The Palm Sunday E-postle – March 25, 2018

original altar at Coventry Cathedral with cross 
salvaged from the WW2 bombing
 

 “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

Saturday March 24     9 am – 1 pm, Parish Council Retreat at deacon Anne’s home

HOLY WEEK    

Sunday March 25       8:30 & 10 am, Palm Sunday services

Tuesday March 27      12:10 pm Chrism Mass at Christ Church Cathedral, followed by lunch

Thursday March 29    6 pm supper, 7 pm Maundy Thursday worship

Friday March 30         10 am Stations of the Cross, 11 am Good Friday worship

Saturday March 31     1 pm, nature walk with Cease Wyss, Noons Creek Hatchery

EASTER April 1     8:30 & 10 am, Easter Sunday services

Thursday April 19       7 pm, Anglican Church Women Meeting in the hall

Sunday April 29          8 am onwards, Episcopal Visit and Confirmations with Bishop Melissa Skelton

Saturday May 26        Mission Conference for the Diocese of New Westminster

The Triduum

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most significant festival of the Christian Calendar.  Many people may come to the Sunday services, but do you know the significance of the Triduum, or the “Three Days” leading up to Easter as an important part of the story to observe?  Maundy Thursday, from the Latin word maundatum or commandment, is the day Jesus gave the command to his disciples to love one another and instituted the sacrament of communion.  Good Friday is a solemn participation in the events of Jesus’ death on the cross and God’s sacrificial love for this earth.  Holy Saturday is a time of vigil as we wait for the promise of resurrection.  Here at St. Johns, come to:

 

Maundy Thursday Simple Soup Supper

There will be a simple potluck supper on Thursday March 29 at the church.  Sign up on Sunday or let the parish office know if you can bring a pot of soup, some olives, or some cheese to share. All are welcome to come and eat from 6-7 pm.  There will be some readings and reflection during the meal, followed by the rite of foot-washing at 7 pm and a celebration of the Eucharist in the church.  The evening ends with the stripping of the altar and our departure in quiet to prepare for Good Friday.

 

Good Friday Stations of the Cross and Worship

The parish hall downstairs will be open from 10-11 am on Good Friday for those wishing to participate in a self-guided Stations of the Cross.  At 11 am a contemplative Good Friday worship service will include songs, readings, and activities in the church.

 

Holy Saturday Walk with ethnobotanist Cease Wyss

Come join a walk in the woods with ethnobotanist and storyteller Cease Wyss. Learn traditional names and medicinal uses of local plants and trees. Listen to stories about this land and how the trees, these plants and wildlife are all of our relations.  Beginning at 1 pm on Saturday March 31 at Noons Creek Fish Hatchery, Ioco Road.

 

Easter Lilies

The Altar Guild is planning to decorate the church for Easter on Saturday March 31st and donations towards the Easter lilies would be appreciated. If you wish to do so, you may allow us to purchase an Easter lily for you. As in previous years, we would order the lilies to come in on Saturday, use them in the church for Easter Sunday and they could then be taken home after the 10 a.m. service.  To order a lily, which will cost $10.00, please speak to a member of the Altar Guild.

A Man Called Ove

For an Easter story of love and resurrection, check out your local public library for the book by Fredrik Backman or the 2016 movie.

 

Acknowledgement of Traditional Territory

At the St. Johns parish council meeting of February 26, 2018, a motion was passed to encourage all groups using the church facilities to acknowledge that they are meeting on territory that is the ancestral land of First Nations peoples.  A simple form at the beginning of your group’s time together can be adapted as part of your welcome/coming to order.  You could try:

As we gather on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish Nations, let us pray that the Spirit’s reconciling love will be with us.

Or

We acknowledge that we are meeting today on traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples, and are grateful to the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Musqueam, and Kwitwelam Nations.

 

Stewardship Reflection

Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew

 the life of the Earth?

                                                            – baptismal covenant of the Anglican Church of Canada

 

What is one way I can refrain this week from crucifying the earth and instead sustain creation and participate in its renewal?

 

Thanks to all who helped with the Spring clean-up at the church.

 

ACW Drive for Baby Items

The next Anglican Church Women’s meeting is Thursday April 19th at 7 pm. The A.C.W. will be collecting new (unused) baby items for our annual layette. These items are collected and bundled together into a ‘layette’ (everything a new baby would need for up to 18 months). Some are packed in with the Bales to the North outreach program, and some are sent out locally to low income parents. If any member of the Parish would like to make a contribution to this outreach it would be greatly appreciated. Here is a list of suggestions for items that are needed, given in order of preference for those items most required, but all items are gratefully received:

Receiving Blankets

Hooded Bath Towels

Burp Cloths

Small Size Baby Shampoo, Soap, Lotion, Vaseline, Diaper Cream etc. (no baby powder please)

Teething Toys

Baby Wipes (small package)

Comb/Brush

Cloth Diapers (flannelette)

Onesies (12 mths &18 mths)

Sleepers (18 mths)

2 Piece Outfits (12 mths)

Jackets/Hats/Mitts/Bootees

Knitted or Fleece Blankets

Prayer Cycle

In the Anglican Communion-

• Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby; Primate of Canada Fred Hiltz and Indigenous Archbishop Mark McDonald; BC & Yukon Archbishop John Privett; the Territory of the People (formerly the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior of BC),

• our partner Diocese of Northern Philippines, Bishop Brent Alawas, and especially the people of our twin church at St. Johns Mission, Bila, Mountain Province;

• Diocesan Bishop Melissa Skelton and this week the Dean and Archdeacons:

The Very Reverend Peter Elliott, Christ Church Cathedral

The Venerable Philippa Segrave-Pride (Burrard & Lougheed)

The Venerable Stephen Muir (Capilano)

The Venerable Louie Engnan (Fraser)

The Venerable John Stephens (Vancouver)

The Venerable Elizabeth Northcott (Westminster)

The Venerable Douglas Fenton (Executive Archdeacon)

The Venerable Bruce Morris (Archdeacon for Deacons)

*In our parish:

Those preparing for confirmation and reaffirmation:  Breanna, Sarah, Emelia, Brianna, Chelsea, Sue, Bryan, Joanne, Bob, Heather, Cori

*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 April 1, 2018  Easter Sunday

Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 118:1-2, and 14-24; Acts 10:34-43; March 16:1-8

Important Contact Information

Interim Priest– The Rev. Stephanie Shepard rev.seshepard@gmail.com

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

Wardens– Geri Grigg gerigrigg@gmail.com  or Ruby Ng rubyngchen@hotmail.com

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 Elliott 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