Note from the Rector

As the conversations continue around the Diocese and throughout the Anglican Church in Canada I find myself wondering – what makes a healthy church?  What are the signs of a church that is sustainable, that has its priorities straight and has its eyes set on a future that is healthy and bright.  I admit that on my bookshelf at home I have at least fifteen different books, (many of which I have not yet read) devoted to the topic of healthy churches, written in various decades with a variety of theories and formulas that could be followed.  But every time I look at an article, or read a book, or have a conversation with other clergy about what a healthy church might look like, time and time again, two key things arise.  

The first is that if we want to be healthy, we need to come to embrace our most authentic selves as followers of God, instead of trying to become who we think others want us to be.  It can be really easy to see the bigger free-worship churches with their praise bands and hundreds of people on a Sunday and think that we need to try and be like them if we want to be healthy, flourish and have more people in the pews.  But the reality is that this would really not work for us.  That style of worship and that form of Christianity doesn’t suit who we are as Anglicans in this time and place, and trying to contort ourselves into being something we are not will not support our health as a community in the long run.  So to be a healthy church it is important that we know who we are, whose we are, and how we as Anglicans in Nanoose Bay are to be in the world.  More and more we see people 'church shopping' - seeking a community of faith that is genuine, down-to-earth and a place where ALL are welcome to come and explore the mysteries of our faith.  This is something St. Mary’s is pretty good at already, but it is important to not forget who we are at the heart of our community.

The second is that all the literature on ‘healthy churches’ talks about putting God and the call of discipleship at the forefront of everything we do. We are called to be the church centered on the life, ministry, teachings and love of Jesus.  It can be so easy to get caught up in the details – Sunday attendance, offerings received this month, a new hymn that no one knows, repairs that might be needed, or worries about our future.  While it is almost a cliché these days, there is a reason why the phrase, What Would Jesus Do? and why WWDJ bracelets were so popular for a time – they are a reminder that we are to put on the mindset of Christ in all our interactions and decisions because unhealthy churches get bogged down and tend to put everything else first, while healthy churches make it all about Jesus.

Overall, I think that St. Mary’s is a pretty healthy community – reaching out and welcoming in – always ready with open hearts and minds rooted in the love of Christ.  And yet we all have moments where the realities of the world get in the way.  So let us take heart in staying true to who we are as community here and now, and continue to place Christ in our midst as we continue to serve and love one another.

Many blessings,  
Kirsten + 

Visits with Rev. Kirsten!

As summer arrives, things settle for a while in the office and Kirsten has a little more time and space in her schedule for getting to know you all a bit better. If you or someone you know would like to have Rev. Kirsten come for a visit – either a pastoral visit or just to share some time together - please do reach out and let her know either through the office, via email or call at 250-619-5826. 


NEW Summer Office Hours effective July 4 – August 31

For July and August the office will be open from 9am - 1pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Between 1 - 4 pm KAT will monitoring emails and phone calls while working from home.  Kirsten and KAT, are of course, happy to stay if you need assistance with anything as long as you let them know.

2023 FUN at St. Mary’s 

St. Mary’s Matronal Day is August 13.  Stay tuned for more details.    

Some recipes from our past . . .


from the St. Mary’s cookbook of June 1990, owned by Shirley Greenwood.  We will be treating you to some other delectable recipe offerings in the summer Notices.