The E-Postle December 2, 2018

The First Sunday of Advent
E-postle
December 2, 2018

“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”

Upcoming Dates
Sunday Dec 2 Annual Advent Wreath Workshop
Tuesday Dec 4 10:30-noon, Bible Study in the parish hall
Thursday Dec 6 Food Bank Christmas Lunch
Sunday Dec. 9 PMC basement will be open for those wanting a last chance to purchase items
Tues Dec 11 The Rev. Vivian Lam’s Induction – 7 pm with rehearsal at 6 pm.
Thursday Dec. 13 12:00p.m. ACW luncheon in the church hall

Rector’s Note
Advent is just about upon us! My prayer for all of us this season is that we will be able to stay attentive and open to the Spirit, even in the midst of this hectic and busy time of year. May we be able to take time to share with each other all the things that I know that God is eager to tell us as we listen together!

In that spirit, we will be building together our St. John’s AdventWord calendar over the next few weeks. Beginning this Sunday, Dec. 2, check out www.facebook.com/StJohnAnglican, as a new word will be featured each day, along with a photo and description by a member of our St. John’s community of why that image is meaningful to them. There will also be a paper version of the calendar that will be displayed in our hall. I invite all of you to consider being one of the contributors and to sign up on Sunday for a word – thank you to Parish Council members who have volunteered to reflect on words for the first week to get us started!

On Sundays Dec. 9, 16, and 23, join me after the 8:30am and 10am services to gather to share our findings and discoveries about God through these AdventWords. You can read more about the program (and a preview of the words) at https://www.buildfaith.org/adventword-2018/. Additionally, sign up to receive daily emails at https://www.adventword.org/sign-up-adventword2018/

Also, a 2nd opportunity for Advent learning is Living in the Edge, which begins this Tuesday Dec. 4, and will continue on Dec. 11 and 18 at the Tuesday 10:30 am Bible study group. From the program description: “How do we find our way when one thing is ending and another thing is beginning? In the great joys and sorrows of our lives, and in the economic, political and climatic changes of our world, how do we live in the in-between?” I’m looking forward to deep reflection and rich discussion together! You can read more about the program at http://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/diocesan-resources/2018-advent-resource. Scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up for daily emails (whether or not you can attend on Tuesdays). We will also have printed copies of the study guide available.

Blessings to all of you as we begin Advent – may God richly bless our waiting and watching as we journey together in this season as a St. John’s family.

Peace,
Vivian

Stewardship Reflection
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives and everyone who searches finds and for everyone who knocks the door will be opened.

Question: How does this speak to you and where can you apply this?

Parish Survey Results
Thank you to everyone who responded to the parish survey on the final Stewardship Sunday. The results have been compiled and discussed by Parish Council. Accessibility was a strong theme which will inform our decisions as we consider longer terms plans for our building(s). The ideas for things that can be accomplished more quickly will be brought to the Parish Council retreat in March 2019 to inform their plans for the 2019/20 church year.

Urgently Needed
The Burnaby Costco will be providing St. John’s with donations for our Food Bank. We are looking for a volunteer or volunteers who have a van, pickup or SUV to pick up contents of the food bin when they are full. Please let Kelly in the office know if you are able to help with this. Contact Kelly at adminstrator@stja.ca

Food Bank Christmas Fundraiser
Each year at this time we ask parishioners for a donation of $20 towards a gift of boxed cookies to be given out to Food Bank families at Christmas. The remainder goes towards the Christmas dinner on Dec. 6 and the extra groceries given on Dec. 20. There will be a table set out at the back of the Church on Dec.2, Dec.9 and Dec. 16 to receive donations.

Reminder to Wear Name Tags
Now that Vivian has arrived as our new rector, let’s all wear our name tags for a while so that she can get used to everyone’s names.
Annual Advent Wreath Workshop: Sunday December 2nd
All are welcome to join us for the Annual Advent Wreath Workshop following the 10:00am service in the Church Hall. A base container, greenery and embellishments will be provided. Please be sure to bring your own cutters and candles! For more information please see Ann Adair Austin.
New Members for the Altar Guild
The members of St John’s Altar Guild are looking for some new members to join us. We work in groups on a 4 week rotating schedule, usually on a Saturday morning, arranging flowers, cleaning the brass, setting up for the Eucharist and laundering the Altar linens. Please speak to a member of the Altar Guild if you are interested in joining us.
ACW Pizza Lunch
The A.C.W. will be meeting on Thursday, Dec. 13th at 12 noon for a Pizza Lunch. We will also be packing goodie baskets for seniors after lunch, and collecting up home baked goods for the Mission To Seafarers. All ladies of the Parish are welcome to attend. Cost for the lunch is $10.

