This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

Happy New Year!

We are still in the 12 days of Christmas, which began on Christmas Day. So continue to enjoy your tree, your home Christmas lights, and your Christmas baking. We conclude the Christmas season with this Sunday's reading of the coming of the Wise Men or Magi to present their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The coming of these visitors from faraway places to the birth of Jesus establishes from the beginning of Christ's life, that he brings good news that is universal - for all people. We, in our turn, are to be good news to all people.

Come for three services this Sunday:

8:00 a.m. - A reflective service of Eucharist in the language of the Book of Common Prayer
10:15 a.m. - A celebration with the favourite carols of Epiphany led by St John's Choir
3:00 p.m. - A participatory service especially for children

Welcome as we begin the year praising God!

Gary+

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, January 5 - Epiphany - 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72: 1-7, 14-22; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, January 12 - 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Christmas Day - December 25, 2024

Late Christmas Eve - December 24, 2024

Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 22, 2024

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

CHRISTMAS SEASON

MEMORIAL POINSETTIAS

Thanks to all who donated poinsettias to decorate the church in memory of loved ones.

The Robinson Family	Sherwin & Betty Robinson
John & Patricia Turner	Mary & Harry Carter, Phyliss & John Turner, Eric R. Turner
Mary Ann & Ross Varley	Ena & George Varley, Mary & Harry Carter, Eric Turner
Jill & Ariane Courtemanche	Sylvia N. Smith
April Dickson	Nelson Gildert, Tillie Dickson, Doris Zastre
Gloria Fox	Art, Donna & Elizabeth Fox
Lannie Mitchell & John Gallienne	Suzanne Fraser
June Wells & Denzil Fineberg	Loved ones
Ted Reeve	Loved ones
Barbara Dorrell	Robin Dorrell Olive Schurman & Howard Higdon Howard Staveley Linda Cornett & Linda Abel
Glen Calder	Jan Calder
Mary Frances Bell	James Bell Étienne Hanns Gumpert Bell
Debbie Grisdale & Wes Maultsaid	Tony Clarke

CHILDREN'S EPIPHANY CELEBRATION

We will celebrate the arrival of the Wise Men or Magi with an afternoon children's service this coming Sunday, January 5, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Our event includes the story, a child-oriented celebration of the Eucharist, with children in leadership roles, snacks and lots of free rambunctious play. All children are welcome - and bring friends and grandchildren!

STAR WORDS FOR EPIPHANY

Plan to receive a Star Word at St. John’s on Sunday, January 12 during the Announcement time. Everyone is welcome to receive a word for 2025. Different words like “commitment”, “faith”, “hospitality”, “discipline” are given as little aids to help us reflect on our faith throughout the year.

INTRODUCING LIQUID SMUDGE

Kimberly Johnson - St John's Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

In the cold winter months, it's a challenge for St John's Indigenous leaders to be outside offering smudge. Kimberly Johnson, St John's Indigenous Engagement Coordinator, has sourced smudge from medicines steeped in distilled water from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. The four medicines - tobacco, sage, cedar, and sweetgrass - continue to be present on the medicine table for the dry smudge version, consisting of rubbing the medicines in your hands and drawing the scented air of the smudge towards your face and body. Liquid smudge is a spray vapour drawn towards your face and body in the same manner.

You are welcome to participate by receiving the smudge if you wish. The following prayer is helpful:

May your hands be cleansed,

That they create beautiful things.

May your eyes be cleansed,

That you might see the signs and wonders of this land.

May your mouth be cleansed,

That you might speak rightly when words are needed.

May your heart be cleansed,

That you might hear its messages clearly.

May your feet be cleansed,

That they might take you where you most need to be.

May this space be washed clean

By the smoke of these sacred plants,

And may that same smoke reveal our inclusion

to Creator Sets Free.

If this experience is new to you, find out more by watching the instructional video on the St John's website HERE.

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES THIS WEEK

CELEBRATION OF LIGHT

"The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world." John 1:9

This week's pictures celebrate the Christmas theme of Christ's birth as the coming of light into world: candles at the altar and the candles of the Advent wreath above; and below, a special celebration of the convergence of the Jewish celebration of Chanukah and Christmas with the first lighting of a menorah at St John's. Evelyn Greenberg, our Christmas Carol Pianist of many years, and a leader in Ottawa's Jewish community, introduced the story of Chanukah and the menorah candles continued to burn for the late Christmas Eve worship service.

Following the Communion, we turned out the lights and lit our candles for the singing of Silent Night. It was a special moment when the church mirrored the words of the carol: "All is calm, all is bright" (see below and the introductory picture above).

Thanks to Erin Biggs for the photos.

TAKE NOTE

OPEN HOUSE RECEPTION

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

Meet our neighbours! We want to show off our building.

St John's is hosting a reception for neighbours, neighbouring businesses, current renters and groups interested in booking our renewed facility.

St John's Parish Council is taking the lead in organizing and we welcome volunteers to help present our wonderful space to the community.

Plan for a quick lunch after the service and then spend time greeting visitors!

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 in the above photo of a meter, the 2-hour MAX limit still applies on Saturday/Sunday.

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

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, 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 the10:15 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. Facilitated 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.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and Bishop Susan Johnson and Bishop Carla Blakley.
The Parish of Huntley The Reverend Dr. Mary-Cate Garden.

Anglican Church of Canada

Sheilagh McGlynn, Youth Ministries Animator; the Rev. Canon Dr. Scott Sharman, Animator for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Deacon Gretchen Peterson, Assistant to the National Bishop, Youth and Leadership; Rev. Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the National Bishop, Justice and Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.

Moravian Church in Canada

The Rev. Jason Andersen, president of the Western District Executive Board of the Moravian Church 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 Church in Wales.

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