Hello, my friends,
I am The Reverend Nicolas Alexandre, or simply Pastor Nic. I am pleased to introduce myself as the Pastor at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Firstly, I would like to thank the community for calling me. I am very excited and full of anticipation to be with you all as we journey together, particularly in these most interesting times. I have spent the past ten years living in Vancouver.
Before I came to Vancouver, I lived in Saskatoon, SK, studying at the Saskatoon Theological Union. I graduated with my Master of Divinity from the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad.
In my life, I have worn many hats. I have been a hotelier, a missionary, an educator, a counsellor, a Buddhist monk, and a chef. I have lived in many places, namely Ireland and the Philippines, to name two. However, the one thing that has linked all my experiences has been my love for God and the enduring call to serve his Church and to hear his voice better.
I began studying religion, philosophy, and classics and earned an undergraduate degree in Religion and Classical Studies, which has fed a lifelong passion for religious studies. Eventually, through this, I found myself being called to seminary. This call would lead me to a more encompassing understanding of the world and the creator behind it. At that point, I was led back to Canada.
I say “back to Canada” because, though I have been living in Canada and on the West Coast for quite some time now, I originally hail from the East Coast – New England. I was born in a small town called Amesbury, an Acadian enclave forty-five minutes north of Boston, Massachusetts, where I spent my formative years. When I was seventeen, my parents moved to the state of Maine (bordering New Brunswick), which I consider my home state now and where my family still resides.
Though not originally from Canada, my family’s history dates back to 1648 when the first Nicolas immigrated from Poitou, France, to escape the growing Huguenot persecutions, landing in what was known then as Île Royale, Acadia – now known commonly as Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. My family lived and prospered in Acadia until the Great Expulsion of the Acadians in 1755 when we fled with the aid of Mi’kmaq relatives and friends to the “Acadian Peninsula” in northern New Brunswick. In 1921, my great-grandfather and mother decided to immigrate to the United States. As a result, I have relations all through New Brunswick and Quebec.
I have a deep passion for Pastoral Theology and the writings of Martin Luther. I am a self-described church geek. My relationship with the Church has been one that reflects all true love affairs – full of ups and downs with myriad surprises and yet held together by the mystery of belonging.
It has been a unique journey that has led me to Christ the King, and I thank God. The times are not easy; indeed, we have been under extraordinary circumstances. Still, the Church has moved through many challenging times in its history, and I can not help but feel that the Spirit is moving us again to a renewal. That we, together, Christ’s body, will usher in a new light.
I hear more than ever the words of Luther reminding us of God’s Grace, of God’s enduring love and acceptance of us despite what sometimes appears and feels to us alien. Yet, through it all, we are reminded that the love of Christ surpasses all knowledge and fills us with the fullness of God.
I am deeply thankful that I have been invited to spend this time with you and that through this time, I will forever be marked by our experience together and strengthened by our unity. I look forward to the journey.
God’s Blessing
+Nicolas
