Christmas in Victoria

Well, it's not traditional, but Christmas is going ok here in Victoria! We're through one of the Christmas services - the 4:00 children's service- and have two more tonight ( 7 and 10) and one tomorrow morning (10:30). The service tonight was wonderful - over a hundred people there, most of them kids. It's a pretty informal service, and was a lot of fun! I'm leading the service at 7, and preaching at 10.

My friends Patrick and Mallory are here. I know them from school - Patrick is studying to be a priest. They are from Ottawa, so are sort of stuck for Christmas. We decided that since we were all stuck out here, we may as well be stuck together! They have a 2 year old daughter, Esther, who is a lot of fun. She's pretty easy going, and very chatty. We took her to the park yesterday, and she ran around saying "hi" to all the dogs. Tonight we set out milk and cookies for Santa, but he's going to have to move quickly if he wants a shot at the cookies! Since the service tomorrow is not till 10:30, we're going to get up at 7 and open gifts. Tonight after the 10, we'll have appies. Aside from playing with Esther, all we've been doing is eating - I didn't do much baking, but my parishioners stepped bravely into the breach and have sent table loads of cookies. Tim and I made nuts and bolts when he was here, and they were all gone by today, we made a second roaster full. I've also got big plans for some chili cheese dip.

It's strange being here - no snow, no cold. It doesn't quite feel like Christmas, more like another Sunday with a few extra services. I wish I was home, but having Patrick, Mallory and Esther here is the next best thing.

Big News All Around

Well, it's been a big week. I found out this week that I will ordained on May 8, in Victoria. For those keeping track, this the day before I graduate. Bishop James decided to schedule the ordination for the same weekend as Convocation, so that my family wouldn't have to travel out twice. So, in addition to all of you being invited to Convocation in Vancouver May 9, you are also invited to my ordination on May 8, at St. George the Martyr, in Victoria! Anglicans are ordained twice, once to the diaconate, and then again in six months or a year to the priesthood. So if you can't make this one, you have a second chance!

The other big news is that I've been offered a job! The job is as an assistant curate at St. Luke's, Victoria. An assistant curate is a training role - a little like an intern. We typically spend two years in a curacy, learning all the bits and pieces that we don't learn in school (all the practical stuff. I'm super excieted about this - I was not expecting to be placed in Victoria, or to know where I would be going so quickly. I think I'll start July 1.

The final piece of good news, and nothing to do with me, is that Jesse and Colleen had their baby! Madison Shirley Robertson was born yesterday afternoon at 2:45 in Edmonton. She and mom are healthy and doing well.