This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

Perhaps you were taken aback, as I was a few weeks ago, when we heard Shane Parker named in the intercessions as both our Bishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. His election at the June 27 General Synod was a surprise to most people, because he was not on the list of candidates who put themselves forward for the position, although many had called for him to do so. So how did this happen?

In his June 27 Letter to the Clergy and People of our Diocese, Bishop Shane explains that he resisted these calls right up until the Eucharist before the election, “when resisting became too great, and I accepted, deep in my heart, that I needed to relinquish and entrust my life to God, and allow the General Synod, guided by the Holy Spirit, to decide.”

To back up for a moment: General Synod, the governing body of the Anglican Church of Canada, is made up of three Orders: Bishops, Clergy and Laity (the latter being churchspeak for delegates representing you and me). The Order of Bishops nominates but does not vote for candidates to the position of Primate – that is up to the clergy and laity. When the Order of Laity asked for more names to be put forward for the position than were already on the ballot, the bishops proposed Bishop Shane, and he was elected on the fifth ballot.

Interestingly, it was youth delegates who played a key role in this unexpected development, and Bishop Shane’s record as a champion of LGBTQ+ rights was a significant factor, as you can read in this article from the Anglican Journal.

And now, what’s next? Bishop Shane’s title is now Archbishop Shane, but he will continue to be Bishop of Ottawa until his official resignation sometime in September 2025. Our Diocesan Council will appoint an Administrator, who will exercise the responsibilities of Bishop until a new Bishop is elected at an Electoral Synod, which will likely be held in early 2026.

Archbishop Shane was elected Bishop at a stressful time – the beginning of the pandemic - but despite the challenges of those early years he carried us through a period of transformation aimed at “breaking free from structures which hold us to a time that has passed, and being visionary and courageous as we face the future.” His comments upon his election as Primate echo these goals, again at a critical moment for the Canadian Church.

I hope you can join us at our 9:30 service this Sunday.

Brian Cameron

Guest Editor

SUNDAY JULY 27 | Seventh Sunday After Pentecost | 9:30 a.m.

Scriptures: Genesis 18:20-32; Psalm 138; Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19); Luke 11:1-13

SUNDAY AUGUST 3 | Eighth Sunday after Pentecost | 9:30am

Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 1:2,12-14; 2:18-23; Psalm 49:1-12; Colossians 3:1-11;

Luke 12:13-21

Our new Primate, Archbishop Shane Parker

Photo by Leigh Anne Williams

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

Worship recordings include the following portions of the service: prayers, readings, the sermon, and music. Recordings will resume later in August.

Third Sunday after Pentecost - Sunday, June 29, 2025

National Indigenous Day of Prayer - Sunday, June 22, 2025

Pentecost - Sunday, June 8, 2025

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES

Above: Monica and Jamie

Below: Melodie and Muriel

Above: Ed and Wes

Below: Maura, with Bea and Jo

OF INTEREST

If you are one of the many people who enjoy a cold beverage which comes in an aluminium can, please collect your ‘pop can tabs’ and donate them to St. Johns. Marilyn Collins has offered to gather your donations and deliver them to Clifford Bowey School. The school exchanges them for equipment for their 104 students, who have serious develomental issues.

A large can marked ‘Pop Can Tabs’ will be placed under the pew at the Elgin Street entrance to the nave. Thank you for participating in this outreach effort.

TAKE NOTE

NEXT NEWSLETTER

Our next newsletter will be sent on Thursday, August 7.Please email your contributions to Brian and Kerry no later than Wednesday, August 6.

HIROSHIMA-NAGASAKI EXHIBITION

The poster exhibition, Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, will open in the main corridor of Ottawa City Hall on Wednesday August 6th, 3:30p.m. The exhibition will remain there from Aug. 6th-11th. The exhibition was previously on display at St. John's; this is another chance to see it if you missed it then.

The posters were donated to exhibition organizers Ban the Bomb Ottawa and the U.N. Association in Canada National Capital Region Branch by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum thanks to the efforts of Japanese Canadian Ms. Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor (hibakusha) of the Hiroshima bombing.

At the ceremony, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe will open the exhibition and proclaim August 6 and August 9 as Hiroshima and Nagasaki Days. The Deputy Head of Mission from the Embassy of Japan and representatives from civil society will also make brief remarks. Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, whose strong support has made this exhibition at City Hall possible, will close the opening ceremony.

This exhibition commemorates the 80th anniversary of the first use of atomic bombs and reminds us of the continuing existential threat posed by these weapons of mass destruction.

For more information about the exhibition contact 80thcommemoration@gmail.com

BOOKS & BARBECUE

We’ve made it a habit in the summer of reading a book together, then gathering for food and fellowship as we discuss what we’ve read and how it impacted us. This year, the Lifelong Learning Committee has chosen the book Faithful, Creative, Hopeful: Fifteen Theses for Christians in a Crisis-Shaped World by Jesse A. Zink.

One reason we chose this book is that it is actually a series of theses (or essays). We’ve chosen to highlight two chapters for discussion:

Chapter 8: "Christian witness is rooted in hope "
Chapter 13: "In a mistrusting world, the church is called to be a community of responsibility and solidarity"

Our thinking is that with less content to cover, we can have a deeper discussion when we are together.

