Our response to Kamloops Residential School

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been impacted by the recent finding of the 215 children buried without record on the grounds of the Kamloops residential school. We acknowledge the many more who will yet be found.

As a church, FBC Vernon has been committed to charting a course toward reconciliation. We have heard the stories of residential school survivors, journeyed through the Kairos blanket exercise and are seeking to learn what it means to love our Syilx neighbours of the OKIB. This discovery only confirms the stories that we have heard. This will be a journey that will be generations long, seeking healing, understanding and reconciliation.

Along with our family of churches (the Canadian Baptist of Western Canada - Approved by the Assembly May 2017) “we agree to formally adopt and comply with the principles, norms, and standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework for reconciliation.”

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Discipleship Course Wednesdays

For those desiring to take further steps in their Christian life and discipleship, to break free from bondage to the past and experience healing, Emotional Healthy Spirituality is an eight-session video-based Bible study.

We all have the opportunity to grow closer to Jesus as we learn to slow down, listen to our hearts and allow God, through the work and Gospel of Jesus, to turn us fully to the abundant life Jesus offers. 

Come and join us by Zoom on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8pm - all are welcome! April 28 - June 16

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St. Patrick's Day

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St Patrick’s Breastplate

St Patrick’s Breastplate, a poem or hymn commonly sung on the Sunday closest to his feast day represent’s this day much better than what happens in pubs around the world. It may not have been written by Patrick but in honor of him. It is an invocation, wrapping the reader in the Trinity (thus Patrick’s use of the clover)–its mystery and its lived expression. This translation is from the 20th century German scholar Kuno Meyer:

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,

Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,

Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,

Through the strength of His descent for the judgement of Doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of the Cherubim,

In the obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In the hope of the resurrection to meet with reward,

In the prayers of patriarchs,

In prediction of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven;

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendour of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God’s strength to pilot me:

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look before me,

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to speak to me,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to protect me,

God’s host to save me,

From snares of devils,

From temptation of vices,

From every one who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom,

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.

Christ to shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So there come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye of every one who sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation

Finding Light in the Deepest Dark Workshop - Nov 30

It’s been a tough year for so many of us and so many that we love and care about, as well as those in the communities around us. We must do what we can to support each other to get through all this.

As we’ve spent most of this year trying to do all we can to keep ourselves physically safe, as well as seeing to take care of one another and to grow in our faith and trust in God too, it’s been ever-more important that we take care of our mental wellbeing too.

To this end we will be going through the resource ‘Finding Light in the Deepest Dark’ from Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. It really is excellent, designed for use in the forthcoming Christmas season to help us to look back and reflect on what has been a year unlike any other, as well as being hope-full for a brighter future.

Gather with us online, via zoom on Monday Nov 30 at 6:30pm. Just fill out the form on the homepage, emali or call the office and we’ll send you the zoom link and even help you get zoom ready!

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