This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

This past Sunday during our visiting time that follows the worship service, I found myself in a conversation with proud parents. They spontaneously began opening their phones to show me their children. I could see the joy on their faces as they described their children who are far away, their accomplishments, and how often they call to talk to them. These parents are full of love and they miss their children.

There's a special African song about being far away and missing your family. "Kure Kure," which translates from the original Shona language of Zimbabwe, "Far from home" or "Far Far Away," is a traditional song expressing the homesickness experienced by soldiers and migrants. The song has spread across southern Africa as a favourite at weddings where it is sung in many local languages:

It is very tough, very hard, to live far away

If I had wings I would fly back home

But I'm far away

My heart keeps crying for my mother's voice but I'm far away

Every road I walk reminds me of home but I'm far away

When bad news comes, who will tell me because I'm far away...

This song expresses sadness and longing but also joy. These are "community emotions."

It's a beautiful thing to be with people. On Sunday, we sing, pray, and open our hearts together. We look for God's love in our sacred texts and in the world around us. At the conclusion of the service, you're invited to share some of the blessings in your life. We hear about birthdays and anniversaries, new jobs, permanent residency granted, and many more. The blessings shared are a time of smiles and applause. If you have time to stay, the hospitality that happens next is a time of conversation, laughter, kindness, and real support. There's a lot of joy as you will see in the pictures below.

This coming Sunday, the first reading from Isaiah puts into poetry the feelings that come while loving God in community: "For you shall go out with joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." (Isaiah 55:12)

Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Gary+

PS Please also note the special evensong service at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Lascelles Quebec, featuring the St John's Choir, details below.

Proud Parents: Mary, Allen, Bosco & Nkundwe

Kure Kure - Far Far Away

This English version - with over a million views on YouTube - includes the complete lyrics of the song. It is controversial in Africa due to its use of AI (Artificial Intelligence). See the Shona version featuring various artists - with over 2 million views - HERE.

SUNDAY June 12 | Seventh Sunday after Pentecost | 9:30am

Isaiah 55:10-13; Psalm 65:1-13; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

SUNDAY June 12 | Special Evensong | 7pm

This Sunday at 7pm, come out to Holy Trinity Lascelles (5 Chem. Pritchard, Lascelles QC) to hear your St. John’s Choir lead an evensong service. This lovely country church hosts 8 evensong services throughout the summer, and we are very excited to participate again this year. I hope to see you there! Nicholas Busch, Director of Music

SUNDAY July 19 | Eighth Sunday after Pentecost | 9:30am

Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 86:11-17; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - July 5, 2026

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - June 21, 2026

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES

Young Adults Group:

This past Sunday's spontaneous young adult picnic.

Every first Sunday of the month there's a plan to get together after the worship service.

It's a great way to make new friends and get to know our church community.

You're invited on August 2!

Staying for the hospitality time following Sunday morning worship:

Denis & Krisha with Allen & Marilyn

Introducing the Rev Paul Millward

Paul will join St John's from September 1 to October 15, covering the first part of Gary's Sabbath Leave. The Rev Tim Taylor will serve in this role for the final weeks of October, followed by the Rev Canon Pat Johnston for the month of November. Gary will return December 1. Tim Taylor will attend worship at St John's this coming Sunday.

UPDATES

ST JOHN'S SUMMER BOOK

Join us for the BBQ and the Zoom!

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.

CHRISTMAS MARKET CALL FOR VENDORS

We are looking ahead to the next St. John’s Christmas Market on Saturday, November 21. Please help us to invite more vendors - if you know any artists, artisans or crafters who might be interested in participating in our market, please have them contact me for more information. You can reach me through the church office email HERE.

Jill Moll

Christmas Market Coordinator

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

DISCERNING OUR CALLING TO INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT:

On Sunday, June 21, we formed a circle in the chapel during post-worship hospitality to talk about the future of Indigenous Engagement at St John's. Following 5 years with a dedicated Indigenous Engagement Coordinator, we reflected on many successes and our current practices.

There was a high level of interest with over twenty participants. We recognized that the Coordinator position was a helpful reminder about significant dates in Indigenous cultural practices and Truth & Reconciliation, the feeling in the room was that it is time for our whole community to take ownership of our participation rather than count on one individual leader.

We agreed that we need an Indigenous Engagement Steering Group. Our group would include interested participants, Indigenous members of our community, and warden and clergy representation. We are committed to continuing our current practices of smudging and reading the First Nations Translation Gospel, marking of signficant dates, learning opportunities, connections to other parishes with Indigenous ministry and to the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa's All My Relations Committee.

Smudging and First Nations Gospel readings would be reserved to Indigenous members of our community, who would also be welcomed to wear their nation's regalia especially when they are active in the liturgy.

I invite your expression of interest and your continued participation in Indigenous Engagement at St John's.

Gary+

UPCOMING EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

WORSHIP EVERY SUNDAY

St John's worship services begin "summer hours" on June 7, with one weekly worship service on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

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, Kerry, Aot, Monica, Barb, Chris, Pat and all who minister at St. John's.

Prayer Requests: Ron, Dixie, Jene, David, Earl and Alice.

Our Diocese

Kathryn, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan; Shane, our Primate.
Our Diocesan Partners: Communion Forest, Compass Rose
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

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. Rachael Parker, Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Brandon

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Bishop Trish Schmermund, the people and rostered ministers of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories

Moravian Church in Canada

The Van-Es Camp and Conference Centre

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan

Flowers

The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of her dad by Allen Nakyejjwe.

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