St Alban's Anglican Church

**During Lent, we will be participating in a shared Evening Prayer service each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at St. Anne’s, together with other local churches. The dates are February 25, March 4, March 11, and March 25. This is a meaningful opportunity to pray together during this holy season and to share fellowship with our wider Christian community. All are warmly encouraged to attend.

On February 28, 2026, our 360 Community will be participating in the Coldest Night of the Year 5K walk that evening, joining thousands of Canadians across the country to support people and families experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness right here in Richmond. This year, we are walking to raise funds for the Richmond Food Bank, which faithfully provides nourishment, dignity, and hope to our neighbours, especially during the cold winter months when the need is greatest. If you are interested in joining or making a donation, please speak with Fr. Bill Mok. Every step and every gift helps ensure that no neighbour is left hungry or forgotten, and your generosity truly makes a difference in our community.

** Seek Justice: Hearing the Voices of Palestinian Christians

St. Alban’s will host Seek Justice on Saturday, March 14 at 3:00pm. This 45‑minute presentation, led by local Palestinian Christians, will share firsthand stories about daily life under occupation. As members of one of the world’s oldest Christian communities, they carry a deep and ancient faith tradition, yet their daily reality is marked by struggle and restriction.   This event is offered in partnership with the Apartheid‑Free Network (BC Chapter) and 360 Community, now a ministry of St. Alban’s. Fr. Bill welcomes our parish and neighbours into a time of listening, learning, and solidarity. Presenters will also introduce the Apartheid Free Communities initiative, which has already been joined by more than 311 Canadian communities.  A time for Q&A and open conversation will follow.  All are warmly invited.

** Fr. Bill will be on vacation from March 16 to March 23. During this time, we will hold just one service on March 22 at 10 AM, led by Rev. Katherine Yeo.

Sermon Title:  Called to Go: Obedience, Courage, and Breaking Barriers

Sermon Outline

1. A Lenten Call to Trust
    Lent invites us to step forward in faith, trusting God even when the path ahead is not fully clear.
2. “So Abram Went” – Obedience Before Certainty
    Abraham’s journey reminds us that faithful obedience begins with trusting God’s promise rather than relying on certainty.
3. Born from Above – A New Vision of God’s Kingdom
    Jesus calls Nicodemus—and us—to spiritual transformation and openness to God’s renewing work.
4. Faith That Trusts the Impossible
    Paul points to Abraham’s faith in the God who creates new possibilities and brings life where none seemed possible.
5. Florence Li Tim-Oi: Courage Under Pressure
    Honoring the first woman ordained in the Anglican Communion as a witness to obedience, humility, and courage.
6. Breaking Barriers in the Church
    God’s Spirit continues to renew the Church, calling us beyond fear and into faithful participation in God’s mission.
7. Our Response: Stepping Forward in Lent
    Lent invites both individuals and our parish community to trust God’s call and courageously step into the future God is preparing.

March 8th, 2026 – Sermon Title:  Meeting Christ at the Well: From Thirst to Living Water

Outline:

1. Recognizing Our Thirst
    Lent invites us to acknowledge the deep spiritual thirst within us—a longing for peace, hope, and God’s presence.                                                                                                                                                                                            
2. Thirst in the Wilderness: When Faith Meets Uncertainty
    Like the Israelites, we may question whether God is with us in difficult times, yet God remains faithful and provides what we need.
3. The Invitation to Listen: Softening the Heart
    We are called to soften our hearts and remain open to God, trusting that God is present even in seasons of dryness and doubt.
4. God’s Grace Comes First
    God’s love is poured into our hearts not because we earn it, but because of God’s grace revealed through Christ.
5. Jesus Meets a Thirsty Soul
    Jesus meets the Samaritan woman in her ordinary life, showing that God encounters us personally and understands our deepest needs.
6. What Is the Living Water?
    The living water is the presence of God within us—the Holy Spirit—bringing lasting life, peace, and renewal.
7. Receiving the Living Water
    We receive this gift not by earning it, but by coming to Christ in faith, openness, prayer, and trust.
8. Being Seen and Transformed
    When we encounter Christ’s grace, we are renewed, healed, and invited into a new way of living.
9. Christ Meets Us in Our Thirst
    Christ continues to meet us today, offering living water in the midst of our struggles and uncertainties.
10. Returning to the Well
     Lent invites us to return to Christ again, to receive his grace, and to be renewed by the living water he gives.