Today marks my first official day as rector of St. Alban’s Anglican Church in Richmond, BC. While the title is new, the heart of my ministry here has been quietly brewing for some time—quite literally.

For a while now, I’ve been hosting Coffee with Fr. Bill every Tuesday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 AM and Thursday evening from 7:30 to 8:30 PM at a local coffee shop. It’s a simple but intentional outreach: a space where anyone from the community can drop by, share a story, ask a question, or simply be heard. No pulpit, no pressure—just presence, conversation, and listening.

This morning, as I stepped into this new chapter as rector, I was greeted outside the coffee shop by someone I’ll call W—a member of St. Alban’s who had heard about the coffee ministry through our announcements. W welcomed me warmly and we shared a rich, heartfelt conversation. It was the kind of exchange that reminds me why this ministry matters: because people need spaces to be seen, heard, and known.

What made the moment even more special was W’s offer to help “advertise” the coffee gatherings. That simple gesture felt like a blessing—a sign that this ministry is already touching lives and that others are eager to help it grow.

So yes, today was a good beginning. Not because everything was grand or dramatic, but because it was real. It was relational. It was rooted in the very purpose that brought me here: to walk alongside people, to listen deeply, and to build community one conversation at a time.

If you’re ever nearby on a Tuesday morning or Thursday evening, I’d love to see you. The coffee is warm, the welcome is genuine, and the stories—yours included—are sacred.