THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends,

We are beginning a new chapter in reconciliation. This past Sunday, we made formal what has already been happening at St John’s for more than a year. Kimberly Johnson-Breen is now St John’s Indigenous Engagement Coordinator.

Kimberly will continue to keep the medicines that are reserved in the small corner chapel at the top of the accessibility ramp – and she will continue to offer smudging as we enter the church for Sunday worship. Her role is now expanded to help St John’s make concrete steps towards Truth & Recociliation. This will include events, field trips, teaching, and inviting the wider community into conversation and partnership.

With Thanks Photo Credit Alex Bissett

It is fitting that we have signed our agreement in this Advent season of readings about John the Baptist. John brought people to the wilderness, to what they thought was the edge of their life. He was actually “re-centering” them – which is what we need.

Kimberly will be commissioned for this role on Sunday, January 8 following the 10:15 service. The commissioning will be a separate Indigenous ceremony held in the parish hall. Please do plan to be there as we take this important step in our community life.

Our first event will be the Blanket Exercise, is an interactive educational program that teaches the history of colonization in Canada. The program was created in 1997 in response to the 1996 report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples by KAIROS, a Canadian faith-based ecumenical organization, in consultation with indigenous elders and representatives. Look for details of our event coming soon.

This would be a great time to have a conversation with Kimberly and I would especially encourage you to pray for her. I invite you to know more about her from the bio which you will now find on the St John’s website .

Kimberly Johnson-Breen is an Indigenous woman with shared European heritage who is a member of the Cherokee (tsa-la-gi) Nation of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She trained through the University of Oklahoma and holds a Master's Degree in Social Work with core studies in Indigenous communities. Following her graduation in 2018, she relocated with her family to Ottawa, where she continues to serve as an Indigenous community worker. Kimberly joined St John's in 2019, with her family and continues to walk the path before her, working together to care for community in the way of "gadugi" (caring together to promote improvement). Kimberly understands relying on Creator, following Jesus, and participating in traditional ceremonies on her journey, as she is invited to come along side community, to support healing inclusion.

With thanks to the Creator!

Gary+

PS Welcome to worship this Sunday – 8:00 & 10:15 a.m. It’s John the Baptist – part 2. It’s also the Third Sunday of Advent so wear pink. (Yes, I will explain – but do it!!!)

COVID Safety Update from the Diocese of Ottawa:

“Winter is on the horizon, people are indoors more, and COVID infections are on the rise. Throughout the pandemic, our response to the reality of the virus has been science-based and in line with public health, and this latest challenge must be met the same way. Effective this Sunday, October 30^th, all liturgical leaders — including clergy, choirs, servers, chalice bearers, readers, intercessors, and sidespeople/greeters — must wear a mask before, during and after services except when speaking into a microphone, eating or drinking.”

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Those On Our Hearts

Diana Stimson and Family, Monique Zegers and Family, Pat H., The staff, volunteers and participants in the programs of The Well and St Luke's.

Our Parish

Gary, Allen, Gordon, Josh, Kerry, Stephen, Brian, Michelle, Jill and all who minister at St John's.

Our Diocese

Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan; Linda, our Primate.
Our Community Ministries:
Anglican Day Programs: Centre 454; St Luke’s Table; The Well/La Source
Centre 105 (Cornwall)
Cornerstone Housing for Women
Ottawa Pastoral Counselling Centre
Refugee Ministry

Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)

The Venerable Alan Perry, General Secretary, and the staff of the General Secretary’s Office; Melanie Delva, Reconciliation Animator; Dawn Maracle, Animator, Indigenous Justice – Interim.

ELCIC

Trina Gallop Blank, Assistant to the National Bishop, Communications and Resource Generation, and the staff of Communications; Kyle Giesbrecht, Director of Finance and Administration, and the staff of Finance and Administration.

The Anglican Communion from Aba to Zululand

The Anglican Church of Kenya.

Parish Prayer Group

If you wish to have someone prayed for send an email to:

prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.

JOIN US

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

11 DECEMBER 2022

Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

24 DECEMBER

7PM and 10.30PM

25 DECEMBER

10.15AM

1 January

10.15AM

WHAT'S HAPPENING

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Our choir will join with the choir of Woodroffe United Church and the Strings of St John's chamber orchestra to present a concert of music for Advent and Christmas, featuring Vivaldi's "Gloria".

Performance will be Sunday, December 11 at St John's. Tickets ($20) will be available at the door.

They are also available online at www.VivaldiGloria.ca. We hope you'll join the choirs and orchestra for a concert of festive music.

Please find an updated Advent Booklet at the back of the church. Revisions and corrections complete. Or if you prefer click the link for a digital copy.

Climate Change and You

Are you concerned? Do you feel anxious, overwhelmed and lost on how to act? You are not alone. Connect with like-minded people to explore the relationship between your life and climate change.

Climate Change and You - A six part program of discovery and learning.

Wednesdays starting January 11, 2023

6:45 to 9:00 pm on Zoom

Registration form here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19fLd5KaGaqho1hHonSG3V4tFbEItmP96kbIRwb3f7Xo

This program encourages you to explore the relationship between your life and climate change and helps you work with the complex emotions that make it difficult to act. We do this through two-hour facilitated group workshops over the course of six weeks. Each week, you explore a new way climate change relates to your life.

"Offered to St John’s and friends of St John’s by trained facilitators from Carbon Conversations Toronto including our own Barb Dransch."

FLOWERS

You can help the Altar Guild decorate the church for Christmas and remember your loved ones with flowers. Make your donation to St John's noting that it is for Christmas Flowers and if applicable, please include a note to indicate the names of the people to be remembered. You can put your donation in the collection plate any Sunday or drop it off at the Office.

The flowers are to the glory of God

and in loving memory of

Jack and Doreen Gurney and Jan and George Snure and are given

by Mary Ann Varley.

TAKE NOTE

PWRDF Christmas Cards are coming to St. John’s! Sales begin Dec. 4th

PWRDF Christmas cards are on order and should be available for sale by Dec. 4. This year’s Christmas cards feature two unique designs. The cards contain the message “Christmas Peace” in Oji-Cree, Inuktituk and the five official languages of the Lambeth Conference of the worldwide Anglican Communion: English, French, Japanese, Spanish and Kiswahili.

The design we have access to right now is the “Peace on Earth” card. The Holy Family card is on order. The cards come in packs of 12 and a minimum donation of $25 per pack is recommended.

Thanks to the prayers, actions and gifts of Anglicans across the country, PWRDF has supported partners in Canada and around the world for more than 60 years, making a world of difference.