Faithful, Creative, Hopeful can be ordered from Perfect Books for $42. It can also be ordered from Chapters/Indigo for $30. Unfortunately it is not available at the library. If either buying option is out of your price range, we will have photocopies of the above two chapters available at the back of the church.

Whether or not you are able to complete the reading of these chapters, we hope you will join us on Saturday, August 16. Thanks to Ian and Michelle, who are hosting us in their home for food and discussion. Please email the office at admin@stjohnsottawa.ca to confirm your participation. More details will be provided for participants closer to the date.

FUNDRAISER FOR BRUCE HOUSE

Bike Ride for People with AIDS

August 3-8

This will be my 11th time cycling from Toronto to Montreal in support of people with AIDS. What is new is that I'm doing this ride for Bruce House, our local Ottawa charity providing services and housing support for people with HIV. Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, the ride's organizer and founder, has broadened the ride to support local community AIDS service organizations.

Every dollar that I raise over $2000 will be split 50/50 between PWA Toronto and Bruce House. My fundraising goal is $10,000, and I have just reached $8,819.

Each of us has many causes you care about and support. I hope you're excited to support Bruce House with me! Make a secure online donation by clicking here. No donation is too small.

Thanks for your support!

Gary+

LOOKING AHEAD

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

Osiyo Nigadv! Hello everyone!

Here are some upcoming Indigenous events at St. John's:

Saturday, August 23: St John's Field Trip - Pow Wow at Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. If you would like to join our field trip, and be part of our shared rides to Golden Lake, please email me at the address below, or use the sign-up sheet at the back of the church. We will have more details soon.
Saturday, September 20: Sharing Circle with Elder Louella. Knowledge sharing about the Medicine Wheel Teachings, including the Four Directions. Please send me an email if you would like to participate.

Kimberly Johnson

indigengcoord@stjohnsottawa.ca

St John's Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

CAPITAL PRIDE PARADE ORGANIZING TEAM

St Johns' Capital Pride organizing team: Maroua, Marianne, Luka, Laura, Mary Frances, Sherrie, Diana, Ron. Our team also includes Denis and Krisha (away).

St. John's will be organizing the Anglican presence in the Capital Pride parade on Sunday afternoon, August 24.

We have a St John's team getting us organized!

We are planning a sign-decorating party on Sunday, August 17 following the 9:30 service. Our signs will be for walking in the parade and will include scripture quotes in the languages we use at St John's, scripture quotes and memorable phrases. We hope to make enough signs to share them with parade walkers from other Anglican parishes.

St John's is on the parade route so we are planning a space for watching the parade (especially if you're not able to walk the whole parade route) including water and washroom station.

IN MEMORIAM

Michel Landry

A man of the wilderness

We give thanks for the life of Michel Landry who died on Sunday 18 May. The meningioma which he overcame in 2010 came back, but was not treatable this time because of medication being taken for his several other health issues. He was 84 years old when he died at Carleton Lodge.

Michel was a longtime member of the St. John's community. As a choir member, he frequently sang beautiful solos. He also volunteered his time with Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) and was CoSA Ottawa's longest-serving volunteer.

Michel was born in Ottawa on 21 Oct 1940. After finishing school in Rigaud, QC he studied at the University of Montreal. His beautiful bass voice landed him a job with the CBC choir in Montreal around Expo time, 1967. However, his extreme love of the outdoors got the better of him and he started a career teaching Environmental Studies. That included all outdoors skills including wilderness survival, canoeing, hiking, orienteering, skiing and first aid. After teaching at Pearson College in Victoria, BC, he taught in Wales and then at Ottawa’s Ashbury College. In addition, Michel conducted numerous wilderness tours as a guide. Among his many delighted customers was Gordon Lightfoot. Yes, Lightfoot DID take his guitar with them on the wilderness trip !!

Everywhere Michel taught, his students adored him. May his memory live long.

Denise Torunski

A clebration of life for Denise Torunski will be held on Saturday, August 9 at 11:00 a.m.at St. Thomas the Apostle Anglican Church in Stittsville (1619 Stittsville Main St.) Denise and her husband Pete were longtime members of St. John's, and Pete was a member of our choir.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Every Sunday from June 1 to August 31

Worship Service at 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, August 16

Books & Barbecue, 5:00 p.m. Chez Ian and Michelle.

Sunday, August 17

Pride Parade Sign Making Party, 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel

Saturday, August 23

Pow Wow Field Trip to Golden Lake - Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation

Sunday, August 24

Capital Pride Parade

Saturday, September 20

Sharing Circle with Elder Louella: Medicine Wheel Teachings

Saturday, September 27

Field Trip to Ottawa Mosque, 10:00 a.m. 251 Northwestern Ave.

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: James, Alice, David, Barton, Sara, Doug, Wilma.

And for those who have died: Wilma Van Der Meer, Bert Hopkins and Michel Landry.

Our Diocese

We pray for Shane, our Primate and Bishop of Ottawa; Anne, our Metropolitan;
Staff at Ascension House
St. Stephen’s, Ottawa and all who minister there.

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. Stephen London, Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Edmonton.

ELCIC

The dean, council, and congregations of the East Central Area of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories.

Moravian Church in Canada

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 Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea.

Flowers

On Sunday, July 27, the flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of husband John (Jack) Hampson and brother-in-law Ken Hampson and sister-in-law Libby Hampson by Jill Moll.
On Sunday, August 3, the flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Kathi Milnes by her sister Vicki.

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 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