“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
First+Met has an intercessory prayer group called the Prayer Connections Team. Members are committed to praying at home during their personal prayer times for requests from the congregation and staff. Private information is kept strictly confidential.
What type of prayer requests can I make?
Health problems, bereavement, relationship issues, work-related or student concerns, financial issues, etc. – whatever concerns you.
For whom can I request prayer?
For yourself, or those you care about – family, friends, neighbours, co-workers.
How can I make a request?
- By prayer request slips. During office hours you can fill out a request slip found on the church office counter and place it in the adjacent box marked “Prayer Requests” On Sundays, you can pick up a prayer request slip from the sanctuary pews or narthex, or the exterior entranceway to the chapel. Fill it out, fold it over and place it in the offering plate, from where it will be put into the prayer request box in the church office.
- By Email, to prayer@firstmetvictoria.com
- Through staff. If you are unable to get to church and do not have email, you can give your prayer request to a staff member, who will pass it on to the prayer team.
For how long will my request be prayed?
Prayer team members pray for each request for one month. You may renew your request after that time if you wish.
The prayer team exists to support you in prayer, so take the leap and make a request!!
Dear God,
You are always with us whatever happens. Today we are very sad to hear the news about people and children in Japan. Help us to be like Jesus, who helped children and many people when they are having hard times. We pray for all the people who are suffering from this earthquake and tsunami. We especially pray for those children who lost their parents, or who were injured, or who have no food and water. Please be with them and watch over them so they know you are with them even if they feel alone. Help us as we express our caring and prayers for those children and people, for we are sisters and brothers on this planet. Be with us in this hour as we need your love and hugs. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Lent is a time of preparation for Easter, the most important season in the church year. The week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is known as Holy Week. While individual preparation and reflection is an important part of this preparation, there are also a number of events, activities and materials to assist in this process:
- Mardi Gras celebration for children and families, following the 11 am service on Mar 6. Hot dog luncheon and games.
- Experiencing God in Our Lives, a book of daily reflections for the Lenten season, written by the youth, their parents and other adults of the congregation will be for sale following church services. Cost $8; proceeds provide bursaries for summer camp and other summer youth programs.
- Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper: Mar 8, 5:30 pm. Hosted by the younger men of the congregation. Adults $7, Children $3, Families $15. Tickets available at the church office or following Sunday services.
- Ash Wednesday service, March 8, 7:00 pm
- Sunday services, Mar 27 at 9:00 and 11:00 am, Martin Brokenleg, guest preacher
- Palm Sunday, Apr 17, 9 and 11 am, with our new Minister of Pastoral Care and Shared Worship, Leanne Benoit, introduced
- Maundy Thursday service, Apr 21: Potluck supper seder and tennebrae, 6:00 pm (please note time correction)
- Good Friday service, Apr 22, 11:00 am
- Easter Sunday services, Apr 24 at 9:00 and 11:00 am. Bring flowers to decorate the cross. Featuring brass, choir and special hymns of Easter.
The final week of Lent is called Holy Week. Beginning with Palm Sunday to mark Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, it includes Maundy Thursday remembering Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and Good Friday, which marks His betrayal and death.
Easter Sunday celebrates Jesus’ resurrection and tells the story of His followers visiting the tomb only to find that He is not there. We raise the cry Hallelujah! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Hallelujah! A new Pascal candle or Christ candle is lit as a reminder of Christ’ continuing presence among us. White and gold symbolize this eternal life. The Easter Season is a time of joy as we celebrate new life, purity and holiness. We are transformed for sacred friendship with Christ and one another in community. Week by week in worship we hear how the risen Christ came to his followers to help them understand how God was making things new and to help them see the Holy in new ways. The Easter season runs from April 24 (Easter Sunday) to June 5.
Many people wonder why the date of Easter can change so much. The Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) set the date of Easter as the Sunday following the paschal full moon, which is the full moon that falls on or after the vernal (spring) equinox. Easter always occur son a Sunday, because Sunday was the day of Christ’s Resurrection. But why the paschal full moon? Because that was the date of Passover in the Jewish calendar, and the Last Supper occurred on the Passover. Therefore, Easter was the Sunday after Passover.
Churches does not use the exact date of the paschal full moon but an approximation, because the paschal full moon can fall on different days in different time zones, which would mean that the date of Easter would be different depending on which time zone you live in. For calculation purposes, the full moon is always set at the 14th day of the lunar month (the lunar month begins with the new moon).
