The E-postle February 23, 2020

The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Transfiguration Sunday
E-postle
February 23, 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”
Upcoming Dates
Saturday, February 22 8:45am-12:30pm – Parish Council Retreat
Saturday, February 22 5 – 8pm – Parish Games Night
Sunday, February 23 after the 10am service – Pastoral Visiting Ministry Team meeting
Tuesday, February 25 10:15am–12noon – Bible Study (in the Parish Hall)
Tuesday, February 25 5:30pm – Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Wednesday, February 26 10am & 7pm – Ash Wednesday worship services
Wednesday, March 4 1pm – Seniors’ Birthday Celebration
Stewardship Reflection
From Sunday by Sunday: Reflections on Stewardship, prepared by the Ven. Dr. Michael Pollesel:
Last Sunday after Epiphany (The Transfiguration). Matthew 17: 1-9
Three disciples have a “mountaintop” experience with Jesus. However, that’s not where they remain. They head back down the mountain, to where they live out their daily lives. A faithful steward knows that life is not lived as a series of mountaintop experiences, but rather somewhere below. Sometimes, life down below gets pretty rough. How’s it going for you?
Rector’s Note
As we shift this week from the season of Epiphany to Lent, I am looking forward to—as the traditional Ash Wednesday Invitation to Lent puts it—a season focused on “self-examination, penitence, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and… reading and meditating on the word of God.” Lent is traditionally a time when—together as a community—we recall our need for and dependence on God, and we intentionally immerse ourselves in whatever can help clarify and deepen our relationship to God and strengthen how we live our faith in the world.
This week’s E-postle is full of opportunities for this immersion – keep reading to find out more! Particularly, I invite you to take part in any of multiple ways with our parish’s “Dive Deeper: Loving God & Loving Neighbour” program – we will be exploring prayer and growing in faithful courage. There is also a wonderful deanery Lenten VITA retreat later in March. Please pray and see what God might be calling you to be part of this season. May God bless our efforts to observe a holy Lent at St. John’s.
Peace, Vivian
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Join us for a festive and delicious dinner of pancakes in our Parish Hall, as we celebrate Shrove Tuesday, the last day before we enter into the season of Lent at 5:30pm, Tuesday, February 25.
To help us plan well for food and space, please RSVP via the sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall or email the office at administrator@stja.ca with how many are coming. Cost is by donation.
Ash Wednesday Services – Wednesday, February 26
Everyone is invited to begin the season of Lent together as a community, and gather for prayer, Eucharist, and the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday. There will be two opportunities to observe the day here at St. John’s: a morning service (spoken) at 10am and an evening service (with music) at 7pm. All ages are welcome.
Lenten Learning Opportunities
We are excited this Lent to invite you into our parish’s Lenten program: Dive Deeper: Loving God and Loving Neighbour. There will be 2 programs running concurrently. Please connect with Vivian in person or at rector@stja.ca with any questions.
Dive Deeper: Loving God will deepen our prayer life on the 5 Tuesdays in Lent (March 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31). Parishioner Christine Kesans will be leading us in exploring different prayer practices that will help deepen the ways we connect with God through readings, discussion, and practicing prayer techniques together.
There will be 2 ways to take part:
- In-person on Tuesday mornings, 10:15am-12noon in the Parish Hall.
- Online on Tuesday evenings (via the Zoom app), 7:00-8:30pm.
Dive Deeper: Loving Neighbour will use a program called “Living Well Through Lent – Practicing Courage with All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind.” We will explore how God calls us to faithful courage in the ways in which we interact with our selves and with others in all areas of our lives.
There will be several ways to take part:
- Devotional booklet with daily meditations. An electronic version will be available, with printed copies for those who request it (donations are welcome to offset printing costs).
- Sunday coffee hour discussions after each service (Sundays March 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29). Sermons each Sunday will also connect to the week’s theme.
- Volunteers will share personal reflections. These will be posted daily on Facebook and displayed in our Parish Hall throughout Lent.
Property Development Committee
Property Development will continue to take priority in 2020. Parish Council is seeking interested parties to form a part of a committee to support the parish through this process. Please see Ruby or Geri if you are interested.
Grounds Coordinator’s Patch
If you have a working hedge trimmer that you no longer need, please donate it to the church. Should you wish to donate a brand new trimmer, the cost is around $250 and you will get a tax receipt. Please speak to Tony Lee with any questions. Thank you.
