St. Catherine's Anglican Church, Port Coquitlam

Bishop Michael Appoints Tony Sauder

2012-01-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

Bishop Michael Ingham has appointed Tony Sauder of St. Catherine's to Chair the diocesan Stewardship Development and Planned Giving Committee. Congratulations, Tony!

Advent and Christmas Activities at St. Catherine’s

2011-12-10T10:33:00.000-08:00

Advent has arrived, and St. Catherine’s is preparing for a “Messy Christmas Pageant” to be presented on December 17 by the participants in Messy Church. The pageant is only one of many seasonal activities that St. Catherine’s has sponsored over the years during Advent and Christmas.

Apart from the pre-Christmas bazaar, perhaps the first seasonal activity was the children’s Christmas party. A few months after his arrival in 1911, St. Catherine’s first rector, H. Fane Edge, gave what the Coquitlam Star described as “a delightful little Christmas Party for the children of Coquitlam.” The event was held in the Municipal Hall. Mr. Edge sang three songs, which he illustrated with lantern views. Each child received a piece of iced cake and Christmas present. The following year, the Women’s Auxiliary (forerunner to the current ACW) sponsored a children’s Christmas party in the Agricultural Hall. The children received gifts purchased with funds raised from a social tea held at the home of Mrs. George Mouldy. Annual Christmas parties continued for several years, although they began to include only the children of the congregation rather than all local children.

My favourite memory of a seasonal activity at St. Catherine’s is the “Nativity Project”. This family activity began in Advent 1990 and continued for four years. Parents and children (and perhaps a few grandparents) gathered in the church hall to paint figures and create nativity scenes for their homes. In the first year there were 75 participants with each family painting figures of the Holy Family. The following years, new figures were added to the scene: shepherds one year and the three kings another year.

Members of the congregation have contributed crafts that brighten the sanctuary during Advent and Christmas. Leslie Hammond gave an angel wall hanging. Bernie Poitras presented hand-carved nativity figures, which he had made. Although the figures were given “on loan,” after ten years Mary and Joseph still appear in the church each Advent to be joined by the Baby Jesus and other Nativity figures on Christmas.

In the Christmas 2002 issue of the Courier the Wardens (Dale Riley, Tony Sauder and Jim Simpson) made the following observations: “What does the upcoming Christmas season mean to St. Catherine’s? Well, first it means we are still actively worshiping as an Anglican congregation in Port Coquitlam. Second, it also means we see a role for our Church in the community. This year, for the first time, Paul’s Place will provide a hot Christmas Dinner those in our community that may not have their own dinner. And when the meal is served our seniors and others in the parish and Trinity United will join them as a community, sharing a meal and the peace of the Christmas season together. And finally, we will be celebrating the Christmas Eve Eucharist with our neighbors St. John the Divine, Port Moody, not as guests but together as joint participants. Yes, we are still here, we have found a role for us in community outreach, and we are reaching out to our Anglican neighbors.”

This year St. Catherine’s continues its role in the community with old and newer traditions. The Nativity figures that used to appear annually at the church on McAllister are now on display at the Outlet in Leigh Square until the end of December. The church will hold its annual Senior’s Christmas lunch on December 20 and a community dinner on January 14. Of course, there will be services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and a "longest night" service on December 21. Details of the services are available at http://www.stcatherineschurch.ca/Saint_Catherines/Worship.html.

Ann Blue Awarded the Order of the Diocese

2011-11-26T17:10:00.000-08:00

Long-time St. Catherine's parishioner Ann Blue has been awarded the Order of the Diocese of New Westminster for "extraordinary service, leadership, wisdom and committed ministry to God’s mission in the world." Ann is the current head of the Altar Guild. She sings in the church choir and has been writing a column for the St. Catherine's Courier for over 30 years. Among her other contributions, Ann has served as a church warden and was one of the founders of the Paul's Place Soup Kitchen. The award was presented at Christ Church Cathedral (Vancouver) on November 6. On November 20, St. Catherine's Church members gathered at a potluck supper to celebrate with Ann. St. Catherine's salutes you, Ann, for a well-deserved honour.

