The E-postle – Oct 1, 2017

The E-postle

October 1, 2017

 “The Parish of St. John the Apostle is called to be

*          A Spirited Community at the heart of Port Moody

*          transformed through the experience of the presence of Christ

*          and sent out to share God’s Love”

Leave of Absence for Deacon Trudi Shaw

Dear friends in Christ,

For the past fourteen years I have been in a covenanted relationship with the parish of St. John the Apostle, Port Moody. We have worshipped together, prayed together, laughed and cried together, and walked with one another through some challenging times. You have helped me to grow into my gifts and my calling as a deacon, and have supported me as I ministered in the world – in my paid work and in my volunteer work with a number of organizations. Over the past three years you have kept the light of Christ shining for me through illness, family trauma and tragedy – and I have no doubt that I will always be able to count on your prayers and your love to carry me.

After some prayerful reflection, and consultation with Archdeacon Bruce Morris, and the Clergy and Wardens team of the parish, I have decided to take a leave of absence, so I might be present to support my family, who are still suffering the after-effects of the events we have endured over these past two years. Being on leave means that I will not be torn between my responsibilities to my family and my covenanted responsibilities to my parish. I will be able to be present at some parish events when I am able, although I will be worshipping predominantly with my husband and other family members. But you will see me from time to time singing with the choir – and perhaps vested for special liturgies. As I contemplate leaving this parish, I become more aware of the richness of our worship and life together in Christ. I pray that you will continue to deepen your relationships with one-another and with our Creator, so you may live that love in your ministry in the world.

Blessings…Deacon Trudi

Upcoming Dates

September 30- Orange Shirt Day (wear them Oct. 1 too!)

October 1- Reconciliation Sunday and beginning of Stewardship Month

October 3- 10:30-noon & 7:15-8:45 pm, First Nations 101 book study chap. 3: Community Issues

October 8- Thanksgiving Sunday

October 13- 7 pm, Common Vision Concert at St. Andrews Port Moody to support food banks

October 16- Liturgy Group meeting to plan Advent and Christmas services.  All welcome.

October 22- after 10 am service, Parish Visiting Ministry Meeting

November 2- 7:30 to 9:30 pm, All Souls Night with Holden Evening Prayer

November 4- 10 am – 2:30 pm, Fall Bazaar

Orange Shirts

If you have ordered an “Every Child Matters” orange shirt for September 30, you can pick it up through the parish office Wednesday to Friday this week 9 am- 1 pm, Thursday evening 6-7 pm, or come on Sunday wearing something that it will fit on top of!  Shirts are $8-12.50 each, payable to St. Johns.  Any questions, contact Trudi at trudisha@telus.net For more background on Orange Shirt Day, see www.orangeshirtday.org

 The Welcome Post Project

Today we are honoured to have with us Tasha Faye Evans to share with us about the Port Moody Welcome Post project.  For more information, go to https://noonscreek.org/welcomepostschedule/

Harvest Thanksgiving

Bring your donations of sturdy fruit, vegetables, or flowers to the church 9:30 am October 7 to decorate for Thanksgiving and then donate to the St. Johns Food Bank.  Pick up your “Let’s Bag Hunger” bag at the entrance of the church and fill with non-perishable food items during the month of October.

St. Johns Bazaar Raffle

We are looking for “gourmet” items, specialty treats, Christmassy foods, but nothing perishable or alcoholic, to go in the goodie baskets for the raffle.   Please bring them in soon so we can wrap them up artistically.  Raffle tickets are now available for $2.00 per ticket or $10.00 for a book of 5.   See Grace Liew or Joanne Walton at 10 am or Ferne Malcolm at 8:30 am Sunday.

Stewardship Reflection
“Take a moment and meditate on what God has done for you- What we are asked to do for others is what God has done for us” -Henri Nouwen

How can we put this into practice this week?  This Sunday we begin our theme for October of “This belongs to God”.  October 1: Creation belongs to God.

Looking for a Way to Help?

Helpers needed to pick up and bag donated bread from Cobs on alternate Tuesday evenings.  Approximately 1 hour work 8:30-9:30 pm, please contact Teri Hazelton or the Church office.

Or bring your recyclable containers to the church to donate to the parish bottle drive.  You can also take them to Biggar Enterprises Bottle Depot in Coquitlam to credit the church.

Centering Prayer Introduction

Explore a deep reflective practice of silent prayer based on the rich wisdom teaching of the Christian contemplative tradition.  Workshop in Coquitlam on Saturday October 21, 9:30 am-2:30 pm.  Deepening practice six Thursday evenings starting October 26, 7 pm.  For more information contact Chris Kesans at chris_kesans@gmail.com or 604-944-7447.

Prayer Cycle

In the Anglican Communion-the Archdeaconry of Labrador in the Council of the North, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby; Primate of Canada Fred Hiltz; Indigenous Archbishop Mark McDonald; BC & Yukon Archbishop John Privett; our partner Diocese of Northern Philippines, Bishop Brent Alawas, and especially the people of our twin church at St. Johns Mission, Bila, Mountain Province; Diocese of New Westminster Bishop Melissa Skelton, and this week:

St. Faith, Vancouver – The Rev. Richard Leggett,The Rev. Christine Wilson

St. Francis-in-the-Wood, West Vancouver – The Rev. Angus Stuart, The Rev. Janice Lowell

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada- National Bishop Susan Johnson, BC Synod Bishop Greg Mohr;

The brothers and sisters who share our worship space: The Port Moody Korean Presbyterian Church and the Polish Evangelical Church.

Readings for Pentecost 17, October 8, 2017 

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20; Psalm 19; Philippians 3:4b-14; Matthew 21:33-44

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

Altar Guild– Brenda Binns Brenda.Binns@hotmail.com

St. John Prayer Circle– Sue Ellliott Elliott.sue1@gmail.com

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

or Alma Oldenburg almaolden@hotmail.com

Anglican Church Women (ACW)- Sue Hall 604-936-0176 sbhcat@hotmail.com