The E-postle November 3, 2019

All Saints’ Day

E-postle

November 3, 2019

 

“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, November 2            10am –2:30pm – Parish Fall Bazaar

Sunday, November 3              All Saints’ Sunday

Tuesday, November 5             10:15am–12noon – 4^th “Holy Envy” Book Study – in the Parish Hall

Wednesday, November 6       9:30am–12noon – Coffee & Crafts

Sunday, November 10            Remembrance Sunday; after 10am service – Parish Forum on Marriage

Wednesday, November 13     1pm – Seniors’ Birthday Celebration

Thursday, November 21         1pm – ACW meeting

Monday, November 25           7–9pm – Parish Council Meeting

Thursday, November 28         5:30–7:30pm – Family Advent event with Inlet United Church

 

Fall Bazaar – Saturday, November 2, 2019

Saturday, November 2 is the day of our parish’s Fall Bazaar. Please come and join us. We serve a lovely lunch. We will have games for the children, crafts, baking, homemade food items like jams, fruits, and soup mixes, white elephant treasures, and more. We would love to see everyone that is able make it out to this event…and please bring your friends and neighbours.

If you wish to volunteer with setup, clean up, or on the day of the bazaar, we can still use volunteers and would love to include as many people as would like to help. Please call Kristin Kuhn at 778-957-8987 if you have not already signed up and would like to help or if you have any questions at all about this event. If you are bringing in baking, please bring your items in on Friday. We will be in the hall from 10 am until the evening to accept your baking and any last minute items being turned in. Please do not bring items that need to be refrigerated, as we do not have space and/or accommodation for such.

Hope to see you all on Saturday. Thank you all for your support, for your donations, and for your fellowship.

 

Daylight Savings Time Begins

A friendly reminder to turn your clocks back one hour this weekend for Daylight Savings Time, unless you would like to be very, very early for church this Sunday, Nov. 3… enjoy the extra hour of sleep!

 

Stewardship Reflection

From Sunday by Sunday Reflections on Stewardship:

All Saints’ Day – Luke 6: 20-36

Jesus gives many clues as to what a steward’s life will look like. How many of them would describe the way you live your life?

 

A Note from the Stewardship Team

The Stewardship Team has completed their work for this campaign, but we will continue to meet through the year (dates to be announced shortly), carrying forward ideas brought up in this campaign, following through with people who volunteered to assist in various areas, and trying to continue to ignite passion as we go forward “lovingly sharing and creatively demonstrating our God-given gifts”. We hope that the campaign was useful to everyone and would like to take the opportunity to thank those that participated as speakers and that provided insight or comment about the campaign itself. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the team members that worked with me contributing their ideas, their creativity, and demonstrating their passion for this community, those being Rosa Weisensel, Tony Pellett, and Natasha MacDonald.

I would also like to extend an invitation for you to join our team, as we would love to have more team members. If you feel that this is something that you are being called to participate with…please let one of us know, or call the office and they will connect you with us.

• Kristin Kuhn, on behalf of The Stewardship Team

 

Nursery Room News

We have a redone Nursery room! A cozy corner, a play corner and a teaching table have been set up. A whole new set of faith-oriented toys and reading books and puzzles have been placed on the cleared shelves. Most of the old items that we felt would sell have been taken to the PMC for the Bazaar. A wooden play church is being made and some decorating will be done soon. We would like to keep this space as simple and uncluttered as possible and maintain supplies with a faith focus. Thank you to Christina Anchor for taking the initiative on this project!

 

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. Contact us at altarguild@stja.ca.

 

Parish Council Message Re: Marriage at St. John’s – Online Survey & Nov. 10 Forum

Thank you to those who have given feedback to us on marriage at St. John’s. At our October 28 meeting, we discussed information and suggestions received so far, including the desire for more space for parishioner input to Council. In that spirit, we would like to offer some additional ways for parishioners to share your thoughts:

1. We have created a short online survey so that you may indicate anonymously where on the spectrum of agreement you currently fall, and give any further comments from now through Nov. 17.  Paper copies will also be available at church beginning this Sunday, Nov. 3, or if you are interested but unable to attend worship this week, contact administrator@stja.ca for an emailed form. [NOTE: Please be sure to fill out either online or paper – not both!]   
2. We will hold a parish forum next Sunday, Nov. 10, after the 10am service, and we invite you to attend so that we may all have the chance to hear people’s viewpoints. We would also welcome any suggestions for questions to be considered for the forum – you may submit these via the online survey above, or via paper form (available this Sunday, Nov. 3).

