The E-postle October 11, 2020

Harvest Thanksgiving
E-Postle
October 11, 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”

 

THIS ISSUE AT A GLANCE

• Upcoming Dates
• Rector’s Note
• Stewardship: Stewardship Reflection, Community “Phone a Friend”
• Parish Matters: Application Approved – Partial Reopening of Parish Buildings on Oct. 20, Order of the Diocese of New Westminster Investiture, Drainage Repair Project Informational Meeting – Oct. 18, Call for New Leaders – Treasurer and Council Members, Financial Status for July & August 2020, Parish Giving, Ongoing Updates Pages, E-Postle Submissions
• Parish Ministries: Fall Bazaar, Anglican Church Women (A.C.W.) News, Food Bank Update
• Community News: Next Spring Street Community Kitchen – “Making the Most of Thanksgiving Leftovers”, Sacred Teachings Podcast – Season 4
• 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, October 11               8:30am & 10:00am – Sunday Morning Prayer – Harvest Thanksgiving + 1st Stewardship Presentation

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

Sunday, October 11               following 8:30am and 10:00am worship – Informal Virtual “Coffee Hour”
Tuesday, October 13              10:15am – 12:00pm – Bible Study
Tuesday, October 13              7:00pm – 8:00pm – Prayer Group
Thursday, October 15            6:00pm – 7:00pm – Community Kitchen – “Making the Most of Your Thanksgiving Leftovers”
Thursday, October 15            7:00pm – A.C.W. Meeting
Sunday, October 18               following 10:00am worship – Drainage Repair Project Info Meeting
Tuesday, October 27              7:00pm – 9:00pm – Parish Council meeting
Sunday, November 1             All Saints’ Sunday + ODNW Investiture of Sylvia Bradley (at the 10am service)

 

RECTOR’S NOTE

I am so looking forward to this Thanksgiving weekend! Our Stewardship Team has been working hard over the past few months to prepare this year’s Stewardship theme of “Gardening”, which includes all the diverse aspects of it—planting, watering, weeding, pruning, and harvesting. Coming on the tails of several weeks of highlighting all the many gifts found in this community and offering thanks for those gifts, we now move into three Stewardship Sundays. Each Sunday, a different member of St. John’s family will share their thoughts on stewardship. First up on Oct. 11 will be Christine Kesans.

Our prayers and readings this Sunday will focus on Harvest Thanksgiving, and all the ways we give thanks for God’s abundance in our lives. As this time of pandemic continues, the ways in which abundance appears in our lives will likely look a bit different. As Paul says in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, “And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9: 8) As we mark Thanksgiving this year, I pray that our eyes and hearts would be open to recognize God’s abundance in the midst of these unusual times, and that we would celebrate these blessings with full and grateful hearts.

Peace,
Vivian

 

STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship Reflection

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

Luke 17:11-19
The story of ten people being given a very precious gift, and only one of them having what we might call the common courtesy to say “Thank You” to the giver. A faithful steward knows where the gifts they receive come from, and more than that, they know how to say, “Thank You.” Do you?

 

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

 

PARISH MATTERS

Application Approved – Partial Reopening of Parish Buildings on Oct. 20

After prayerfully considering how best to balance our parish survey results and our ongoing ministry needs, Parish Council applied to the Diocese to partially reopen the buildings at the diocesan Phase 3 level.

This application has been approved, and our target date is to reopen beginning Tuesday, October 20; this date will be dependent on completion of cleaning and preparation of the building for reopening.

Note that our reopening does not include use of our buildings for worship at this time, but does include the ability to welcome back community user groups, partial usage of our buildings for smaller group activities, as well as a limited reopening of our Parish Office. Any and all activity would abide by necessary social distancing, cleaning, contact tracing, and other protocols, offering clear guidance to all. Details will be made available shortly.

If you are interested in helping with any of the upcoming tasks to prepare for reopening, please connect with Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca.

 

Order of the Diocese of New Westminster Investiture

We will be investing Sylvia Bradley with the 2020 Order of the Diocese of New Westminster (ODNW) at our November 1, All Saints’ Sunday 10am service.

The purpose of the ODNW is to honour and give special recognition to lay members of the Diocese who have given outstanding service over a significant period of time in their volunteer ministry.

To see this year’s nominees from across the diocese, please visit: https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/news/updated-odnw-nominees-for-2020, and for more information on the ODNW, please see: https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/programs/the-odnw

 

Drainage Repair Project Informational Meeting – Oct. 18

Parish Council invites everyone to an informational meeting about the drainage repair project directly following the 10am Zoom service on Sunday, October 18.

In response to persistent pooling water around the church buildings following rain, Parish Council retained a company to perform exploratory work to determine the extent of the problem. They have determined the drainage around the church building is in immediate need of replacement and confirmed that we are not currently connected to the City of Port Moody storm sewer system. They have also indicated there is no structural reason the drainage system cannot be connected to the storm sewer system once it is fully operational.

Parish Council has a quote for the repair. We hope to obtain two more quotes with timelines attached for the consideration of the parish.

If anyone has a company to recommend or to consider, please forward the contact information to rectorswarden@stja.ca. If you are interested in helping out with this project, please reach out to Geri.

 

Call for New Leaders – Treasurer and Council Members

While waiting to replace the role of Treasurer, Amalia McGlashan has graciously offered to hold the role remotely until we find a replacement.

With the departure of the McGlashans, Council is now down to a smaller group of 2 clergy and 5 lay members. We really need those of you who have the interest and/or skillset to come forward to assist in the management of your church, St. John’s.

Please speak to Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca or Geri at rectorswarden@stja.ca if you are interested or have any questions.

 

Financial Status for July & August 2020

We append below the Parish financial status for your information.

