This week at St John's

INTHIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

When the first flowers of spring come out, I get out my camera. After the snow, it seems like I am in a moment of magic. It's as if the earth winked at me. I'm sure I have heard about this "winking" before; maybe someone has written about it? I looked it up expecting to see a poet's name, but no such luck. Instead, my search engine generated an "AI Overview":

"The phrase "the earth winked at me" is a poetic way of saying that the earth, or a part of nature, seemed to acknowledge you in a playful or subtle way, perhaps through a fleeting moment like a flash of light or a gentle breeze."

I really wanted there to be a poet! When I see the purple of the first snowdrops, crocuses and hyacinths, it's worth a verse.

Last year, I took my first flower picture on March 17. It's April 10 and we still have snow on the ground. I do have a favourite poet for how I'm feeling about that:

“Being an artist means, not reckoning and counting, but ripening like the tree which does not force its sap and stands confident in the storms of spring without the fear that after them may come no summer. It does come. But it comes only to the patient, who are there as though eternity lay before them, so unconcernedly still and wide. I learn it daily, learn it with pain to which I am grateful: patience is everything!”

This is from Rainer Maria Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet. I have kept this quote for years because I need it. Last year, I asked Mary Ann Varley, one of our Art Credo leaders, to create a painting that incorporates Rainer Maria Rilke's words. It now hangs on my wall as a constant reminder about patience. Heads up that Art Credo is coming, and that this year it will include a poetry and music evening. See the details below in this newsletter.

I went back to the search engine wondering if Holy Week is "God winking at us." Again, no poet, but AI responded by defining a God Wink:

"a coincidence that is not a coincidence, but rather a divine appointment...It can be used to describe an answered prayer, where there is no word in the English language for answered prayer, but "God wink" can be used."

Welcome to Holy Week and I hope you will worship with us for all of it. Come this Sunday as we welcome Jesus with palms. The whole week takes us through death to the promise of new life. Easter is more than a wink - it is God's steady gaze of love for each of us.

Gary+

HOLY WEEK SERVICES & SCRIPTURES

Sunday, April 13 - Palm & Passion Sunday - 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 23:1-49

Thursday, April 17 - Maundy Thursday

6:00 p.m. - Exodus 12:1-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35

8:00 p.m. - Matthew 26:30-46; Psalm 22

Friday, April 18 - Good Friday - 10:15 a.m.

Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42

Saturday, April 19 - Easter Vigil - 7:30 p.m.

Genesis 1:1-2:4a and Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26; Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13 and Psalm 46; Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 and Exodus 15:1b-13, 17-18; Isaiah 55:1-11 and Isaiah 12:2-6; Romans 6:3-11 and Psalm 114; Luke 24:1-12

Sunday, April 20 - Easter Day - 8:00 a.m. & 10:15 a.m.

Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Fifth Sunday in Lent - April 6, 2025

Fourth Sunday in Lent - March 30, 2025

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

First spring flowers last year - March 17, 2024

LENT PROGRAM

LET LIGHT SHINE

River Through the Desert - A Lenten Journey in the Holy Land

FINAL SESSION

Dean Richard Sewell of St George's College in Jerusalem

reflects on the Garden:

"Adam and Eve’s failure to obey God’s will

in the Garden of Eden is mirrored in opposite

by Jesus’s faithful following of God’s will in Gethsemane."

WEEK 4 - The Garden

Watch the Video - above
Read the Scripture - here
Read the Reflection - here
Think about the Questions - below
Conversation - Sunday, April 13, 12:00 p.m. (in the Chapel)

Reflection Questions

You are welcome to join the circle of chairs in the Chapel following the 10:15 service.

Imagine yourself in that garden with the other disciples accompanying Jesus as he prays. What does that moment in time feel like? Why is it hard to stay focused in prayer? What helps you to use your times of prayer usefully?
In the introduction to Paradise Lost, Milton prays for assistance in his creative task asking God: ‘What is dark within me, illumine’. In what ways and to what effect can God illumine the dark places in you and in the world?
In the 1970s, in the song Woodstock, Crosby, Stills and Nash sang: ‘We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon, And we’ve got to get back to the garden’. For you, what could it mean to ‘get back to the garden?’
As Lent draws to a close, what are the parts of this Lent course that you want to take with you into Holy Week and beyond?

