This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends,

Years ago, I took home communion to a widow with a sense of humour. At one point she told me that she had vowed at her wedding to obey her husband. "But", she clarified, "I never vowed to always agree with him. Because, if we both always thought the same, you would only need one of us."

Without referring to Paul's letter to the Romans, she had integrated into her everyday life Paul's concept of "gifts differing". We have been blessed with a wide variety of gifts. They not only complement each other - one making up for what the other lacks; they also serve as a source of friction that stirs things up and challenges us to seek the way in which the Spirit is leading us as individuals and as a community.

We celebrate our differing gifts whenever we gather at the Eucharist. Our weekly roster of participants ensures that different people will carry out certain tasks in the way that expresses who they are and what matters to them. Yet, somehow, they all work together to help our worship go smoothly - the same and yet subtly differently from week to week.

As we work our way through August, we celebrate our last few services on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Beginning on September 13th, we will return to services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Each service invites us to recognize how the Spirit inspires and yet reconciles our differences. All are welcome to join their gifts differing to the mix.

In faith,

Christina

The Reverend Christina Guest

Honorary Assistant

SUNDAY August 23 | Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost | 9:30am

Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16: 13-20

SUNDAY August 30 | Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost | 9:30am

Jeremiah 15:15-21; Psalm 26: 1-8; Romans 12: 9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost - August 9, 2026

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost - August 2, 2026

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES

Preparing for the Capital Pride Parade on August 30! (See below for details.)

Below: Shiva and Sam hard at work on posters to carry in the parade.

The picture above shows Anna, Kathleen, Caroline and Shiva.

Thanks to Luka for organizing and supervising this.

Above: Ed and Barbara in remarkably similar outfits.

Below: Gloria, Erin, Jeff and Jamie welcomed newcomer Joseph during refreshments.

Below: Wanda and Ian compared experiences of being newly retired.

UPDATES

PRESERVE AND PROTECT CENTRE 454 - ADD YOUR VOICE!

A message from Shauna-marie Young, Executive Director, Belong Ottawa

Dear St John's Friends:

As you may know, Belong Ottawa is scheduled to move Centre 454, a mission-critical, low-barrier drop-in day program, in January 2027. We are asking the Mayor and City Councillors to extend the January 2027 relocation timeline, giving us the time we need to identify and secure the right interim and long-term locations for Centre 454 and, most importantly, to protect the continuity of the essential services on which so many people rely.

Your voices would be particularly meaningful in this effort. I hope you will consider signing the advocacy letter linked below and sharing it with those you know. The more voices we can bring forward—including those of our partners, supporters, volunteers, community members, and faith communities—the stronger our collective message will be.

The relationship between St. John’s and Belong Ottawa is truly special, and your generosity toward our ministry and the people we serve makes a real difference. We are deeply grateful for the space you provide, the partnership you have offered, and the care you have shown to our staff, volunteers, and community members.

Thank you, Reverend Gary, and team, for your continued encouragement, leadership, and friendship. Your support during this important moment means a great deal to all of us.

Please take a moment to click here and add your voice.

With sincere appreciation for all you do!

Shauna

CAPITAL PRIDE PARADE

Sunday, August 30, 2026

Mark your calendars: the Capital Pride Parade is August 30, and once again St John's is organizing the Diocese of Ottawa’s presence in the parade. This year we will also be hosting a Pride Party at St John's Parish Hall following the parade. Doors will open at 1:30 for those who are not able to join in the marching. Invite your friends and acquaintances from other Anglican parishes to join the parade and/or the Pride Party, and encourage them to bring their parish banners to represent our whole diocese. We will also have the signs painted by our wonderful parishioners to carry during the parade.

The parade route has been changed this year due to the construction on the Laurier bridge. Please assemble in Green C205 in the parade staging area on Wellington between Booth St and Vimy Place by 12:30. Please dress for the weather as the parade will go on rain or shine, and consider dressing up your weather gear for the occasion. Car drop-off areas are limited so it is recommended that people walk or take transit. For more details, including maps, see the FAQ document on Capital Pride's website https://capitalpride.ca/2026-pride-parade/

NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE

For the next four months, during Gary's absence, This Week at St John's will be published every second Thursday. Please contact Brian Cameron if you have something you would like included. The deadline for the next issue will be Wednesday, September 2, but the earlier the better!

INTRODUCING ST JOHN'S SABBATH CLERGY

The Rev Paul Millward - Sabbath Clergy from September 1 to October 15

The Rev Tim Taylor - Sabbath Clergy from October 16 to October 31

The Rev Canon Pat Johnston - Sabbath Clergy from November 1 to November 31

OF INTEREST

UPCOMING EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

WORSHIP EVERY SUNDAY

St John's worship services begin "summer hours" on June 7, with one weekly worship service on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday, August 30

Capital Pride Parade, followed by Pride Party

Sunday, September 13

Sunday services at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. Return to regular worship schedule.

Saturday, November 21

Christmas Market, 10:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m

Saturday, December 5, 10:00 a.m.

Sacrament Preparation with Gary: First Meeting

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

Prayers for those in leadership roles: Gary, Allen, Christina, Pat, Nicholas, Kerry, Aot, Monica, Barb, Chris, Pat and all who minister at St. John's.

Pray for St John's upcoming Sabbath Clergy: Paul Millward, Tim Taylor & Pat Johnston

Prayer Requests: Ron, John, Sandy, Dixie, Earl, Kevin, Alice & David.

For Sunday, August 30: The flowers are given to the glory of God in loving memory of James Hyde Bell, father of Mary Frances Bell.

Our Diocese

Kathryn, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan; Shane, our Primate, as well as
(Aug. 23): Staff at Ascension House, including the Archives; (Aug 30): All retired clergy of the Diocese of Ottawa
Our Diocesan Partners: (Aug. 23): Communion Forest, Compass Rose; (Aug 30): Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
(Aug. 23): St. Bartholomew's, The Reverend Canon Catherine Ascah; (Aug 30): St. James, Leitrim The Reverend Nash Smith and All Saints, Greely The Reverend Margo Whittaker

Anglican Church of Canada

(Aug. 23): The Rt. Rev. Richard Reed, Bishop; The Rt. Rev Adam Halkett, Bishop of Missinippi, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Saskatchewan; (Aug. 30): The Rt. Rev. Chad McCharles, Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Saskatoon

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

(Aug. 23): The dean, council, and congregations of the West Central Area of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories; (Aug. 30): Bishop Kathy Martin, the people and rostered ministers of the British Columbia Synod

Moravian Church in Canada

(Aug. 30): The administration and staff of the Board of Elders Canadian District and the Northern Province

Parish Prayer Group

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

Prayer Request

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