Annual Church Bazaar - Nov. 26

2011-11-11T10:33:00.000-08:00

On November 26, 2011, the St. Catherine’s Anglican Church Women (ACW) will hold their 102nd annual bazaar in partnership with the women of Trinity United Church. This long-standing tradition once helped to fund construction of the original St. Catherine’s Church building and continues to fund both the church and the ACW’s mission in the wider community.

One hundred years ago the annual bazaar made front page news in the Coquitlam Star (December 8, 1911) with this story:

“Easily the most successful sale of work which Coquitlam has yet seen was held in the Municipal Hall under the auspices of St. Catherine’s Church Ladies’ Society and the able direction of Rev. H. Fane Edge, who was as usual, the moving spirit of the day.

“Crowds attended the bazaar which was so financially successful that at the end of the afternoon the tables were cleared of their goods and a hundred or so young men bemoaning lack of appetite for supper.

“At times the crush was so great that the buyers surging around the stalls were pushed out into the street, and a rush for shelter from the pouring rain resulted in the room upstairs being requisitioned by the crowd for a social hall. Every one had to take their turn in this upstairs room eventually, except, of course, Mr. Frank Pambridge, who stuck so close to the stall where the most palatable eatables were displayed that he might have been glued there. His front position, so to speak, was several times hotly contested by others of the young men about town, but naturally nothing short of an ax could move Frank when some thing good to eat was within his reach.”

Mark your calendars and plan to be part of the continuing tradition at the St. Catherine’s-Trinity Annual Bazaar on November 26.

Successful Wine and Cheese Fund-Raiser

2011-10-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

St. Catherine's hosted a highly successful fund-raiser, the Wine and Cheese Social and Silent Auction, on September 24. Thanks to all our sponsors:

Pacific Breeze Winery

6 - 320 Stewardson Way

New Westminster, BC

Matteo's Gelato
2615 Mary Hill Road

Port Coquitlam, BC

Port Coquitlam Bowl

2263 McAllister Avenue
Port Coquitlam, BC

Millington's Quality Butcher Shop
302B - 2748 Lougheed Highway
Port Coquitlam, BC

Me ‘n’ Eds Pizza Parlour
2233 McAllister Avenue
Port Coquitlam, BC

Pasta Polo Restaurant

2754 Barnet Highway

Coquitlam, BC

Sam’z Pub
2342 Elgin Avenue
Port Coquitlam, BC

PoCo Building Supplies
2650 Mary Hill Rd
Port Coquitlam, BC

Lotrell Catering
3 – 1850 Kingsway Avenue
Port Coquitlam, BC

Saint St. Grill
2514 St. Johns Street
Port Moody, BC

Dairy Queen

2550 Shaughnessy Street

Port Coquitlam, BC

Gaye Simms, Notary Public

105 - 2655 Mary Hill Road

Port Coquitlam, BC

Arbonne

Arlene Sturn, Independent Consultant

604 842 3537

sturn.pa@gmail.com

Stylin’ Divas

604 461 1154

stylindivas@shaw.ca

Europe Bakery & Delicatessen

2552 Shaughnessy Street

Port Coquitlam, BC

Kevin Wong

Piano Instructor

Please support our sponsors.

Wine and Cheese Social

2011-09-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

St. Catherine’s will host a wine and cheese social at the church hall on Saturday, September 24 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. There will be door prizes and a silent auction. The purpose of the event is to raise funds for St. Catherine’s community programs.

Tickets are $20 each and may be obtained by telephoning the church office (604-942-9812) or at the door. The ticket price includes appetizers, tea/coffee and dessert. Wine will be available for $4 per glass. Juice and/or pop will be $1.

This is an adult function – no minors, please.

Our Vision: Partnership with Trinity United Church

2011-06-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

The following vision statement developed from a joint meeting of the St. Catherine's and Trinity Councils:

We are a welcoming, inclusive and compassionate Christian centre, fulfilling God’s opportunity for spiritual growth in the community. We do this through:

a committed partnership of shared resources and management;

innovative ministries;

the practice of radical hospitality.

