Episcopal Visit on the Feast of St. Agnes

On Sunday, January 23, 2022, the Right Reverend John Stephens made the first visit of his episcopacy to his Parish of St. Agnes’ located in the Grand Boulevard neighbourhood of North Vancouver. The 110-year-old church building is one of the best examples of the many Gothic Revival structures that were built in the diocese from 1865 to 1920.  The church also has a great location, in a residential neighbourhood across from a large public park. 

In honour of the Commemoration of St. Agnes’, January 21, the Sung Eucharist contained the lectionary readings and prayers for that day transferred to January 23. January 23, 2022, was also the first anniversary of Bishop Stephens’s consecration as bishop, so there was much to celebrate.

The liturgy was a hybrid of onsite and online with approximately 20 folks in-person in the sanctuary and the remainder of the congregation joining via Zoom. The Reverend Lizz Lindsay was Deaon of the Word and Table, proclaiming the Gospel, Matthew 10: 17-22 and preparing the altar during the Offertory, Breathe on Me, Breath of God. Organist/pianist, Director of Music, Tae Maeda with Tak Maeda on trumpet and a choral quartet led the music in worship. Shannon Muir was cantor for the Psalm. Liz Young shared the First Reading from the Book of Esther and Rector's Warden, Eric Bozman was the intercessor. The rector of the parish, the Venerable Stephen Muir took his place in the sanctuary party and handled the technical requirements of the Zoom hybrid.

Bishop Stephens was preacher and celebrant. His sermon linked here in video, audio and text on the diocesan website.

IMAGES

• Bishop John and Archdeacon Stephen prepare the Zoom connection prior to worship
• Tae and Tak Maeda smile for the photographer
• The rector checks the Zoom connection one more time before the liturgy begins
• A choral quartet led the music in worship, beginning with the Opening and Closing Hymn, "For All the Saints"
  
• Liz Young shares the First Reading from the Book of Esther
• The Reverend Lizz Lindsay proclaims the Gospel, Matthew 10: 17-22
• Bishop John preaching
• Prayers of the People led by Rector's Warden, Eric Bozman
  
• Eucharistic Prayer
• The Eucharist
• The Eucharist
• Shannon Muir, ODNW. Shannon was cantor and soloist for the Eucharist and also addressed the congregation prior to the Dismissal giving some exciting information about refugee ministry in the diocese.
• Tae Maeda at the piano
• The outside, unmasked, archival episcopal visit photo.