This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

This newsletter is one day late and not a minute too soon for the whirlwind of life at St John's over the next week.

As I write on Friday morning, the nave of the church is being prepared for Art Credo, our two-week-long art festival - now in it's 47th year. The paintings are hung and the space is almost ready for this evening's Vernissage (opening reception). I hope you'll come and get a first look at all the beautiful paintings and meet the artists. See the details below.

Saturday (tomorrow) we begin the regular hours of Art Credo, daily 12-6 p.m. (closes at 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays). Also on Saturday, you are invited to the consecration of our new bishop, Kathryn Otley, at Christ Church Cathedral at 10:30 a.m. Come back to St John's at 2 p.m. for the celebration of life for our beloved parishioner Bill Broughton. The interment will take place at Beechwood in the military cemetery at 12 p.m.

This Sunday, we welcome Bishop Peter Coffin, who will preside the Eucharist at 8 and 10:15 a.m. At 10:15, Bishop Peter will officiate for the baptism of Karma Fraser and the confirmation of Brendon Fraser.

Next Thursday at 8 p.m., St John's will keep Ascension Day on the actual day instead of moving it to the next Sunday. This will be a service of choral Evensong with the music composed by our Director of Music Nicholas Busch.

Next Friday and Sunday, St John's joins with Temple Israel for our shared preaching weekend. For the synagogue service, on Friday at 6 p.m., I will preach on the synagogue lectionary passage, 1 Samuel Chapter 20 (the secret encounter between David and Jonathan). We are adding this synagogue text as a dramatic reading, along with our Sunday scriptures, and we look forward to Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg's reflection on all the texts. If you are interested in interfaith learning, I would encourage you to come to both Friday and Sunday.

As you may know, I have returned from a week-long retreat at a monastery. I have included a reflection on my experience below.

I am looking forward to connecting with you over these coming vibrant days in the life of our community at St John's!

Gary+

The volunteer crew setting up for Art Credo!

Special thanks to Christopher Brand, Vicki Robinson, Elisabeth Baechlin, Rebecca Gregg, Chris Chiavatti, Glenn Calder, Glen Robinson, Jamie Tomlinson, Pat Johnston, Marianne Harkema, Jen Nunley, Aron Fawzy, and our coordinators, Mary Ann Varley and Detlef Dransch.

SUNDAY May 10 | Sixth Sunday of Easter | 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.
Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21

Thursday May 14 | Ascension of Our Lord | 8:00 p.m.

Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47 or Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53

SUNDAY May 17 | Seventh Sunday of Easter | 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

1 Samuel 20:1-42; Psalm 11; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 3, 2026

Fourth Sunday of Easter - April 26, 2026

Third Sunday of Easter - April 18, 2026

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES

The tulips will be at their peak this coming week.

It's time to invite your friends to visit Ottawa.

Bring them to church and then bring them to the tulips!

The military cemetery at Beechwood. There will be an honour guard for the interment of ashes for Bill Broughton on Saturday at noon.

UPDATES

INTERESTED IN GOING ON A RETREAT?

A few weeks ago, members of our parish council went on a "scouting mission" to check out a retreat centre. We visited Windstone Farm, near Carleton Place, and we enjoyed the day and the debriefing conversation about going on retreat and the possibility of a parish retreat for St John's.

If you have been wondering about whether a retreat might be for you, I would like to add my own personal experience of retreats. I have tried to go on retreat every year and I have visited a variety of places, especially convents and monasteries. I am back from a week away at the Society of St John the Evangelist, an Anglican monastery on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge Massachusetts. I have been there a number of times and it has become familiar, other than my newer experience of anxiety about crossing the border. It was a beautiful place and a good rest. I have gotten to know the monks over the years and I was glad to see them. This was not a "directed retreat" with an official speaker or theme lectures. Instead, I participated in the pattern of life of a monastery: shared meals, worship and the practice of silence. The location made my daily walks endlessly interesting, but with four worship times each day, I didn't wander too far.

