The E-postle – July 23rd, 2017

The E-postle

July 23, 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”

– mission statement

Education for Ministry (aka EfM) for Fall 2017

As we study more of our scripture and our tradition, we work towards developing and creating a faith that means most to us.  Study is not about denying what was said in the past but about learning how God’s message from the past impacts our actions now and in the future.

In a recent posting in his daily reflection Richard Rohr wrote …“transformation does not mean simply acquiring a new set of beliefs, but becoming a new person, a person in communion with God and others through Jesus Christ. It is in that moment that we can love each other unconditionally, not to get something in return, but because we are all held together in the love of God.”

The EfM program offers a chance for us to transform ourselves into being all that God wants us to be and to be bearers of God’s love with all of creation.

The theme for each year of study is

Year A  “Living Faithfully in Your World”

Year B  “Living Faithfully in the Global Village”

Year C  “Living as Spiritually Mature Christians”

Year D  “Our Journey into God”.

The EfM curriculum has been recently updated. Some of the study materials over the four years are:

Hebrew Scripture (Year A); Christian Testament (Year B); ‘The First Three Thousand Years of Christianity’ (Diarmaid MacCulloch) (Year C); ‘Theology: A Very Short Introduction’ (David Ford),  ‘Mysteries of Faith’ (Mark McIntosh), ‘The Christian Moral Life: Practices of Piety’ (Timothy F. Sedgwick), ‘My Neighbor’s Faith’ (Jennifer Howe Peace, Or N. Rose, and Gregory Mobley, eds) (Year D).

To help us reflect theologically on the world we will also be reading this year ‘Fighting with the Bible: Why Scripture Divides us and How it Can Bring us Together’ (Donn Morgan) and ‘The Dream of God: A Call to Return’ (Verna Dozie).

There is a display of the books we have read over the years in the Narthex and a sign-up sheet for those who wish to be contacted about participating. The Mentors are Debora Jones-Akiyama and Deacon Anne Anchor who are required each year to attend a refresher training session. This program is strongly supported by Bishop Melissa Skelton who has been a student and mentor in the past. The Deanery has had a group running yearly since 1998 and we have many graduates from EfM who are members of St. John’s.

We meet Wednesday evenings at 6:45–9:15 pm, September to May, with breaks for Christmas and Holy Week.  Please contact Anne Anchor at a.anchor@telus.net if you would like to sign up.

Summer Program for Young People

Children are invited to explore stories and activities during part of the 10 am service with Ts’uwtun, our helper bear.  This week’s First People’s Principle of Learning is “learning involves recognizing the consequences of one’s actions”.  The symbol chosen for this week is the Salmon.  It represents determination and persistence in its return home from the sea, as well as abundance and prosperity because it is a principal food source for First Nations peoples.  The salmon life cycle also reminds us of the renewal of life, and how we are responsible for the future as well as the present.

image sourced from Heisla-Heiltsuk artist Mervin Winsor, courtesy of First Nations Squamish Lilwat Cultural Centre

 

Upcoming Dates

July 23- “Hymns from a Hat” Sunday

July 26- 9:30 onwards, Coffee & Crafts in the hall

July 29- 1:30 pm, Vegt-Easton Wedding

July 30- 12:30 pm, Fawcett-Fennell Wedding

September 10- after 10 am service, “Back to Church” Parish Picnic

 

Stewardship Reflection
Do we put God first in our lives? The Bible gives us a guide for our giving in the tithe, which means one tenth, or 10%.  What might be the standard in your community? Is there room for you to grow your proportion? Consider a personal goal of 5% to the parish and diocesan outreach and 5% to favorite charities.  – from Glen Mitchell

 

Interim Working Group

The interim working group met on Monday July 10 to begin dividing up the work of preparing for the writing of a parish profile by researching what we know about our community and what we still need to discern.  A survey is being prepared for all parishioners, especially those who have not had the opportunity to engage in the larger group processes.  Hopefully this will be distributed by email soon and taken out to all who do not have the means to reply electronically.

 

3030 Gordon House

The ongoing outreach through 3030 Gordon is looking for donations of new/gently used socks and new underwear to distribute to those in need.  For more information, speak to Mary-Lou Kyle or Ruby Ng.

 

First Nations 101 Book Study

“This is a book I wish I had as a professor of Native Studies.  It is a book I wish I had written.”

-Dr. Martin Brokenleg

 

First Nations 101 is an easy to read primer that provides readers with a broad overview of the diverse and complex lives of First Nations people. It is packed with more than 70 subjects including education, youth, child welfare, urbanization, appropriate questions to ask a First Nations person, feminism, the medicine wheel, Two-spirit (LGBTQ), residential schools, the land bridge theory, and language preservation. Author Lynda Gray endeavours to leave readers with a better understanding of the shared history of First Nations and non-First Nations people, and ultimately calls upon all of us – individuals, communities, and governments – to play active roles in bringing about true reconciliation between First Nations and non-First Nations people.

Those interested in joining a book study on First Nations 101 in the fall are asked to speak to one of the clergy or contact the parish office.  Day or evening sessions will be decided to accommodate the most participants.

Prayer Cycle

In the Anglican Communion- Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby; Primate of Canada Fred Hiltz; 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:         Osun North East Diocese (Ibadan, Nigeria) – The Rt Revd Humphery Olumakaiye;Diocese of Saskachewan (Council of the North)-  the Rt. Rev. Michael Hawkins, Indigenous Bishop Adam Halkett; St. Christopher, West Vancouver –beginning interim ministry with the Rev. Karen Urquhart;   St. Anne, Steveston – The Rev. Brian Vickers, The Rev. Mark Munn 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 8:  July 30, 2017 

Genesis 29:15-28; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-33 and 44-52

 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– contact Joan Scott until July 25 at Joan.Scott@hotmail.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