This Joyful Eastertide

Joy is a funny thing.  It’s not the same as happy.  It can be held at the same time as acknowledging pain and hurt.  Joy is an awareness of hope and love and beauty and God’s grace that can cause our hearts to leap within us.  It is the proclamation that death is not the end, and that sin does not have dominion, no matter how much we struggle with the world’s brokenness.

This Easter, in spite of all that is happening around us, we are called out of our darkness into the light of the resurrection.  As individuals and as a community of faith, we proclaim that we believe in new beginnings.  Our task this season is to focus on the new beginning God has in store for St. John’s.  Vision has to be framed in mission- what God is calling us to do- before it can be translated into concrete action.  The risen Christ bore the marks of his mission on his hands and feet.  What are the marks that St. John’s is willing to bear joyfully forward?

From the Anglican Church of Canada, the following marks of mission have been identified.  Is there one that speaks most strongly to you in terms of where St. John’s must concentrate its energy?

1. Share the good news
2. Teach new believers
3. Help people in need
4. Work to make things fairer
5. Look after the planet

Please pray for the new life that is already among us in this Eastertide, that we may joyfully follow where God is calling us next,

Yours in Christ,

Stephanie+

Readings for Easter Sunday April 23^rd  

Acts 2:1-14, 22-32

Psalm 16

1 Peter 1:3-9

John 20:19-31

 

Upcoming Dates

April 17- Fellowship Supper with Lower Mainland Moslem Community

April 22- Re-Sponse Refugee Deanery Gathering and Potluck @ St. Laurence, Coquitlam

April 23- Q & A on the former St. Margaret’s properties after the 10 am service

April 24- Parish Council Meeting 7 pm in the Parish Ministry Centre

April 29- Healthcare Forum 10:30 am in the Church Hall

April 29- Camp Artaban Cream Tea 1:30-3:30 pm at St. Augustine, Vancouver

May 6 – Spring Tea 2-4 pm in the Church Hall

May 7- possible Parish Potluck lunch – save the date!

May 8- Seniors’ Tea

May 8- New Synod Delegates Meeting 7 pm at Holy Trinity Cathedral, New Westminster

May 9- Provincial Election

May 26-27- Diocesan Synod at the Italian Cultural Centre

If you know of an event of interest to the parish, please send details to the parish office.

No Morning Prayer for Easter Week

There will be no morning prayer at St. John’s for this coming week.  Morning Prayer will resume on Monday April 24 from 8:30-9 am.  You are warmly welcomed to join our interim priest Stephanie in lifting up the needs and hopes of this community.  Come experience the daily office as a spiritual practice.

 Stewardship Reflection

You belong here.

You are loved.

You have a place at the Table.

You are vital to the health of the whole faith community.

You are of infinite value.

You are the Body of Christ.

You belong to the whole Body.

The Body cannot function without you.

 (from “The S Word”, the Most Rev. Douglas Hambidge)

 Every week we celebrate the Eucharist and experience this love of God.  How do we carry this love out into the world with us and share it with our neighbours?  An apostle is someone who knows this love and is inspired to proclaim it in word and action.  Your words, your actions, reflect your understanding of God’s love in your life.  This season, share food and faith with a neighbour as you celebrate the Easter feast!

Dinner with the Muslim Community

Enjoy dinner with members of the Muslim community on Easter Monday, April 17 2017. It will be an unforgettable experience of dialogue and inspiration.  This will be an unprecedented opportunity for our respective congregations to build bridges of peace and tolerance by sharing personal journeys and learning about the journeys and values of each other. Proceeds will support mobile medical units for the Rohinga people in Myanmar. Please reserve tickets in advance by calling Rachel at 604-363-3144 or emailing zarah.rachel@gmail.com. She is coordinating church group attendance and seating and can either drop tickets off at St. John’s or leave them at the door during the event. 6:30 – 10:00 PM at the Aria Banquet Hall, 12350 Pattullo Pl, Surrey.  Tickets $30/person; must be reserved in advance. Community Choral Event The Coquitlam Chorale presents “Canadian Choral Fantasy”, to be held at Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship church Saturday, April 22nd at 7:30 pm Sunday, April 23rd at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $20.00 for adults/seniors, and $10.00 for children, and can be purchased from Charlotte Robertson 604 937-5724. Forum on Public Health Care Come on Saturday April 29th, at 10:30 am to the parish hall. St. John’s will be hosting a Forum on Public Health Care where the BC Health Coalition will be speaking on their various advocacy campaigns in support of public healthcare in advance of the provincial election.  Get informed on issues and ask your questions to help you discern how God is calling you to vote on May 9th.

St. John’s Spring Tea

You are invited to our Annual Spring Tea on Saturday, May 6th, between 2 pm and 4 pm to be held in the church hall downstairs, entered from the back of the church.   Delicious pie and ice cream and a beverage for $5.   Visit our bake table, craft table and plant table.   Parking at the back and the side of the church.  Tickets at the door.

Important Contact Information

Interim Priest- The Rev. Stephanie Shepard rev.seshepard@gmail.com or 778-773-6816

Parish Office- Karen Evans stjohn7@shaw.ca or 604-936-7762

Wardens- Geri Grigg gerigrigg@gmail.com Terry Walton terry&joanne_walton@telus.net  Maureen Simons mesimons@telus.net or through the parish office

Treasurer- Chelsea Belyk chelsea.belyk@gmail.com

Parish Council- Adelaine Miller, Secretary adelainemiller@shaw.ca

St. John Prayer Circle- Sue Elliott Elliott.sue1@gmail.com

Pastoral Visiting Ministry- Joanne Walton terry&joanne_walton@telus.net