Your Neighbourhood Place of Hope

From the Pastor’s Desk

When the old Customs House in downtown Victoria needed renovation, the community faced a tough question: How do you renew a 150-year-old building without losing its historic value?

The answer came through the work of a former member of St. Andrew’s. His team took on the challenge by carefully gutting the inside of the building, while preserving the beautiful outer facade. They supported the front with intricate ironwork, then rebuilt the interior—strong, new, and ready for the future.

It’s a powerful image of what God is doing—not just in us, but in all of Creation.

In the season after Easter, which we call Eastertide, we’re invited to reflect on this kind of renewal. Just like that heritage building, our lives—and our world—need deep restoration. God is tearing down what’s broken: the harmful patterns and worn-out ways we’ve clung to. And God is rebuilding something beautiful from the inside out.

We’re excited to welcome back The Rev. Dr. Ross Lockhart to help us explore this theme. Ross is the Dean of St. Andrew’s Hall at the Vancouver School of Theology, located at UBC. He’s a longtime friend of our community, and I know his presence will be a blessing as we journey through Eastertide together.

Come join us—either in person or online—as we explore this together. If you want to catch up on any of our past talks, you can check out our videos at YouTube.com/@standrewsnanaimo."

With you for Christ,

Pastor Jeremy

Questions to Go Deeper

1. What did you think about Pastor Jeremy’s sermon?
   Was there anything in it that made you think or something you really liked? Was there anything that confused you or that you’d like to know more about?

2. How have you experienced God’s renewal in your own life? Think about a time when something in your life felt broken or stuck. How did God bring new life or a fresh perspective to that situation?

3. In what ways do you see creation longing for renewal? Look around you—at nature, relationships, or even our world’s challenges. Where do you see the effects of brokenness, and where do you see hope for healing and renewal?

4. What does it mean for you to be a part of God’s work of renewal in the world? How can you participate in God’s work of restoration and new life, both in your own life and in the world around you?

5. How can you live as someone who has been made new? What changes can you make in your daily life to reflect the new life and hope that comes through Jesus' resurrection?