Date: June 30, 2011
Time(s): 9:30 am to 7:30 pm
Location: Camp Pringle, Shawnigan Lake, BC
Sponsored by the Victoria Presbyterial United Church Women, this is a full day of fellowship, worship, book exchange singing and learning followed by dinner and vespers. The theme is Hawaiian – please wear something Hawaiian for the day and bring two dozen cookies from each church, a notebook, pencil or pen, the schedule, and a donation for the Duncan Food Bank. If you have any special dietary needs, please attach this information to your registration form which may be obtained from the UCW. The fee of $20 covers two meals and the day fee for the camp. Maximum number is 100 and registration deadline is June 15, 2011. For more information and registration, please contact Mrs. Karen Hoshel, 201 – 390 Waterfront Crescent, Victoria, BC, V8T 5K3.
Category: Events | Tag(s): Outside Events |
Please note: First†Met discount code is FM2011
[Event_Registration_Single event_id="21"]
What an exciting conference we had! Next year, Jan 19-23, 2012 will be our 10th Year and will feature speakers Marcus Borg, Richard Rohrbaugh, Mary Jo Leddy, Elizabeth May and others. Information will be posted in June on the program for 2012. Registration starts on August 15.Thank you to all our volunteers, delegates, presenters and staff!
See Douglas Todd’s Article on Philip Yancey: Vancouver Sun Jan 29, 2011. Download a handout of his presentation.
Check out what the Edmonton based March Congregational Life Newsletter had to say about our Conference!
Download a copy of the 2011 Conference Schedule at a Glance or details of the main sessions or workshops
Download the full conference brochure
Register online for the conference (please make sure that you have a copy of the Schedule at a Glance and workshop list handy when you do so!)
Please Note change in Workshop
Bethel Lee’s workshop “Why is the United Church so Confusing?” has been replaced with Martin Brokenleg: “Deep Talk on Aboriginal Issues”
This workshop is a guided conversation on current and past dynamics of Native and non-Native relationships. Come prepared to just talk and start real dialogue to begin true reconciliation. A maximum of 40 people can attend this workshop.
Download a registration form
See frequently asked questions
Read our Special Needs policy
Download a copy of suggested readings (PDF) by our 2011 speakers
The United Church of Canada is offering a Learning-in-Community Grant of up to $1250 for those who wish to attend the event as a group, and then continue to meet and reflect on learnings together. Apply online.
Each year, our participants tell us how much they enjoyed the conference and how much they learned:
This is hands down, the very best continuing education event I have attended. .. only sorry to have missed previous Epiphany Explorations.
I have learned to trust this event … knowing that I will be blown away – awe, inspiration, affirmation of gifts and insights, progressive understanding of Christianity in the world.
Always a highlight of my faith journey – much food for thought and growth.
Keep it going. It was like a pilgrimage to be here.
Usually held each fall
Time: Friday: 6:00 to 9:30 pm and Saturday: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Location: First†Metropolitan United Church
Do you want to refresh and revive your marriage? Do you wish to keep excitement in your relationship? Join us for this marriage refresher weekend led by Megumi Matsuo Saunders and Allan Saunders. They will be joined by guest speakers. Topics will include communication, sexuality, finance, relaxation, keeping up the romance. $95 per couple includes Friday dinner, Saturday lunch, and sessions. Please register with the church office in person, by email or phone.
Child care is available at the church on Saturday(Children will need to bring their own lunch). If you need child care, please specify name, gender and age( grade).
As planning moves forward for the 2012 Epiphany Explorations conference there are two coordinating positions that remain to be filled – billeting coordinator and special needs coordinator. If you are interested in volunteering for either position and would like more information, please contact Allan Saunders or Arlene Galloway Ford (250-384-5403 or e-mail: make@shaw.ca). We would like to fill these positions by the end of September so appreciate your considering these now.
Billeting Coordinator
Identifies those willing to provide billets and coordinates linking these with those who indicate on their registration form for the conference that they would like to be billeted. Those who take in billets provide housing, breakfast, and travel (if possible and required) to and from the church for some or all of the days of the conference. The maximum spaces for billets is limited to 25.
Special Needs Coordinator
Collects information from the Registrar about conference participants with special needs such as mobility, hearing or vision impairment and works with the Health and Wellness Coordinator, Sound and Light Technical Coordinators and Hosting Coordinator and volunteers to provide available support to these participants.
Volunteers at the conference
Are you interested in meeting the people who attend our event? We have many opportunities for volunteers. Consider being a billeting host, a host at one of the main sessions, assisting with hospitality or baking, driving our presenters, etc. Contact us for more information in November/December.
Are you looking for a new musical adventure? Consider joining the Sanctuary choir for the upcoming season and become part of the ministry of music at First Met. We encourage those who have a reasonable voice and some music reading skills to come and join us. You will be part of a warm fellowship of music lovers.
We are also looking for students to participate in our bursary program. If you know of a university age person that would qualify, please be in touch with Fran Pollet, our Minister of Music.
Category: Music, Volunteer |