COMMUNITY KITCHEN
There has been a good response to attend the Community Kitchen. One has been organized for Saturday December 8. Because of limited space, only 8 people will attend. Depending on final numbers, the leaders will try to get everyone who is interested to attend at another time.

Revamping of the STJA Website
We are continually monitoring and updating information on the website with the support of Amanda Mungal and Josh Pry of “Its Your Time”.
Should you see any information that’s incorrect or incomplete, please let Vivian (rector@stja.ca) or Ruby (peopleswarden@stja.ca) know.

Brenda’s Volunteer Mission to Guyana 2019
I will be flying to Guyana on January 7th 2019, returning at the end of March 2019. This journey consists of 3 flights with an 18-hour overnight stopover in Toronto, resulting in a total travel time of 36 hours. What a journey this will be!
I will be dividing my volunteer time between St. Ann’s Orphanage and the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) of the local Georgetown government. My duties at the CPA are not defined as yet, but I have an idea of what they will be. Wish me luck!
I will keep in touch with you all by continuing to send you updates of my mission.

The Coquitlam Chorale
The Coquitlam Chorale will be performing “There Shall a Star” at the Evergreen Cultural Centre on Saturday, December 1 @ 7:30 pm, and Sunday, December 2 @ 2:00. Tickets are available by clicking the link: https://evergreenculturalcentre.secure.force.com/ticket/#details_a0S1Q000008fZxtUAE

Proteins needed for St. Johns Food Bank
Protein-rich foods are often the most expensive items for families to purchase when grocery shopping. People on limited budgets often cannot afford them, and make do with stodgy foods to fill stomachs. Please help those who need them by donating the following to St. Johns Food Bank in December:
– tinned salmon, tuna, chicken, beef (not all can eat pork products)
– shelf stable nut butters
– dried or tinned beans and peas
– powdered or shelf stable milks
– meaty stews or soups
– cans of vegetables
Bring your offerings on Sunday, drop off during the week Monday through Thursday 9 am to 1 pm, or give some money to this ministry towards the purchase of fresh products.

3030 Gordon Avenue – Transition Housing
St. John’s is one of four local churches involved in the clothing donation ministry at the Gordon Shelter.
This winter, each church will again be targeting specific items for a drive before Christmas. From Nov. 17th until Dec. 15th, our church will be collecting donations of new or used sweat pants and/or hoodies. If you would like to donate, you can bring these items to the church and Mary Lou or Betty will take them to the shelter.
Thank you to all of you who have been donating clothing to the shelter!
We would still like to have more volunteers for this ministry. It is just 2 hours every 4 weeks.
Please connect with Marylou Kyle or Betty Moore if you are interested in giving a helping hand.
For info on the Gordon Shelter, please check them out at
http://www.raincityhousing.org/what-we-do/3030-gordon-project-coquitlam/
Prayer Cycle
The Anglican Church, the Diocese of New Westminster, Archbishop Melissa Skelton;
* The Deanery of Point Grey – The Reverend Christine Rowe, Regional Dean;
* Our partner Diocese of Northern Philippines, Bishop Brent Alawas, and especially the people of our twin church at St. Johns Mission, Bila, Mountain Province;
*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 December 2, 2018 – 1st Sunday of Advent
Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21: 25-36

Readings for December 9, 2018 – 2nd Sunday of Advent
Malachi 3:1-4; Canticle 19b; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6

Important Contact Information
Rector – The Rev. Vivian Lam rector@stja.ca 604-936-7762
Parish Office- Kelly Million administrator@stja.ca or 604-936-7762: 9:30 am- 1:30 pm Mon. – Thurs.
Rector’s Warden- Geri Grigg rectorswarden@stja.ca
People’s Warden – Ruby Ng peopleswarden@stja.ca
Treasurer – Cedric Miller treasurer@stja.ca
Envelope Secretary – Sheila de Vaal envelopesecretary@stja.ca
Parish Council – Adelaine Miller, Secretary parishcouncilsecretary@stja.ca
Altar Guild – Brenda Binns altarguild@stja.ca
St. John Prayer Circle – Sue Elliott prayer@stja.ca
Pastoral Visiting Ministry – Joanne Walton/Alma Oldenburg pastoralvisits@stja.ca
Anglican Church Women (ACW) – Sue Hall 604-936-0176 ACW@stja.ca
Children Ministry /Godly Play – Christina Anchor children@stja.ca
Prayer Shawls – Rosa Weisensel shawls@stja.ca
Bible Study – Lynne Milner biblestudy@stja.ca
Food Bank – Lynne Milner foodbank@stja.ca