This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

The preaching texts for this coming Sunday include a well-known story about two people who are seen to be praying in a public setting. One of them, in great self-assurance, thanks God that he is better than other people. He makes a show of his high opinion of himself, and when he sees another person praying quietly, his reaction is public contempt. The other person, a tax collector, is quietly praying, "God have mercy on me, I am a sinner."

Have you noticed how much contempt there is out there? The news is filled with political posturing, vindictiveness, and the need to direct our attention to some "other" who is "less than." How do regular doses of contempt affect us? A clergy colleague that I follow says this is "a story about the deeply human drive to be right above all else, and the way such a drive leads us to look at our neighbour askance, causing us to lose who we are called to be in the process." (Eric Barreto, Professor of New Testament, Princeton Seminary)

When contempt is normalized, do we start to do it too? I'm trying to keep in mind two things as my personal resistance:

With every baptism, the vows we make in the Baptismal Covenant include this one: "Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? The answer is not a straight yes. Instead, it is "I will with God's help."
I can look at any person and remind myself: "This person is a child of God." And I can look in the mirror and say, "This person is a child of God."

I hope you will join the resistance with me as Jesus tells this story and we encounter his call to loving humility. Worship with us this Sunday at 8:00 and 10:15. There's a lot happening - as you will see in this newsletter - and you are welcome to be a part of it all.

Gary+

Worship leaders this past Sunday

See below for more pictures of the clergy exchange with Julian of Norwich

SUNDAY OCTOBER 26 | Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Scriptures: Sirach 35:12-17; Psalm 84:1-7; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2 | All Saints Sunday

Scriptures: Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11-23; Luke 6:20-31

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost - October 19, 2025

Harvest Thanksgiving - Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost - October 12, 2025

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost - October 5, 2025

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES

Luka and the new St John's T-Shirt.

We have placed an order, including a few extras that will be for sale at $35.

Get your upside-down calendar from Bill Broughton!

The 2026 church calendar at $8 is an ideal gift.

CLERGY EXCHANGE

Julian of Norwich & St John the Evangelist

Clergy Exchange: The Rev Karen McBride served a ministry internship at St John's from December 2023 to April 2024. Karen is Incumbent (Rector) of Julian of Norwich Church at Merivale and Clyde in Nepean.

ABOVE: Karen at St John's. Top picture with Wendy, Rebecca, and Chris.

BELOW: Gary with Deacon Elizabeth December and server Kianna

GARDENING

St John's Gardeners: Shining the steps!

Ed, Nkundwe, Leandro & Garth

MUSIC WORKSHOP

Artists in Residence Workshop: "Vocal Anatomy 101"

With thanks to Grayson Nesbitt!

The next workshop, "The Aging Voice," is offered by Dr Mark Wilkinson

Sunday, November 2, 12:15 p.m. (details below)

REFUGEE ASSISTANCE GROUP

YOUR SUPPORT IS INVITED!

Just in time to help you with your Christmas gift list, St. John’s Refugee Assistance Group is selling handcrafted cheeses from St. Benoît-du-Lac Monastery to fundraise for their work resettling refugees in Canada. Proceeds will help to sponsor at-risk women from Afghanistan, as well as refugees from South Sudan and Ethiopia.

You can choose from either a box of 5 x125 g. selected cheeses for $39 (Mont Saint Benoit, Fontina Fumé, Frère Jacques, Le Moine, Saint Augustin) or a box of 7 for $45 (with the addition of Le Moutier and Bleu Bénédictin)

Orders can be placed until November 22nd via this Cheese Order Form and e-transfer to accounts@stjohnsottawa.ca.

Pickup will be mid-December at church after the Sunday service, or at the times/location selected in the order form.

Please email cheeseforrefugees@gmail.com if you have any questions or speak to Margot Cameron.

More information on the cheeses is available at https://www.abbaye.ca/en/products/cheese/

COMING SOON

CHORAL EVENSONG THIS SUNDAY

On Sunday, October 26 at 4 pm, join our friends at St. Thomas the Apostle Anglican Church for an Evensong service led by the choir of St. John's. This service is a part of a monthly series led by Kurt Ala-Kantti featuring guest choirs from throughout the city. We hope to see you there! St. Thomas is at 2345 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa.

YOUNG ADULTS AT ST JOHN'S

Our next Young Adults Event is Brunch on Sunday, November 2, following the 10:15 worship service.

Please reach out to youngadults@stjohnsottawa.ca with questions or ideas. And make sure to find fellow young adults during refreshments.

Chris Chiavati on behalf of Young Adults at St John's

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE - SINGING WORKSHOP

The Aging Voice

Singers and speakers of a certain age notice significant changes to their voices throughout the life cycle. Come join Dr. Mark for a workshop on why these changes occur and how to overcome them so that you can enjoy a lifetime of healthy voice use.

