Welcome to our Blog

Saint Faith's is starting off 2014 with a brand new blog to keep you in touch with what is going on in our parish. We still have, of course, our awesome website at stfaiths.ca.

Although it is scheduled for a make-over in the next few weeks, St. Faith's website is the place to visit for a list of our upcoming events and other details about services and contact information. It also has links to our Facebook page, our twitter feed, our google plus account, a monthly calendar, the downloadable bi-monthly newsletter in pdf format, as well as recordings of sermons by Reverend Dr. Richard Leggett. 

But we wondered, is that really enough?

We didn't think so.

It is interesting to note "BLOG" the word itself comes from blending of the words web and log. A log, in this case, means "a regular or systematic record of incidents or observations". Important to ask - observations by whom? 

Richard Leggett, Parish Priest

Christine Wilson, Deacon at St. Faiths 

Well none other than our own Reverend Dr. Richard Leggett, (our parish priest) and Reverend Christine Wilson, (St. Faith's deacon).  The two of them will be updating this blog and keeping readers informed of new things happening at St. Faiths, commenting on recent events and hopefully adding a picture or two now and again.


But before they get started, let me add a couple of photos and a little write up of my own. Since this is a New Year's message let's start with a reminiscence of the beginning of the new year in our church calendar.

Think back, way way back, before Christmas, when it was still November. Remember when it was just the beginning of the Christmas season, back to the first day of Advent? St. Faith's marks this day with a very special, and unique service.

For many years in the past, St. Faith's had a long tradition of creating an Advent spiral for the children in our Sunday school. A spiral-shaped labyrinth made out of evergreen branches was laid out on the floor of our church hall and the windows were blacked out to create a darkened room. Once the children were settled  a large candle in the centre of the spiral was lit by the Sunday school teacher Katherine Cotton. With carol music playing softly in the background, one by one the children would silently walk the labyrinth, light their own small tealight candles from the large one and then carefully place them amidst the green boughs on the ground. While the adults were upstairs having their Advent Sunday church service downstairs this unusual, quietly contemplative, and very spiritual event with the children was going on right under their very feet.

Catherine Cotton with acolyte Kendra Pedersen
 fine tuning the spiral

Naturally, word got out to the adults, and many of them realized that a good thing was going on every year, and wouldn't you know they had to get in on it. 

Spiral with candles ablaze. Spread the light!

So about four years ago the decision was made to move the service for that Sunday downstairs to the church hall so everybody could  participate in the Advent spiral. Katherine Cotton still organizes the creation of the spiral, and head acolyte Kendra Pedersen, formerly one of those very children that participated in the Sunday school spiral now lights the centre candle.  Readings were added to the service and our music director, Ruben Federizon, now provides the music. It really is a very wonderful "St. Faith's way" to start our new year. 

 Come see for yourself next November.

Laurel Fahrni
St. Faith's webmaster and newsletter editor