This is a six-part series. See the entire series here. Our final session is Sunday, April 13, on the theme "The Garden."

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES THIS WEEK

BAPTISM PREPARATION

Above: Maroua is preparing to be baptized at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 19. Maroua's baptism sponsors are Monica Patten and Idris Bachene.

Below: Idris was baptized last year at the Easter Vigil.

Pray for Maroua, Monica and Idris. Plan to be part of the celebration at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 19, 7:30 p.m. - with Resurrection Party following.

Worship leaders this past Sunday: Mary, Christina, Gary, Chris, and Scout.

TAKE NOTE

MAUNDY THURSDAY PASCHAL MEAL

St John's Maundy Thursday observance is presented in two parts:

Thursday 6:00 p.m. The first part is a supper held in the lower level of the church, commemorating Jesus' Last Supper with the disciples. The meal of roast lamb includes the scripture readings about the Passover, the first Eucharist, and Jesus washing the disciples' feet. This is followed by the our celebration of the Eucharist during the meal.

Thursday 8:00 p.m. The second part commemorates Jesus' prayer at the Mount of Olives, where he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and arrested. This is held in the church, accompanied by the symbolic stripping of all decoration from the church.

Everyone is welcome to attend one or both times of worship. The first part is a ticketed event ($25/person for the meal). Thanks to so many people who have purchased tickets for anyone who cannot afford the meal. Just ask if you would like to be included.

If you're not able to attend at 6:00 p.m., come for 8:00 p.m. for worship in the church.

Deadline for tickets: We need to confirm the number attending by this Friday (April 11) for our grocery/food purchase!

You can still buy tickets by etransfer: accounts@stjohnsottawa.ca

EASTER VIGIL RESURRECTION PARTY

St John's Parish Council will host the party that immediately follows the Easter Vigil on Saturday night. The Vigil is the Easter version of Christmas Eve. Each of us has a candle in the darkness for the scripture readings. There is a great musical fanfare as all the lights come on and we read the story of Christ's resurrection. We celebrate with a Baptism and Eucharist and more great music. And we conclude with a party: Easter breads, chocolate, wine and cheese. The service starts at 7:30. The Resurrection Party will take place in the nave at approximately 9:15.

A TASTE FOR LIFE

Wednesday, April 16

A message from our partners at Bruce House:

On April 16th, 14 restaurants across the city will be donating 25% of their proceeds from the evening to Bruce House. Just by dining out you will help provide housing, supports, food and other essentials to vulnerable people living with HIV! If you can also make a donation, great! Every dollar collected goes directly to programs and services since all costs of this event are covered by our sponsors: TD, ViiV, and Flora Hall. All donations will be entered in a raffle for a chance to win one of several prizes from local businesses.

Your donation helps us purchase gift cards, household essentials such as toilet paper and other items distributed through our Pantry Program in addition to the food provided by The Ottawa Food Bank. Our Health and Wellness fund addresses special one-time needs our clients face: purchasing small appliances, transportation expense, medical or dental costs not covered by ODSP, veterinary costs, bike parts and repairs, accessibility devices, and more. Bruce House allocates more than $28,000 every year to this fund, thanks to our community support.

Please make a dinner reservation for April 16th at one of the 14 sponsoring restaurants. See the restaurant list here.

ART CREDO IS COMING!

The 46^th Art Credo Exhibit and Sale promises to be another wonderful art show! It will run from Saturday April 26^th to Sunday May11^th. We will have over 100 works of art from 45 artists.

The Vernissage will be in the evening of Friday April 25^th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Everyone is invited to come and to bring a friend. Get an early peek at the artwork, meet some of the artists, and enjoy some wine & cheese.

Volunteers needed: If you can offer 3 hours of your time to welcome guests and watch over the artworks (in teams of two people), please sign-up on-line at https://tinyurl.com/mubyn8j3 , or you can contact Detlef or Mary Ann (contact details below). Finally, we are also looking for someone to organize the hospitality part of the Vernissage, that is: food and libations—purchase, set-up, serve and take-down.

In conjunction with Art Credo, there will be a Paint-Along workshop on Saturday afternoon April 26^th (the first day that Art Credo is open to the public), and a Poetry & Music Night on Thursday evening May 8^th. See the details in the posters below.

