THIS WEEK AT
ST JOHN'S
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessolonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28
Those in Our Hearts
Cecile, Lorne, Maura, Kerry, Adrianne; Archdeacon Pat, Reverend Dr. Caroline Ducros, Gordon, Gregory and all who minister at St John's; The Reverend Canon Gary van der Meer and the community of St Anne's in Toronto.

Our Diocese
Our Bishop, The Right Reverend Shane Parker, The Well and their Executive Director Rachel Robinson.

Our Companion Diocese in Jerusalem
The Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East, Redeemer Church, Amman, Jordan.

Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)
The Venerable Alan Perry, General Secretary, and the staff of the General Secretary’s Office; Melanie Delva, Reconciliation Animator.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada (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.

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.
STAY CONNECTED
THIS WEEK'S
MESSAGE FROM
PAT
AND GORDON
PARISH COFFEE HOUR

Wednesdays
10 am, via Zoom

We welcome anyone and everyone to join our Interim Rector Pat Johnston for virtual coffee and conversation on Wednesdays.

Mark your calendars and on the day "zoom in" at this link at 10 am to catch up with parish friends both new and old.

January Coffee Guests:

Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Canon Peter John Hobbs,
Director of Community Ministries


Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Bishop Shane Parker

ps: If you don't have computer access and would like to join this coffee hour call the Church Office and we can provide you with instructions on how to access via telephone.
ON LINE RESOURCES
ONLINE RESOURCES FOR SUNDAY

Sunday, Online

If you are not attending on Sunday and would like to find online worship and resources you can find many options and links on our website

Included on that page you'll find a video recording of our Service at St John's. The video of our morning Eucharist Service is usually available later in the day on Sundays.

If you cannot attend, or missed church last week, or would just like to watch it again, the recordings are available each week on our website and on our Youtube Channel.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
BAPTISM
Sunday, December 13
9:30am

Please keep baby Myla and her parents, grandparents, and godparents in your prayers as they prepare for Myla's baptism.
ST JOHN'S DECEMBER SING-ALONG

Sunday, December 13th
4.30 pm

Our traditional fall hymn sing is going to take a different form this year. You are invited to join Gordon and the choir for a Zoom sing-along! We will sing hymns and carols for the Advent season as well as some Christmas favorites. Each hymn will be introduced, and then everybody will *mute* their Zoom connection, and the music will be broadcast with the words on the screen and the choir singing. You are invited to sing along in your home - if we can't sing together, at least we can sing simultaneously!

From O Come, O Come Emmanuel to Joy to the World, this will be an hour of festive, beautiful music, something to lift your spirits and to bring everyone some of that St John's musical zing. Mark this on your calendar. We are looking forward to making a joyful Advent/Christmas noise!
Click here to watch Gordon's promotional video!
CHRISTMAS
LESSONS & CAROLS
Sunday, December 13
7:00pm

At St Anne's Church, Toronto where our new rector, The Reverend Gary van der Meer currently serves. If you are not "sung out" from our own Sing Along at 4:30pm, visit the St Anne's Church website to enjoy their service.
A CHRISTMAS READING IDEA FROM PAT+

You might like to ask for Michael Curry's book, "Love is the Way, Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times" for Christmas.

Hold the date of Wednesday, January 27 to meet on zoom to share reactions and reflections on this beautiful, inspiring and encouraging book. Details to follow.


CHILDREN'S YOUTUBE CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 7:00pm

A Children's Christmas Service with St John's on YouTube. Have a candle ready at home that you can light in celebration of Jesus' birth! Click here for more information.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 9:00pm
Christmas Day, Dec. 25 9:30am

Join us here at St John's for in-person worship to celebrate Christmas. For information on how to pre-register, please visit our link.


TAKE NOTE
PARISH ADMINISTRATION AT ST JOHN'S

In the interim time between Laura's departure and the arrival of our new incumbent Gary van der Meer, Corporation has decided not to hire a new Parish Administrator. Instead, we will cover the many activities that Laura Macdonald handled in a number of ways.

Firstly, our music director Gordon and Cara Gilbertson will manage parish communications (Sunday bulletins, This Week at St John's e-newsletter and the website).