Worship at the monastery features chanted psalms at every service and a sermon at the daily Eucharist. I am especially grateful for the chanting and sermons.

Chanting: Gregorian chant is complicated enough that I found I needed to give careful attention to be able to join in. If your mind wanders, you can't sing! This set the tone for my whole week as I set aside the things I usually think about. My thoughts feel different when I come back to them after a break and it's refreshing. I began to reflect on how we chant the psalms at St John's. The sung response is memorable and easy to sing. I enjoy how the music sets us up to be ready to sing it. I always notice which member of the choir is the cantor. I think of myself as sending positive energy to support them as they lead us through the verses. I hope our way of chanting at St John's is a blessing for you.

Sermons: The daily sermons at the monastery reminded me that when I returned to church as a young adult, it was especially sermons that inspired me to attend church more often. In the U.S. context, I noticed that preachers are very ready to address politics in a pointed way, as you will hear in Sunday's sermon by Brother James Koester, a Canadian and former superior of the order: "Hegsteth's gospel is not the good news of Jesus..." I had to remind myself that what I hear in the sermon is what I am ready to hear, what God's love has prepared me to hear, and this might not be the same as what the preacher said (or intended to say). At St John's, I am grateful to all our preachers. I always hope you have the blessing of hearing something that helps you to grow into God's love.

My retreat was a blessing: it was good to be away and wonderful to be back. If you are interested in going on a retreat, we might have a conversation about it sometime.

Gary+

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

St John's helping our neighbours

COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING: This year CNOY walkers raised $198,271.00 for The Ottawa Mission. St John's raised $780! Thank you for your part in raising this incredible amount. Barbara Dorrell

COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING: "On behalf of Centretown Community Food Centre, I'm writing to thank St John's for your continued and ongoing support..." In 2025, St John's donated $508.20 in addition to weekly food gifts.

Dennis Hansen, manager

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.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Art Credo Returns for Its 47th Year!

The Art Credo Exhibition and Sale will run from Saturday, May 9 to Sunday, May 24.

This year’s show features 111 works by 60 artists—nearly half of whom are participating for the very first time!

Join us as we kick things off at the Vernissage on Friday, May 8, from 7:00–9:00 PM. Enjoy an exclusive first look at the artwork, meet some of the artists, and take in the evening with wine and light refreshments. All are welcome—bring a friend!

In addition to the exhibit, we’re offering a Paint-Along workshop on Sunday May 17th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. This is an opportunity for you to create your own artwork with guidance from artists Josie DeMeo and Mary Ann Varley.

Poetry Night is back! This Art Credo extension event welcomes local Ottawa poets and your own works of inspiration, Thursday May 21 beginning at 7 p.m.

Volunteer Help Needed: We’d love your help in making this event a success! We could use:

Help with hospitality at the Vernissage. (Speak with team leader

Barbara Dransch.)

Sitters to welcome visitors and help monitor the artwork (3-hour

shifts). Please contact Detlef or Mary Ann (see below).

Contacts: Detlef Dransch at ddransch@sympatico.ca , tel. 613.592.9897

or Mary Ann Varley at varleymaryann1@bell.net , tel. 613.745.2996

JOIN THE TULIPATHON TO SUPPORT

MULTIFAITH HOUSING INITIATIVE

Tulipathon will soon be here, and I would like to invite you to join Team St. John’s. You can be a member of our team whether you are able to walk or not by supporting the walkers with a donation and/or reaching out to friends and neighbours to encourage them to donate. The 2 to 3 km walk will take place on Sunday, May 24 in Commissioners Park. The goal of Tulipathon is to raise funds and awareness about housing insecurity and homelessness in Ottawa. Every dollar raised through Tulipathon helps to provide housing ‘below market rent’ for low-income families and individuals in MHI communities. As a proud member of MHI, St John’s is helping to create safe and affordable housing.