Contacts:

Detlef Dransch: ddransch@sympatico.ca 613.592.9897

Mary Ann Varley: varleymaryann1@bell.net , 613.745.2996

ART CREDO - PAINT ALONG

ART CREDO - POETRY & MUSIC NIGHT

MEMORIAL FLOWERS FOR EASTER

Remember your loved ones with flowers at the Altar. Help the Altar Guild decorate the church for Easter. Make your donation to St John's noting that it is for Easter Flowers and if applicable, please include a note to indicate the names of the people to be remembered. You can put your donation in the collection plate any Sunday or drop it off at the Office.

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

A note from Kimberly:

Osiyo Nigadv (Hello Everyone)

I hope this note finds everyone anticipating the season and making plans to spend time outside. I know we are longing for the “sunlit springs and flowing streams.”

Mādahòkì Farm Field Trip Update: We have three more spots! A few people had to change their plans and can’t attend. Let me know if you would like to attend. The cost is $25/person.

Mādahòkì Farm is located on 164 acres of Ottawa’s Greenbelt. Its mission is to share the experience of land, stories and food from an Indigenous perspective. We will immerse ourselves in an Indigenous learning experience with opportunity to learn more about the herd of endangered Ojibwe Spirit Horses. Our field trip is full (waiting list only)!

Find out more about the farm: https://madahoki.ca/about-the-farm/

BLACK HISTORY REPORT

On February 23rd, our African friends so beautifully shared their heritage with us. Readers read the Scriptures, each in their native language; we listened to their songs and watched the dancers gracefully move to the music of their homelands (and some of us even joined in!). What a joyful celebration it was. Afterwards, we enjoyed delicious African food, lovingly prepared for us.

Our gratitude goes to Deborah for bringing so many together to make the day special. We thank everyone who generously gave of their talents. We received many comments which will be helpful for planning next year’s event. I welcome any further comments or suggestions you have.

With thanks, Marilyn Box

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, April 13

Palm Sunday. 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Thursday, April 17

Maundy Thursday: Part I - Paschal Meal. 6:00 p.m.; Part II - Liturgy of the Agony in the Garden. 8:00 p.m. We need volunteers ln various roles, including shopping, cooking, serving, and putting everything away in the Well space where we are holding the dinner.

Friday, April 18

Good Friday. 10:15 a.m.

Saturday, April 19

Easter Vigil. 7:30 p.m. Resurrection Party follows the service. We need two volunteers to lead the Resurrection Party.

Sunday, April 20

Easter Sunday. 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Friday April 25

Art Credo Vernissage 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday April 26 - Sunday May 11th

Art Credo runs daily.

Saturday, April 26

Church Field Trip to Mādahòkì Farm, 10:00 a.m.
Art Credo Paint Along 1-3 p.m. in the Nave.

Sunday, April 27

Scripture Read-Through: Acts Part 1 (Chapters 1-14) 12:00 p.m. in the chapel.
Multifaith Housing Initiative AGM, 1:30 p.m. Rideau Park United Church.

Sunday, May 4

Multifaith Housing Presentation, Warriors Chapel, 12:15 p.m.

Monday, May 5

Red Dress Day: National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered, Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIIA+ Peoples

Thursday, May 8

Art Credo Poetry Night. 7 p.m. in the Nave.

Sunday May 11

Interfaith Conversation with Temple Israel and Ahmadiyya Mosque at 3:00 p.m. hosted by Temple Israel. Conversation Theme: "My Canadian Home: Navigating the Questions of Citizenship as a Jew, Christian, and Muslim."

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.

Saturday, May 31

Thrift Shop Fashion Show

Sunday, June 1

Scripture Read-Through: Acts Part 2 (Chapters 15-28) 12:00 p.m. in the chapel.
Pride Month Begins

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

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

Prayer Requests: Alice, David, Inga, Peter & Jack

Our Diocese

Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan and Acting Primate.
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 Lower Ottawa Valley:
Holy Trinity, Hawkesbury
St. John’s, Vankleek Hill
St. Michael and All Angels,
Maxville With the Parish of Grenville/Calumet
And all who minister there.

Anglican Church of Canada

The Provincial Synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The congregations of the Central Manitoba area of the Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Synod.

Moravian Church in Canada

The Rt. Rev. Amy Gohdes-Luhman, 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 Church of England.

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