We hope that after prayerful reflection and consideration, any who wish to share their thoughts will do so through these two spaces. We are hoping to have a wide representation of parishioner voices. As always, please feel free also to speak directly with any Parish Council member (The Rev. Vivian Lam, The Rev. Anne Anchor, Geri Grigg, Ruby Ng, Cedric Miller, Mary Lou Kyle, Adelaine Miller, Tony Pellett, Sheila De Vaal, Rosa Wiesensel, or Brian McGlashan).

 

Financial Status

Statement of Income and Expenses as of YTD to Sept 2019

	ACTUAL	BUDGETED
INCOME	$ 156,619	$ 160,200
EXPENSES	$ 163,611	$ 160,200
Surplus (-) Loss	-$ 6,992	$0

 

Anglican Church Women

The next A.C.W. meeting will be held on Thursday, November 21st at 1pm.  Please note a change of time from our usual evening meeting.

 

Seniors’ Birthday Celebration

We will be celebrating the birthdays of our parishioners that are 80 years old or older, who have birthdays between October to December, with a light lunch and birthday cake in the Parish Hall, at 1 pm on Wednesday, November 13th. If you would like to attend please let Ann Adair-Austin know by November 6th by phone: 604-936-7256, or by email: jackinthehouse@hotmail.com.

 

SSJD Quiet Day at St. Stephen’s – Saturday, November 9

You are warmly invited to a Quiet Day on Hospitality, led by Sister Amy Joy, SSJD at St. Stephen the Martyr, (9887 Cameron Street, Burnaby) this Saturday, November 9, 10am – 2:30pm. Admittance is by donation and please bring a bag lunch. RSVP to 2rev2pl@gmail.com or call Paula Porter Leggett at 604-278-2770 x 101 so that they can be prepared for you! Event details can be found at https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/events/quiet-day-hospitality/2019-11-09

 

An Advent Taste of Silence at St. Laurence – Saturday, November 30

You are invited to enter Advent within a setting of grace, stillness and reflection on Saturday, Nov. 30, 10am-3pm at St. Laurence Anglican Church (825 Saint Laurence Street, Coquitlam). The deep silence nudges us to say yes to what really matters in our precious lives. The day’s focus is on individual and personal relationship with God.  Further information is posted on the bulletin board or contact Christine Kesans at 604-944-7447 or chris.kesans@gmail.com or visit the COGV website: http://www.cogv.org

 

Reconciliation and the Welcome Post Project Continues

A new Welcome Post project begins. Grandmother cedar is at Noons Creek Hatchery and all are invited to see the progress of the work. The post carving story has been created in consultation with the Kwikwetlem people. These words below are of Carver Brandon Gabriel, a gracious person with whom I spoke today. Our journey on the path to reconciliation will continue through this carving and into the spring as new programs become available. What an amazing experience.

• Anne Anchor

“Day 2 (Monday, October 21st, 2019), Noons Creek Hatchery, unceded Tsleil-Waututh and Kwikwetlem territories, in the City of Port Moody.

Jonas Bige and Brandon Gabriel Art are hard at work with Dave Bennie, on the 600-year-old old growth cedar log that fell naturally, and was not a purposefully harvested log. Never in my dreams did I ever think I would ever be walking in an intact old growth cedar rainforest to go and do ceremony to bring a log down to the valley to create artwork for anyone, let alone a project that is honouring the entire Kwikwetlem First Nation and their ancestral home. Seriously, I know some of my artist friends who have been doing these projects for years, who might be a bit jaded because of all their years of experience doing this work. But it never gets lost on me. The magic of creating and working on things like this will never get old for me. I truly love it. Thank you to Tasha Faye Evans, Xwalacktun, Chief Ed Hall, Councilor George, the Kwikwetlem elders, the Kwikwetlem youth, The Port Moody Ecological Society, the City of Port Moody, and the volunteers at Noons Creek Hatchery for giving us this amazing gift to do this work for you. Thanks to my family in Kwantlen for supporting too!”

 

Refugee ReSponse Update

On Wednesday Oct 16 our refugee family arrived at Vancouver Airport! The family (including 4 children) were greeted by their parents/grandparents and other relatives, as well as volunteers Ross Bremner & Pat Sharpe from St. Laurence, Mary Lou Kyle from St. John and Rev. Pat Ratcliffe from St. Catherine. It was heartwarming to witness such a joyfully emotional reunion! The family were taken home to Coquitlam and the volunteers were treated to a delicious dinner with the family.

