This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends,

As you will see from the pictures, this past weekend was quite the celebration!

How did we manage to combine our Annual Vestry Meeting with a Black History Month celebration that included singing, dancing, readings in Luganda and Ikinyarwanda, as well as cooking and eating? It was sheer goodwill and determination with so many people stepping in to help – thank you very much!

Regarding the Annual Vestry Meeting: We keep updating the Vestry Circular, which provides an overview of all the wonderful ministries that take place here at St. John's – and you can read it HERE. Our annual report happens once a year, but this newsletter is a great place to further celebrate and share what we do. See the update below about the Community Thrift Shop. And thanks to all our volunteers who help us to support so many people in need – keep your donations coming in!

Regarding the Black History Celebration: Listen to parts of the service below – and enjoy the pictures.

Regarding Photography at St John's: You may also have questions about pictures at St John’s – please read further below.

This coming weekend, please note the special presentation this Saturday about how St John’s incorporates Truth & Reconciliation.

Please join us for worship this Sunday at 8:00 and 10:15 AM.

Gary+

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, March 3 - Third Sunday in Lent

Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, March 10 - Fourth Sunday in Lent

Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

February 25 - Second Sunday in Lent: Annual Vestry Meeting and Black History Celebration. This abbreviated version of the Sunday service includes readings in Luganda and Ikinyarwanda, Hymns and African Songs, the Sermon, and Prayers.

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

PICTURES!

With thanks to Petr Maur, photographer

LEARNING IN LENT

TRUTH & RECONCILIATION - IN WORSHIP

A Study of St John's by Josh Zentner-Barrett

Last spring, Josh Zentner-Barrett conducted research at St John's on how we understand worship and its relationship to truth and reconciliation. We look forward to welcoming him back for a presentation and discussion of his research findings. Josh will outline what he did and what he found, and invite your reflection and thoughts. We look forward to an interesting discussion!

Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 10 AM to 12 PM

HEALING AND EXPANDING OUR IMAGES OF GOD

A Study for Lent by Gary van der Meer

How do you imagine or picture God? Some images help us to connect and others are more difficult. Father, Mother, King, Creator, the "Ultimate Ground of Being," the Force...

Some work better than others! Join us for a survey of the different approaches to help you connect more deeply with God.

Part 1 - Saturday, March 9, 10 AM to 12 PM

Part 2 - Saturday, March 16, 10 AM to 12 PM

JOURNEY TO BAPTISM

You are welcome to join our conversations about living the path of Christian Faith. We welcome your questions and interest - you may be interested in baptism or confirmation, or generally interested in how we live the Christian life at St John's.

Saturday, March 2 - Our group will be joining the special presentation by Josh Zentner-Barrett about Truth and Reconciliation at St John's. See details above.

Saturday, Marcy 9 & 16 - Our group will attend the Lent Lectures by Canon Gary van der Meer, "Healing and Expanding Our Images for God. See details above.

UPDATES

PHOTOGRAPHY AT ST JOHN’S

Pictures help us celebrate our community life and the kind of church St John’s is becoming. At the same time, we want to be conscious of safe practices and privacy concerns. Our challenge is to find a good balance between celebration and safety:

If you do not want your image to appear in St John’s materials (newsletter, website, social media, annual report), please let us know. We will keep a current list and respect your wishes.

Occasionally we have guest photographers. It will not be possible for them to know everyone's photography preferences. The current list of people not wanting their images shared will guide our choices for pictures in the newsletter, website, and social media.

If a photographer asks people to pose for a picture, it’s fine to say you don’t want to be in a picture and step out of the scene.

Pictures that include children appear with the permission of parents/guardians. No names will be used in pictures that include children.

We hope you enjoy the pictures we are sharing here today!

THE COMMUNITY THRIFT SHOP

An Update from St John's Vestry Report

The Thrift Shop is thriving! Another great year in 2023 with more volunteers, donations, sales, vouchers, and customers than ever.

Thrift Shop highlights for 2023:

Cash sales - approximately $62,000
Daily sales - from $170 to $900
Average daily sale - $437
Customers per day - approximately 85
Number of vouchers - 2,020
Value of vouchers - approximately $58,000
Number of volunteers - 34
Volunteer hours - approximately 5,800
Number of agencies issuing vouchers - 14 ($35 vouchers may be issued to clients per quarter)

Recycling: The Shop continued to recycle lots of paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and approximately 1,200 lb. of scrap metal. Surplus clothing (580 large bags) and other items (160 boxes) were taken to the Salvation Army stores.

