This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

This past weekend was the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. We probably don't give much thought to the story behind this part of our worship service - if anything, we may question whether we agree with each phrase or wonder why we say a creed at all. Nevertheless, the story of what the creed was intended to achieve, and what happened instead, is relevant for our turbulent times.

The Council of Nicaea was called to bring about unity in the face of diverging beliefs and cultures among the many Christian communities founded by the apostles. The Council hoped to ensure unity by creating a shared creed. Sadly, it was disagreement about particular phrases in the Nicene Creed that led the Roman and Orthodox Churches to excommunicate each other in 1054 CE.

The misunderstanding (as it originally was) began innocently enough when the creed was translated from the original Greek into Latin. As we know from St John's experience of scripture readings in French, Kinyarwanda, Arabic, and Swahili, phrases in English do not always translate exactly. Words change their meaning over time and with geography. That's what happened with the Nicene Creed. The offending phrase was this one:

"We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father."

The Latin translation used procedere (in English this becomes "proceeds from") for the original Greek word, ekporeuesthai (ἐκπορεύεσθαι). This Greek word has the sense of "originates from" rather than "proceeds from." This mattered in Spain, where a competing group of Christians were teaching that the Christ was not fully divine. The Council of Toledo in 589 CE addressed this group by adding filioque - "who proceeds from the Father and the Son" to stress the full divinity of Christ. Gradually this usage spread and it was adopted in Rome in 1014 CE. The Orthodox Church rejected this addition, saying that it compromised the unique role of the Father and unbalanced the Trinity. Furthermore, the Council of 431 had forbidden additions to any creed unless they were made by all the churches together.

What does this have to do with us? We actually use both versions. The 8:00 service in the traditional language of the Book of Common Prayer keeps the addition of "and the Son." Anglican separation from the Roman Catholic Church had other disagreements but not about the filioque. Our modern language worship at 10:15 goes back to the original text - along with other worldwide Anglican churches - in a recognition that we desire to be more united than we are.

On Friday, November 28, Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople stood on the waterfront of the Turkish town of Iznik, the present-day town located at the ruins of the city of Nicaea. Together they read the original version of the Nicene Creed, and spoke of their desire to end the historic fracture between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.

How is that significant?

My read is that the world is growing more conflicted rather than less. When I read past conflicts as petty, I know I might underestimate what was at stake at the time. But living now, surrounded by news of wars, I want to believe our past and present disunity can be replaced by peace. In our world of division and conflict, saying the Nicene Creed together feels like a prayer of desire for true peace among Christians.

Light your candles for hope this week and peace next week (prayer resources below). Please join us for worship this Sunday at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. and for the Christmas Concert at Woodroffe United this Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. (details below).

Gary+

Children's Mitten Tree for The Well - Belong Ottawa

SUNDAY DECEMBER 7 | Second Sunday of Advent

Scriptures: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7,18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

SUNDAY DECEMBER 14 | Third Sunday of Advent

Scriptures: Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 1:46b-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

First Sunday of Advent - November 30, 2025

The Reign of Christ - November 23, 2025

Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost - November 16, 2025

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

THIS WEEKEND

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Join the Choirs of St. John the Evangelist and Woodroffe United Church, together with the Strings of St. John's for our Winter Concert! The concert will feature John Rutter's beloved Magnificat, along with carols and other Christmas favourites.

December 7 @ 3:00pm

Woodroffe United Church

207 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa

December 14 @ 2:00pm

St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church

154 Somerset St. W., Ottawa

Get your tickets online by clicking on the highlighted dates above - $25. Tickets at the door - $30. Student pricing available.

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES

ABOVE: Worship Team this past Sunday: Pat, Kevin, Wendy, Maxine & Gary.

BELOW: Lighting of the Advent Candle for Hope. Advent Prayers below.

