This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

Christmas is upon us. This coming Sunday, we light the fourth Advent Candle. Following up on candles for Hope, Peace, and Joy, this candle's theme of Love sets up Christmas. Christmas is God's love for us, working through us, and showing us how to love.

All the readings are listed below from this Sunday through to January 5. Christmas can be complicated because of travel and family commitments. Following along with the Christmas scriptures in your personal reading can give you a zone of peace when plans are hectic.

Please note that we will not have a newsletter next week. The church office will be closed from Christmas Day through to January 3.

I hope to see you over these wonderful days of celebration. May the birth of Christ be a blessing to you and to those you love!

Gary+

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, December 22 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Micah 5:2-5a; Canticle: Magnificat (Luke 1:46b-55); Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55

SCRIPTURES - Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve -

7:00 p.m. Early Christmas Eve; 9:45 p.m. Christmas Carols & 10:30 p.m. Late Christmas Eve.

Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20

SCRIPTURES - Wednesday, December 25 - Christmas Day - 10:15 a.m.

Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-12; John 1:1-14

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, December 29 - 1st Sunday of Christmas - 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, January 5 - Epiphany - 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72: 1-7, 14-22; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

Worship recordings include prayers, readings, a sermon, and music.

Third Sunday of Advent - December 15, 2024

Second Sunday of Advent - Rededication - December 8, 2024

First Sunday of Advent - December 1, 2024

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

MEMORIAL POINSETTIAS

Decorate St John's for Christmas

This year there are two ways to participate in filling the church with poinsettias for Christmas.

Bring a poinsettia or several to church on Sunday, December 22. Join in the great poinsettia hunt. If you wish to donate the flowers and designate them as a memorial to loved ones, please include a card noting the names of those being remembered. If you prefer to be reimbursed for your purchase, please include your receipt with your contact details.

Make a financial donation for the purchase of poinsettias. Please note the names of the people to be remembered. Donations can be put on the collection plate any Sunday or dropped off at the office.

Please note that we invite Christmas morning worshipers to bring poinsettias to their homes and to loved ones.

4 AMIGOS CHURCHES CAROLING EVENT

Especially for Children, Families, Lovers of Carols

Starting at Knox Presbyterian at 11:30 on Sunday, December 22, we will walk and sing carols in front of each of our 4 churches - concluding at First Baptist for hot chocolate. Bring your own bag lunch - crafts, song sheets and hot chocolate provided. Registration is not required.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IDEAS

Christmas shopping at the Community Thrift Shop

Come into the Shop as a shopper this coming week: Thursday and Saturday, we are open regular hours 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. The Shop will be closed over Christmas and reopens on Tuesday, January 7, 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Christmas gift suggestion that supports Affordable Housing

Loblaws Gift cards are the perfect gift for many on your gift list! Choose from our selection of $10, $25 or $50 cards. St. John’s Affordable Housing Committee sells Loblaws Gift Cards as a fundraiser to support the development of affordable housing in Ottawa. Look for Mary Frances Marshall or Peggy Lister during coffee hour to buy some cards.

WINTER SOLSTICE

The shortest and darkest day of the year is almost here. The Winter Solstice on December 21 represents a beautiful occasion in First Nations culture.

In Indigenous history, the dark day has been connected with opportunities to reflect on beautiful things. It was a time to gather to tell stories, to have a feast and to do some crafting. We get together and offer our gratitude to Mother Earth, all the living creatures, and the natural world that we’re blessed to share.

The movement on the medicine wheel toward the cold months of Winter is a time when original peoples would not be travelling as much. Winter is a time for rest, storytelling, crafts and beadwork.

I hope everyone takes a moment to find the beauty in slowing down for quiet moments of solitude and gratefulness to the Creator.

Kimberly Johnson

St John's Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

STAR WORDS FOR EPIPHANY

Plan to receive a Star Word at St. John’s on Sunday, January 12 during the Announcement time. Everyone is welcome to receive a word for 2025. Different words like “commitment”, “faith”, “hospitality”, “discipline” are given as little aids to help us reflect on our faith throughout the year. Some tips will be given to help you use your word.

Star Words Reflection:

"This year my word was Comfort: From the Messiah – speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. Saying to a guest – come in and make yourself comfortable. Maybe you have a comforter on your bed."

Vicki Milnes

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES THIS WEEK

ABOVE: Bosco, Allen and Sherrie

BELOW: Mary, Brianna, Gary, Jorvan & Scout

Thanks to Erin Biggs, Leigh Anne Williams and Gary for the photos.

BELONG OTTAWA HOLIDAY PARTY AT THE WELL

Belong Ottawa Celebration on Monday, December 16:

What a wonderful day it was at The Well! We were filled with joy and warmth as we came together to celebrate the holiday season.