From Palms to Passion

2011-04-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

The Palm Sunday services on April 17 took the St. Catherine’s congregation on Christ’s journey from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem along a road strewn with palms to His Passion – betrayal by a friend, trial and crucifixion. The service began with a procession that recalled the entry into Jerusalem complete with palm branches and donkeys and proceeded to a re-enactment of the betrayal, trial and crucifixion. In the evening, a Seder supper recalled Christianity’s roots in Judaism – the Last Supper was a Seder – and showed how Christ revealed to his disciples that he was the One who had been awaited for over 1,000 years.

Outreach – Paul’s Place

2011-03-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

From vegetable beef to vegetarian chili to mixed meat soup that incorporates the donation of the week, Paul’s Place serves a hot meal to the community of Port Coquitlam every Wednesday. Some come for warmth and physical nourishment or to extend a tight food budget. Others come from loneliness for the emotional nourishment of sharing a meal and conversation with others. Their reasons for coming aren’t important to the volunteers who keep Paul’s Place running; everyone is welcome.

Named in memory of Paul Warwick, whose vision led to St. Catherine’s establishing a monthly soup kitchen, Paul’s Place has been operating since January 2002. Initially, volunteers had to lure homeless people from the bushes along the Coquitlam River to come to the church for a bowl of hot soup. From the handful of clients who shared the first monthly meals in 2002, participation has grown to an average of 125 people at the now-weekly soup kitchens. The number of volunteers has grown as well, with members of the Tzu Chi Foundation, an international Buddhist charitable organization, serving lunch twice a month. St. Catherine’s volunteers have expanded their effort as well, preparing and serving lunch on the second, third and fifth Wednesday each month.

Other groups participate on special occasions. For the last two years, students from Heritage Woods Secondary School have prepared and served a full turkey dinner on one Wednesday in December.

Various community services are available along with Wednesday soup kitchen. Volunteers from Trinity United Church run a food bank for SHARE. Social workers take advantage of the opportunity to visit with their clients, and public health nurses provide a free clinic once a month. In addition, St. Catherine’s Wednesday Holy Communion service is available for those seeking spiritual nourishment.

Although the food is free, a donation box is available for anyone who wants to contribute. However, the donation box and sales of leftover soup defray only a fraction of the weekly costs. Donations from the wider community help to keep the soup kitchen running. SHARE routinely provides buns, pies and pastries, and EFCON Inc. frequently contributes ice cream. In 2010, monetary donations came from businesses and community groups including Castle Park Elementary School, Sons of Norway, Trinity Men’s Group, Bank of Montreal – BMO Employees Foundation, EMT Management, Como Lake Garden Center and Heatherbrae and from several individuals.

Photograph: St. Catherine's volunteers in the kitchen

Thanksgiving Community Dinner – Monday, October 11

2010-10-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

Members of St. Catherine's Church will serve a Thanksgiving dinner on Monday, October 11 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM. The dinner is open to all members of the community. The location is Trinity United/St. Catherine's Anglican Church, 2211 Prairie Avenue, Port Coquitlam.

Celebration of Creation and Blessing of Animals

2010-10-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Feast of St. Francis

October 3, 2010

Sister Seal, Brother Whale, Brother Ant and Sister Butterfly, Brother Pig and Sister Cow, dogs, cats, rats, guinea pigs, mice, hamsters, turtles, snakes, crickets, goldfish, spiders and all brothers and sisters be welcome in this world we share.

Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our animal friends, especially for animals who are suffering; for animals that are overworked, underfed and cruelly treated; for all wistful creatures in captivity that beat their wings against bars; for any that are hunted, lost, deserted, frightened or hungry; for all that must be put to death. For all those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion, gentle hands and kindly words. Make us true friends to animals and so to share the blessing of their place in creation. Amen.

St. Catherine's Relay for Life Team Reaps Success

2010-06-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the generosity of parishioners - and in no small measure to the efforts of Jane Hird-Rutter, St. Catherine's Realy for Life team raised over $4000. Team members walked or ran for 12 hours on a beautiful, sunny June 5 - and made it to church the next morning despite a few sore muscles. Apart from captaining the team, Jane organized fund-raisers including a scrapbooking workshop that helped the team to exceed its goal for dollars raised.

