Episcopal Visit to Surrey on May 1

On May 1, Easter III, Bishop John Stephens paid the first visit of his episcopacy to his Parish of St. Helen, Surrey, the beautiful heritage church in Surrey's Gateway/Whalley neighbourhood.

There was a good-sized congregation and the Celebration of the Eucharist included a Reception into the Anglican Communion. The parish happily greeted Surrey's newest Anglican (who also happens to be the parish's livesteam MEVO tech), Zoltan Barabas. Bishop John Stephens preached and presided with the assistance of a sanctuary party consisting of the parish’s priest-in-charge, the Reverend Philippa Segrave-Pride; deacon, the Reverend Steve Thompson; Crucifer/Liturgical Assistant and Psalmist, Maureen Thompson; Bishop’s Chaplain, Wendy Russell and parish musician, Matthew Ma. Matthew who is a fine organist and pianist did a fine job with the hymns, service music, prelude, postlude and added a beautiful piece played on the parish’s Baby Grand piano during Holy Communion. 

The first worship service at St. Helen’s Anglican Church in the South Westminster (now known as Whalley) neighbourhood took place on November 26, 1911. The parish celebrated its 110th birthday this past November.

Things have changed a great deal in the Surrey neighbourhood since that first worship service 110+ years ago when the neighbourhood of South Westminster was home to men and their families who made their living from the Fraser river: fishing, milling, dock-working and other labours associated with the Lower Mainland’s then growing natural resources industries.

Now it is one of the most multi-cultural regions in the country but still home to working families and the parish reflects the diversity of the surrounding neighbourhood.

In his sermon, Bishop John focused on the Gospel text, John 21: 1-19. The “Fishers of Men” “Feed my Sheep” passages. He encouraged the congregation to be inspired by the relevance of the Gospel message and Christ’s resurrection in the here and now and how it is reinforced through the Eucharist:

When Jesus met with the fishing disciples in the gospel passage of this morning, he offered them some bread and some fish. The same as what he offered about 5,000 of them on a different occasion. Bread and fish meant to be more than the obvious but in fact signs of God’s blessing, of God’s grace, of God’s abundant love. And each week we come together as a community and continue to share in this same bread, if you will. It could be something that we simply do because we were told we should. It could be a mere routine kept going for the sake of a tradition. But something happens at Communion that we can never quite fully understand. It is a holy moment as people stretch out their hands to receive the bread.  It is a holy moment as everyone who comes forward: rich and poor, strong,and weak, old and young, shy and outspoken, questioning and calm-spirited all come forward to receive that same bread. It is offered to all. It is a sign that God’s love is larger than our minds comprehend. It is a sign that we can discover the holy in our midst. It is a sign each time we share that bread, Jesus, the resurrected Jesus is in our midst too.

(Here is a link to Bishop John’s sermon on this website)

St. Helen’s church building is one of the most beautiful early 20th century Gothic Revival design constructions in the Diocese of New Westminster and it is situated in a wonderful setting. Well worth a visit if you’ve not been there.

IMAGES

• View of the Eucharistic Prayer from the nave
• Bishop John meets with the sanctuary party prior to worship, Bishop’s Chaplain, Wendy Russell; priest-in-charge, the Reverend Segrave-Pride; Crucifer/Liturgical Assistant, Maureen Thompson
• Gathering in the narthex prior to the procession in
• Matthew Ma
• At the conclusion of the procession to the Opening Hymn, "Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendour", Bishop John acknowledges the altar.
• Deacon of the Word and Table, the Reverend Steve Thompson proclaims the Gospel, John 21: 1-19
• Bishop John Stephens greets a member of the congregation during the exchange of the peace.
• The Common Cup is returning. Lynn Turner administers the Blood of Christ
• The procession out
• Greeting folks at the door prior to attending lunch in the hall
• The posed archival episcopal visit photo.