Secondly, a roster of volunteers comprising Vicki Robinson, Emmy Verdun and Bea Robertson will cover most of the day-to-day administration tasks including handling correspondence such as email, regular mail, phone messages, etc., procuring church supplies, coordinating activities of various church groups, and so on.

Finally, Ted Reeves, a member of our newly established Property & Building Committee will look after rentals. Many thanks go to all those who have agreed to help out.

Corporation believes that this arrangement will carry us through until such time as Gary is here with us at St John's and we can work together to develop a long-term plan for the various activities related to parish administration at St John's.

THE WELL, ST LUKE'S TABLE & CENTRE 454
NEED YOUR HELP!
Ottawa has witnessed huge upheaval because of the effects of COVID-19. Despite the added challenges and increased numbers of people seeking services, we have remained true to our mission of supporting our homeless and vulnerably housed people. 
We continue to provide food, respite from the street, access to showers and washrooms, and referrals to housing and health services, connecting people so they feel safe and supported. The emotional toll for people who are homeless or vulnerably housed is overwhelming. Many people have found it unbearable and their mental health has deteriorated.
Our outreach proved invaluable during Ottawa's lockdown. When services could not be offered indoors, we took our programs outside: on the street, at rooming houses, or in City respite facilities.  
We remain concerned about the increased costs we are facing due to COVID-19 and our outreach programs still urgently need additional funds. As the festive season approaches, we know many of you are looking for meaningful ways to help those in need.
Please support our Year-end Appeal by making a donation online or by mailing a cheque payable to The Well or St. Luke's Table or Centre 454 referencing Year-end Appeal.
Thank you for your generous and continued support! 
DONATE NOW
KIM UMBACH REFLECTS ON PARTNERSHIP WITH
JANE MAXWELL
As The Volunteer Coordinator of PWRDF, Kim Umbach reflects on her partnership with the Diocese of Ottawa, and in particular our own Jane Maxwell. A beautiful tribute and description of Jane's many years of volunteering.
Check it out here!
CONGRATULATIONS,
PAT LOVE!

CoSA-Ottawa is so very excited to celebrate Pat Love, who is this year’s recipient of the CoSA Canada Award of Distinction. A member of St John's Church and former parole officer, Pat was the co-founder of CoSA-Ottawa and worked to make CoSA a distinguished program in Ottawa. They were thrilled on Thursday, December 3rd, 2020 to celebrate Pat during her award ceremony. Congratulations, Pat Love!
MUSICAL ADVENT CALENDAR
One of our wardens was surprised to find our very own Cara Gilbertson featured in this unique Musical Advent Calendar. A surprise offering will be featured each day by various local artists. Spoiler alert...we wonder if Cara will appear on another day?
Click here to view the December 1st musical treat. Here is the link to view each day's musical offering.
REMINDER ABOUT GATHERING FOR WORSHIP

Our diocese has asked all of our churches to be more mindful of the Covid-19 Protocol around gathering for worship. It seems that back in September we were all extremely careful, and that over time we have relaxed, perhaps just a bit too much. As hard as it is, we are not to socialize in the church space, either before or after the liturgy. Please refrain from more than a quick hello when you pass someone on the way to your place! And from 9:25 am during the prelude and ringing of the bell, please observe silence in preparation for the liturgy to begin. Thanks for your cooperation to keep us all healthy and safe!
REGISTER FOR NEXT SUNDAY'S SERVICE

Each Sunday you can register to attend the in-person Church Service planned for the following Sunday, you can go to this website www.backtochurch.ca.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
NEXT SUNDAY
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Psalms 119:49-72; Isaiah 9:8-17; 2 Peter 2:1-10a
ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST
ANGLICAN CHURCH

 154 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, ON K2P 0H8
613-232-4500
office@stjohnsottawa.ca

The Venerable Pat Johnston, Interim Priest-In-Charge
The Reverend Dr Caroline Ducros, Deacon 
The Reverend Michael Hicks, Honourary Assistant Emeritus
Dr Gordon Johnston, FRCCO, Organist and Choirmaster  
Detlef Dransch, Rector’s Warden 
Stephen Giles, People's Warden