The E-postle December 20, 2020

Fourth Sunday of Advent
E-Postle
December 20, 2020

“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”

**Please note: There will be no E-Postle next week (Dec. 27). We will resume again Jan. 3.**

 

THIS ISSUE AT A GLANCE

• Upcoming Dates
• Worship & Prayer: Christmas Services, Sunday Prayer Leaders, Ongoing Pastoral Care & Support
• Stewardship: Stewardship Reflection, Community “Phone a Friend”
• Formation: Looking for Volunteers for Epiphany Word Reflections, Parish Advent Program – “Those Who Dream”
• Parish Matters: Office Christmas Break, Introducing Our New Office Administrator, Limited Reopening of Parish Office & Buildings, Financial Status for September & October 2020, Parish Giving, Ongoing Updates Pages, E-Postle Submissions
• Parish Ministries: Anglican Church Women (A.C.W.) News, Food Bank Update
• Community News: Donations for Tri-Cities Homeless, Next Spring Street Community Kitchen – Chickpeas Challenge!, Sacred Teachings Podcast, Season 5 – Stories of Hope & Light
• Weekly Devotions: Prayer Cycle, Scripture Readings
• Important Contact Information

 
UPCOMING DATES

***Note: All gatherings below take place online via Zoom unless otherwise indicated.***
(Visit https://www.stja.ca/2020/program-updates/ for connection information)

 

Sunday, December 20            8:30am & 10:00am – Sunday Morning Prayer

https://zoom.us/j/542312325?pwd=R3FKTnZ4WUU1YUFveCtzOUljM2FLZz09
Meeting ID: 542 312 325
Password: 010729

Sunday, December 20            following 8:30am and 10:00am worship – Informal Virtual “Coffee Hour” + Advent Program
Sunday, December 20             4:00pm – Blue Christmas service
Tuesday, December 22          10:15am – 12:00pm – Bible Study – Advent Discussion
Tuesday, December 22          7:00pm – 8:00pm – Prayer Group
Thursday, December 24          2 Christmas Eve services – 7:00pm Family Service & 9:00pm Formal Service
Friday, December 25              10:00am – Christmas Day service
Sunday, December 27             8:30am & 10:00am – Sunday Morning Prayer

WORSHIP & PRAYER

Christmas Services

This year we will try our hand at a virtual Christmas, and see what God might reveal to us as we celebrate Jesus’ birth in these new ways!

We will have several opportunities for you and your loved ones to join us on Zoom for Christmas. Please connect to Christmas services via our regular Sunday worship link:

https://zoom.us/j/542312325?pwd=R3FKTnZ4WUU1YUFveCtzOUljM2FLZz09
Meeting ID: 542 312 325
Password: 010729

(You can also find connection information at https://www.stja.ca/2020/program-updates/)

• Sunday Dec. 20, 4pm – Blue Christmas service – for those who find the holiday season difficult, especially during this pandemic – a quiet meditative service of readings and music, that allows space for grieving and loss even in the midst of the joy and hope of Christmas.
• Thursday Dec. 24, 7pm – Christmas Eve Family service – geared toward our younger members and will include our virtual Christmas pageant to tell the story of Christmas.
• Thursday Dec. 24, 9pm – Christmas Eve Formal service – a (slightly) more formal prayer of Evening Prayer including virtual music from the choir.
• Friday Dec. 25, 10am – Christmas Day service – a more relaxed service of Morning Prayer to continue our celebration of Christmas with music and prayer.

Sunday Prayer Leaders

Have you ever thought, “I love the intercessions that we hear on Sunday… I would love to offer them but don’t think I could?” If you feel this way, maybe you are being called to be a part of this ministry in our worship and please know that we can help you. There are many resources that help you start the process. There are many that are already written that could be made available as you start on this journey of offering intercessions.

If any of this has sparked an interest or curiosity in you, please contact Deacon Anne at deacon@stja.ca.

