Saturday, May  7, 9am to Noon

St. John's Port Moody invites parishioners from St. Laurence to join them in their Parish Hall for a “Raising Hearts to Remember” session. This is a diocesan project in which we have been asked to participate. During this time you will be taught the craft of felting a heart.

If you are interested and/or to RSVP, please speak with Anne Anchor or contact her at deacon@stja.ca. 

Please join us on May 8th to wish a fond farewell to Joan Sanderson. Joan is moving to Edmonton to be closer to family. Cake will be served after the 10:30 service.

Deadline to apply is May 9th.

Full job description, salary and application procedure can be downloaded at the link.

Saturday, May 14th at 2:00pm.

There is still a lot of space left for this event. Please pre-register at sharon.taylor@saintlaurence.ca with your name.

Let us break break together! 

Potluck Luncheon, Sunday, May 15th after the service. Note: one service at 10am that day.

St. Laurence invites the people of St. Catherine to join them to celebrate the official merge of our two parishes. St. Laurence folks are asked to bring a little more to share with our St. Catherine guests. Covid protocols will be followed.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! ~Psalm 34:3

Kids' Time this Sunday

This Sunday will be our second week meeting in-person! Join us in the parish hall from 10:30-11:10am for a time of play, prayer, song, and story. To better help our leaders prepare for Sunday morning, we're asking you to register your kids by sending me a quick e-mail or text, preferably by the end of the Friday before. As we get into the pattern of in-person gathering again, notifying me will help us aim our plans a bit more thoughtfully. If you forget, though, please know you are absolutely still welcome on Sunday!

Children's Service - 10am, May 15

On Sunday, May 15, the kids will help lead the service, as we commemorate the merger of St. Catherine's and St. Laurence. 

I have heard several of you indicate you won't be available or feel comfortable to join in the main service. I get it. We will be in touch about some possible ways that you can still contribute, whether virtually or in something else pre-prepared . Ultimately, we want to find ways as many of you can participate as possible.

Kids and Families Consult - June 5th

It's been a long couple years of ceaseless adaptation for our children and families ministry- and to be honest, of sometimes just trying to survive. As the program year draws to a close, we want to take some time to reflect and vision for the future. We invite all our families to come together after the 10:30 service on June 5th (during social hour) for a chance to pray, hear from each other, and consider how God might be calling us to grow.

Vacation Bible School

If you haven't already, put August 16-18 in your calendar! In partnership with Good Shepherd, we are planning to lead a three-morning VBS, an opportunity for kids ages 5 -12 to gather together, have fun, learn about the Bible, and grow in faith. More details will be on their way shortly!

- Jason stlyouthandfam@gmail.com

Call the office for this opportunity to volunteer outside in the fresh air.

Summer is coming, and there are a few retreats and camp opportunities on the horizon! Read on to find out more...

Young Sojourners  - May 20-23 @ Sorrento Retreat Centre

Come spend the May long weekend in the Shuswap with Christian Harvey from One City Peterborough with worship & music by Infinitely More. Young Sojourners is a youth retreat for teens ages 13-19, and their youth leaders from all over British Columbia and Alberta.
Please note the cost for the event is listed as $264 but for DYM and people traveling on the DYM bus, the cost will be only $199! Registration closes May 10th!
Find out more and register at: sorrentocentre.ca/events/young-sojourners

We are committing to cover at least half of the $199 cost for any youth who would like to participate - making this $100 per youth. If you need extra financial assistance, don't hesitate to let me know. We don't want money to prevent any youth who are interested from participating!

Leadership, Experience, and Adventure Program - July 10-23

LEAP - the Leadership, Experience and Adventure Program - is a two-week course for youth ages 15 and 16. LEAP participants live, learn, work, and play together, forming a close-knit group within the larger community of Sorrento Centre.  LEAP fosters personal, spiritual, and professional growth in leadership skills and work experience. Participants will be involved in a variety of fresh, exciting spiritual practices and engaging workshops and activities.  

LEAP includes a mid-program camping retreat off site, as well as daily free time opportunities to relax and to enjoy beautiful Sorrento Centre. While intensive and challenging, LEAP is also a lot of fun, and a potentially life-changing experience. (I had the privilege of leading it a few years ago, and it's true - the community that grows in these two weeks is truly special).

Space is limited to a maximum of ten (10) participants. Early registration advised. Register here.

Camp Artaban - August 26-28th

Save the date! Youth and young adults are invited to an August 26-28th youth retreat weekend at Camp Artaban on Gambier Island. The weekend will be themed around Ashes & Embers, the theme for next year's CLAY, and it will serve as a sort of lead-up to the big event next summer!

Summer Camp, anyone?

Summer camp can be one of your most life-changing experiences as a youth. It certainly was for me. And here in BC, there are some really great options for camps for kids, youth, and families of all ages, if you have the time, interest, and money....And even if you don't have the money, talk with us or your pastor or priest, and I'm pretty sure we'd be glad to help you get there! Here's a few places you might look into:

Camp Artaban - an Anglican camp located on Gambier Island in Howe Sound. A short bus or car ride and a ferry away!

Sorrento Centre - located 4-5 hrs away in Sorrento off Shuswap lake. 

Camp Luther - a Lutheran camp located on Hatzic Lake in Mission 

Let me know if you're interested in any of these events! I suspect you won't regret it : )

Jason Wood(He/him/his)
Youth and Families Minister 
E-mail: stlyouthandfam@gmail.com