This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

“Who’s saving who?”

When I went to donate blood last week, I was intrigued to see the new tagline adopted by Canadian Blood Services. The last time I checked, their slogan was “It’s in you to give,” which put the emphasis on how you could benefit others with your donation. The new slogan suggests that the benefit is reciprocal. To quote the CBS website, “Giving blood can save someone’s life. But for a donor, the experience can be deeply rewarding and validating. It’s about more than just giving a part of yourself to someone else; together, we’re saving each other. Experience what you get when you give, today.”

This new approach reflects CBS’ continuing struggle to find new donors, particularly among younger people who have not given before. It also reflects many years of research into the mental and physical benefits of acts of kindness and compassion. Numerous experiments have demonstrated that when we experience or show kindness, the brain releases neurotransmitters that uplift mood and create a sense of calm. Other research has shown that engaging in compassionate acts has a measurable impact on cardiovascular health.

You likely already know that helping others rewards you as much or even more than those you are helping. It is not always easy, but as followers of Jesus, we understand this dynamic of compassion as an integral part of “the love that moves the sun and the other stars.”

Who's saving who? The idea of salvation has a long and complicated history, but in the parable of the Last Judgement, Jesus says that it is all about simple acts of kindness: feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, taking care of the sick and visiting those in prison. And we can all demonstrate those kinds of compassion in our own ways.

I hope you can join us at our 9:30 service this Sunday.

Brian Cameron

Guest Editor

SUNDAY AUGUST 10 | Ninth Sunday After Pentecost | 9:30 a.m.

Scriptures: Genesis 15:1-6; Psalm 33:12-22; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40

SUNDAY AUGUST 17 | Tenth Sunday after Pentecost | 9:30am

Scriptures: Jeremiah 23:23-29; Psalm 82; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

Worship recordings include the following portions of the service: prayers, readings, the sermon, and music. Recordings will resume later in August.

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES

Above: Nkundwe, Bosco and Christina

Below: Jamie, Pat, Ian and Barb

Above: Rebecca with her family, here to celebrate the completion of Rebecca's M.A.

OF INTEREST

If you are one of the many people who enjoy a cold beverage which comes in an aluminium can, please collect your ‘pop can tabs’ and donate them to St. Johns. Marilyn Collins has offered to gather your donations and deliver them to Clifford Bowey School. The school exchanges them for equipment for their 104 students, who have serious develomental issues.

A large can marked ‘Pop Can Tabs’ will be placed under the pew at the Elgin Street entrance to the nave. Thank you for participating in this outreach effort.

TAKE NOTE

Correction: The photo of Archbishop Shane Parker in our last newsletter was by the Venerable Chris Dunn.

HIROSHIMA-NAGASAKI EXHIBITION

The poster exhibition, Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, opened in the main corridor of Ottawa City Hall on Wednesday August 6, at 3:30p.m. The exhibition will remain there until Aug. 11. The exhibition was previously on display at St. John's; this is another chance to see it if you missed it then.

The posters were donated to exhibition organizers Ban the Bomb Ottawa and the U.N. Association in Canada National Capital Region Branch by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum thanks to the efforts of Japanese Canadian Ms. Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor (hibakusha) of the Hiroshima bombing.

At the ceremony, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe opened the exhibition and proclaimed August 6 and August 9 as Hiroshima and Nagasaki Days. The Deputy Head of Mission from the Embassy of Japan and representatives from civil society also made brief remarks. Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, whose strong support has made this exhibition at City Hall possible, closed the opening ceremony.

This exhibition commemorates the 80th anniversary of the first use of atomic bombs and reminds us of the continuing existential threat posed by these weapons of mass destruction.

For more information about the exhibition, contact 80thcommemoration@gmail.com

BOOKS & BARBECUE

We’ve made it a habit in the summer of reading a book together, then gathering for food and fellowship as we discuss what we’ve read and how it impacted us. This year, the Lifelong Learning Committee has chosen the book Faithful, Creative, Hopeful: Fifteen Theses for Christians in a Crisis-Shaped World by Jesse A. Zink.

One reason we chose this book is that it is actually a series of theses (or essays). We’ve chosen to highlight two chapters for discussion:

Chapter 8: "Christian witness is rooted in hope "
Chapter 13: "In a mistrusting world, the church is called to be a community of responsibility and solidarity"

Our thinking is that with less content to cover, we can have a deeper discussion when we are together.

Faithful, Creative, Hopeful can be ordered from Perfect Books for $42. It can also be ordered from Chapters/Indigo for $30. Unfortunately it is not available at the library. If either buying option is out of your price range, we will have photocopies of the above two chapters available at the back of the church.

