Neighbourhood Sale and BBQ in Oakridge

This was the site of the 2012 Neighbourhood BBQ and Sale, an event organized by the parish under the energetic leadership of Interim Assistant Priest-in-Charge, Rev. Ruth Monette. This was the first major parish event organized in the past year, since the return of the building and property to the Diocese of New Westminster following the unsuccessful lawsuit brought against the diocese and the bishop in 2009 and the subsequent appeals which were ultimately decided in favour of the diocese and the bishop by the Supreme Court of Canada in June of 2011.
Ruth’s concept was to stage an old fashioned neighbourhood yard sale in the parking lot and to do that she needed to let the surrounding Oakridge neighbourhood know that they were invited. She ran an ad.in the Vancouver Courier newspaper advertising the church’s desire to develop community participation in the event and at a cost of $10 per table the price was certainly right.
Ruth was hoping to have 10 tables and 50/50 participation from the parish and community for year one. She was pleasantly surprised with the baker’s dozen gracing the church grounds on August 18th and the mix of vendors.
Robert and Lillian Sheng were amongst the St. Matthias and St. Luke parishioners who took an active role in the day. Robert, who teaches an exercise class in the church hall urged members of his class to contribute items to the sale and he conscripted members of his family to seek out yard sale items from their homes and staff two tables for the sale. All proceeds from the sale at the Sheng’s tables went to benefit the ministries of St. Matthias and St. Luke.
Not to be outdone by parishioners, Rev. Douglas Fenton, Director for Ministry and Mission Development for the Diocese of New Westminster brought a number of items for sale, including, books, glassware, kitchenware and various attractive collectables.
An attractive component of the event were the free hot dogs prepared by Melissa and Evie. Evie is a youth parishioner at St. Mary’s, Kerrisdale and was happy to volunteer at the event. One of the two grills used to prepare the “dogs” was provided by St. Faith’s Anglican Church, St Matthias and St. Luke’s neighbours to the west.
Among the visiting shoppers were the Dean of the Diocese and Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, The Very Reverend Peter Elliott and the Archdeacon of Burrard and Priest Associate of Christ Church Cathedral, The Venerable Dr. Ellen Clark-King.
The Reverend Ruth Monette will complete her term as Interim Assistant Priest-in-Charge at St. Matthias and St. Luke, September 30th, 2012 and new Incumbent, The Reverend Vivian Lam will be Inducted by Bishop Michael, Tuesday, September 18th, 2012, at 7:30pm.