February 24 will mark a somber anniversary—three years since the full-scale Russian war against Ukraine began.

In his sermon at the "Ecumenical Prayer for Peace in Ukraine" in Philadelphia, Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church writes: 

It is a painful anniversary. Three years of death and destruction, struggle and suffering, tears and sweat. Three harsh winters. Three scorching summers. Power outages and blackouts. Strikes on civilians. Attacks on infrastructure. Our people, our cities, our land bear deep wounds. . . 

. . . We want peace. Every Ukrainian longs for peace—for nights without air raid sirens, for mornings without explosions, for days without casualties and nights without fear. But a ceasefire is not peace, and a political deal cannot bring justice. A truce that leaves people suffering under occupation is a cruel mockery. Without justice, peace is impossible—it becomes an illusion, a hollow promise.

Ukrainians yearn for a just and lasting peace. A peace that not only stops the bloodshed but also restores dignity and freedom for all. . . 

. . . What sustains us? What keeps us from falling?

The Primate concludes his sermon by saying that what has sustained the people of Ukraine and kept them from falling are "the millions of people around the world, who pray for and support them, who believe that goodness and truth have their own divine power, and evil, lies and death will never have the final word." 

You are invited to come and join in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as we sing and worship as an act of resistance against the forces of darkness and pray with hope for a just and lasting peace for the people who call Ukraine home. 

Jennifer Carr, from the LaCrosse (Wisconsin) area Synod will be sharing about the 2024 visit to BC Synod's Global Companion Church in Peru - the Igleisia Luterana del Peru, IL-P. All are welcome

The Gloria Dei Annual General Meeting is scheduled for March 16, following the morning worship Service.  Please bring a plate of finger food to share for a light lunch snack before our meeting. 

The Annual General Meeting will consider the following: 

1. To review and accept the Financial Report for 2024
2. To review and approve the Parish Budget for 2025
3. To review and accept committee reports for 2024
4. To elect Council members and Chair of the ­­­­­Church Council for 2025.

Our conversations over the weekend will take place at King of Life Lutheran, 1198 Falcon Drive, Coquitlam. We will begin at 9:30 am on Saturday, March 22nd (coffee will be ready at 9:15am) and continue through until 12:30 pm on Sunday, March 23.  Our facilitator for the weekend is Charles Holmes, who led our synod-wide conversations. We hope that each congregation will send up to two lay leaders and their active rostered leader or interim minister.

Please join us for this important time of reflection, dialogue, and visioning. Your voice is essential as we work to strengthen the bonds that unite us in our shared ministry. 

You can register for the gathering here. Please ensure every attendee from your congregation fills out the registration form as soon as possible. The registration deadline is Wednesday, March 5th, 2025. 

We look forward to your participation in this pivotal gathering. 

Lord, oh the Great and Almighty,

Protect our beloved Ukraine,

Bless her with freedom and light

Of your holy rays.

~ Oleksandr Konysky, 1836-1900