Livestream Service November 22nd The Reign of Christ

This Sunday, November 22nd is the end of the Liturgical year as we celebrate the Reign of Christ. As you know there are huge restrictions in gathering for the next number of weeks or longer so we have had to suspend our in-person gatherings for worship on Sunday mornings. The service this Sunday we be one of Morning Prayer with just the necessary number of people there to be able to facilitate the Livestream service. You will find the service starting on our Facebook page at 10am. The service sheet will be uploaded here bleow on the website and it will be emailed out in an email blast to our parish email list.

THE ANNUAL BAZAAR - As you know this normally would have been our weekend for the bazaar. A couple of weeks ago we sent out in our newsletter, a request for those who would have baked, made preserves, made purchases, come to buy lunch or all of the above if they would make a special donation in lieu of our having a bazaar. If you would like to make that particular donation, you can send a cheque to St. Helen's through the post. On your donation cheque please write in the memo field, 'Bazaar'.  Or, more simply, you can make your donation by Interac E-Transfer direct to the church's account at Vancity Credit Union. The email address to use is: giving2sthelen@gmail.com

Your financial contributions whether for the Bazaar or for your regular offering are very important for us at this time.

Everyone will be very happy to hear that the anticipated repairs to the church roof have been made.  This should stop the leaks near the back of the church on the north side and in the front between the vestry and the sacristy.  The gutters have been cleared and moss and debris have been removed from the lower roofs on the north and south sides of the church.

The wardens are also happy to let everyone know that the child care has finally opened in a limited capacity.  It has been touch and go as we all know and with the covid-19 pandemic, the opening was delayed by another 8 months.  It was just a couple of days before it was to open in March when all the restrictions came into play to deal with Covid-19.  We wish Alicia Kambow, the owner of Creative Zone, and the child care worker, Miss Erica all the best as the child care gets up and running. 

Important Notice Regarding the Lower Hall
Please understand that due to both Covid-19 precautions as well as the normal rules and regulations regarding the security and saftey of children in child cares, laid down by Fraser Health, the lower hall including the washrooms is out of bounds for parishioners and visitors alike.  If there is reason to be atthe church or the hall, the washrooms in the upper hall are the ones to use.

The Main Office and the Rector's Office will be available to meet with parishioners as normal but it will be by appointment only at this time.  We will see how it all works out over the next number of months as we see how we work alongside each other sharing the entrance and foyer of the lower hall especially with the Covid-19 restrictions.

The Mar Thoma Church has not been meeting in the church or the upper hall since Covid-19 restrictions first appeared in March.  It could be that they will begin once the second wave is over, a vaccine has been brought into use, or the circumstances for gathering change for the better.

The Korean Church has continued to gather during the pandemic at their usual time on Sunday afternoons and have kept their number below the allowable threshold that health officials have put in place.  The Koreans now, with the new restrictions will also stop gathering in-person.  A few of them will gather on Saturday evenings to record their worship service and then put it up on Youtube for their church members. They will not be using the church on Sundays for the time being, until the restrictions are lifted.