THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends,

There was a fire this week at St Luke’s Anglican Church. When it first hit the news on Tuesday, the radio announcer said a “two alarm fire at a church in Centretown.” With all that gorgeous wood in St John’s, your pulse might have been racing. It was our neighbours at the next parish over to the west of us on Somerset. But let your thoughts of the wood in St John’s be a prompt for your prayers for the people of St Luke’s and also for the ministry of St Luke’s Table.

The St Luke’s building was damaged but not destroyed. It appears that the fire began with wiring in the worship space but those details are still under investigation. The damage to the sanctuary is severe. The congregation will be going over to All Saints Westboro for their Sunday services.

St Luke’s Table will come to St John’s. Their basement space at St Luke’s had extensive water damage and repairs will take at least 3 months. During that time, The Well will also borrow the Parish Hall while their program is open during the day. It will be used as an overflow space for women of The Well who would prefer to be separate from the men served by St Luke’s Table.

We are still figuring out what these changes mean for our church programs. It does mean heavier use of the church building. We are asked to step up as an expression of our prayers in action. Please do pray for everyone concerned, for staff and participants of both programs, and also for our neighbours.

We also need specific items for the men’s program. When you come into the church on Sunday, you will see a new donation bin for St Luke’s Table. They especially need socks and razors.

This is a big weekend coming up. We have our Messy Church Bake-Off event on Saturday 11-3 p.m. for children and their families. This Sunday is the formal start of our stewardship period from October 16 to November 13. We will be the beneficiaries of the Messy Church Bake-Off. After the bread and wine of the Eucharist, stay for the chocolate chip cookies. With the colder weather, we are moving our refreshments to the Chapel starting this Sunday.

Hope to see you this Sunday 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.

Gary+

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Those On Our Hearts

Mary Frances and Family, Pat H., The staff, volunteers and participants in the programs of The Well.

Our Parish

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

Our Diocese

Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan; Linda, our Primate.

St. Luke’s, Ottawa Interim Bishop-in-Charge John Chapman.

For clergy and lay people who minister in hospitals and long-term care facilities throughout our Diocese.

For all clergy under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Ottawa.

Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)

The Rt. Rev. Lynne McNaughton, Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Kootenay.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada (ELCIC)

The dean, council, and congregations of the North Region of the British Columbia Synod.

ACC/ELCIC

The dean, council, and congregations of the Vancouver Island Region of the British Columbia Synod.

The Anglican Communion from Aba to Zululand

Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America.

Parish Prayer Group

If you wish to have someone prayed for, please call (613) 232-4500 ext 21 or send an email to prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.

JOIN US

NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

16 OCTOBER 2022

Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8

WHAT'S HAPPENING

INTERFAITH PRAYERS FOR PEACE

On Sunday, October 16, the Capital Region Interfaith Council is presenting Prayers for Peace. Presenters include many religious and spiritual groups (please see poster). This is a hybrid event presented in person at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and online on Zoom. The MC is the Rev. Canon Gary van der Meer, Pastor & Rector, St John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Ottawa.

INSTALLATION OF CANONS

Gary van der Meer will be installed as a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral at the opening service of the Annual Synod Meeting of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, Thursday, October 20, 7 pm at Christ Church Cathedral. Parishioners of St John’s are invited to attend.

All Souls Movie Event – Wednesday, November 2. Please join us for Coco.

Discussion remembering our loved ones, death and faith in the life to come.

It’s a Mexican potluck at the church – arrive starting 5:30 p.m.

ST JOHN'S DEMYSTIFIED

Did you ever wonder why people come to St. John's? What they believe? Why they worship the way they do? Why they always seem so busy with outreach programs, community engagement, social justice activities, and a million other things? You are not alone!

The Lifelong Learning Committee is planning a series of conversations to help all parishioners, new and old, to deepen their understanding and appreciation of who we are and what we do at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church. Over 4 sessions there will be time to engage in thoughtful dialogue on topics like these:

Where does Christianity fit among religions of the world, and where does Anglicanism fit among Christian traditions, and where does St John’s fit in the Anglican tradition?
Why do we worship the way we do?
How do we live out our faith in practice?
How do we engage with the world?

The above topics will be explored through four 2-hour Saturday morning sessions to be held (in person) on Oct. 29th, and Nov. 5th, 12th and 19th (10 AM-12PM). This is intended for everyone – you might be new to these questions or maybe you have been thinking about them for a long time. Join us for a chance to learn from each other and to share your views and insights.

TAKE NOTE

October 16, 7:30 p.m. EST

Zoom National Prayer Gathering for World Food Day

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is hosting an ecumenical prayer service on Zoom. Says the Foodgrains Bank: “This is a time for Canadian Christians to gather and pray for an end to hunger. A time for us to know that God cares about every single person who lives with hunger and for us all to be encouraged in the actions we can take to make a difference.” This special prayer event will include breakout rooms so that participants can meet other people interested in ending hunger and pray together as we stand in unity before God. Download the World Food Day worship resource.

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank will be back in person this year in addition to holding workshops(here at St John's) where Canadians come together from across the country to learn about food security issues they will have a Hill Day where they will have meetings with MPs and their supporters will have a chance to advocate for supports towards their goal to end global hunger.

Let's show our support to their wonderful cause and join in the National Prayer Gathering for World Food Day.

A concert of vocal music by Schubert and Brahms will be presented this

Sunday, October 16 at 12:00 noon at Dominion-Chalmers United Church, 335

Cooper Street. The featured soloist will be bass Matthew Li, accompanied by Nick Veltmeyer. St John's parishioners will remember Matthew Li from his time as a choral scholar here -- his rich bass voice was memorable.

After his studies with Cara Gilbertson, Matthew went to study at the University of Toronto, and he is now part of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal. Plan to walk a couple of blocks after church on Sunday over to D-C and hear this impressive young duo.

To help with Sunday hospitality. Please contact the Office if you are available to help.

office@stjohnsottawa.ca

Dear friends of Multifaith Housing Initiative,

We would like to invite you, your friends and family, to celebrate MHI's 20th Anniversary at a special gala, as a thank you for what you have helped us build.

2022 marks MHI's 20th anniversary and we are taking this opportunity to bring together all of our supporters in one room!

The event, presented by Canso Investment Counsel, will take place on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at the Centurion Centre, 170 Colonnade Road South, Ottawa.

Buy tickets

Join us for an evening of dinner and dancing as we reflect on two decades of challenges, accomplishments, growth and the future of Multifaith Housing Initiative.

The reception starts at 6:00 pm. This will be a business casual affair.

Our deepest appreciation goes to Canso Investment Counsel, as well as the event's two additional sponsors: Dream and Commissionaires Ottawa.

Don't miss this milestone celebration in our organization's history. Please mark your calendars and book your tickets today!

Best wishes,

MHI staff