Ongoing Pastoral Care & Support

A note from Vivian:

Please know that St. John’s is here for you as we continue to move through this pandemic. Now that I don’t see many of you as regularly, and with the limitations of virtual interactions, it is more challenging to know what everyone’s state of wellbeing and ongoing pastoral needs are. I invite and encourage you to reach out to me or to any of the other parish resources below, if and as you need.

Rector – Please contact me via rector@stja.ca or my cell.  I am happy to connect via phone, email, text, Facetime or Zoom, and, during this pandemic, in-person in urgent situations. I am here for support in crisis times (i.e. emergencies, hospital stays) and if you would like prayer for an upcoming medical procedure or other major circumstance. I am also available for general spiritual support and encouragement, and can offer a listening ear and prayer in the moment.

Community “Phone a Friend” – our Stewardship Team has set up phone teams to call folks each week to “check in” and help lessen isolation and foster connection. Connect with Kristin (bobandkristinkuhn@gmail.com or 778-957-8987) or Natasha (freefromfear101@gmail.com or 604-961-6630) if you’d like to receive or help make these calls.

Sunday Prayers of the People – If you would like to be prayed for in our Sunday intercessions, please email Anne at deacon@stja.ca. You will be prayed for by first name, for whatever time period you indicate. If you are adding someone else, please be sure you have their OK to do so.

Prayer Circle – Please email Sue E. at prayer@stja.ca. This is a group of parishioners who commit to pray for the prayer needs of parishioners and friends/families. All requests are kept confidential within the group, and you can let the group know as much or as little detail of the situation they’re praying for, as you wish. If you are requesting prayer for someone else, please be sure you have their OK to do so.

Parish Visiting Ministry – Members of this team focus on our parishioners who are homebound or living in care homes. During this pandemic time, they are praying for and connecting with these parishioners via phone, email, and mail. Please connect with Joanne W. or Alma at pastoralvisits@stja.ca with needs in this area.

STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship Reflection

From Sunday by Sunday: Reflections on Stewardship, prepared by the Ven. Dr. Michael Pollesel:

Luke 1:26-38
Mary’s openness to God’s dream for her allows her to respond with: “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” As a faithful steward could you say these words?

Community “Phone a Friend”

Your St. John’s Stewardship Team have set up a “phone a friend” service for us all to keep from feeling a bit disconnected during these days of physical distancing. We have set up phone teams to call each week to “check in” and help relieve some of the loneliness that is inevitable in the current circumstances.

We would like to make sure no one out there is left out, so email or call Kristin (bobandkristinkuhn@gmail.com or 778-957-8987) or Natasha (freefromfear101@gmail.com or 604-961-6630) if you are not receiving a call and would like to, or if you are interested in helping to make these phone calls, and we will make sure you get hooked into the service.

We know that the caring community that is St. John’s will not leave any of its people feeling more separated than is absolutely necessary. “Distance means so little when people mean so much.”

-Your Stewardship Team

 

FORMATION

Looking for Volunteers for Epiphany Word Reflections

You may recall that in the past couple of years we have distributed “Epiphany stars,” each of which has a different word to reflect on for the coming year. This Epiphany season, we would like to invite members of the St. John’s family to participate in a virtual sharing of these reflections with the wider community.

All you need to do to participate in this fun experiment is:

• Let Vivian know at rector@stja.ca, preferably by Jan. 1
• You will be given a star word at random, and assigned a day in Epiphany (January 6 through February 14)
• Write a brief reflection on “how this Epiphany star word helps lead me to God.”
• This reflection will be posted on our Facebook page so others can reflect on it too.

(And if you’d just like an Epiphany star word to reflect on individually, please connect with Vivian and she would be glad to draw one out randomly for you.)

Parish Advent Program – “Those Who Dream”

Psalm 126 begins: “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” This Advent at St. John’s, we’re exploring together, ‘What does it look like to live as those who dream?’ The prophets, the psalmists, John the Baptist, Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, Simeon, Anna, the shepherds and the Magi—they were all dreamers. They received, discovered, and responded to God’s dreams for the world. This Advent, we join them in stepping into the mystery and awe of God’s dreams and pray they shape our reality.

