The folks at St. Barnabas Anglican Church were thrilled to get a visit from Bishop Melissa Skelton.
Rev. Emilie Smith said the bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster visits churches every two years or so and does a Sunday service and meets with the congregation. St. Barnabas suggested Skelton visit on a Thursday so she could attend the community lunch.
“She is coming to celebrate our lunch here that we do. She is coming to share with us and share with the community,” Smith toldThe Record prior to the bishop’s Oct. 16 visit. “We thought it was so important, because of our neighbourhood ministries here that we really wanted her to come on another day. We invited her to a Thursday. It’s a chance for her to see what St. Barnabas is all about.”
Skelton didn’t just dine and dash, taking part in a meet and greet with diners, offering a pre-meal blessing and staying for lunch.
“It was the best time ever. We had a wonderful, wonderful visit,” Smith said after the event. “She stayed and met folks, poured tea for parishioners. We did morning prayer together.”
Learning in the kitchen
Family Services of Greater Vancouver is lending a hand to men in the kitchen.
A community kitchen program for men is being offered on Tuesdays until Dec. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Participants will learn how to plan, cook and share healthy, nutritious meals – while spending time in a friendly setting.
Organizers say the program is a great way for men to get together, be social and enjoy the benefits of cooking and eating a delicious and healthy meal. All ages are welcome.
If you’re interested in a healthier lifestyle and taking part, contact Patricia Davison at 604-525-9144 or 604-764-1358 or [email protected].
Raising funds
Team B.C. Freshman Women’s Lacrosse Team wants to help you clean house.
The team is holding a used clothing and bottle drive on Sunday, Oct. 26 and will donate the items to Big Brothers to help fund two major lacrosse tournaments it’s planning to attend in Seattle, Washington and Indio, California. Six of the team’s 20 players are from New West – goalies Mady Morrison and Caitlin Croxen, as well as Graceyn Dean, Katie Davies, Jessica Soenen and Andreea Serbanescu.
Anyone with clothing (for men, women and children), accessories (belts, hats, scarves), purses, wallets, backpacks, bags, shoes, boots, undergarments, nylons and socks, towels, tablecloths, curtains, linens, blankets, bedding and pillows, can drop them off at the rear of New Westminster Secondary School on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Grateful for donation
RBC has donated $12,000 to Douglas College to support educational programming for youth and community members around ecological environmental issues.
The RBC Foundation funds will go toward two major programs run by Douglas College’s Institute of Urban Ecology – the environmental education workshops and the user network for insect biology in the urban garden (the UNIBUG program).
“We are very grateful to receive this generous donation and continued support from RBC,” Rob McGregor, executive director of the Institute of Urban Ecology, said in a press release. “This donation will be instrumental in allowing us to continue our work educating youth about ecological and environmental issues and the larger community about ecological approaches to food production.”
The Institute of Urban Ecology conducts research, organizes community projects and delivers educational workshops on issues related to ecology in urban areas. The UNIBUG program educates the public about the beneficial insects in urban gardens.
Do you have an item for Around Town? Is there something interesting happening in your neighbourhood? Email Theresa, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @TheresaMcManus.