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to serve 200 people a delicious holiday meal, complete with all the fixings! Your support made this special day possible.

TAKE NOTE

OPEN HOUSE RECEPTION

Sunday, January 19, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Meet our neighbours! We want to show off our building.

St John's is hosting a reception for neighbours, neighbouring businesses, current renters and groups interested in booking our renewed facility. We would be grateful for volunteers to help us make this an excellent and welcoming occasion.

WHERE TO PARK NEAR THE CHURCH

2-HOUR PARKING - Somerset east of Elgin (i.e., adjacent to the Church) and MacLaren and Gilmour east of Elgin. 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, 7 days per week (including on Sundays).

3-HOUR PARKING - Somerset west of Elgin. Maximum 2-hour parking, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM on Saturday; no restriction on Sunday!

ALWAYS CHECK THE PARKING METER!

Meter indicates times when you need to pay for parking. Most street parking is free on Sundays in the neighbourhood. Note that in the above photo of a meter, the 2-hour MAX limit still applies on Saturday/Sunday.

PARKING FOR LONGER VISITS

Park at City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave West. Parking Rates:

MONDAY - FRIDAY:

6:00 AM to 6:00 PM: $2.00 per 30 mins, $20 max

6:00 PM to 6:00 AM: $1.00 per hr, $2.00 max

WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS:

6:00 AM to 6:00 PM: $1.00 per hr/$2.00 max

6:00 PM to 6:00 AM: $1.00 per hr/$2.00 max

BUY THE FARM!

Thank you St John's!

Huge thanks to all the generous donors who have made donations to this year’s PWRDF/Alongside Hope World of Gifts project – “Buy the Whole Barn”. As of this week we have received a total of $1,885 with more to come. We are just short of buying two whole barns at $970 each. This translates into support to food security projects in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Colombia and Cuba (e.g. providing goats and cows to food insecure families in Kenya and Zimbabwe, chicken coops and chickens to rural families in Cuba, beehives to women in Colombia and installing fish ponds with tilapia in Zimbabwe. Well done St. John’s! We are so grateful for your generous support and for not forgetting our partners around the world at this time of year.

PWRDF/Alongside Hope Parish Committee

PWRDF: Primate's World Relief and Development Fund

New Name: Alongside Hope

LOOKING AHEAD

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Every Sunday

Worship Services at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. (Summer schedule is one service at 9:30 from June 1 to Labour Day).

Tuesday, December 24

Christmas Eve Services: 7:00 Early Christmas Eve; 9:45 Informal Carol Singing; 10:30 Late Christmas Eve

Wednesday, December 25

Christmas Day Service: 10:15 a.m.

Sunday, December 29

First Sunday of Christmas, 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Sunday, January 5

Epiphany Sunday, 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.
Epiphany Children's Service, 3-5 p.m.

Sunday, January 12

Star Words Revisited - Get your spiritual word for the year. Immediately following 10:15 service.

Sunday, January 19

Black History Month planning meeting. Meet in the Parish Hall following the 10:15 service to plan for the month of February.
Renewed Space Reception for the Community, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 22

The Virtues of Aging - Presented by the 4 Amigos Churches. This is a 4-Part Series on Zoom, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on January 22, January 29, February 5, February 12

Sunday, February 16

Gospel Read-Through Part 2: Gospel of Luke 14:1-24:53. Get to know the flow of this year's featured gospel in time for Lent and Holy Week

Saturday, February 22

Church Safety Workshop: How to engage with and support people in distress; based on the principles of Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training. Ideal for church volunteers who engage with the public and for Community Thrift Shop volunteers. There is no fee but registration is required. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Facilitated by India Bedson. Confirm your participation by email HERE

Sunday, February 23

Annual Vestry Meeting, 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 5

Ash Wednesday

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

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

Prayer Requests: Ted, Diana, Pat, Alice, David.

Our Diocese

Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan and Acting Primate
Staff at Ascension House
Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa, The Very Reverend Beth Bretzlaff, The Reverend Canon Douglas Richards and Deacon Jarrett Carty

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. Christopher Harper, National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop, and the staff of Indigenous Ministries; the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples; Dawn Maracle, Indigenous Justice Animator.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Carmen Ramirez, Assistant to the National Bishop, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Peter Wall, Assistant to the National Bishop for Worship.

Moravian Church in Canada

The Rev. Melissa Johnson, president of the Eastern District Executive Board of the Moravian Church Northern Province.
The Moravian Church has joined Full Communion with Anglicans and Lutherans - read about the Moravian Church HERE

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

The Church of the Province of Uganda.

Parish Prayer Group

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

office@stjohnsottawa.ca

DONATE

CANADA HELPS QR CODE

e-transfer office@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

office@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