We are using a daily devotional guide that offers Biblical commentary, poetry, visual art, written reflections, colouring pages, and journaling and Sabbath prompts.

Our Sunday liturgies are weaving together the “dreaming theme” with our scriptures for the day. There will be opportunities for sharing and discussion one last time at this Sunday’s coffee hours and our Tuesday Bible Study. Our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StJohnAnglican is also featuring some of the devotional material and we invite commentary and reflection – feel free to jump in as you feel called to do so!

This program is for the dreamers in all of us—those who dream of a deeper connection with God and those who dream of a better world. Those who dream of comfort and those who have given up on their dreams. Those whose dreams have been crushed and those who show us that dreams take time. Join us this Advent at St. John’s as we dream alongside prophets and angels, Mary and the Magi. Join us as we seek and sow God’s dreams for our world.

PARISH MATTERS

Office Christmas Break

Please note that the parish office will be closed from Dec. 24 through Jan. 4, reopening on Tuesday, Jan. 5. During this time, for pastoral emergencies, please call Vivian at 604-723-5029, and for other urgent parish matters, please email Ruby and Geri at peopleswarden@stja.ca and rectorswarden@stja.ca, or Vivian at rector@stja.ca.

Introducing Our New Office Administrator

We offer a warm welcome to Deanna Lemke, who has just begun as our new Office Administrator. A graduate of Trinity Western University, Deanna holds a BA in Leadership with a minor in Psychology. She is also a classically trained pianist with the Conservatory of Toronto. One of her favourite sayings is, “See the flowers, not the weeds”. When asked for a few words to share with our parish, she says she is happy to serve as the new Office Administrator at St. John’s, and she hopes to be a blessing and to represent the church well in all of her duties.

This coming week, Deanna will be in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday (Dec. 22 & 23), 10am-2pm. Otherwise, she will be in the office generally on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10am-2pm – please note that this schedule may continue to shift from time to time. For now, the office will not be open to walk-in visitors – anyone coming by the office for a necessary purpose will need to make an appointment beforehand and follow Covid safety protocols as directed.

Limited Reopening of Parish Office & Buildings

As noted above, the Parish Office is now open 3 partial days a week. Please make an appointment beforehand and follow Covid safety protocols as directed, as we are not open to walk-in visitors right now.

Anyone planning to come inside the church buildings at this time must also check in beforehand with the office at administrator@stja.ca – even if you plan to be here just for a brief period of time. This is to enable necessary contact tracing, notification to anyone else in the building at the same time, and to review safety protocols as needed.

We have recently welcomed back one of our community 12-step groups; other outside user groups have opted to hold off on meeting in-person for the time being. The 12-step group is following strict safety protocols and is permitted to meet under the current provincial health order.

You may view the full reopening plan, the most recent guide for outside user groups, as well as diocesan updates at https://www.stja.ca/2020/updates-re-coronavirus/.

Financial Status for September & October 2020

We append below the Parish financial status for your information.

Statement of Income and Expenses ending 31^st October 2020

	September Actual $	October Actual $	October Budget $	October YTD Actual $	October YTD Budget $
Income	14,089	15,679	19,083	141,701	190,833
Expenses	15,197	14,477	19,089	133,954	190,821
Surplus (-) Loss	-1,108	1,202	-6.27	7,747	12.20

 

	September Actual $	October Actual $	October Budget $	October YTD Actual $	October YTD Budget $
Offering for General Funds	10,742	11,903	15,408	103,974	154,083
Offering for Property	1,392	1,261	0	12,856	0

Notes: We continue to be able to fulfill our obligations thanks to your contributions. With an increase in donations, we have a slight surplus for the month of October.

