This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

I hope you enjoy the pictures of our wonderful children's service this past Sunday.

This coming Sunday, our scriptures point to the relationships within our understanding of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It's an invitation to celebrate all the love in our relationships. Plan to join us for worship at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.

This is our final Sunday at our regular service times before we begin summer hours. From June 7 through to September 6, St John's has one Sunday service at 9:30 a.m.

This Saturday, St John's is holding the celebration of life for Gay Richardson. Click on the link to read the beautiful obituary written by Gay's family.

Scroll down for more pictures, events and news about St John's.

Gary+

Pentecost Children's Service

SUNDAY May 31 | Trinity Sunday - First Sunday after Pentecost | 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

1 Samuel 2:1-10; Psalm 113; Romans 12:9-16b; Luke 1:39-57

SUNDAY June 7 | Second Sunday after Pentecost | 9:30am

Hosea 5:15-6:6; Psalm 50:7-15; Romans 4:13-25; Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

Worship recordings include the following portions of the service: prayers, readings, the sermon, and music.

The Day of Pentecost - May 24, 2026

Seventh Sunday of Easter - Interfaith Preaching Weekend - May 15 & 17, 2026

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES

Tulipathon Walk for Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI):

Marilyn Collins, Mary Frances Marshall & Bishop Kathryn Otley.

Clergy of our 4 Amigos Churches: Rev Vincent Pereira, St Theresa's Roman Catholic; Rev Jim Pot, Knox Presbyterian; Rev John Perkin, First Baptist, with Gary at Cooper's.

Pentecost Children's Service: Telling the story (above and below), communion given by the children, the song about fruits of the spirit & concluding circle.

The next Children's Service: Sunday, October 4, 3-5 p.m. Focus on St Francis of Assisi's love for animals and celebrating Thanksgiving. We look forward to welcoming the children from First Baptist, Knox Presbyterian, and St Theresa's.

REST IN PEACE

Gay Richardson (August 28, 1944 - May 19, 2026)

We give thanks to God for the life of our beloved Gay Richardson. Read Gay's obituary HERE.

Celebration of Life: Saturday, May 30, 2:00 p.m. at St John's. Reception immediately following in the Parish Hall.

UPDATES

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING (MAID)

A Pastoral Response

We are in a time when people we know are choosing Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). St John's is holding an information evening to help us learn more. Whether we are supportive, unsure or uncomfortable, this event is a safe supportive space to ask questions and learn.

You may find it helpful to explore the resources our church has already made available. The newspaper for Diocese has featured articles about MAID which may be helpful for you:

"Walking with those who choose a medically assisted death and their loved ones" by Leigh Anne Williams. HERE
"Canon theologian shares some thoughts on pastoral care and MAiD." The Rev. Canon Dr. Christopher Brittain interviewed by Leigh Anne Williams HERE

"Faith Seeking Understanding: Medical Assistance in Dying. Reflections by Canadian Anglicans." HERE

Please join us as we welcome guest speakers, Dr James Downar & Dr Justine Amaro.

Dr Justine Amaro, Emergency Medicine and MAID Physician, The Ottawa Hospital; Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.

Dr James Downar, Head and Professor, Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa; Clinical Research Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa; Staff Physician Department of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital; Investigator, Bruyère Research Institute

Facilitated by the Rev Canon Gary van der Meer. All are welcome.

Tuesday, June 9, 7:30 p.m.

St John's Parish Hall

JOY OF FAITH EVENT

ANNUAL INTERFAITH AWARD

The Capital Region Interfaith Council is honouring St John's Cgurch and Temple Israel for our efforts in building friendship between congregations of different faiths.

Rabbi Mikelberg: "The news is always devastating with its emphasis on polarization. It's humbling to be recognized for an alternate more hopeful story that doesn't often get told."

While the award names Rabbi Mikelberg and Rev van der Meer, we all did this! Please sign up to be part of a small delegation of St John's representatives who will attend to accept this award.

Gary+

LIFELONG LEARNING

A book for this summer!

In the summer we've made it a habit to read a book and then get together to talk about it. The book we've chosen for this year is Encampment: Resistance, Grace, and an Unhoused Community by Anglican priest Maggie Helwig.

Encampment is the story of St. Stephen-in-the-Fields, an Anglican church in Toronto's Kensington Market, and how they responded when economic pressures and lack of housing, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, pushed those without shelter to set up tents in their courtyard. It is also the story of those residents, of what brought them to that courtyard and what they found there, and how the church fought to let them stay when the city sought to evict them.

Our plan this year is to have a BBQ in July where we have time to discuss the book, our reactions to it, and its application for our own context. We will then also have a follow-up Zoom discussion for people who were unable to attend the BBQ and to continue any unfinished conversations.

Encampment can be ordered from Perfect Books and Indigo for around $25. It is also available at the Library, but there is currently a long wait list.

The Rev Canon Maggie Helwig was interviewed about Encampment on CBC Radio Ottawa on April 30, 2026. Listen to the interview HERE.

