This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

When you walk east from the church along Somerset Street, the evidence of winter is mostly gone. Streets have been swept. There's a small amount of remaining snow and ice on the sidewalk along the canal. The gardens are green with the leaves of tulips and even the coming flower buds. My personal joy of inviting people to Ottawa to skate with me has given way to invitations with countdown pictures of tulips.

This Sunday, our sacred texts make a transition from Jesus' appearances to the disciples following the resurrection. The way a good shepherd stays with the sheep is held up by Jesus as the way he abides with us. We hear him as an expansion of Psalm 23, "The Lord is My Shepherd." We will sing about the Lord leading us beside still waters and guiding us on "right paths."

The readings this Sunday intend comfort, high ideals, and reassurance that the Creator is with us. I hope you will join us for the services!

Gary+

PS This is 2-week edition of our newsletter. I hope you enjoy the pictures and come out to some of our wonderful events and plans.

From this past Sunday: Gary, Jay, Ruth, Pat & Wayne

SUNDAY April 26 | Fourth Sunday of Easter | 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Scriptures: Acts 2:42-47, Psalm 23,1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10

SUNDAY May 3 | Fifth Sunday of Easter | 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.
Scriptures: Acts 7:55-60, Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Third Sunday of Easter - April 18, 2026

Second Sunday of Easter - April 11, 2026

Easter Sunday - Sunday, April 5, 2026

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES

Countdown to Tulips! See the annoucement about the Tulipathon below

Countdown to Art Credo! Our wonderful coordinators, Mary Ann & Detlef

Countdown to Paint-Along!

UPDATES

LIFELONG LEARNING

A book for this summer!

In the summer we've made it a habit to read a book and then get together to talk about it. The book we've chosen for this year is Encampment: Resistance, Grace, and an Unhoused Community by Anglican priest Maggie Helwig.

Encampment is the story of St. Stephen-in-the-Fields, an Anglican church in Toronto's Kensington Market, and how they responded when economic pressures and lack of housing, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, pushed those without shelter to set up tents in their courtyard. It is also the story of those residents, of what brought them to that courtyard and what they found there, and how the church fought to let them stay when the city sought to evict them.

Our plan this year is to have a BBQ in July where we have time to discuss the book, our reactions to it, and its application for our own context. We will then also have a follow-up Zoom discussion for people who were unable to attend the BBQ and to continue any unfinished conversations.

Encampment can be ordered from Perfect Books and Indigo for around $25. It is also available at the Library, but there is currently a long wait list.

BOOKS & BBQ DATE: Saturday, July 18 - hosted by Ian & Michelle

ZOOM FOLLOW-UP DATE: Wednesday, July 22 - 7:00 p.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

Future of the Parish Hall: Our annual meeting referenced our long-term plan of exploring possible opportunties for the future of the Parish Hall. This meeting is to begin our discussion. Sunday, April 26, 12:00 p.m.

Art Credo Returns for Its 47th Year!

The Art Credo Exhibition and Sale will run from Saturday, May 9 to Sunday, May 24.

This year’s show features 111 works by 60 artists—nearly half of whom are participating for the very first time!

Join us as we kick things off at the Vernissage on Friday, May 8, from 7:00–9:00 PM. Enjoy an exclusive first look at the artwork, meet some of the artists, and take in the evening with wine and light refreshments. All are welcome—bring a friend!

In addition to the exhibit, we’re offering a Paint-Along workshop on Sunday May 17th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. This is an opportunity for you to create your own artwork with guidance from artists Josie DeMeo and Mary Ann Varley.

We’re also exploring the return of a poetry night this year—stay tuned for details!

We’d love your help in making this event a success. We could use:

Art installers to assist with hanging artwork in the Nave & Chapel

on Friday, May 8 from 9:30–11:30 AM. Training and snacks

provided.

Help with hospitality at the Vernissage. (Speak with team leader

Barbara Dransch.)

Sitters to welcome visitors and help monitor the artwork (3-hour

shifts). Sign up online or contact Detlef or Mary Ann.

Contacts: Detlef Dransch at ddransch@sympatico.ca , tel. 613.592.9897

or Mary Ann Varley at varleymaryann1@bell.net , tel. 613.745.2996

The AGM of CCSAC (Centretown Churches Social Action Committee) will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 7:00 pm at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 400 Sparks Street. Our guest speaker is Kaite Burkholder Harris, Executive Director of the Alliance to End Homelessness. All are welcome to attend.

SUPPORT MULTIFAITH HOUSING INITIATIVE

Please use this link tulipathon_2026_pledgeform.pdf to obtain a pledgeform and take it your friends, colleagues and neighbours to encourage their participation in Tulipathon. At the same time you could talk to them about the Multifaith Housing Initiative, Tulipathon and about the need for affordable housing in Ottawa.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

WORSHIP EVERY SUNDAY

Please join us at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. each Sunday. Special services listed below.
St John's worship services begin "summer hours" on June 7. One weekly worship service on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday, April 26

Congregational Meeting: Future of the Parish Hall, 12:00 p.m.

