The E-postle March 1, 2020

First Sunday in Lent

E-postle

March 1, 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

Sunday, March 1                    8:30 & 10am coffee hours – Dive Deeper: Loving Neighbour – Week 1: “The Courage to Be Vulnerable”

Tuesday, March 3                  10:15am–12noon (in the Parish Hall) – Dive Deeper: Loving God – Prayer Workshop #1 (AM)

Tuesday, March 3                   7 – 8:30pm (online via Zoom) – Dive Deeper: Loving God – Prayer Workshop #1 (PM)

Wednesday, March 4             1pm – Seniors’ Birthday Celebration

Sunday, March 8                    8:30 & 10am coffee hours – Dive Deeper: Loving Neighbour – Week 2: “The Courage to Grow”

Tuesday, March 31                7 – 9pm – Parish Council meeting

 

Stewardship Reflection

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

First Sunday in Lent. Matthew 4:1-11

How many of us find ourselves in some kind of wilderness these days? How many of us feel pulled towards the many attractions of our day and age? Jesus also went through similar temptations, but was able to withstand them. A faithful steward lives a life following the example of Jesus. Take these Lenten Days to explore just how you’re doing as a Disciple, one who follows the example of Jesus.

 

Pastoral Message – Juanita Sparks

We are sad to announce the death of Juanita Sparks, who was our faithful volunteer for our parish recycling program for many years. She will be buried at Maple Ridge Cemetery this Wednesday, March 4, at 10am. Please hold Juanita and all those who loved and cared for her in your prayers.

 

Lenten Learning Opportunities

We are excited to invite you into “Dive Deeper: Loving God and Loving Neighbour”, a 2-part journey of learning this Lent at St. John’s. Please connect with Vivian in person or at rector@stja.ca with any questions.

 

PART 1 – Dive Deeper: Loving God – Deepen your 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.

2 ways to take part:

1. In-person on Tuesday mornings, 10:15am-12noon in the Parish Hall.
2. Online on Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:30pm. (Via the Zoom app – contact administrator@stja.ca for instructions)

 

PART 2: Dive Deeper: Loving Neighbour – Explore how God calls us to faithful courage in our interactions with self and others, in all areas of our lives.

Take part in any or all of these 3 ways:

• Devotional booklet with daily meditations (available in electronic or printed format). Take a few minutes each day to read these and ponder what God might be saying to you about growing in courage.
• Coffee Hour Gatherings – Join us on 5 Sundays (March 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29) – we will gather after each worship service to share our insights and learn together. Sermons each Sunday will also connect to the week’s theme.
• Lenten Calendar – Visit facebook.com/StJohnAnglican where a new reflection by a member of our St. John’s community will be featured each day. Also see the paper version of the calendar that will be displayed in our parish hall throughout Lent. We are still looking for volunteers – sign up in the Parish Hall or speak with Vivian if you are interested!

 

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.

 

Administrator Transition

Sarah’s last day with us as Interim Office Administrator will be this Friday, March 6. We are so thankful for her presence with us these past few months while Jennifer has been on leave! As we work to fill the temporary position again, the office will be on modified hours so please call before stopping by. Volunteer assistance with bulletin folding and fielding telephone and emails would also be appreciated.

 

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 or email them at peopleswarden@stja.ca or rectorswarden@stja.ca if you are interested.

 

Recycling & Bottle Drive

For several years, volunteer Juanita and her helper Myrna faithfully picked up our recycling products from the church on a Wednesday and returned them to the depot. We have been so thankful for this ministry.

We are requesting now those of you who support the drive to please do one of two things:

1. Take your recycle products directly to Biggar Bottle Depot, at 2577 Kingsway Avenue in Port Coquitlam, and ask them to credit your refunds to St. John the Apostle’s account.
2. Return it to whichever depot is nearest to you and donate your refunds to the church on Sunday.

Please do not bring them to the church as we do not have the manpower to handle this.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

Sacredness of Creation Podcast

Check out the “Sacred Teachings: Wisdom of the Land” podcast, where Indigenous speakers share their insights, wisdom, traditions and stories about the sacredness of creation. This 8-part series began streaming February 3 and is made in partnership with the Anglican Church of Canada. https://open.spotify.com/show/22y8y2wzBogC5Q3aJjoba0

 

Wellness Speakers Series

Inlet United Church is hosting a Wellness Speaker Series in March and April 2020. There will be 5 FREE Thursday evening (7-9 pm) sessions at the IOCO Site (1790 Ioco Rd., Port Moody). All speakers are local experts in their topics – hope you can join for one or all five!

1. March 5: Understanding Cannabis, a Q&A Session
2. March 19: Promoting Healthy Sleep through Traditional Cognitive-Behavioral and Acceptance-Based Methods
3. April 2: Transforming Anxiety Mindfully
4. April 16: What’s Your Gut Feeling?
5. April 30: Ministry & Your Mental Health

 

World Day of Prayer

You are invited to World Day of Prayer 2020 this 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:

*        Sorrento Retreat and Conference Centre – The Reverend Michael Shapcott (Executive Director), Staff and Board of Directors

*        Education for Ministry – The Reverend Paula Porter Leggett (Diocesan Coordinator)

*        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 March 1, 2020 – First Sunday in Lent

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

 

Readings for March 8, 2020 – Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17

 

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 – 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