Announcements – 28 October, 2026
Worship at 9:30am. We hope that you will participate in person. If you are unwell, please join the live streamed service. The Rev. John-Barry Forsyth is leading the service this week.
To access the live streamed service, please go to Knox’s YouTube channel or click here.
The printed service will be available before Sunday morning.
Sunday Coffee Hour … Everyone from Knox and Hollydene is 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 …
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Pastor Daniel has let us know that Pam has had her second surgery, that it went well and she is now recovering at home. Please continue to pray for Pam’s recovery and for her family.
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Mary would like to thank everyone for keeping her in their prayers as she recovers from a broken leg and surgery to repair it. She is now able to use a walker and hopes to see everyone at church in a few more weeks.
- Prayers for Pastor Kathleen, who will be taking a leave of absence for health reasons from her duties at Hollydene and Knox until January 2027.
Please let the office, your elder or a member of session know if there are changes to your prayer requests!
Celebrations
- October 30 Ursula
- November 7 Lil
- November 8 Catherine
- November 13 Ken
- November 13 Laura
- November 16 Keith & Janice
- November 21 Jim
- November 27 Martha
- November 28 Elizabeth
Knox Office Hours … Office hours are Thursdays, 9:00 am – 12:00 (noon) pm, or by previously scheduled appointments. Deadline for submissions remains Tuesdays. Please contact Wendy in the office at [email protected] or 250-592-6323.
Around the Table …Join Inclusive Christians at 5 pm Wednesdays at the UVic Multifaith Centre for a simple ecumenical communion service that includes scripture, prayer, song, contemplation and conversation. Worship is followed by a free, modest meal provided by local congregations. This special time together is hosted by Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian and United Spiritual Care Providers. Everyone is welcome. Please contact the Rev. Laura Kavanagh at [email protected] for more information or to donate a meal in the fall or winter term.
Knox Book Club … New attendees are always welcome! Here is a list of books and dates for 2026. The next meeting is Saturday, November 14 at 1:00pm at Marianne’s. We will be discussing “Greenwood” by Michael Christie.
Drag Communion Service … University of Victoria Multifaith Centre is hosting a queer-led service of Holy Communion led by two drag liturgists, inspired by the unconditional love and acceptance offered at Drag Brunch. Registration is necessary for the event, please use this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbST1XT-TUcybUmAu-juXP19hWKN8Ejhh6y3vIuBOTInCCSw/viewform
Location: University of Victoria Multifaith Centre
Sunday, November 15th, 2026 at 2:00pm.
Sunday, November 1, 2026 – Mission Moment
In Guatemala’s Quetzaltenango region, many Indigenous farmers face food insecurity. Margarita is a single mother caring for her two nephews and her half-sister, who has a developmental disorder. Like many in her area, she must travel to access enough productive land to grow food. “What we harvest is not enough for the whole year,” she shares. Margarita was chosen to help lead her community to greater food security through a program with Fraternidad de Presbiteriales Mayas, a locally-based association of indigenous women supported by PWS&D. The project helped her grow consistent food for her family and share new techniques with others. “Now I plant my vegetables, even if it’s only a few, because Fraternidad is training me.” Regina adds that she also raises chickens now, as well as growing vegetables and herbs at home.
Prayer Partnership
Wednesday, October 28 As Christians in the Middle East live with daily fear, we thank God for the commitment and faith of Nader Abuamsha and Bassem Thabet and pray for the work of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR).
Thursday, October 29 We pray for the Change Leadership Team as it works with interested congregations to implement a professional payroll system, reducing administrative burden on local ministries and relieving stress for ministers and staff.
Friday, October 30 We pray for music directors, organists, praise bands, choirs, and all who lead God’s people in joyful song and praise each week.
Saturday, October 31 (Reformation Day) We pray that the Church may always be renewed by God’s Word, rooted in God’s grace, and led by the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus Christ with humility, courage, and love, serving the world for the glory of God.