Parish Giving

Thank you to all who have continued with your offerings via PADs and cheques. If you wish to e-transfer your contributions directly to the church account, please contact Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca or Amalia at treasurer@stja.ca for more details. There are also links on our website at https://www.stja.ca/supporting-st-johns/ if you would prefer to donate by PayPal or Credit Card.

Ongoing Updates Pages

There are 2 important pages on our parish website which will be updated regularly as we have new information (links to both pages can also be found at the top of our homepage www.stja.ca):

1. Program & Worship Updates/Links – https://www.stja.ca/2020/program-updates/ – current information on programs, including Zoom meeting information and the bulletin and scripture readings for Sunday worship.
2. Updates on Covid-19 at St. John’s –  https://www.stja.ca/2020/updates-re-coronavirus/ – a collection of all special correspondence from Archbishop Melissa and from our parish re: actions that St. John’s and our greater diocese are taking with the Covid-19 virus.

E-Postle Submissions

If you have submissions for the E-Postle, please email them to Kathy by Wednesday at 9:00pm at news@stja.ca. Please note: There will be no E-postle next week (Dec. 27). We will resume again Jan. 3.

PARISH MINISTRIES

Anglican Church Women (A.C.W.) News

Calendars:
Thank you to everyone who has supported the sale of the 2021 Anglican Church Calendar. There are just a few still available for purchase. Cost: $7 each. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact Antoinette at: toni.woodman@shaw.ca or 604-942-4765

Food Bank Update

It looks like the St. John’s Food Bank will not be reopening in the near future, given the Covid-19 situation. However, our church continues to help needy people in our community through our support of the SHARE Food Bank. At our October Parish Council meeting, we carried a motion to donate $2000 to the SHARE Food Bank in November to help with their Christmas hampers. Thank you to all the parishioners at St. John’s who have made contributions to the Food Bank fund. We couldn’t do it without you!

We are still looking for a member of our congregation to take on the role of Food Bank coordinator. If you are interested, please send an email to foodbank@stja.ca.

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

Donations for Tri-Cities Homeless

St. Laurence, Coquitlam is currently collecting items for Tri-Cities homeless persons through Hope for Freedom Society. Below is a list of items with instructions.

Due to the pandemic, the MAT program will not be happening this year, but Hope for Freedom outreach workers and the Tri-Cities homeless community still need our help. Donations of goods can be dropped off at St. Laurence (825 St. Laurence St., Coquitlam), Monday through Thursday from 10am to 2pm, or you may phone Juley in the St. Laurence church office at 604-936-5423 to arrange for a pick-up from your home.

Hope for Freedom wish list:

• Backpacks
• Umbrellas
• Hot Paws (warmers for gloves and boots)
• Sweatpants
• Socks
• Underwear
• Rain gear (waterproof jackets and pants)
• Boots
• Nail clippers, combs, and small or folding hairbrushes
• Small packages of wet wipes
• Small bottles of Tylenol (there are tubes containing 10 tablets)
• Food items: granola bars, fruit cups, pull-top tins of a meal item (e.g. ravioli)

Next Spring Street Community Kitchen – Chickpeas Challenge!

Save the date for our next online Spring Street Community Kitchen, “Chickpeas Challenge!”  You’re invited to join us on Zoom on Thursday, January 14^th, 6-7pm where we will have a live demonstration featuring everything chickpeas (fast creamy hummus, eggless meringue, and cheesy chickpea melts). There will be opportunities to ask questions and share conversation with others. Our guest chefs are members of the Spring Street Community Kitchen planning team.

Funds raised in support of our Spring Street Community Kitchen are being re-gifted to the communities we serve, and for January, we will give to Joy’s Place, a transition house that provides temporary safe shelter and support for adult women and their dependent children. (November/December donations are going to SHARE food hamper programs.) Donations can be given via https://www.stja.ca/supporting-st-johns/. Be sure to let us know that your donation is designated for our Community Kitchen project.

