
Historically, Pride gatherings emerged from the first large-scale protests for 2SLGBTQI+ rights. In Canada, the first demonstrations took place in Ottawa and Vancouver in 1971. By 1973, Pride events were held in several Canadian cities, including Montréal, Ottawa, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Toronto’s Pride weekend in June is now among the largest Pride events in North America.
On Sunday, June 23rd, Knox will welcome a guest speaker, Ruby Koep, to discuss her experiences growing up as a 2SLGBTQI+ person in the church.
Pride Parade … Join the Inclusive Christians Club at the Victoria Pride Parade this year on Sunday, July 7th, starting at 11 am!
This was such a positive experience last year that the Rev. Laura Kavanagh wants to encourage members of Knox, St. Andrew’s and other local Presbyterian congregations to join this year and show their support for the club and the queer community in Victoria. Please email Laura if you are interested or have questions: ltkknox@telus.net
Marching in the parade includes a spectrum of participation. People are needed to hold banners, carry pride flags, and hand out stickers to kids and others. We have Presbyterian stickers that affirm “God’s love includes everyone” as well as Inclusive Christian stickers to share.
There will also be opportunities to do crowd work for those who enjoy it. With thousands of people gathered it’s a chance to greet people, say hello, and lead a chant.
Mostly it is just walking and enjoying being there with thousands of people who are celebrating queer people’s right to exist and be themselves. Together we help build a better and safer society through public expressions like this.
If marching in a parade is not for you, you can also show up and give us a shout out when we pass by. It’s wonderful to see familiar faces in the crowd. Victoria’s Pride Parade goes right past St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church! Let’s celebrate Pride, promoting love, acceptance, and inclusivity for all.
Go HERE to learn more about what is planned for Pride 2024 in Victoria.
Go HERE to learn more about Gender, Sexuality & LGBTQI2+ Inclusion in the PCC.
Go HERE to download the ‘Well Chosen Words’ brochure, a resource from the PCC on learning to use inclusive language.
Prayer Meeting … On June 6th members of the St. Andrew’s and Knox sessions joined together to pray for God’s guidance during the continuing collaboration between the two congregations. We prayed that we listen to the Holy Spirit and that God’s will be done and honoured by Knox and St. Andrew’s. Would you like to join us? There will 2 opportunities this coming week. Wednesday at 7:00 pm and Thursday at 2pm.
Wednesday June 19, 2024 at 7:00 pm
Thursday June 20, 2024 at 2:00 pm
If you have any questions please email Sabine Teetzel at steetzel@telus.net.
June Lunch … Let’s get together and share a meal at the AppleTree Restaurant after worship on Sunday, June 30. There is a sign-up sheet in the hallway. Talk to Marianne if you have questions.
Book Club … the book for discussion this month is Bewilderment by Richard Powers. We hope you can join the conversation on Saturday, July 6 at 1:00 pm.
FLAMENCO VICTORIA If you’re looking for an entertaining evening on Saturday, June 22, Toa and Dorothy will be performing flamenco in the student showcase at Glenlyon-Norfolk auditorium! Information about tickets and directions are here.
St. Andrew’s Choral Scholars in Concert … Sunday, June 30 at 12:15 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Featuring Darby Howard, Noah Mellemstrand, Eva Smith, and Lauren Steinmann. Donations are greatly appreciated to support music outreach and emerging young musicians. Everyone is welcome!
Sunday, June 23, 2024 – Mission Moment
With support from Presbyterians Sharing, the Newcomers Mission has faithfully been gathering and offering services and spiritual support to newly arrived immigrants and refugees in the Peterborough area since 2016. Like the soft, protective wings of a dove, the programming of Newcomers Mission provides refuge and care for people living through very difficult and vulnerable situations. One wing of the ministry represents the spiritual side through worship services, prayer meetings and house visits. The other wing is the social and cultural side, helping newcomers to access support services, obtain employment and provide English language teaching and translation services. The two wings work together so that the newcomers can succeed and belong.
Prayer Partnership
Wednesday, June 19 We give thanks for Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry as it provides prayer, crisis counselling, nourishment, clothing and a weekly worship Circle to people on the margins of society.
Thursday, June 20 (World Refugee Day) We pray for peace everywhere and remember in prayer families forced from their homes because of war and persecution. We ask God to encourage the hearts of refugees on their journey to find stability and peace.
Friday, June 21 (National Indigenous Peoples Day) We give thanks for Indigenous leaders who nurture and strengthen their communities and the whole nation, and pray for their well-being.
Saturday, June 22 As warmer days appear and as the end of June brings holiday time and respite for people, may they, with guidance from God, find the meaningful and restful time they are seeking.
Sunday, June 23 We give thanks for ministries like Newcomers Mission in Peterborough, ON that provides care and refuge for new Canadians seeking friendship and community.
Monday, June 24 We give thanks for church fellowship programs that extend Christ’s friendship to those suffering from loneliness and isolation.
Tuesday, June 25 We pray that God will grant graduates from our theological colleges to lead with enthusiasm, imagine with faith and discern with courage to follow where God leads.
Wednesday, June 26 We give thanks for church communities that are caring for creation and taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint. We pray that we will reflect God’s love of creation every day.
Thursday, June 27 We pray for courage to be a voice of change in our congregations and communities.
Friday, June 28 We praise God for the volunteers who have served in our congregations all year. Pray that they may rest and recharge over the summer, ready to return again in the fall, to find more ways they can use their gifts to serve God’s mission.
Saturday, June 29 Thank God for the hope brought to adults and youth receiving education, skills training and small business opportunities through PWS&D livelihoods programs.
Social Action Spotlight – April – June 2024
A Call for Climate Justice
It is estimated that in 2023, there was a 30% increase in people who lost their lives due to climate related disasters such as floods, wildfires, cyclones, storms and landslides over the previous year (data from the International Disaster Database).
Almost half of those killed were in countries responsible for less than 0.1% of the world’s global greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, an estimated 87% of all people living in extreme poverty live in environmentally vulnerable or fragile countries.
The African continent, for example, contributes the least to climate change yet is the most vulnerable to its impacts. African countries, which have contributed so little to the global climate crisis, will have to spend up to five times more on adapting to the crisis than they will on healthcare. In contrast, G20 countries represent around 75% of global emissions and have the financial resources to cope with the impacts of the climate crisis in their own countries, while also assisting countries who need it.
To help address this disproportionate burden, countries agreed at the United Nations Climate Conference to create a loss and damage fund. “Loss and damage” refers to the negative consequences that arise from the unavoidable risks of climate change, like extreme weather events. Wealthier countries are invited to contribute to the fund so that countries most impacted by climate change have access to the resources they need to cope with the emergency.
Questions for Reflection
- Sometimes we think of climate change as something that impacts other people. Have you noticed changes in our climate? What have you noticed?
- What is your vision of the sort of society that offers a more just response to the climate emergency?
- What potential actions could you take to impact the environment positively in your community? In your country? In the world?
What can you do?
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- Engage with For the Love of Creation, a national, faith-based coalition for climate justice, with resources for learning, conversation and advocacy at fortheloveofcreation.ca.
- Every fall, the World Council of Churches encourages people to come together during the Season of Creation. Find resources to engage your church and community at seasonofcreation.org.
- Contact the Minister of Finance and ask that Canada make a significant contribution to the Loss and Damage Fund, in line with the contributions of other G20 countries.
Knox is a caring and inclusive community of faith. All are welcome here!