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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20261023T070111Z
UID:66-482807@sthelensvancouver.com
DTSTART:20270204T230000Z
DTEND:20270206T210000Z
CLASS:PUBLIC
CREATED:20261017T124254
DESCRIPTION:Praying in the Dark\nA retreat with Brother James Koester\, SSJ
 E\nThursday 4 – Saturday 6 February 2027\nSt. Paul’s Anglican Church\,
  1130 Jervis Street\, Vancouver\, BC Canada\n$125 CAD\nREGISTER HERE\nAn i
 nvitation to rediscover prayer\nNot every season of life offers clear answ
 ers or easy words for prayer. Praying in the Dark invites us to discover t
 hat uncertainty\, silence and longing can also be places of encounter with
  God.\nLed by Brother James Koester of the Society of Saint John the Evang
 elist (SSJE)\, this three-day Anglican retreat offers time to step away fr
 om everyday demands and attend to the life of prayer. Through teaching\, s
 ilence\, shared worship\, and conversation\, participants will be invited 
 to explore prayer as a source of light\, peace and hope.\nMeet our retreat
  conductor\nBrother James Koester\, SSJE\, is a member of the Society of S
 aint John the Evangelist\, an Anglican monastic community based in Cambrid
 ge\, Massachusetts. Born in Regina\, Saskatchewan\, he entered the Society
  in 1989 and made his life profession in 1995. He has served as Superior o
 f the community and has led retreats\, preached\, taught\, and offered spi
 ritual direction in Canada and internationally. His ministry is shaped by 
 the rhythms of monastic prayer and the Christian contemplative tradition.\
 nWho is welcome?\nThe retreat is open to clergy\, people discerning a voca
 tion\, theological students\, members of religious communities\, and anyon
 e interested in deepening their practice of Christian prayer.\nWhether pra
 yer is a familiar practice or something you are seeking to rediscover\, yo
 u are welcome.\nWhat to expect\nThe programme includes four teaching sessi
 ons with Brother James\, opportunities for personal reflection and silence
 \, Anglican daily prayer and Eucharist\, devotion before the Blessed Sacra
 ment\, and time for conversation and hospitality with fellow participants.
   Private concession time will also be available.\nRetreat programme\nThe
  programme below is tentative and may be adjusted before the retreat.\nThu
 rsday 4 February | Arrival and welcome\n3:00 pm   Registration and welcom
 e\n4:00 pm   Evening Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament\, with Benedicti
 on and a meditation by Brother James\n5:00 pm   Welcome reception\nEvenin
 g   Dinner on your own\nFriday 5 February | Prayer\, teaching and communi
 ty\n8:30 am   Late registration\n9:30 am   Morning Prayer\n10:15 am  We
 lcome and first plenary session\n12:00 pm  Holy Eucharist\n12:45 pm  Lun
 ch (provided)\n1:30 pm   Second plenary session\n2:45 pm   Break\n3:15 p
 m   Third plenary session\n4:45 pm   Evening Prayer\nSaturday 6 February
  | Closing gathering\n9:30 am   Morning Prayer\n10:00 am  Fourth plenary
  session\n11:30 am  Holy Eucharist\, commemorating the Martyrs of Japan\n
  Archbishop John Stephens\, presider and preacher\n12:30 pm  Closing rema
 rks and conclusion\nREGISTER HERE\nRegistration and payment\nRegistration 
 is $125 CAD per person. To take part\, please complete the online Google r
 egistration form using the link below.\nPayment may be made by Interac e-T
 ransfer. \nFull instructions for sending payment are included in the regi
 stration form. Preference is for payment to be made by e-transfer\; howeve
 r\, you may pay by cheque in person at the retreat.\nMeals and hospitality
 \nA welcome reception is planned for Thursday afternoon\, and lunch will b
 e provided on Friday. Participants are responsible for their own Thursday 
 and Friday evening meal. Please share any dietary needs when you register.
 \nAccommodation | Details coming soon\nInformation about accommodation opt
 ions for participants travelling to Vancouver will be added here as arrang
 ements are confirmed.\nOvernight accommodation is not included in the regi
 stration fee. Participants will be responsible for making and paying for t
 heir own accommodation arrangements.\nAccessibility\nWe want participants 
 to be able to take part as fully as possible. Please use the registration 
 form to let the organizers know about any accessibility or participation r
 equirements\, so that we can follow up with you as needed.\nPaid parking i
 s available along Davie Street\, however\, you are encouraged to use publi
 c transit. A parkade is available underground off Davie Street at 1237 Dav
 ie Street.\nLocation\nSt. Paul’s Anglican Church\n1130 Jervis Street\, V
 ancouver\, BC V6E 2C7\nPlease note: this event is being promoted through S
 t. Helen’s Anglican Church\, but the retreat takes place at St. Paul’s
  in Vancouver’s West End.\nREGISTER HERE\nQuestions?\nFor questions abou
 t attending or registering\, please contact Fr. Douglas Fenton at gdfenton
 @gmail.com.
LAST-MODIFIED:20261017T124254
LOCATION:St. Paul's Anglican Church - 1130 Jervis Street\, Vancouver\, BC
SUMMARY:Praying in the Dark
URL;VALUE=URI:https://sthelensvancouver.com/events/praying-in-the-dark/2027
 -02-04
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