This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

This week’s newsletter is more like a photo album. You will see pictures of people you know and you might even see yourself. I thought about saving some pictures for the next newsletter but life in our church over these next few weeks is full of plans, events, and more photo opportunities. I hope what you see here brings you joy.

Looking ahead to this weekend, on Saturday, Karen McBride will be ordained priest at Julian of Norwich Anglican Church at 11:00 a.m. I am assisting in the service and, if you would like to support Karen, please join me. On Sunday, we light the first Advent Candle with the theme of Hope. We start singing with that most famous of Advent hymns, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

Plan to stay downtown after the service for our choir’s concert, “The Glory of Christmas” at 2:00 p.m. And here’s a hint for lunch: Deacon Brodies gives a 10% discount to St John’s and 10% of your bill as a monthly offering to our church - just identify yourself as from St John’s! Of course, there are many restaurants to choose from on Elgin Street, then come back early enough to get a seat. Get your ticket online HERE, or wait in line to buy a ticket at the door.

At the bottom of this newsletter, you will see a yellow box with the calendar of events looking further ahead. It has been updated into February so you know what’s coming. I hope to see you this Sunday!

Gary+

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, December 1 - First Sunday of Advent

Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, December 8 - Second Sunday of Advent

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 1:68-79, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Reign of Christ the King - November 24, 2024

Twenty Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - November 17, 2024

Remembrance Sunday - November 10, 2024

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

The nave is perfect for a Christmas Market. Replacing the pews with moveable chairs has opened up all kinds of possibilities for future events!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

GLORY OF CHRISTMAS

Get your Tickets - Click on the picture!

Welcome to this year's Christmas Concert!

One performance on Sunday, December 1, 2:00 p.m.
Location: St John the Evangelist Anglican Church, Corner of Elgin and Somerset St. W.
Tickets $20
For tickets, click on the picture above or the link HERE

CHRISTMAS MARKET REPORT

This year’s Christmas Market was a great success!

The 25 vendors were very pleased with the new space and with their sales. The public was pleased with the variety and quality of the products . The CBC segment on the Christmas Market and the beautiful pictures of the church definitely contributed to the number of visitors to the market this year.

However, it’s our team leaders and volunteers who were essential to the success of this market:

Gloria Fox, Co-Chair of the market and Bea Robertson along with their helpers were responsible for providing and serving the food and refreshments in the delightful Christmas Café.
Rebecca Gregg and her volunteers were busy receiving, packaging and pricing the abundance of baked goods, jams and pickles in The Bakery.
Mary Frances Marshall and her greeters welcomed our visitors.
Chris Chiavatti and his team were responsible for the set up, take down and set up of the church.
Brian Cameron was responsible for publicity.
Vicki Milnes and Barb Dransch decorated the church.
Mary Ann Varley designed our beautiful poster and signs. Mary Ann was also instrumental in creating a plan to get our vendors into the building so that they could drop off their products and find parking as well as helping the artists hang their artwork.

Thank you to all our team leaders and our volunteers for their time , their commitment and their energy in making this endeavour such a success.

Check out St John's Christmas Market on CBC TV HERE (starts at 1:26).

Jill Moll

Christmas Market Coordinator

Faces of the Christmas Market

Thanks for all your support!

POINSETTIAS

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.

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES THIS WEEK

Newcomer Choir singing in Kinyarwanda

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

SERVICE OF REDEDICATION

REDEDICATION WITH BISHOP SHANE PARKER

Sunday, December 8, 10:15 a.m.

Now it's time to celebrate. Please join us on Sunday, December 8 for the rededication of our all our spaces. We look forward to welcoming Bishop Shane Parker as our presider and preacher for the rededication at the 10:15 service. Plan to stay for a celebration cake.

OPEN HOUSE RECEPTION

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

We want to share our work with the neighbours! 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 for the above illusraiton, 2-hour still applies on Saturday/Sunday as indicated on this meter.

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

NEWSLETTER FOR CCSAC

Centretown Churches Social Action Committee

November Newsletter HERE

ALONGSIDE HOPE (PWRDF'S NEW NAME)

BUY THE FARM!

PWRDF Christmas cards in 2024 offer two designs of the birth of Jesus. They are on order and should arrive shortly. Meanwhile we are selling the beautiful designs from 2023. Each packet of 12 cards costs $25. Your donation towards PWRDF Christmas cards supports our partners, and also tells people about PWRDF’s good work around the world. Through your prayers, actions, and gifts, PWRDF has supported partners in Canada and around the world for 65 years, making a world of difference.

Donate to support PWRDF’s World of Gifts projects. Check out the five food security projects in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba and Colombia on p.5 of the World of Gifts brochure - HERE.

We hope to raise $970 to fund all five projects. To make a donation see Jane and Allen at the PWRDF Christmas card table after the service.

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).

Saturday, November 30

Rev Karen McBride - Ordination to the Priesthood, Parish of Julian of Norwich, 7 Rossland Ave at Merivale, Ottawa - 11:00 a.m.

Sunday, December 1

Glory of Christmas - St John's Christmas Concert, 2:00 p.m. Tickets HERE

Saturday, December 7

Orientation to Christian Faith - First Meeting, Your participation is invited! Come with general interest and questions; come as preparation for sacraments (baptism, confirmation, marriage); come as an orientation to life at St John's. We will meet in the classroom at the top of the stairs (Somerset entrance), 10 a.m.

Sunday, December 8

Bishop's Visit - Rededication of St John's Nave, 10:15 a.m.

Saturday, December 14

Temple Israel Visit - Shared sermon: "Comparing Advent and Chanukah" by Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg and Gary van der Meer, 10:00 a.m. at Temple Israel, 1301 Prince of Wales Drive. All are welcome.

Tuesday, December 24

Christmas Eve Services: 7:00 & 10:30 p.m. Informal Carol Singing at 9:45 p.m.

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.

Sunday, January 12

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

Sunday, January 19

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

Sunday, February 26

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
The Diocese of Jerusalem and Archbishop Hosam Naoum
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Bishop Susan Johnson and Bishop Carla Blakley
Staff at Ascension House
For the residents, staff, and Chaplains of the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre
All Saints', Westboro The Venerable Kathryn Otley The Reverend Chung Yan Lam

Anglican Church of Canada

The People of the Anglican Church of Canada

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The People of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Moravian Church in Canada

The People of the Moravian Church in Canada
The Moravian Church has joined Full Communion with Anglicans and Lutherans - read about the Moravian HERE

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

Province of the Episcopal Church of Sudan

Parish Prayer Group

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

office@stjohnsottawa.ca

A Time of Prayer:

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Grant that, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, we your followers may be joined together in unity and peace, and that we may be a holy temple acceptable to you. We pray that as we, and others, plant seeds and bring water, you will bless our efforts and bring forth a bountiful harvest. May your hand be upon every seed that is sown and every drop of water that is poured. We trust in your faithfulness to bring growth and abundance in all areas of our lives and the lives of our parishes. Thank you for providing the inspiration and means for fulfilling your promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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