FOUR AMIGOS CHURCHES' HYMN SING

CENTERING PRAYER RETREAT

The St. John’s Centering Prayer group extends an invitation to anyone who would be interested in a Quiet Day of prayer to be held on Saturday, November 8 at the church of St Columba in Manor Park. It lasts from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. If you would like further information, or would like to register, please contact Lyse Morin: lysermorin@hotmail.com. You can also speak to Garth Bulmer at church the next two Sundays.

Click here for more info.

HOMELESSNESS:

We need all levels of government together

CHRISTMAS MARKET

Saturday, November 22, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Join us for St John's third annual Christmas Market. The Café and Bakery are back, along with an expanded number of vendors. We need volunteers and baking!

VOLUNTEERS: We are looking for volunteers to decorate the church, set-up and take-down the tables, sell at the Bakery, and package baked goods. Fill out this form or find Rebecca during coffee hour to be connected with the team that interests you.

BAKING: The Baking and Kitchen Gourmet table is looking for cookies, brownies, breads, pies, jams, jellies, salsa and anything else you would like to contribute. Please drop off donations in containers clearly labeled with your name and the name of the item. Containers can be picked up after the Market or after morning worship on Sunday. Volunteers will package all the donations. Gluten-free and vegan items have been very popular and more of these items would be appreciated. Please include an ingredient list (particularly if the items are gluten-free, vegan or contain nuts). Your tasty treats can be dropped off in the church office on Friday, November 21, 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

TELL OUT MY SOUL

Annual Stewardship Campaign

St John's Stewardship Campaign for 2026 begins this coming Sunday and concludes Sunday, November 23. The focus this year is telling stories of the life of our church.

Read the Rector's Introduction HERE.

Read the Wardens' Introduction HERE.

Read theTell Out My Soul brochure featuring the stories of Mary and Elizabeth HERE.

Complete the Pledge Card HERE.

We look forward to sharing stories this fall!

Gary+

Third Quarter Donation Statements

Third Quarter Statements will be distributed with the Stewardship packages. The Third Quarter Statement summarizes all donations directly to St. John’s (by category) from Jan. 1 – Sept 30, 2025. It does not include donations to St John’s through Canada Helps. Please review the statement for accuracy and contact Peggy Lister, Envelope Secretary, if you have any questions (peggylister@rogers.com or call the church office to leave a message).

INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

WORSHIP EVERY SUNDAY

Please join us at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. each Sunday.

Sunday, October 26

Tell Out My Soul: Launch of annual stewardship campaign
Evensong. Come with the St John's choir to St. Thomas the Apostle, 4 pm

Saturday, November 1

Marriage Ceremony: Maroua & Shurouq

Sunday, November 2

All Saints. 8:00 & 10:15 services
The Aging Voice: Singing Workshop with Artist in Residence Dr Mark Wilkinson, 12:15 p.m. in the Chapel

Thursday, November 6

Singing with Friends. An Evening of Music to Celebrate the Singing Traditions of our Churches. 4 Amigos Churches (First Baptist, Knox Presbeyterian, St Theresa Roman Catholic). Hosted by St John's. 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 9

Children's Eucharist: All Saints, All Souls and Remembrance. We will explore how we remember. 3-5 p.m.

Saturday, November 22

Christmas Market at St John's, 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 23

Tell Out My Soul: Conclusion of annual stewardship campaign

Saturday, November 29

Advent Learning Event: The Scriptures, Music, Colours, Wreaths of Advent. Concludes with wreathmaking. 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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

Our Diocese

Archbishop Shane Parker, Primate of Canada; and Archbishop Anne Germond, Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario.
Staff at Ascension House, including the Diocesan Archivist.
Our Diocesan Partners: Kairos Ottawa and Saint Paul University.
For all retired clergy of the Diocese of Ottawa.
For the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we prepare to elect a new bishop: for those discerning a call to let their name stand for election; for the candidates; for Members of Synod; and for our diocesan Administrator, Bishop Michael Bird.
Parish of Mattawa; St. Alban's, Mattawa and St. Margaret's, Rutherglen. The Reverend David Shields.

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. John Stephens, Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of New Westminster.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Remembering October 31, 1517 – as the day Martin Luther published the Ninety-five Theses. Remembered as the launching of the Protestant Reformation.

Together

For an end to gender-based violence and human trafficking.

Moravian Church in Canada

The Moravian Church has joined Full Communion with Anglicans and Lutherans - read about the Moravian Church HERE
The Labrador Mission Province.

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

The Church in Wales.

Flowers

The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Janet Calder.

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