Sunday, November 1 (All Saints Day) We give thanks this day for all the saints who have gone before us—and remember the work of the Reformers.
Monday, November 2 We pray for the Atlantic Mission Society as they faithfully seek to live out their purpose to glorify God and to support with prayer, study, and service mission endeavours through The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
Tuesday, November 3 We pray for the Rev. Dr. Mark Glanville and the Centre for Missional Leadership Team at St. Andrew’s Hall, as they equip pastors, ruling elders, and laypeople for Christian work and witness across the country.
Wednesday, November 4 November is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We pray for the healing and wholeness of all people harmed by domestic violence. Let us seek to be churches and communities that remove stigma and isolation and advocate for culturally appropriate and trauma-informed supports for people facing violence at home.
Thursday, November 5 We pray with grateful hearts for the students, staff and faculty of The Presbyterian College, Montreal as they meet the challenges and share in the joys of this academic year.
Friday, November 6 We pray for the Committee on Education and Reception as it meets on November 6th and 7th, that it may do its work with wisdom and grace.
Saturday, November 7 We pray for ministries that reflect God’s love by welcoming newcomers to Canada with compassion, friendship, and practical support as they begin new lives in our communities.
Social Action Spotlight … Media Literacy in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Practicing Discernment, Truthfulness and Compassion Online
If you have even the smallest online footprint, there is no avoiding the hundreds of messages you receive across social media, podcasts, videos, news feeds, and, increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) tools. These messages do more than inform us. They can shape how we understand current events, social values, our neighbours, and even ourselves—often without our noticing.
AI intensifies many of the challenges already present in digital media. It can generate convincing text, images, audio, and video; personalize what we see; and spread misinformation quickly. This makes careful attention to sources, context, and consequences more important than ever.
Living Faith, a foundational document of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, invites us to seek truth, practise discernment, and love our neighbours. In this context, media literacy is crucial to social justice and advocacy. It helps us access, analyse, evaluate, create, and share information responsibly.
These skills help us recognize misinformation, identify bias, distinguish reliable from untrustworthy sources, and understand how algorithms shape what we see online. For people of faith, this is more than a practical skill. It can also be a spiritual discipline. Scripture encourages us to “be quick to listen, slow to speak…” (James 1:19), reminding us to listen to others before rushing to reply. We are therefore encouraged to test what we hear, pause before sharing, ask critical questions, and consider how information may affect or harm others.
Media literacy also strengthens advocacy. Communities now discuss issues such as reconciliation, climate change, poverty, migration, and public policy online, often at lightning speed. A misleading post can distort public understanding, erode trust, or harm people already facing injustice. Taking time to evaluate information carefully enhances our ability to advocate faithfully, amplify overlooked voices, and participate in public life with truth, wisdom, and compassion.
Before you share information, stop and ask:
- Who created this, and what do I know about the source?
- Has the information been corroborated by other sources?
- What evidence supports the claim?
- Could this be satire, someone’s opinion, advertising (false or real), or AI-generated content?
- Who might be harmed if this information is false or misleading?
- Am I sharing this to inform others, to react, or to provoke a response?
Questions for Reflection
- How do the sources of information I trust shape my understanding of social issues and public life?
- What practices can help me determine whether information is accurate before I share it with others?
- How might a congregation foster thoughtful and faithful engagement with digital media and AI?
Learn More
- The Presbyterian Church in Canada – Justice Ministries — provides resources connecting faith, public witness, and social engagement. ca/justice
- The Centre for Communications Rights, founded by the World Association for Christian Communication, offers resources on communication rights and digital justice. org
- Just Digital is a short course designed to help participants navigate online spaces wisely and advocate effectively. org/courses/just-digital
- Global Media and Information Literacy Week is an annual international event that emphasizes the critical need for people to safely access, evaluate, and create content in the modern digital age. This year, the week will take place from October 24 to 31. org/en/articles/global-media-and-information-literacy-week-2026