After 11 years at the Church of the Advent, Rev. Ken Gray is moving on.

The long-time rector, music and art lover, political activist, environmentalist and Colwood resident takes his services to St. PaulB次元官网网址檚 Cathedral in Kamloops. HeB次元官网网址檒l be dean for the very church in which he was married almost 30 years ago.

B次元官网网址淲e will miss many people. ItB次元官网网址檚 been good to be here, but for us it is time to move on,B次元官网网址� Gray said. B次元官网网址淚 am looking forward to new challenges and new opportunities B次元官网网址� It was a place I found my experience and interests resonating with folks doing similar work.B次元官网网址�

Some of that work was directed to protect the Earth.

Gray is secretary for the Anglican Communion Environment Network, which globally connects church members who have an eye on food security, water, sanitation energy production and other environmental issues. Church of the Advent hosted a week-long environmental justice camp in May 2006, attracting 80 people from across the country to learn and develop strategies for advocacy.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 concerned about the future of the Earth and as a Christian, I believe the Earth has been given to us as a gift and to date we have abused it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o, it is a moral imperative for me.B次元官网网址�

Despite being visually impaired due to albinism, Gray is also a senior volunteer at the local and national level for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Outside his volunteerism and church and community work, his love of the arts has been well nourished on the West Shore, he said. He even runs his own photography business, despite being legally blind.

B次元官网网址淚n the age of digital camera auto focus and exposure, everything is possible that wasnB次元官网网址檛 in the 1970s,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚 tend to see line and shape and colour better than detail B次元官网网址� But our motto is, B次元官网网址榳e see what others miss.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

In addition to shooting on the Island for Legally Blind Photography, he will also miss the Jazz Vespers, an amalgamation of a church service with some of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 best jazz musicians. The last one at which Gray will officiate happens Sunday, March 20, when the Pram Trio from Toronto are welcomed to Colwood.

Church warden Elizabeth Bennett, who began attending the Church of the Advent after her previous one closed down, said the friendly demeanour of Gray and his wife Kathie made her feel at home among the approximately 200 parishioners.

Since Gray is legally blind, Bennett signed up to help drive him to appointments, including visiting patients at hospitals or homes. She said she will miss the learning conversations shared with Gray on route to the different volunteer events.

B次元官网网址淚 think he has a good balance; (as) a parish priest he must first service his congregation, but depending on the vision of the church the amount of outreach to community can vary,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淗e is going to be missed and Kamloops is lucky to be getting him.B次元官网网址�

A farewell lunch for the long-time rector goes at 11 a.m. on March 20 followed that evening by the final Jazz Vespers service at 7 p.m. GrayB次元官网网址檚 last service as rector happens Easter Sunday, March 27 at 10 a.m. at 510 Mount View Ave.

alim@goldstreamgazette.com