This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

You may have noticed that St John’s regularly invites people into volunteer roles in our community. In fact, we have been asking for extra volunteers for our Christmas services – right here in this newsletter. Most of these roles have now been filled – we are grateful to those of you who have responded.

This is an opportunity to clarify our vocabulary: What is the difference between volunteering and ministry?

Volunteering is community service. It is giving your time, energy and effort to specific activities, actions, and roles. It might be because you love the activity itself. Or it might be because you know there is a need for that role in order to further the cause you care about.

Ministry is living out God’s love for the world in all aspects of your life. In our church, we connect ministry to baptism, especially to Jesus’ baptism, his commissioning into the teaching, healing and compassion for which he became known. You may live out your ministry through all that you do, including your career or job, with your friends, and in your volunteer roles. When it's both volunteer and ministry - what a beautiful way to contribute to more love in the world!

Thank you for your gracious participation in our community, which is a beautiful blessing.

Please join us for worship this Sunday, 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. Let me add an encouragement to join the choir concert this Sunday afternoon at St John’s. The photo below is from the first performance at Woodroffe United Church – I was glad to be there and surprised to find myself in the picture.

Gary+

SUNDAY DECEMBER 14 | Third Sunday of Advent

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

SUNDAY DECEMBER 21 | Fourth Sunday of Advent

Scriptures: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

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

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 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

Meet the Clergy of St John's

Christina Guest, Allen Box, Pat Johnston

Christina, Allen and Pat serve as Honorary Assistant Clergy assigned to St John's by the Bishop of Ottawa.

Christina retired following a career at Correctional Service Canada. Allen was Rector of St Johns from 1983-1991. He also served as program director for the Diocese of Ottawa. Pat began ordained ministry at St John's from 1983-1986 serving with Allen Box. She served in several parishes in the Diocese of Ottawa including St Clare's Winchester, Church of the Epiphany, and St Matthew's in the Glebe. Pat was also interim priest at St John's in 2020.

All three are regularly scheduled to preside and preach and have further ministry roles, including home communion visits, Star Words, and hospitality.

Adèle Finlayson and Carol Edgar have recently returned to St John's after serving parishes in the Diocese of Quebec. They are happy to back with the St John's choir at the 10:15 service. They regularly attend the 8:00 service, where they will serve as intercessors and presiders at the Eucharist.

Garth Bulmer and Ed Stretch retired to Ottawa after serving in the Diocese of Quebec. Garth was Rector of St John's from 1991 to 2007. Ed is an architect by training and moved from Vermont to Quebec, where he was ordained and served parishes in Quebec City. Ed and Garth lead the St John's Garden Group. Garth is an intercessor and Ed is a communion minister at the 10:15 service

Wes Maultsaid served in parishes in Saskatchewan and Belize and continued his career working for CUSO in Nicaragua.

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

ALONGSIDE HOPE

Permaculture for kids in Uganda

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.

Thank you for your support!

St John's Alongside Hope Committee

COMING SOON

LIFELONG LEARNING SESSIONS

Starting in January, St John's will hold learning sessions open to everyone. These are preparation for baptism or confirmation at the Easter Vigil or in the Easter Season. They will include small group sessions on Saturday mornings starting in January. Larger learning events in January are intended to be part or the preparation for sacraments and also open for everyone. Maybe you have been away from church and you would like a refresher? Please reach out if you're interested in participating HERE.

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 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

Osiyo Nigadv, Hello Everyone!

An Advent Reflection for you:

As we continue this season of Advent, we ask Creator, to lead our hearts in tohi (peace), harmony, and balance.

In these coming winter weeks, when the land grows quiet, help us listen the way our ancestors listened to the wind, to the water, to the moving of Spirit around us.

Let gvgeyuyi (love) that’s lived through action, shape how we walk through this season and how we welcome the coming light of Christ.

Let utigi (hope) grow steady within us, like an ember held carefully in winter darkness. As the candles brighten each week, may gawonihi (joy) lift our spirits and strengthen our path.

May tohi surround our families, our community, and all our relations, as we prepare ourselves for the Light entering the world.

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, Jill, Alice, and David.

Our Diocese

Archbishop Shane Parker, Primate of Canada; and Archbishop Anne Germond, Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario.
Our Diocesan Partner: International Women’s Network in Canada (IAWN).
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
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.
St. John’s, Smiths Falls and The Reverend Dr. Thomas Brauer.

Anglican Church of Canada

Dr. Andrea Mann, General Secretary, and the staff of the General Secretary’s Office.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Peace Anthony-Idoko, Director of Finance and Administration, and the staff of Finance and Administration.

Moravian Church in Canada

Mr. David Jones, District President, and the members of Board of Elders of the Canadian District 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

Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil.

Flowers

The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Eric Ryan Turner by John and Patricia Turner his parents.

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:

Discover Joy. Start a joy box. Collect cards, notes, and pictures that bring you joy or that were gifts from others. When things are tough, spend time going through the box.

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