Volunteers: There has been an added dimension to volunteering in the Shop for those who help sort donations on Monday afternoons. Over the past two years a number of newcomers to Canada have volunteered their time and benefitted from the opportunity to improve their language skills, be accepted as peers in a working group, and develop a support network as they adapt to life in a new country. This helps those of us who have grown up in Canada understand the dreams and struggles of refugees. They help us all to better serve our customers and to express the outreach mission of the Shop and St John's.

Thanks to all the generous donors, volunteers and customers who enable us to continue serving the community by offering quality products at low prices and providing a safe, welcoming space for all.

Peggy Lister and David Tappin

Co-Managers

St John's Community Thrift Shop

The changeover to spring/summer stock at the Shop will take place on March 25th and 26th. The Shop will be closed to clients on Tuesday, March 26th. It will open again on Thursday, March 28th.

ASH WEDNESDAY SOUP SUPPER

Thanks for your Support

From Jane Maxwell:

I am pleased to report that a total of $1760 was raised at the Ash Wednesday Soup Supper for the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund. Well done St. John’s!

Along with those who donated to PWRDF’s work around the world, I would like to thank all the parishioners who made it happen. Thanks especially to Gay Richardson who oversaw the kitchen activity, Ian Myles who took over the MC’s host role in my absence, and the ‘team’ of volunteers who set up, took down, and washed up! – Brian and Margot Cameron (audiovisuals), Jill Courtemanche, Christine Unrau, David Fisher, Karen McBride, Pat Johnson, and Lannie Mitchell. (Apologies if I have missed anyone.) Your participation and support contributed to a very successful event.

Special thanks to Chinelo Agom-Eze, our guest speaker from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

Jane Maxwell

St John's PWRDF Coordinator

MAUNDY THURSDAY SUPPER

Maundy Thursday is in four short weeks!

The Paschal Meal is the first part of the liturgy of Maundy Thursday, in which we remember the final meal Jesus shared with the disciples. Jesus shared bread and wine in what is known as the First Eucharist. He also washed the disciples' feet to remind them that leadership takes the form of serving others.

We look forward to sharing our Paschal Meal this year with Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg and representatives of Temple Israel, the Reform Synagogue of Ottawa. Rabbi Mikelberg will introduce the special role of questions in the Jewish tradition of the Seder Supper.

If you would like to volunteer to assist with the meal, please, contact Michelle Smulders HERE.

Tickets are $20 (plus a small Eventbrite charge if purchased online).

Please purchase by March 18 to allow us time to order appropriate amounts of lamb.

Tickets available HERE

MEMORIAL FLOWERS FOR EASTER

Remember your loved ones with flowers at the Altar. Make your donation to St John's noting that it is for Easter Flowers. Please include a note to indicate the names of the people to be remembered. You can put your donation in the collection plate any Sunday or drop it off at the Church Office.

ART CREDO IS COMING!

Saturday, April 20 - Sunday May 5

Mark your calendars for the 45th Art Credo Exhibit and Sale!

This annual show will comprise 100 works of art from 50 artists. The Vernissage will be in the evening of Friday, April 19th. Everyone is invited to come; and to bring a friend. Come meet some of the artists!

We are looking for volunteers for some of the activities related to Art Credo, such as receiving the artwork on Thursday evening April 18th, or hanging the artwork in the church on Friday morning April 20th. During the show, if you can offer three hours of your time to act as a sitter, there is a sign-up sheet online at HERE.

See what the church looks like during Art Credo HERE.

Contacts:

Detlef Dransch / 613.592.9897

Mary Ann Varley / 613.745.2996

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

Prayers for those in leadership roles: Gary, Allen, Christina, Pat, Karen, Barb, Kimberly, Kerry, Jesse, Stephen, Brian, Michelle, Jill, Monica, Barb, Jeff, Marianne and all who minister at St John's. Those in need of our prayers: Robin, Diana.

Our Diocese

Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan; Linda, our Primate.
The Diocese of Jerusalem and Archbishop Hosam Naoum.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and Bishop Susan Johnson and Bishop Michael Pryse.
The Parish of Pakenham and all who minister there and all who minister there.

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. Sandra Fyfe, Bishop, and the people and clergy of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The dean, council, and congregations of the Northern Area of the Eastern Synod.

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:

prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.

A Time of Prayer - Living God, as we listen for your divine sparks in our midst, strengthen us for your service by your grace. Help us remember that we are like trees planted by your life-giving water and keep our hearts and minds open to hear your desires for our diocesan church, our parish, and our community. Give us your wisdom so that we might bear fruit worthy of your kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.