This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

Now it's time to celebrate! This Sunday is the rededication of our church following a season of construction.

We are so grateful for everyone who helped. Thanks also for your patience as we did a lot of adjusting and squeezing around each other for events, booking of spaces, parking, storage, garbage removal. At 10:15, we welcome our Bishop and representatives of the Diocese of Ottawa, our wonderful construction team of workers and contractors, and local community leaders. We want to remember why we did this. And we want to celebrate our vision going forward as a welcoming, diverse, community-engaged church for the arts, faith and justice.

We are still glowing from the Christmas concert this past Sunday as you will see in this week's pictures. Conductor and composer Tom Annand led us through gorgeous music featuring St John's Choir and friends and the Strings of St John's. What a beautiful harmony for a musical foretaste of the Glory of Christmas.

This Sunday, we are still in Advent and the liturgical colour is blue. I think of it as the colour of the night sky as the angels sang "Glory to God in the highest!" - as heard by the shepherds. It's a great colour to wear if you have it - and heads up that the colour is pink for the next Sunday after this one.

Plan to be with us at 8:00 a.m. for early communion with the children's story about John the Baptist and/or the big celebration of our renewed church building at 10:15.

Gary+

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, December 8 - Second Sunday of Advent

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

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, December 15 - Third Sunday of Advent

Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

First Sunday of Advent - December 1, 2024

Reign of Christ the King - November 24, 2024

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

Lighting the first Advent Candle for Hope. This coming Sunday's candle is for Peace.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

4 AMIGOS CHURCHES CAROLING EVENT

Especially for Children, Families, Lovers of Carols

Starting at Knox Presybterian at 11:30. We will walk and sing carols in front of each of our 4 churches - concluding at First Baptist for Hot Chocolate. Bring your own bag lunch - crafts, song sheets and hot chocolate provided. Registration is not required.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Sunday, December 22

Fourth Sunday of Advent

8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Tuesday, December 24

7:00 p.m. Early Christmas Eve Eucharist

9:45 p.m. Christmas Carols

10:30 p.m. Late Christmas Eve Eucharist

Wednesday, December 25

10:15 a.m. Christmas Day Eucharist

Sunday, December 29

First Sunday of Christmas

8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Sunday, January 5

Epiphany

8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

3:00-5:00 p.m. Children's Epiphany Service

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES THIS WEEK

THE GLORY OF CHRISTMAS

St John's Annual Christmas Concert

Gorgeous music for a beautiful celebration!

Thanks to Tom Annand, St John's Choir and Friends, the Strings of St John's, and our dramatic readers of the Christmas Story, Pat Johnston and Jamie Tomlinson.

This week's pictures - with thanks: Petr Maur, Erin Biggs, Gary van der Meer

TAKE NOTE

THANKS TO THE CARPENTER

Thanks to Ross Varley for crafting two beautiful new children's tables!

You will see them in the chancel where they display the weekly children's story shared as part of the 8:00 service. Now that the experiment of a children's story during the service has become part of what we do, the borrowed tables are returned to the Godly Play room where they are the focus for the 10:15 children's program. Thanks to Ross and all our chlidren's ministry leaders.

This week's story, portrayed above, introduces John the Baptist standing in the Jordan River. John the Baptist is featured in our Gospel reading for the next two Sundays.

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

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).

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 Early Christmas Eve; 9:45 Informal Carol Singing; 10:30 Late Christmas Eve

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.
Epiphany Children's Service, 3-5 p.m.

Sunday, January 12

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

Sunday, January 19

Black History Month planning meeting. Meet in the parish hall following the 10:15 service to plan for the month of February.
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

Saturday, February 22

Church Safety Workshop: How to engage with and support people in distress; based on the principles of Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training. Ideal for church volunteers who engage with the public and for Community Thrift Shop volunteers. There is no fee but registration is required. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Faciliated by India Bedson. Confirm your participation by email HERE

Sunday, February 23

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
St. John’s Smiths Falls, The Reverend Dr. Thomas Brauer

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

Anglican Church of Canada

The Acting Primate Archbishop Anne Germond and the staff of the Primate’s Office of the Anglican Church of Canada

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

National Bishop Susan Johnson and the national staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Moravian Church in Canada

The Rev. David E. Bennett, President of the Provincial Elders’ Conference of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church in America
The Moravian Church has joined Full Communion with Anglicans and Lutherans - read about the Moravian Church 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

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