St. Catherine's Floats through May Day

2010-06-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

As in previous years, St. Catherine's participated in Port Coquitlam's annual May Day Parade. This year's entry depicted the church's community outreach through the Paul's Place. This "soup kitchen" provides hot meals and fellowship each Wednesday noon. The Food Bank, operated by members of Trinity United Church operates the same day, allowing participants to go home with a full stomach and a full pantry.

Coastal Sound Choir to Perform May 29

2010-05-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

The Coastal Sound Music Academy Children's Choir and the All City Children's Choir from Edmonton will present a concert at Trinity United/St. Catherine's Anglican Church at 7:30 PM on May 29. Refershments will be available during the intermission.

Admission will be by donation at the door (suggested minimum: $5.00). The funds raised will support the St. Catherine's music program and purchase a new stove for Trinity's kitchen. This is the stove used for the weekly Soup Kitchen, which feeds the homeless and other people in need of a hot meal or simply some fellowship.

Trinity United/St. Catherine's Anglican Church is located at 2211 Prairie Avenue (at Shaughnessy Street), Port Coquitlam.

Lenten Study - A Vision of the Future

2010-03-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

The congregations of St. Catherine's Anglican Church and Trinity United Church are undertaking a joint study series during Lent. The purpose of the studies is to create a vision of how the two churches can move forward as partners within the context of future directions for the area's various Anglican and United churches. The sessions provide a chance to reflect prayerfully together on the ministries and missions of both congregations.

To provide a chance for everyone to attend the weekly studies, three sessions per week are offered:
Tuesday mornings 10:00-11:30 am
Tuesday evenings 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Sunday evenings 5:00 - 6:30 pm

The two evening sessions will begin with a light meal of soup and bread. Attendance at the same time each week is not required. People may attend whichever service works for them in a particular week. All sessions are held at the church (morning session in the library, evening sessions in the narthex).

St. Catherine's Recognized with Heritage Marker

2010-02-21T21:08:00.000-08:00

On February 15, the Port Coquitlam Heritage and Cultural Society unveiled five Heritage Markers that commemorate historical buildings. One of the markers gives a brief history of St. Catherine’s Church. It will be placed on the parking lot across from City Hall where the church stood from 1931 to 1999.

Rev. Paul Strudwick and Pippa VanVelzen of the Heritage Society pose with the St. Catherine’s historical marker.

St. Catherine's Celebrates Centenary on November 22

2009-11-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

St. Catherine of Alexandria Anglican Church will hold its centenary service at 10:30 AM on November 22. Bishop Michael Ingham will preside at the service to which federal, provincial, and local politicians and former members of the congregation have been invited.

St. Catherine’s Church opened at its first location (Dewdney Trunk Road near Burleigh) on November 28, 1909. John Smith, who would become Port Coquitlam’s first City Clerk, was one of the founders of the church. He kept a diary, which recorded the planning and construction of the first church building:

January 11 [1909]. In evening Church meeting re forming a Parish here.
July 12. Slashing church lot. Mr Govier here to dinner.
August 21. Working in garden in A.M. In aft: burned the church lot.
September 10. In aft: hauled lumber for the Church of England.
September 11. Finished hauling lumber for church.
October 4. Church meeting, re building fund, held here in evening.
October 7. Working on church all day.
October 26. Hauled sand, etc to church.
October 27. Hauled windows, etc. to church.
November 27. Very wet all day. Took chairs, etc. to church.
November 28. (Sunday). Very wet all day. River very high. All trains stopped from wash outs & the roads all round junction flooded. Mrs Pentreath & Miss Roberts here to sing at church opening. Bishop could not come, too wet.

The Coquitlam Star (May 8, 1912), which erroneously gives an opening date of 1910, provides a slightly more detailed description of the church’s first service:

“The service of dedication will long be remembered. Floods held up the train, the Bishop only arriving in time to return on the next and only train. Archdeacon Pentreath managed to get in, but too late for the service, which Mr. Govier conducted. None the less, the congregation rejoiced to have the church finished.”

