On October 6th,the Reverend Emilie Smith, priest in the Diocese of New Westminster, will move to Guatemala to work as the assistant to the Suffragan Bishop, in the western highlands of that country. She will be going as a Volunteer in Mission, of the Anglican Church of Canada, and will stay for two years.
This project began last October when Bishop Armando Guerra of the Episcopal Diocese of Guatemala invited Emilie to consider coming to work in the department (province) of El Quiché, to be in charge of a small mission church, and also to help develop a retreat and educational Centre for Peace and a Healing Garden. 

El Quiché is the region of Guatemala that was most gravely affected by the recent 36-year war that ravaged the Guatemalan people. 

The two-year Guatemala Mission project will cost almost $50,000. St Francis-in-the-Wood is handling the donations. Join us in a service, commissioning of the Guatemala Mission Support Team at St. Paul's, West End located on Jervis at Pendrell, one block north of Davie, Wednesday, September 30th at 7pm.  Maya Spiritual Leaders Don Alejandro Ruiz and Doña Zoila Cruz will join us with traditional Maya prayers, and Diane and members of the choirs of St. Paul's and St. Francis-in-the-Woods' will be leading us in some Spanish hymns.  Refreshments after the service.  

 GOOD-BYE PARTY!

(and fundraiser)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2009

St. Thomas' Anglican Church

2444 E. 41rst (block and a half east of Nanaimo)

TICKETS: $10.00 or donation

6:30 Latino Food

7:30 Father Scott McLeod and the Rock-a-Billy Allstars

9:00 – Salsa Meltdown with DJ Salsomana, and Salsa Dance Classes, with Fab Instructor Michael Gabriel Rosen

 

Food, Drink, Silent Auction with Awesome Prizes, Family-Fun, and Endless Dancing, all in order to say bon vogage to Emilie Smith, and to support the Guatemala Mission.

(see details at http://vimguatemala.wordpress.com/)