Friday, May 8

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

Saturday, May 9 to Sunday, May 24

Art Credo. 12:00 to 8:00 p.m. most days

Saturday, May 9

Consecration of Bishop Kathryn Otley, Christ Church Cathedral, 10:30 a.m.
Celebration of Life for Bill Broughton, Honour Guard at Beechwood Cemetery 12:00 p.m.; Memorial Service at St John's 2:00 p.m.; Reception at Officers' Mess following the service.

Sunday, May 10

Baptism & Confirmation - Bishop Peter Coffin; 10:15 a.m.

Thursday, May 14

Ascension Day Evensong, Music Setting composed by Nicholas Busch, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 15

Shared Preaching with Temple Israel, Temple Israel, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 17

Shared Preaching with Temple Israel, St John's, 10:15 a.m.

Tuesday, May 19

Safe Church Leadership Workshop: Best Practices, Boundaries & Police Records Checks, 5:30 p.m. Pizza will be served.

Saturday, May 23

Safe Church Public Interaction Workshop, Workshop by India Bedson, Belong Ottawa, Parish Hall, 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, May 24

Children's Service, 3-5 p.m.
Tulipathon 2026 2:30 p.m. Commissioners Park

Sunday, June 7

Summer Worship schedule begins, one service at 9:30 a.m. to Labour Day.

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

Sacred Medicines

Osiyo Nigadv (Hello Everyone)!

I want to share an important teaching moment for our church community and our shared commitment to reconciliation on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory about the sacred Medicines. On this territory, these medicines are not decorative, seasonal, or peripheral objects. They are part of the living sacred centre of the space itself. To remove them unceremoniously suggests that Indigenous sacred ways must be displaced during Christian holy times. That repeats the very spiritual hierarchy and erasure that reconciliation calls us to undo.

Respect in shared sacred space means remaining in relationship with what is sacred, not setting it aside. The respectful response is to stay with the medicines, allowing them to remain in their rightful place, properly covered, watched over, and honoured. They are not peripheral. They are part of the sacred centre of the room and of our shared commitments.

I also want to name that the way Sacred Medicines are covered, tended, and left in place is itself part of the respect shown to them. They are not to be gathered loosely, left exposed, or placed casually in a basket. Their care is part of their sacredness. Because we gather on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory, it is important that our understanding be rooted in the teachings of this land and held with humility according to local protocol.

"The circle remains a sacred guide toward balance, harmony, and right relationship within ourselves and with the world around us." (Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation)

The Four Sacred Medicines commonly held in Algonquin and Anishinaabe teachings are Tobacco, Sweetgrass, Sage, and Cedar:

Tobacco is understood as the first medicine and is used for prayer, gratitude, humility, and relationship with Spirit. It is offered when asking for guidance, teachings, or help, and it carries intentions in a good way.
Sweetgrass represents kindness, healing, and good relation. Its braid reminds us of balance, connection, and our responsibilities across generations. It draws in good spirit and helps ground the space in gentleness.
Sage is used for cleansing and purification. It helps release what is heavy, clears thoughts and energy, and restores balance.
Cedar carries protection, grounding, wisdom, and strength. It protects the space, supports healing, and reminds us of the responsibility to care for what is sacred.

These medicines are sacred not only in what they mean, but in how they are cared for. The way they are covered, watched over, and respectfully left in their rightful place is part of their sacredness.

I believe this is an important opportunity for deeper learning. True reconciliation on this territory means Algonquin sacred presence is not treated as peripheral, temporary, or removable for Christian observance. It must remain centred and respected, including during Holy days. Shared sacred space asks us not to displace one sacred way for another, but to learn how to hold both with reverence. The invitation is to deepen our capacity to remain with Indigenous sacred presence as part of the sacred centre of this place. I offer this in the spirit of teaching, accountability, and continued relationship.

Wado, Chi-Miigwech, Niá:wen, Nakurmiik,

Qujannamiik, Wela'lin, Marsii, Thank you,

Kimberly Johnson

St John's Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

Find out more about participating in events for Red Dress Day

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

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

Prayer Requests: Ken, Sandy and Alice.

Our Diocese

Kathryn, our Bishop-Elect; Anne, our Metropolitan; Shane, our Primate.
Our Diocesan Partners: Kairos Ottawa and Saint Paul University.
Staff at Ascension House, including the Archives.
St. Barnabas, Deep River and The Venerable Patrick Stephens.
Members of the Licensed Lay Readers’ Association and their warden The Reverend Bob Albert.

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. Todd Townshend, Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Huron.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The congregations of the Western Manitoba area of Manitoba of the Manitoba Northwestern Ontario Synod.

Moravian Church in Canada

The Rt. Rev. M. Blair Couch, Bishop of the Unity residing in the Northern Province.

All together

For our full communion partner churches The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the US-based Episcopal Church (TEC).

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

Parish Prayer Group

If you wish to have someone prayed for, send an email to:

Prayer Request

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