The E-postle January 5, 2020

The Epiphany of the Lord

E-postle

January 5, 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

Tuesday, January 7                10:15am–12noon – Bible Study resumes (in the Parish Hall)

Wednesday, January 8           9:30am–12noon – Coffee & Crafts

Thursday, January 16             1:30pm – ACW Annual General Meeting

Monday, January 27              7 – 9pm – Parish Council meeting

Sunday, February 9                Annual Vestry Meeting

Sunday, February 16              Chinese New Year lunch

 

Rector’s Note

Happy 2020 to all! It hardly seems possible that we are in the “20s” now. I pray that our St. John’s community will continue to know God’s blessings in this new year and new decade.

As we move from the celebration of Christmas now into the season of Epiphany, we continue our annual liturgical journey into a time of reflection on the ways in which God has chosen to reveal and show God’s great love to all people, everywhere. The star that led the wise men to the Christ child at that first Christmas is such a powerful symbol of God’s great light that reaches out to everyone who has eyes to see and hearts ready to receive.

This Sunday, we will once again have “Epiphany stars” available at both worship services. Each of these stars has a word on it, and you are invited to select one at random and to reflect on that word for the coming year. I hope that you will take the time to ponder what significance this word might have in your life, and what new thing God might reveal to you in 2020 through this simple message. How might you grow through this word, and how might you share this growth and learning with others? In the same way that the star led the wise men to the Christ child, how might this star lead you to God, perhaps in as unexpected form as a newborn baby lying in a manger?

May this Epiphany season be full of new and exciting revelations of God for each and every one of us here at St. John’s!

Peace, Vivian

 

Photos from Christmas services

If you have taken good photographs at any of our 3 Christmas services this year and would be willing to share them, please connect with the parish office at administrator@stja.ca. We are always looking to expand our parish archive – photos are such a joyful way of remembering these important moments in our parish life!

 

Office Assistance Needed

Please note that the Parish Office will be on modified hours from Tuesday, Jan. 7 through Thursday, Jan. 16, while Sarah, our Interim Parish Administrator, is away. Should you need to stop by without a prior appointment, please call ahead to confirm someone is here beforehand. Thank you!

If you are able to offer any help in the office – i.e. answering the phone or responding to emails during office hours, or assembling bulletins, please let Vivian know in person or at rector@stja.ca.

 

Preparation for Vestry – 9th February

Please be informed that the Annual Vestry is on 9th February, 2020 after the 10am service.

For leaders of the various ministries, it will be appreciated that you submit your budget to Cedric at treasurer@stja.ca, if you have not already done so, and your annual reports to Sarah at administrator@stja.ca as soon as possible. This will enable reports to be circulated in advance. Thank you.

 

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

Thursday, January 16th at 1:30 pm – Come and join the A.C.W. for their Annual General Meeting, to discover their plans for the upcoming year, and participate in the election of the executive. Join in with us and see if there are ways that you can help to support our parish. For more information contact Sue Hall at sbhcat@hotmail.com or 604-936-0176.

 

Save The Date: Chinese New Year Lunch

Please mark your calendars. Chinese New Year comes early in 2020. We will usher in the Year of the Rat in January 2020, and in St. John’s tradition, we will have a CNY lunch celebration on Sunday, February 16th after the 10am service. Watch this space!

 

Brenda Lou-Hing’s Volunteer Missions to Guyana

I thought I would give you an update of my volunteer missions to Guyana, South America.

Unfortunately, I am unable to return to Guyana in January 2020 due to having to provide childcare full time to my newest grandson, Shiloh, who is almost one year old.  But I am not finished with Guyana yet.

For summer of 2019, I had initiated the process for two of the girls from St. Ann’s Orphanage to visit B.C. to stay with me for a few weeks, but due to time constraints, the major legal hurdles of obtaining their passports, visas and legal permission for them to leave the orphanage could not be completed in time.  But there is still hope for next year.

• Brenda Lou-Hing

 

Trivia Night at St. Stephen’s, Burnaby

You are invited to “Take a Seat” Trivia Night at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church (9887 Cameron St., Burnaby) on Saturday, Jan. 18. Doors open at 6pm and Trivia starts at 7pm. Teams of up to 8 people are invited to register at $20 per person. Snacks, desserts, tea, and coffee will be served. There is a cash bar and the chance to win fabulous prizes! This Trivia Night is a fundraiser to replace the pew cushions in the worship space at St. Stephen’s.

Don’t miss out! Register your team now! Teams must be registered and paid for by Friday, Jan. 10 – email St. Stephen’s office at info@ststephenburnaby.ca for more information. Note: if you have fewer than 8 players, they may be able to help connect you with others to build a large enough team.

 

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:

*        Church of the Epiphany, Surrey – The Reverend Stephen Rowe

*        Christ the Redeemer, Surrey

*        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 January 5, 2020 – The Epiphany of the Lord

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

 

Readings for January 12, 2020 – The Baptism of the Lord

Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17

 

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