This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

In the scriptures this Sunday, Peter comes to understand from a vision that all people are to be included in God's love and ours. Jesus then commands us: "Love one another as I have loved you." As I prepare to preach on these scriptures, part of me is looking for the loopholes. Do I get to opt out of loving some people? How much love can I give before I run out? Maybe instead of it being my love, it will be God's love flowing through me, in keeping with the beautiful St Francis of Assisi song, "Make me a channel of your peace."

We have an abundance of upcoming St John's events (see below). I would especially like to highlight the Ascension Day Hymn Sing. We invite you to submit your favourite hymns by email.

Our Hymn Sing is a celebration in anticipation of raising the funds in order to refurbish the digital organ over the summer. Following our initial presentation this past Sunday, we are on the way towards our goal of $12,000. We are grateful for your support for this project. If you haven't already done so, please consider donating online here, or by a cheque made out to St. John's, with Organ Fund in the memo line.

Please join us for worship this coming Sunday for a reflection on love.

Gary+

SUNDAY MAY 18 | Fifth Sunday of Easter | 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Scriptures: Acts 11:1-18, Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35

SUNDAY MAY 25 | Sixth Sunday of Easter | 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Scriptures: Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Fourth Sunday of Easter - May 11, 2025

Third Sunday of Easter - May 4, 2025

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

Make a special trip to the Tulip Festival - this weekend the tulips are at their peak.

Find out about the Tulipathon below!

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES THIS WEEK

The Strings of St John's

Check out the gorgeous sounds in this past Sunday's worship recording. Looking forward to their next visit!

Sunday 8:00 Refreshments at Bridgehead:

You're welcome to join us between the services - approximately 8:45 a.m. - but only for two more Sundays. We move to summer hours on June 1. We are putting a card together to thank Bridgehead for their welcome and to assure them we will be back on September 8!

Become a Gardener with us!

Our gardeners are back! Garth, Gay and Ed are getting started on our Elgin Street oasis of beauty. Garden helpers invited! Send us a note if you would like to join us!

TAKE NOTE

JOURNEY TO INCLUSION

2SLGBTQIAA+ Stories of Welcome

“I was looking for a place to die; I was looking for a church to hold my funeral.”

Ron Chaplin tells his journey with HIV and the welcome and support he received from St John’s. Ron’s story is filled with the beloved people of our community, from the invitation of a friend during his college days to his advocacy ministry following his AIDS diagnosis. In this video, Ron tells how he challenged the “clobber texts” of scripture, especially Romans Chapter 1. He became a champion of inclusion and welcome: “I was in it for the long haul, and I knew it would take time to gain the support of the church.” Ron praises the passion of the St John’s community for social justice because it is “always willing to go to the edge of the envelope and press it.”

Thank you, Ron, for sharing your story!

HIROSHIMA MEMORIAL EXHIBIT

Ban the Bomb and UNA-Capital Region Branch present an exhibition of posters commemorating 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with an Exhibition from the Hiroshima Peace Museum. St John's is hosting the display in the Warriors' Chapel.

Read the story about this event by St John's parishioner Leigh Anne Williams, as featured in Crosstalk, the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa newspaper HERE.

You are invited to the Opening Reception: Friday, May 23, 4:30-6:30.

RSVP by May 19: 80thcommemoration@gmail.com

2025 Tulipathon Fundraising for the Multifaith Housing Initiative

With your support, St. John’s will surpass our 2024 total raised and continue to provide rent subsidies for Multifaith Housing Initiative tenants. Every year more than $400,000 in rent subsidies are provided by MHI, which are only possible with the Tulipathon and the generous support of Ottawa’s faith communities. Posters and pledge forms are available at the Elgin Street door, please help yourself and place posters in public areas.

Tulipathon 2025 will take place:

Sunday May 25,
Commissioner’s Park, across from Dow's Lake.
Opening ceremonies start at 2:30 pm,
Followed by the two-kilometre walk at 3 p.m.

Please donate directly via the MHI website at: https://www.classy.org/team/647581

Should you choose donations by cheque, please make it payable to MHI Tulipathon (with St. John the Evangelist on the comment line). Your cheque can be mailed to Multifaith Housing Initiative, 206-404 McArthur Ave., Ottawa ON, K1K 1G8 or given to Marilyn Collins for delivery to MHI. Reach out to your friends and family and encourage them to donate online.

If you would like to walk with the St. John’s Team, or need more information, please contact Marilyn Collins (Team Captain) by clicking here.

If you would like to learn more about present and past Tulipathons and/or MHI, visit Tulipathon - MULTIFAITH HOUSING INITIATIVE or click here to find the presentation made to St. John’s on May 5.

Support the Community Thrift Shop ministry by coming to our Fashion Show!

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

Powwow Invitation

Megan reading the Gospel - First Nations Translation

Just 2 weeks to go until Odawa’s 50th Anniversary Powwow!

It’s coming up fast - Saturday, May 24 & Sunday, May 25 - so mark it in your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable weekend of Indigenous culture, dancing, drumming, food, vendors, and community spirit.

815 St Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa

Everyone is welcome - bring your friends and family to celebrate 50 years of Odawa together!

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).

Friday, May 23

Hiroshima Exhibit Opening, Warriors' Chapel, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 24

Odawa Powwow, Canadian Police College Campus, Saturday and Sunday

Sunday, May 25

Tulipathon, Fundraising Walk for Multifaith Housing Initiative. Commissioners Park (across from Dows Lake), 3:00 p.m.
Ascension Children's Service, 3-5 p.m.

Thursday, May 29

Ascension Day Hymn Sing. 7:30 p.m. in the Nave.

Saturday, May 31

Thrift Shop Fashion Show. 6:30 p.m. Doors open; 7:30 the show begins in the Nave.

Sunday, June 1

Summer Hours: One Sunday worship service at 9:30 from June 1 to August 31
Scripture Read-Through: Acts Part 2, 11:00 a.m. in the chapel.
Pride Month Begins
Godly Play Final Sunday
Karen McBride, guest preacher

Saturday, June 7

Doors Open Ottawa

Sunday, June 8

Newcomer Orientation to St Johns, 11:30 a.m.
Joy of Faith Celebration: Many faiths come together for food, friendship, and honouring a local Indigenous leader. Presented by the Capital Region Interfaith Council, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 22

Sunday Worship for the National Indigenous Day of Prayer

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

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

Prayer Requests: Bill Broughton, Audrey Lawrence, James, Alice, David, Inga, and Doug.

Our Diocese

Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan and Acting Primate.
The Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, Sacred Circle, The Ministry of Reconciliation and our National Indigenous Archbishop, The Most Rev. Christopher Harper.
The Parish of Maberly-Lanark
St. Alban’s, Maberly
St. John’s, Balderson
St. Paul’s, Lanark
St. Stephen’s, Bathurst
And all who minister there

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. William Cliff, Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Ontario.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The Assistant to the Bishop and the staff of the Saskatchewan Synod.

Moravian Church in Canada

The Rt. Rev. Kay Ward, Bishop of the Unity residing in the 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

The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & The Middle East.

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