Seniors’ Birthday Celebration
We will be celebrating the birthdays of our parishioners that are 80 years old or older and who have birthdays between January to March, with a light lunch and birthday cake in the Parish Hall, at 1pm Wednesday, March 4th. For more information, contact Ann Adair-Austin by phone (604-936-7256) or by email (jackinthehouse@hotmail.com). Please RSVP by February 26th.
FoodSafe Course
St. John’s will be hosting a FoodSafe course on Saturday, April 25 from 9am to 5pm in the Parish Hall. Registration is free to parishioners involved in food ministry (i.e. Food Bank) and $35 to others. The course maximum is 25. We will be opening registration to other parishes on March 15 if we have not reached our maximum.
Register by contacting Sarah at the office via administrator@stja.ca or 604-936-7762.
Deanery Lenten Retreat
Our deanery is hosting a 1 ½ day Vita Retreat this Lent on Friday March 20 – Saturday March 21 at St. Laurence Anglican Church (825 St. Laurence St., Coquitlam). As Anglicans we know how to pray with words. But prayer is so much more! Explore with us and encounter the Spirit, as we walk in nature, play with art, and listen to Leonard Cohen.
Part 1 of the retreat will be Friday evening 5:00-9:30pm. Participants return on Saturday for Part 2 from 9:00am-5:00pm. Friday dinner and Saturday lunch are included in the $25 registration fee.
The Vita Retreat works to create an environment for people to encounter the Holy Spirit and reignite their lives of prayer and ministry. The core of the retreat is to introduce people to contemplative and creative prayer practices, provide time to reflect on their experiences, and begin and end with the daily office and worship of the Anglican tradition.
Space is limited so please register soon at https://www.saintlaurence.ca/ministries/vita-retreat. Speak to Vivian at rector@stja.ca if you have any questions, or Anne Dennis from St. Laurence at annedennis04@gmail.com.
Diocesan Letter on Coronavirus
Archbishop Melissa Skelton has written a letter “Responding to the Coronavirus: Expressing our Unity in Christ, in our Church Communities and in the Holy Eucharist”, which answers several common questions and offers some practical guidelines for church communities re: the coronavirus. The letter can be found at https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/news/important-information-about-the-coronavirus-and-the-eucharist
Diocesan ACW Event on Human Trafficking
The Diocese of New Westminster Anglican Church Women (A.C.W.) are sponsoring an event at St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church (3025 – 264th Street, Aldergrove) entitled “MODERN SLAVERY – HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT” on Saturday, February 29 at 1:30pm. The presenter is Cathy Peters, a champion against human trafficking. Refreshments will be provided at the break.
World Day of Prayer
You are invited to World Day of Prayer 2020 on Friday, March 6, 1-3pm, at Coquitlam Presbyterian Church (948 Como Lake Ave, Coquitlam). For more information, contact Dana at 604-469-9916.
What is World Day of Prayer? Informed Prayer. Prayerful Action. Imagine Christians from over 170 countries coming together in spirit, uniting on a common day to pray for relevant issues affecting women and children.
The movement has been active for nearly 100 years. Each year a different country writes the service materials. This year, the writing country is Zimbabwe and the theme is “Rise! Take Your Mat and Walk.” The services are very informative. Refreshments are served after the service. Learn more at https://worlddayofprayer.net/index.html
Contemplative Outreach – United In Prayer Day
‘Healing Divisions’ will be on Saturday, March 21 at First Lutheran Church (5745 Wales Street, Vancouver). You are invited to join the worldwide network of Contemplative Outreach as we join in prayer with our Global Community. This is a day of prayer dedicated to whole making in ourselves, our relationships and our world. For further information check out the Parish Hall bulletin board or http://www.cogv.org, or contact Christine Kesans at chris.kesans@gmail.com.
“The Recurring Grief of Family Caregivers” Workshop
Taking place on Saturday, May 30, this will be a one-day workshop to bring education and support to family caregivers. Facilitated by Jan Spillman, M.Ed., RCC, Chronic Sorrow and Compassion Fatigue Specialist. For further information see our Parish Hall bulletin board, or contact Jan at caregiverwellness@shaw.ca.
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 Anglican Archbishop.
The Diocese of New Westminster – the Most Rev. Melissa Skelton, Archbishop, and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of BC and Yukon.
And this week:
* St. David, Delta
* St. Chad, Vancouver – The Reverend Bill Mok
* 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 February 23, 2020 – The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9
Readings for March 1, 2020 – First Sunday in Lent
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11
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 – Amalia McGlashan – treasurer@stja.ca
Envelope Secretary – Sheila de Vaal – envelopesecretary@stja.ca
Parish Council – 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) – Alma Oldenburg – 604-788-2562 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
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