BOOKS & BBQ DATE: Saturday, July 18 - hosted by Ian & Michelle

ZOOM FOLLOW-UP DATE: Wednesday, July 22 - 7:00 p.m.

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

Jim Logan, Hiding From the Boogeyman, 2018

Osiyo Nigadv (Hello Everyone)!

June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to honour First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, their histories, cultures, teachings, resilience, and ongoing contributions. As a church community, this upcoming month invites us to listen with humility, learn with open hearts, and continue walking the path of truth, reconciliation, and right relationship.

One meaningful opportunity for learning is Requiems: Jim Logan, running from May 1 to August 15, 2026 at SAW Gallery, 67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa. This major survey of Jim Logan’s work brings together more than four decades of powerful Indigenous artistic practice, including pieces that reflect on reconciliation, children, memory, gathering places, and Indigenous experience in Canada. Members of the congregation are encouraged to visit the exhibit, spend time with the artwork, and reflect on what it asks of us as people of faith, neighbours, and treaty partners. Admission at SAW Gallery is free.

Wado, Chi-Miigwech, Niá:wen, Nakurmiik,

Qujannamiik, Wela'lin, Marsii, Thank you,

Kimberly Johnson, MSW, RSW, Psychotherapist

St John's Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

UPCOMING EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

WORSHIP EVERY SUNDAY

Please join us at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. each Sunday. Special services listed below.
St John's worship services begin "summer hours" on June 7, with one weekly worship service on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, June 6

Doors Open Ottawa. The Church is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, June 7

Summer Worship schedule begins, one service at 9:30 a.m. to Labour Day.
Joy of Faith Celebration (Capital Region Interfaith Council), hosted at St Augustine's Catholic Church (Baseline Road), 3-5 p.m. The Annual Joy of Faith Award will be presented to Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg and Rev Canon Gary van der Meer celebrating the shared friendship between St John's and Temple Israel.

Tuesday, June 9

Information Evening on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), 7:30 p.m. St John's Parish Hall

Saturday, July 18

Books & BBQ Event: Encampment by Maggie Helwig. Location details closer to the date.

Wednesday, July 22

Books & BBQ: Zoom Discussion, 7 p.m.

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

Prayers for those in leadership roles: Gary, Allen, Christina, Pat, Nicholas, Kimberly, Kerry, Aot, Monica, Barb, and all who minister at St. John's.

Prayer Requests: Gay in Memoriam, her daughters Joanna, Stephanie & their families; David, Earl and Alice.

Our Diocese

Kathryn, our Bishop-Elect; Anne, our Metropolitan; Shane, our Primate.
Staff at Ascension House, including the Archives.
Our Diocesan Partners: Communion Forest and Compass Rose
The Parish of The Holy Spirit.
The Reverend Dr. Caz Ducros
The Reverend Dr. Sony Jabouin
The Venerable Chris Dunn
For the Anglican Church Women (ACW) and their groups and members throughout our Diocese.

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. Andrew Asbil, Bishop; The Rt. Rev. Kevin Robertson, Suffragan Bishop; The Rt. Rev. Riscylla Shaw, Suffragan Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Toronto.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute in Outlook Saskatchewan.

Moravian Church in Canada

The Rt. Rev. Paul Graf, Bishop of the Unity residing in the Northern Province.

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

Eglise Anglicane du Rwanda.

Flowers

The flowers are given by Barbara Dorrell to the glory of God and in most loving memory of Robin.

Parish Prayer Group

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

Prayer Request

DONATE

CANADA HELPS QR CODE

e-transfer accounts@stjohnsottawa.ca

HOW YOU CAN DONATE TO ST JOHN'S

Identified donations to St John’s are charitable donations and are eligible for a charitable tax receipt. Receipts for donations made directly through St John’s are usually generated on an annual basis. Donations to St John’s through Canada Helps are receipted by Canada Helps.

Here are the different ways that you can give:

E-Transfer

accounts@stjohnsottawa.ca

PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance)

Enrol in the PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) program, whereby a designated monthly amount is withdrawn from a parishioner’s bank account or credit card. Peggy Lister, the Envelope Secretary, will provide you with the application form required to enrol in this program.

Weekly Offering Envelopes

Use identified weekly offering envelopes to make your cash or cheque donation to St John’s. A request for such envelopes goes to Peggy Lister, the Envelope Secretary, who will provide the envelopes.

Cash or Cheque Donation on Sunday

Make a cash or cheque contribution during a weekly service. The donation must be identified (i.e. a name & address on the envelope or a cheque with the donor’s information) if the donor wishes to receive a charitable receipt for the donation.

Canada Helps

Make a donation to St John’s through Canada Helps by scanning the QR code on the weekly bulletin, the QR code on the sign at the back of the church or through the ‘donate’ button on the St John’s website. Canada Helps donations can be for a single time or set up as an on-going monthly donation.

With thanks to God for your generous support