Whether or not you are able to complete the reading of these chapters, we hope you will join us on Saturday, August 16. Thanks to Ian and Michelle, who are hosting us in their home for food and discussion. Please email the office at admin@stjohnsottawa.ca to confirm your participation. More details will be provided for participants closer to the date.

FUNDRAISER FOR BRUCE HOUSE

Bike Ride for People with AIDS

August 3-8

This is my 11th time cycling from Toronto to Montreal in support of people with AIDS. What is new is that I'm doing this ride for Bruce House, our local Ottawa charity providing services and housing support for people with HIV. Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, the ride's organizer and founder, has broadened the ride to support local community AIDS service organizations.

Every dollar that I raise over $2000 will be split 50/50 between PWA Toronto and Bruce House. My fundraising goal is $10,000, and I am just over $9,000.

Each of us has many causes you care about and support. I hope you're excited to support Bruce House with me! Make a secure online donation by clicking here. No donation is too small.

Thanks for your support!

Gary+

IN MEMORIAM

Former parishioner Denise Torunski died in April. A Funeral Service for Denise will be held on Saturday 9 August at 11:00 AM at St Thomas Church, 1619 Stittsville Main St, Stittsville, ON K2S 1R3, Stittsville.

Everyone is invited to attend the service, the Reception in the Parish Hall immediately after the service and the Interment at the St Thomas Church Cemetery, 2051 Huntley Rd #2065, Stittsville after the Reception.

Obituary is at https://www.fco-cfo.coop/en/death-notices/denise-baulne-torunski-278094/

LOOKING AHEAD

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

Osiyo Nigadv! Hello everyone!

Here are some upcoming Indigenous events at St. John's:

Saturday, August 23: St John's Field Trip - Pow Wow at Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. If you would like to join our field trip, and be part of our shared rides to Golden Lake, please email me at the address below, or use the sign-up sheet at the back of the church. We will have more details soon.
Saturday, September 20: Sharing Circle with Elder Louella. Knowledge sharing about the Medicine Wheel Teachings, including the Four Directions. Please send me an email if you would like to participate.

Kimberly Johnson

indigengcoord@stjohnsottawa.ca

St John's Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

GET READY FOR THE CAPITAL PRIDE PARADE!

This year, the Capital Pride Parade is on Sunday August 24, starting at 1 p.m.

The Anglican churches of Ottawa will be one of the groups in the parade, showing our support for the Pride community, and St Johns is organizing the Anglican presence, including making signs, banners and t-shirts.

Please join in the decoration-making party on Sunday August 17 after the service. No fine art skills required! There will be a truck on parade day to assist participants who are unable to walk the route, and we plan to decorate it on parade day.

The parade route has changed from previous years and will not be passing by St Johns. The route begins at Elgin and Lisgar, goes north to Wellington, then west to Kent, then south to the end at Albert. As a result, the church will not need to be a water and washroom station for parade participants as in past years.

We encourage everyone to come out on August 24 with your energy and enthusiasm. Let’s be loud and proud!

Photo of the 2024 Pride Parade by Leigh Anne Williams

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Every Sunday from June 1 to August 31

Worship Service at 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, August 16

Books & Barbecue, 5:00 p.m. Chez Ian and Michelle.

Sunday, August 17

Pride Parade Sign Making Party, 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel

Saturday, August 23

Pow Wow Field Trip to Golden Lake - Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation

Sunday, August 24

Capital Pride Parade

Saturday, September 20

Sharing Circle with Elder Louella: Medicine Wheel Teachings

Saturday, September 27

Field Trip to Ottawa Mosque, 10:00 a.m. 251 Northwestern Ave.

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: James, Alice, David, Barton, Sara, Doug.

Our Diocese

We pray for Shane, our Primate and Bishop of Ottawa; Anne, our Metropolitan;
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
The Parish of Bearbrook-Navan
St. Mary’s, Navan
Holy Trinity Bearbrook
The Reverend Felix Longdon and all who minister there

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. Helen Kennedy, Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Qu’Appelle.

ELCIC

The dean, council, and congregations of the Northern Area of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories.

Moravian Church in Canada

Remembering August 13 – in 1727, this was the day when the young community in Herrnhut, Germany, nearly torn apart by internal theological conflict, was bonded together by the power of the Holy Spirit. Some call it our Moravian “Pentecost.”
The Moravian Church has joined Full Communion with Anglicans and Lutherans - read about the Moravian Church HERE

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

Eglise Anglicane du Rwanda.

Flowers

August 17: The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Maralis, Deralyn and Lisa by Mary Ann Varley

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