Statement of Income and Expenses ending 31^st August 2020

	July Actual	August Actual	August Budget	August YTD Actual	August YTD Budget
Income	$15,060	$10,299.70	$19,083.33	$111,933.58	$152,666.64
Expenses	$12,384	$12,660.72	$19,089.80	$104,280.19	$152.641.90
Surplus (-) Loss	$2,076	-$2,361.02	-$5,81	$7,653.39	$24.74

 

	July Actual	August Actual	August Budget	August YTD Actual	August YTD Budget
Offering for General Funds	$10,016	$8,338	$15,408.33	$81,329.53	$123,266.64
Offering for Property	$1,494	$1,056.70	0	$10,202.60	0

Notes: Deficit in August is due mostly to lower donations and purchase of an online version of our membership and accounting database.

 

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.

 

PARISH MINISTRIES

Fall Bazaar

As we prepare for our annual Fall Bazaar (this year envisioned to be a virtual online bazaar instead), we continue to search for parish members who may have items to contribute. If you sew, crochet, knit, craft, or otherwise create, please contact us with a brief description of your creation. Due to the constraints of online selling, we may not be able to sell all products. Please know that every contribution will be appreciated and would be available for sale at our next in person bazaar or tea. Please contact Alma Oldenburg at ACW@stja.ca or 604-788-2562 or Sue Hall at sbhcat@hotmail.com.

We are also looking for computer help to create our online ordering system. If you are willing to help with this task, please contact Kristin Kuhn at bobandkristinkuhn@gmail.com or 778-957-8987.

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

A.C.W. Meeting

The next A.C.W. meeting will be held this Thursday October 15th at 7pm via Zoom.

Please contact ACW@stja.ca for meeting connection details.

 

Layettes:
The A.C.W. are collecting baby items (newborn to 2 years) for the layette bundles for A.C.W. Place. Baby Layettes are a collection of items a family would need for a new baby, bundled up in a blanket, and sent to needy families in the North of B.C. and locally. If you would like to contribute to this outreach, please contact Ann Adair-Austin at: ACW@stja.ca for collection details. Items will need to be collected by October 17th.

 

Mission to Seafarers
The A.C.W. are also collecting items to send to the Mission to Seafarers for their Christmas-at-Sea event. If you would like to contribute to this outreach some of the suggested items to donate are: toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, soap, razors, small shower gel and shampoo, socks, gloves, toques (home made or bought), chocolate. (No scarfs as they are dangerous onboard). More information on this outreach can be found on the Mission to Seafarer’s website: https://www.flyingangel.ca/. There is also an option to make a financial contribution to this outreach through their website, if that is more preferable. Please contact Ann Adair-Austin (ACW@stja.ca) for collection details. Items will need to be collected by October 24th.

 

Calendars:
The 2021 Anglican Church Calendars will be available at the end of October. Cost: $7 each. If you would like to reserve a copy, please contact Antoinette at: toni.woodman@shaw.ca.

 

Food Bank Update

At our last meeting, the members of the Food Bank decided to not resume the Food Bank until it can operate in a way similar to how it had in the past. We will be looking for a new coordinator and discussing ways in which we can divide and/or share the duties. If anyone is interested in joining the group of Foodbank and/or Lunch volunteers your help would be very much appreciated. Please connect with us at foodbank@stja.ca.

-Mary Kyle

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

Next Spring Street Community Kitchen – “Making the Most of Thanksgiving Leftovers”

You’re invited to join us on Zoom this Thursday, October 15, 6-7 pm for the next online cooking demonstration offered by the Spring Street Community Kitchen, a partnership between our parish and Inlet United.

As a follow-on to Thanksgiving, we will have a live demonstration of “Making the Most of Your Thanksgiving Leftovers”. There will be opportunities to ask questions and share conversation with others. Our guest chef is Port Moody resident and author Tara McIntosh with Tom McIntosh, a Burnaby firefighter, as her sous chef.

Pre-registration for October 15 is required – please email your name and email address to SpringStreetCommunityKitchen@gmail.com to be included on the list to receive Zoom connection information.

Donations raised in support of our Community Kitchen are being re-gifted to the communities we serve. Funds from our upcoming event will go to the Port Moody Firefighters Charitable Society. You may give at any time via the ways outlined at https://www.stja.ca/supporting-st-johns/ – make sure to let us know that your donation is for “Community Kitchen”.

We would love your participation and feedback, and continue to welcome volunteers for future kitchens – planning, hosting, moderating, and tech support are just some of the roles available. Please connect with Geri at rectorswarden@stja.ca to learn more.

 

Sacred Teachings Podcast – Season 4

Season 4 of The Sacred Teachings podcast, entitled “Stolen”, takes us on a series of investigations with guest host Peter Downie. So much has been stolen from Indigenous people for so many years – land, water, language, culture, and much more. This series looks at what has been taken, who took it, and how can justice be served.

Episode 4 of the season, “Stolen Harvest Part 2” features Dr. Jim Daschuk, author and historian, talking about Canada’s history of attempted genocide of the First Peoples. This and other episodes can be found at https://www.anglican.ca/im/podcasts/.

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:

• The Diocesan Eco-Justice Unit – The Reverend Margaret Marquardt (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 October 11, 2020 – Harvest Thanksgiving

Deuteronomy 8:7-18; Psalm 65; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Luke 17:11-19

 

Readings for October 18, 2020 – Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost

Exodus 33:12-23, 12-20; Psalm 99; 1 Thessalonians 1:10-10; Matthew 22:15-22

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		administrator@stja.ca	604-936-7762
(Office is closed at this time, but email and voice messages will be checked Tuesday – Friday)
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