Services at St. Columba's Church Port Hardy and St. John's Port Alice
(for details on a particular service see our events list here)

July 6 Morning Worship led by Robert Fyles 10:30 AM
July 6 Afternoon Worship led by Robert Fyles 4:00 PM at St. John's Port Alice
July 13 Morning Worship led by Robert Fyles 10:30 AM
July 20 Morning Worship with Communion led by Rev. Elaine Julian 10:30 AM
July 20 Afternoon Worship with Communion led by Rev. Elaine Julian 4:00 PM at St. John's Port Alice
July 27  Afternoon Worship with Communion led by Rev. Sheila Cook 3:00 PM

June was a very busy month for both the United Church and Anglican Church. I've included some recent information on the Anglican General Synod, and there was great celebrations for the United Church's 100th Anniversary. See the many news items that were posted the last few weeks on these and other items.

Both Sheila Cook and Bob Gilbert are taking well deserved holiday time during July and August. They may be in town for some of their time off, but please contact Robert Fyles for any pastoral care or other needs you may have. Rev. Elaine Julian will be our visiting worship leader on July 20. It will be great to see and hear Elaine who was at St. Columba in the midst of the Covid pandemic closure for 8 months. Come see her in person! 

Canned and dried food are always appreciated for our Blessing Box (outside our kitchen door, open 24/7). We are also in need of plastic or reusable grocery bags and small refillable shampoo bottles. These can be dropped off each morning before 9:30 AM or contact Robert Fyles.

With fewer activities here and elsewhere (except for Camp Spirit, please spread the word) the next newsletter likely will be sent at the beginning of August. The Diocesan newspaper Faith Tides as well as the United Church publication Broadview are not published in the summer. They will return in September.

Double Your Impact with Support Alongside Hope (formerly PWRDF)

On June 27 Alongside Hope reported that they have reached their fundraising goal of unlocking a $250,000 matching gift for the Resilience Fund, so $500,000 was raised. Your support will help refugees in Tanzania, malnourished children in Burundi, and survivors of gender-based violence in Uganda.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our neighbours around the world.  And thank you to folks at St. Columba for generously supporting this fund through our mission focus the last few weeks. We sent $175.00 that was raised through envelope donations, loose change and bottle donations during the month of June. 

The Diocese of Islands and Inlets was extremely well represented at General Synod 2025 in London, Ontario.  Apart from myself, the elected delegates of our diocese were Lon Towstego, Jenny Replogle, Kirsten Evenden, Helen Love, Georgina Love (youth), Michael Wolff, and Ian Alexander. Isabel Weeks was also present to serve as an assessor, Nancy Ford was present to represent the Deacons, and Bob Fearnley, who is a member of our Diocese, was present as a representative of the military ordinariate. An Islands and Inlets liturgy was also chosen for the Eucharist during the Primatial election. We truly were well represented.  

I am proud of our Diocese for contributing in so many ways to the work of the Church from coast to coast to coast. 

- Bishop Anna Greenwood-Lee

Photos, links, and additional information can be found by clicking on the Read More button just below.

[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]

The Centennial Service, held on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, at Gower Street United Church in St. John’s, NL, was a moving celebration of 100 years of faith, love, and community — and a bold call to the future.

The Spirit-filled worship featured local choirs and orchestra, vibrant liturgical dance echoing the flames of Pentecost, and music from Then Let Us Sing!, the United Church’s new worship resource.

Moderator The Rt. Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne and General Secretary Rev. Michael Blair presided at the service. The Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, preached a stirring message encouraging the church to continue in deep spirituality, bold discipleship, and daring justice.

A highlight was the dedication of a newly translated Mohawk Bible — a successor to the Union Bible prayed over at the church’s founding in 1925.

The service closed with an open invitation to Christ’s table, as Holy Communion brought all together in hope and grace.

If you missed the livestream, a recording is available on our YouTube channel! Plus, you can still find resources, merchandise, events, and historical milestones on the Centennial webpage.

Camp Spirit is being held at St. Columba's Church August 4 to 7, 2025, from 9 AM to 3 PM. Yes it starts on the holiday Monday. The camp is FREE though paying some or all of the fee is always welcome. Register locally by text or phone at 250-230-2395, at the website noted on the photo or directly by phoning 1-800-934-0434, Extension 6403. Includes t-shirt, snacks and lunch.

Campers ages 6 to 11 are all welcome.

Please contact Judy Fyles for more information. 

Credit: The United Church of Canada

On Friday, August 8, The United Church of Canada will offer a somber and historic apology to 2S and LGBTQIA+ communities. We invite you to join us in person at Knox United Church in Calgary (9:00 a.m. MT) or via the livestream.

The United Church of Canada was the first denomination in Canada to affirm the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons into the life of the church. While the 1988 decision was significant, there are still many painful stories of exclusion from before 1988, and that continue into the present.

By formally apologizing, the United Church reaffirms its commitment to radical hospitality and full inclusion of 2S and LGBTQIA+ people in all aspects of church life, including leadership, worship, and governance, strengthening the church’s witness to justice and love in action.

The road has not been smooth, and the church has not always accepted 2S and LGBTQIA+ people. The living apology is one way to acknowledge the many shortcomings and the harm the church has caused, while also continuing to build toward a world of radical love and affirming people of all identities.

Read the full news story and register for the Zoom event.