Glad Tidings indeed

Celebrating Jesus Together, billed as “a citywide gathering of interdenominational, multicultural churches,” lifted praises to the roof at Vancouver’s Glad Tidings Church June 19, as well over 1,000 participants joined in worship.

The evening had a distinctly Indonesian flavour, and was led by Sari Simorangkir, Niko Njotorahardjo and Welyar Kauntu. Also participating were God’s Image, a Korean children’s worship team.

The event, which was sponsored by Bethesda Ministry of Love, Vancouver City of Destiny and Prayer Canada, was organized by Yani Lim – who was also the prime mover behind 2008’s Voices Together, held at GM Place.

Broadway at 100

Broadway Church in Vancouver celebrates its centenary July 2 – 4.

Pastor Darin Latham noted: “As you browse through our anniversary book, you will see various faces and styles and methods, representing various eras and times and generations. Amidst all the differences you will see, the one thing that is shared and is identical to all is this: the message they were carrying . . . It is the message that Jesus came, Jesus died and Jesus rose again.”

In addition to a historical display and banquet, scheduled festivities include a July 3 concert with David Phelps; and a special 11 am service July 4, featuring the 100 Voice Celebration Choir.

A Harvest too plentiful

North Vancouver’s Harvest Project is struggling to meet the growing demand for its services.  

“We have almost reached maximum capacity for our core client program,” said board chair Terry Byrnes. “Our resources are tapped, and more people keep arriving on our doorstep daily.”

The good news is that drop-in client visits have decreased by 27 percent from 2009 while core client visits have increased by 16 percent. Byrnes said, “That means more clients are making a long term commitment to find ways to move forward in their lives, and are working with a client care partner toward that end.”

Info: harvestproject.org.

Wiebes vs landfill

Abbotsford musicians Shane and Angela Wiebe are currently on tour to promote their latest album, Restore the Wonder, singing at churches from B.C. to Ontario. Before they left, however, they lent their talents to an environmental cause.

Disturbed by a proposed waste incineration plans for Chilliwack, the Wiebes recorded ‘Landfill in the Sky,’ a piece of satire set to Norman Greenbaum’s hit, ‘Spirit in the Sky.

Shane toldThe Chilliwack Progress: “It’s human nature not to want to do anything until the last minute, but we’re at the stage where we have to change . . . I think we’re in trouble, but we can turn it around – and that includes getting out there and fighting for those who can’t breathe well. We have to gently explain this to our friends.”  

The song can be heard at myspace.com/thewiebes

Info: ZeroWasteBC.org

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Hijinks for Haiti

MEI Elementary School has supported Heart to Heart School in Grande Goave, Haiti for almost a decade.

In January, damage from the country’s earthquake spurred the students  to raise $23,000. In late May, they topped that by raising more than $40,000.

According toThe Abbotsford Times, they raised the funds “by doing extra chores at home, holding a silent auction and collecting pledges in their annual H2H Run/Walk/Crawl.”

To egg them on, some student council members and teachers took challenges such as “having pies thrown in their faces, kissing a pig [and] dying their hair blue.” For some students, no doubt, the highlight was having vice principal Shawn Burkinshaw stay on the school’s roof for a day.

Borderline Jesus

Customs official Bob Klassen has seen Jesus. Well, not quite.

The Abbotsford resident’s new memoir, I Do Declare: Memoirs of a Customs Officer, features a lot of anecdotes detailing the quirky and sometimes humorous behaviour he has witnessed.

He described one of his most memorable encounters to The Abbotsford Times:

“I met Jesus Christ twice, [people] who believed they were Jesus. [But] I didn’t figure the good Lord would bother to use a border crossing, do I didn’t believe them.”

One Jesus in particular was dressed for the part, in full biblical regalia.

“I played along with him, and convinced this man that the Americans needed saving more than we did –  and [asked] would he please return and start there?”

The would-be saviour evidently agreed with the impeccable logic of this suggestion.

You gotta Love Chilliwack

Residents of Chilliwack had an opportunity to experience a cooperative endeavour of local churches called ‘Love Chilliwack’ Saturday June 26. The ‘kindness explosion’ included face painting, picking up garbage and handing out free bottles of water and cans of pop on street corners.

The weekend was capped off Sunday with a citywide service at Prospera Centre (home of the Chilliwack Bruins).

Approximately 4,000 people from churches all over the city came together to worship and listen to a message by Promontory Community Church’s pastor, Shawn Vandop.

An offering was taken by the Chilliwack Ministerial Association to start up a Spiritual Care position at Chilliwack General Hospital.

Info: www.lovechilliwack.com.

– David F. Dawes

July 2010