We would love your participation and feedback! We welcome you to share your chickpea recipes with our wider community. Feel free to email your recipes to us at SpringStreetCommunityKitchen@gmail.com and we will share them on our Facebook page. We are also looking for volunteers for future kitchens – planning, hosting, moderating, and tech support are just some of the roles available.

Pre-registration for January 14th is required – please email your name and email address to SpringStreetCommunityKitchen@gmail.com to be included on the list to receive Zoom connection information or if you have any questions.

(The Spring Street Community Kitchen is a partnership between St. John’s, Inlet United Church, and All Saints’ Catholic Parish – be sure to like and follow us at https://www.facebook.com/SpringStreetCommunityKitchen.)

Sacred Teachings Podcast, Season 5 – Stories of Hope & Light

Be sure to check out Season 5 of The Sacred Teachings podcast, entitled “Stories of Hope and Light,” at https://www.anglican.ca/im/podcasts/.

The most recent Episode 3, “Your Heart to Mine,” features Josephine Malemute and Mike Mickelson from Alaska talking about Dancing with the Spirit, and includes some beautiful music! Episodes 1 & 2 feature Lori Calkins, an Anglican priest and a traditional Birth Supporter in Alberta, and Mary Louis Bernard, a M’ikmaq elder and traditionalstoryteller from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

The teachings, languages, traditions and stories of the Ancestors are shared in this podcast, which is sponsored by the Anglican Church of Canada. Highly respected Indigenous speakers are featured in this series, with a different theme for each season, including the sacredness of Creation and finding meaning in a global crisis.

WEEKLY DEVOTIONS

Prayer Cycle

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

The Diocese of New Westminster – the Most Rev. Melissa Skelton, Archbishop, and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of BC and Yukon; and the Rev. John Stephens, Bishop Coadjutor-Elect.

And this week:

• St. John the Divine, Maple Ridge – The Reverend Laurel Dahill;
• St. John the Divine, Squamish – The Reverend Cameron Gutjahr;
• St. John, Shaughnessy – The Reverend John Stephens, The Reverend Elizabeth Ruder-Celiz;
• 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 December 20, 2020 – 4^th Sunday of Advent

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38

Readings for December 27, 2020 – 1^st Sunday after Christmas

Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3; Psalm 148; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40

Readings for January 3, 2021 – Epiphany

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Rector	The Rev. Vivian Lam	rector@stja.ca	604-936-7762 (church voicemail) / 604-723-5029 (cell)
Deacon	The Rev. Anne Anchor	deacon@stja.ca
Parish Office	Deanna Lemke	administrator@stja.ca	604-936-7762
(No drop-in visitors at this time – please make an appointment to come in. General office hours are Tues/Thurs/Fri, 10am-2pm, but may occasionally change.)
Rector’s Warden	Geri Grigg	rectorswarden@stja.ca
People’s Warden	Ruby Ng	peopleswarden@stja.ca
Treasurer	Amalia McGlashan	treasurer@stja.ca
Envelope Secretary	Sheila De Vaal	envelopesecretary@stja.ca
Parish Council	Kristin Kuhn, Secretary	parishcouncilsecretary@stja.ca
Altar Guild	Brenda Binns	altarguild@stja.ca
Anglican Church Women	Alma Oldenburg	ACW@stja.ca	604-788-2562
Bible Study	Lynne Milner	biblestudy@stja.ca
Building Repairs / Maintenance	Rich Thompson	property@stja.ca
Children’s Ministry/Godly Play	Christina Anchor	children@stja.ca
E-Postle	Kathy De Vaal	news@stja.ca
Food Bank		foodbank@stja.ca
Parish Visiting Ministry	Joanne Walton/Alma Oldenburg	pastoralvisits@stja.ca
Prayer Circle	Sue Elliott	prayer@stja.ca
Prayer Shawls	Rosa Weisensel	administrator@stja.ca

 

[Artwork at top of page is “A Heron’s Wisdom” by Lauren Wright Pittman (inspired by 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16) © A Sanctified Art. Used by permission.]