Ottawa Centre M.P. Yasir Naqvi's Support Event for Newcomers to Canada

Children's Mitten Tree at the Christmas Market

The children of Godly Play (St John’s Sunday School), their families and leaders collected new socks, mittens, hats, and gloves for the participants of The Well - Belong Ottawa and placed them under a Mitten Tree at the Christmas Market. The Well is a day program for those in need - a ministry of our Diocese of Ottawa - located in the lower level of St John's Church. The children made the tree decorations to go with their gifts. It was a fun program for the children to learn about stewardship. Thanks to Shauna-marie Young, Executive Director of Belong Ottawa, for coming to visit us and bringing all the oranges which the children loved. Mary Ann Varley

IN MEMORIAM

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 21. 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.

YOUR SUPPORT INVITED

VOLUNTEER

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES

AUDIO TECHNICIAN

St John's invites 3 new people to join the Audio Technician roster. This role involves setting up the sound system and recording device before the worship service and putting everything away following the service. Setting up takes place a half hour before the service, and return to storage happens during refreshments. There may also be some troubleshooting if there is difficulty with the sound during the service. Volunteer participation is also invited for special services such as funerals, and for congregational meetings. Training is provided.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

With so many in our community having travel plans during the Christmas Season, we need your help planning the worship roster! We need the following roles: Sidespersons, readers, intercessors, hospitality, lock-up duty, bell-ringing. Here are the dates for which we especially ask your support:

Early Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Day 10:15 a.m.
Sunday, December 28, 10:15 a.m.

We especially need volunteers for Early Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Please offer your availability to participate HERE.

ALONGSIDE HOPE

Christmas Cards

A very big thank you to all those parishioners who purchased most of our 2025 Alongside Hope Christmas cards last Sunday. Due to their popularity 10 more packets have been ordered and will hopefully arrive by Sunday, Dec. 9^th. There are still cards from previous years available for sale.

For those who are new to the parish, Alongside Hope is the Anglican Church of Canada’s agency for sustainable development and relief. It has been working with partners in 35 countries around the world and in Canada for 67 years. Your donation toward Alongside Hope Christmas cards supports our partners around the world. A packet of 12 cards costs $25.

World of Gifts - St. John’s Christmas gift

As its Christmas donation to Alongside Hope in 2025 St. John the Evangelist is proposing to fund the “Garden Lover” group of projects among the World of Gifts. The focus is on food security and equipping our partners to grow and eat both abundantly and healthily. We are proposing to fund 7 projects in Cuba, Colombia, Zimbabwe and Uganda. Please help us reach our goal of $890.

Garden Lover Bundle: Support food security and good soil in four countries!

Seeds and seedlings in Cuba - $170

Food preservation in Cuba - $70

Vermicomposter in Colombia - $280

Farm tools in Zimbabwe - $270

Permaculture with kids in Uganda - $100

Total Fundraising Goal for the Garden Lover Bundle: $890

You can donate by cheque to Alongside Hope - World of Gifts or donate to St John the Evangelist, subject line: Alongside Hope - World of Gifts.

Permaculture for kids in Uganda

Thank you for your support!

St John's Alongside Hope Committee

Centretown Churches Social Action Committee

Read the CCSAC newsletter for December here.

COMING SOON

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

WORSHIP EVERY SUNDAY

Please join us at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. each Sunday.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES:

Early Christmas Eve, 7:00 p.m.
Carols, 9:45 p.m.
Late Christmas Eve: 10:30 p.m.
Christmas Day: 10:15 a.m.
First Sunday of Christmas: December 28, 8:00 & 10:15
Epiphany Sunday: January 4, 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Sunday, December 7

St John's Christmas Concert at Woodroffe United, 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 14

St John's Christmas Concert at St John's, 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 4

Star Words - get your prayer word for 2026

Sunday, January 11

Gospel Read-Through: Matthew Part 1. 12:00 p.m. in the Chapel
Young Adults Event. Following 10:15 worship
Children's Eucharist, 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 17

Learning Session: Prayer. 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, January 24

Learning Session: Structure of the Bible. 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, January 31

Learning Session (Weather back-up date for January 18 & 24). 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Sunday, February 8

Gospel Read-Through: Matthew: Focus on First Nations Version. 12:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 15

Gospel Read-Through: Matthew Part 2. 12:00 p.m.