The family is settling in comfortably & happily. The children have started school and the adults have had an appointment at MOSAIC to start their paperwork. They will be assessed for their level of English and English classes will be arranged.

Our responsibility as sponsors is to assist them in getting to know Canada. This includes things like taking them on outings to places like the library, rec center, parks, to local community events, perhaps a visit to downtown Vancouver or Fort Langley or out for a walk and a coffee. The adults would have some time during the week but events with the children would need to be on weekends. They require assistance taking transit until they become comfortable travelling on their own. Please contact one of the volunteers mentioned above if you/your family would like to spend some time with the family. One adult and a couple of the children speak some English but it is suggested that you load Google Translate on your phone to communicate with them in Persian. They will be visiting us soon!

 

Gordon Shelter Donations Needed

A note from Patti Flanagan:

Betty Moore and I were at 3030 Gordon Homeless Shelter today working in the clothing donation room. There is a real need right now for men’s clothes. We realized the need when a man came to ask for a jacket and found only one available.

We especially need:

• warm men’s and women’s jackets, especially ones with hoods
• men’s sweaters, sweat shirts, sweat pants and hoodies
• socks, gloves, hats/toques
• men’s underwear
• rain gear including boots and umbrellas

Donations can be brought to church and will be taken to Gordon House by Mary Kyle, Betty Moore, or myself.

 

Extreme Weather Shelter Program – Call for Volunteers

Together with the Tri-Cities Homelessness Task Group, and funded by BC Housing, Trinity United Church offers emergency hospitality of overnight shelter and meals to those in need Nov. 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020 (as Emergency Alerts are declared). For each day that the Alert is in effect, Trinity United Church will coordinate volunteers to provide a hot evening meal; a warm, safe place to sleep; breakfast; a bag lunch; and clothing for up to 20 homeless persons aged 19 years or older.

How You Can Help:

• • Volunteer for an evening or morning shift
  • Help monitor our grocery supplies
  • Help ensure bedding and blankets are cleaned
  • Make a financial contribution to the Church

Volunteer Shifts: Evening 9pm-11pm – 2 volunteers per shift; Morning 5:30am-7:30am – 3 volunteers per shift.

 

Proteins needed for St. John’s 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. John’s Food Bank.

• 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, arrange with the office to drop off during the week, or give some money to this ministry towards the purchase of fresh products.

 

Prayer Cycle

The Anglican Church of Canada – the Most Rev. Linda Nicholls, Primate, and the Most Rev. Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Bishop.

The Diocese of New Westminster – the Most Rev. Melissa Skelton, Archbishop, and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of BC and Yukon.

And this week:

*        The young people of our Church, and those ministries by and with them:

*          The Diocesan Youth Movement – Anne Kessler (Chair) and all parish youth and children’s ministry leaders

*          Camp Artaban Society – Sandi LaCharite (Chair), Staff and Board of Directors

*          British Columbia & Yukon Anglican Youth Movement – Sam Conway (Chair)

*        Our partner Diocese of Northern Philippines, Bishop Brent Alawas, and especially the people of our twin church at St. John the Evangelist Mission, Balugan;

*        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

 

Readings for November 3, 2019 – All Saints’ Sunday

Daniel 7:1–3, 15–18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11–23; Luke 6:20–31

 

Readings for November 10, 2019 – Remembrance Sunday

Haggai 1:15b – 2:9; Psalm 145: 1-5, 18-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38

 

Important Contact Information

Rector – The Rev. Vivian Lam – rector@stja.ca or 604-936-7762

Deacon – The Rev. Anne Anchor – deacon@stja.ca

Office Administrator – Jennifer Green (currently on leave)

Interim Office Administrator – Sarah Golding – administrator@stja.ca or 604-936-7762

                (Office Hours during this interim time are Tues/Wed/Thurs, 9am-1:30pm & Fri, 9am-11:30am)

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 or ACW@stja.ca

Children’s Ministry /Godly Play – Christina Anchor – children@stja.ca

Prayer Shawls – Rosa Weisensel – administrator@stja.ca

Bible Study – Lynne Milner – biblestudy@stja.ca

Food Bank – Lynne Milner – foodbank@stja.ca