December 8, 2013

201 East 23rd Street (2000)

North Shore Alliance Church
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

"Our church began in Horseshoe Bay, a little over sixty years ago. And while a lot has changed in sixty years (our location, our music, our ministries), the foundation remains the same. Connie and Marjorie Pope had a passion for Jesus and a burden on their hearts for the people who lived around them.  Taking note that there was no evangelical church in the area, these two sisters along with their friend, Karen Chalmers, began to develop a vision that remains central to us today--moving out into the neighbourhood with the message that God loves people.

"Over the years, NSAC grew to the place where it needed a new, more permanent home. In 1988, the congregation moved into our current building at 201 East 23rd street. But God had more in mind than simply a new building for our church community; He had in mind multiple churches across the North Shore. In 2002, again in 2005, and once more in 2006, three new churches were launched: Cove Community Church in Deep Cove, The River Church in Squamish, and Simple Churches ( a network of house churches across Vancouver and North Vancouver).

"Today, North Shore Alliance is a church that meets in two gatherings on Sundays, and in over 30 small groups weekly around the city. North Shore Alliance is also a part of a larger network of churches called the Christian Missionary Alliance. (Link 1.)

Alliance Church, facing corner of St. Georges and East 23rd Street

(2013)

This distinctive modern church (built 1988) faces the North Shore mountains and is on the corner of St. Georges Avenue and East 23rd Street in the City of North Vancouver.  The cross is a predominant feature.  The open steeple (pictured above) of two molded cement spires reaching to the heavens protects a large wooden cross (Photo below). The cross is made up of several different kinds of wood.  Crosses are also the centerpieces of the windows on either side of the open steeple.

Wooden Cross Inside Open Steeple (2013)

A large wooden cross also is mounted at the side of the chancel in the sanctuary.  This cross is of cedar.  Both of these crosses were made by  Graham Schulz.  Additional seating for worship services is in the sanctuary balcony.

Sanctuary

The stained glass window to the right of the chancel and behind the baptismal pool was placed there in 1987.  It symbolizes the Alliance Church. 

"The term "fourfold gospel" describes the historic emphasis of the C&MA on the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Saviour, our Sanctifier, our Healer and our Coming King. These aspects of the ministry of Jesus are represented in the official C&MA logo or symbol. Each element of the logo visualizes one aspect." (Link 3.)

Symbols seen in the stained glass window below. (Link 3.)

Stained Glass Window

(to the right of the sanctuary chancel)

"The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) is an evangelical Protestant denomination within Christianity.

"Founded by Rev. Albert Benjamin Simpson in 1887, the Christian & Missionary Alliance did not start off as a denomination, but rather began as two distinct parachurch organizations: The Christian Alliance which focused on the pursuit and promotion of the Higher Christian life and The Evangelical Missionary Alliance, which focused on mobilizing "consecrated" Christians in the work of foreign missionary efforts. These two groups amalgamated in 1897 to form The Christian and Missionary Alliance. It was only much later during the mid-20th century that an official denomination was formed

"In Canada, there are 440 churches,..." (Link 2.)

Thank you: To Dave Sattler, Outreach Pastor, for information about the church

                 building during my visit in 2015.

Photos: Top photo taken as part of the Year 2000 Photography Project, Our
                 House/Your Home by SW and on file at the North Vancouver 
                 Archives. Additional photos taken in 2013 by SW.  Interior photos
                 taken in 2015 by SW.
Link 1: http://www.nsac.bc.ca/
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_and_Missionary_Alliance
Link 3: http://www.cmacan.org/logo

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.