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

Advent Retreat Day

Osiyo Nigadv, Hello Everyone!

This past Saturday, our Advent devotional time was made especially meaningful with the help of Carol, Gary, and Erin, who led us through moments of song, reflection, and gentle sacred quiet.

Carol facilitated our time through the use of liturgy that provided a place of peace to help us connect to God and with one another. Our hearts were able to open to receive the materials presented. Gary's presentation helped us to understand how history, culture and human need drove the narrative we have concerning Advent today at St John's. Erin helped us understand the theological terms and to translate them into why the passages associated with Advent are so meaningful. I was able to share from my perspective as an Indigenous woman how the circle of the seasons moves us to connect with Creator, the land and one another.

All these voices and our collective presence helped guide the group into a calm space where we could listen deeply to Scripture, to one another, and to Spirit. Together, we explored the themes of apocalypse and eschatology, two words often misunderstood. We reflected on how apocalypse in its original meaning doesn’t describe destruction, but a revealing of truth coming into the open. Eschatology speaks to God’s promises for the world, the hope of renewal, restoration, and the healing of all Creation.

Looking at these ideas through an Indigenous perspective, we discussed how many Indigenous teachings describe times of upheaval not as a final end, but as the world turning, a moment when old patterns fall away so new balance can emerge. Instead of fear, these teachings invite responsibility, reflection, and relationship with Creator, the land, and all our relations. Light enters into our community even when daylight is scarce in the season of Winter.

With singing, prayer, shared definitions, and quiet time for listening, we were reminded that both Christian and Indigenous traditions speak of a future shaped by truth, healing, balance, and renewed relationships. As we continue through Advent, these teachings invite us to walk with hope, peace, joy and love to listen more deeply, and to let light guide us in our daily lives.

Wado,

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, Jesse, Aot, Monica, Barb, and all who minister at St. John's.

Prayer Requests: Connie, Alex, Doug, and Jill.

Our Diocese

Archbishop Shane Parker, Primate of Canada; and Archbishop Anne Germond, Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario.
Our Diocesan Partner: Kairos Ottawa and Saint Paul University.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Bishop Larry Kochendorfer and Bishop Carla Blakley.
For the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we prepare to elect a new bishop: for those discerning a call to let their name stand for election; for the candidates; for Members of Synod; and for our diocesan Administrator, Bishop Michael Bird.
Parish of South Dundas and The Reverend Mark Lewis.

Anglican Church of Canada

The Primate Archbishop Shane Parker and the staff of the Primate’s Office of the Anglican Church of Canada. National Indigenous Archbishop Chris Harper.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

National Bishop Larrry Kochendorfer and the national staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

Moravian Church in Canada

The Rev. David E. Bennett, President of the Provincial Elders’ Conference of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church in America.
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 Bangladesh.

Flowers

The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Jim by his friend Sally Andrews.

Parish Prayer Group

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

office@stjohnsottawa.ca

PRAYERS FOR YOUR ADVENT WREATH

Lighting Advent Candles is a great way to bring a theme with you on the journey of your day. We are in the first week of Advent with the theme of hope. Here are some resources for lighting your candles at home.

Advent Booklet with Scriptures and Prayers for each week.

Summary Sheet with the Sunday readings and themes for each week.

For Reflection:

Hope has transformed the world. It has toppled tyrants, dismantled empires, healed wounds, and reconciled enemies. Hope carries no sword, wields no armies, claims no throne-only the flickering flame of faith, lighting a path toward a better and brighter future. Be a hope detective. Seek out the places and people who convey hope in your world. Write down those encounters with divine hope and allow them to carry you when things feel hopeless. Bishop Deon K. Johnson - Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

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