History will be made on the weekend of Sept. 20 and 21 when St. Hilda’s-by-the-Sea Anglican Church in Sechelt welcomes the Right Rev. Melissa Skelton to meet the spiritual community on the Sunshine Coast through various events and worship services.
In November 2013, Skelton became the first woman and the first American to be elected bishop of the 135-year-old Anglican Diocese of New Westminster, which spans the Lower Mainland, Whistler and the Sunshine Coast.
On March 1, 2014, she was ordained bishop at the Vancouver Convention Centre and then later that day, at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Vancouver, she was installed as the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster. Since her ordination she has been going at a non-stop pace getting to know the communities of faith that make up her new diocese.
Skelton is a respected leader in the field of congregational development, leading workshops and learning sessions throughout North America. The congregation tripled during her nine-year incumbency at her last ministry post, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in one of Seattle’s urban neighbourhoods.
She has a passion for the arts and will be facilitating a discussion on Art and Spirit: An Exploration of Spirituality and the Creative Process with a panel of local artists on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Hilda’s. Artists already confirmed to join the dialogue include painters Paul Gibson, Ed Hill, Gigi Hoeller and Suzy Naylor and potter Ray Niebergall. All are welcome to this free public event.
On Sunday, Sept. 21, Skelton will preach and preside at the Holy Communion services at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
The Rev. Clarence Li and the entire faith community of St. Hilda’s want everyone around the Sunshine Coast to know that all are welcome to visit St. Hilda’s to meet and welcome Skelton, and to get to know this remarkable woman of faith. St. Hilda’s is located at 5838 Barnacle Street in Sechelt beside Rockwood Centre.
For more information, contact Li at 604-993-0399 or email rector@sthilda.ca