To join St. John’s team, or to donate, please visit the following link:

Tulipathon 2026 | St John the Evangelist.

A pledge form is available at this link:

tulipathon_2026_pledgeform.pdf.

When visiting with friends, colleagues and neighbours, please encourage their support of Tulipathon and tell them about the Multifaith Housing Initiative, Tulipathon and the need for affordable housing in Ottawa. Each donation of $15 or more will receive a tax receipt.

Marilyn Collins

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. One weekly worship service on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, May 8

Art Credo Vernissage, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 9 to Sunday, May 24

Art Credo. 12:00 to 8:00 p.m. most days

Saturday, May 9

Consecration of Bishop Kathryn Otley, Christ Church Cathedral, 10:30 a.m.
Celebration of Life for Bill Broughton, Honour Guard at Beechwood Cemetery 12:00 p.m.; Memorial Service at St John's 2:00 p.m.; Reception at Officers' Mess following the service.

Sunday, May 10

Baptism & Confirmation - Bishop Peter Coffin; 10:15 a.m.

Thursday, May 14

Ascension Day Evensong, Music Setting composed by Nicholas Busch, 8:00 p.m.

Friday, May 15

Shared Preaching with Temple Israel, Temple Israel, 6:15 p.m.

Sunday, May 17

Shared Preaching with Temple Israel, St John's, 10:15 a.m.

Tuesday, May 19

Safe Church Leadership Workshop: Best Practices, Boundaries & Police Records Checks, 5:30 p.m. Pizza will be served.

Saturday, May 23

Safe Church Public Interaction Workshop, Workshop by India Bedson, Belong Ottawa, Parish Hall, 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, May 24

Children's Service, 3-5 p.m.
Tulipathon 2026 2:30 p.m. Commissioners Park

Sunday, June 7

Summer Worship schedule begins, one service at 9:30 a.m. to Labour Day.

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

Sacred Medicines

Osiyo Nigadv (Hello Everyone)!

"The circle remains a sacred guide toward balance, harmony, and right relationship within ourselves and with the world around us." (Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation)

The Four Sacred Medicines commonly held in Algonquin and Anishinaabe teachings are Tobacco, Sweetgrass, Sage, and Cedar:

Tobacco is understood as the first medicine and is used for prayer, gratitude, humility, and relationship with Spirit. It is offered when asking for guidance, teachings, or help, and it carries intentions in a good way.
Sweetgrass represents kindness, healing, and good relation. Its braid reminds us of balance, connection, and our responsibilities across generations. It draws in good spirit and helps ground the space in gentleness.
Sage is used for cleansing and purification. It helps release what is heavy, clears thoughts and energy, and restores balance.
Cedar carries protection, grounding, wisdom, and strength. It protects the space, supports healing, and reminds us of the responsibility to care for what is sacred.

These medicines are sacred not only in what they mean, but in how they are cared for. The way they are covered, watched over, and respectfully left in their rightful place is part of their sacredness.

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

Qujannamiik, Wela'lin, Marsii, Thank you,

Kimberly Johnson

St John's Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

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: Ken, Sandy and Alice.

Our Diocese

Kathryn, our Bishop-Elect; Anne, our Metropolitan; Shane, our Primate.
Our Diocesan Partner: Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI).
Our Community Ministries:
Belong Ottawa: Centre 454; St Luke’s Table; The Well/La Source
Centre 105 (Cornwall)
Cornerstone Housing for Women
Ottawa Pastoral Counselling Centre
Refugee Ministry Office
The Parish of Mattawa
St. Alban’s, Mattawa
St. Margaret’s, Rutherglen
The Reverend David Shields and all who minister there.

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. Susan Bell, Bishop, The Most Rev. Colin Johnson, Assistant Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Niagara.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Bishop Ali Tote, the people and rostered ministers of the Saskatchewan Synod.

Moravian Church in Canada

The Rt. Rev. Douglas Kleintop, Bishop of the Unity residing in the Northern Province.

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

The Church of Pakistan (United).

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