Extracts from John Smith's diary are from "Very Fine" The Diaries of John Smith, transcribed by Philip A. Jones (October 2006) and from the original hand-written Diary 7 (May 1, 1907—April 10, 1910) from the Special Collections Division of the University of British Columbia Library.

It's Messy Church Time Again!

2009-10-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

St. Catherine’s Anglican Church will hold another session of Messy Church on Saturday, October 24 from 3:30 – 6:00 PM. Messy Church is a monthly program for families who find they can’t manage a Sunday morning service but would like their children to have a Christian element in their lives. The program features family fun, food, fellowship and worship. Fall sessions focus on the sayings of Jesus.

The September Messy Church session began at 3:30 with people registering, having a drink and cookies and playing board games. From 4:00 to 5:00 they worked on a variety of crafts, including friendship bracelets, potato prints and a Grape Treading banner. At 5:00 everyone marched into the church for a talk about remaining close to Jesus and how much Jesus loves us. Participants wrote prayers on grape-shaped post-its and then marched back into the hall for dinner.

Organ and Piano Recital on October 16

2009-10-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

Kevin Wong, the new music director at St. Catherine’s, will present an organ and piano concert at the church on Friday, October 16, at 8:00 PM. He will play a selection of classical and popular music. The concert will be preceded by a spaghetti dinner in the church hall at 6:30 PM. Admission is by donation. All proceeds will benefit the St. Catherine’s music fund.

Kevin is an accomplished soloist, chamber musician and piano teacher. He holds a Masters of Music degree from the University of British Columbia. His diverse solo repertoire ranges from the Baroque masterpieces of J.S. Bach through to contemporary works of Chinese folk music. He has a special fondness for late classical and romantic works.
As a chamber musician, Kevin collaborates with string and wind players, singers and large ensembles. In May 2006, he performed and toured with the National Youth Choir of Canada.
Kevin has received substantial recognition in several piano competitions. He received third prize at the 2002 Pacific Piano Competition, which featured 40 pianists from around the world. He has been a provincial finalist at the Canadian Music Competition on many occasions.

Old Time Country Fair a Success

2009-10-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

Members of the congregation and the wider community enjoyed the Old Time Country Fair hosted by the The St. Catherine's ACW on October 3. Home-made jams, jellies, preserves and baking enticed the adults.

Children indulged in cotton candy and popcorn and played heritage games including pin the-tail-on-the-donkey, ring toss, fishing pond and bobbing for apples. Both children and adults competed in the cake walks. As well, ACW members served a sit-down lunch, while a barber shop quartet (minus one) entertained.

Messy Church

2009-09-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

St. Catherine’s Anglican Church presents Messy Church, a monthly program for families who find they can’t manage a Sunday morning service but would like their children to have a Christian element in their lives. The program features family fun, food, fellowship and worship. It starts Saturday, September 26 from 3:30 – 6:00 PM at 2211 Prairie Avenue (Trinity United Church building). This month’s theme is “I am the Vine.”
To learn more about the Messy Church concept visit http://www.messychurch.org.uk/.

St. Catherine's Anglican Church Women Present an Old-Time Country Fair

2009-09-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

Members of the St. Catherine's Anglican Church Women (ACW) will dress in period costume when they celebrate their 100th anniversary with an old-fashioned country fair on October 3. The event will take place at 2211 Prairie Avenue (Trinity United Church building) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The fair will feature items that the ACW’s founding members would have used to raise money for the church in the early 1900’s. There will be kids’ games with prizes galore, cotton candy, “bag” lunches, cake walks, and food sales (baked goods, canned fruits, pickles, jellies, jams and fudge).
The ACW was organized as the Women’s Auxiliary in February 1909, when local citizens were preparing to construct the first Anglican Church in Westminster Junction (later to become Port Coquitlam). Within three years, through concerts and sales of needlework, the women had raised enough money to pay back a $500 loan for the church’s construction and purchase an organ. Over the years the ACW have contributed linens, vestments, prayer books and furnishings for the church and parish hall. In the 1970’s their fund-raising helped to repay the debt for constructing a new church building on McAllister Avenue. They also do catering for weddings, anniversaries and funerals and provide supplies for churches in remote areas of northern BC and Yukon.