The E-postle June 20, 2021

Fourth Sunday After Pentecost & National Indigenous Day of Prayer
E-Postle
June 20, 2021

“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
• Worship & Prayer: National Indigenous Day of Prayer Online Service, Ongoing Pastoral Care & Support
• Formation: July/August Indigenous Truth & Reconciliation Book Study, Area Youth Group!
• Stewardship: Stewardship Reflection, Call for Stewardship Volunteers
• Parish Matters: Adjusted Parish Office Hours This Week, Bishop’s Letter re: June 15 Updated Provincial Safety Plan, Flower Beds at Back of Church, Current Parish Office & Buildings Status, Financial Status for March and April 2021, Parish Giving, Ongoing Updates Pages, E-Postle Submissions
• Parish Ministries: Anglican Church Women (“A.C.W.”) News – Jigsaws for Mission to Seafarers, Food Bank Report
• Community News: Community Kitchen in the News, June 24 Spring Street Community Kitchen – “Family Cooking with Pasta Polo’s Fred Soofi”, In the Presence of Ancestors (formerly The Welcome Post Project), Bishop’s Pastoral Letter re: Kamloops Indian Residential School
• 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/2021/program-updates/ for connection information)

Sunday, June 20                     8:30am & 10:00am –Sunday Morning Prayer – National Indigenous Day of Prayer

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

Sunday, June 20                     following 8:30am and 10:00am worship – Informal Virtual “Coffee Hour”
Tuesday, June 22                    10:15am – 12:00pm – Bible Study
Tuesday, June 22                    7:00pm – 8:00pm – Prayer Group
Tuesday, June 22                   7:00pm – 9:00pm – Parish Council
Thursday, June 24                  6:00pm – 7:00pm – Spring Street Community Kitchen – “Family Cooking with Pasta Polo’s Fred Soofi”

 

WORSHIP & PRAYER

National Indigenous Day of Prayer Online Service

This Saturday, June 19 at 6pm Pacific Time (9pm Eastern), the Office of the National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop will host an online video worship service to celebrate the National Indigenous Day of Prayer. The service will include contributions from Indigenous Anglicans and non-Indigenous allies from coast to coast to coast. Please see https://www.anglican.ca/im/nidp/ for more information.

St. John’s will mark National Indigenous Day of Prayer at both services on the following day, Sunday, June 20.

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 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 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.

 

FORMATION

July/August Indigenous Truth & Reconciliation Book Study

We will be beginning a 4-week online weekly book study in July and early August, on the intersection of our faith and our journey toward Indigenous Truth & Reconciliation.

There will be a group that meets Tuesday mornings 10:15am-12noon – on July 13, 20, 27 and August 3. If there is enough interest, we will also hold a group on Wednesday evenings. We need enough people to have good discussion, so please contact Vivian at rector@stja.ca immediately if you can attend a Wed. evening group.

The main book we will be exploring is In This Together: Fifteen Stories of Truth & Reconciliation, edited by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail. In addition to reading and discussing selected stories from this book, we will also be supplementing with various other written and video resources.

From the book publisher: “What is real reconciliation? This collection of essays from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous contributors from across Canada welcomes readers into a timely, healing conversation… these reflective and personal pieces come from journalists, writers, academics, visual artists, filmmakers, city planners, and lawyers, all of whom share their personal light-bulb moments… Without flinching, they look deeply and honestly at their own experiences and assumptions about race.”

You can purchase the book at your favourite retailer, and we plan to also have a limited number of books available at a discounted price of $10. (Help is available for those for whom this would be a financial hardship.) Please connect with Deanna at administrator@stja.ca if you would like to purchase through the church.

Area Youth Group!

Are you a member of our St. John’s community that is aged 14 to 19, or are you entering grade 7 this year? If so, that means you are the perfect age to participate in the exciting youth activities happening right now, over the summer, and continuing next year!

The local youth group that meets at St. Laurence Anglican Church meets regularly to have fun together and is involved in all sorts of youth-related community and church projects. There are also lots of chances to participate in the youth movement to support youth in our churches at large, or to add a youth perspective to the work of the church. If you are interested in youth activities and would like to connect with our local youth group, please contact Kristin Kuhn at bobandkristinkuhn@gmail.com or connect with the Parish Office and we will help build that connection with you!

 

STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship Reflection

Mark 4:35-41
Would you get into a boat if you expected stormy weather? A faithful steward gets in, trusting that God will keep their journey safe.

Call for Stewardship Volunteers

The Stewardship Team is looking for some willing volunteers to join our team as we ramp up to prepare this year’s fall campaign. No experience necessary, just a desire to help keep our church healthy, strong, and vital. If you think you might be interested in helping our team, please call Kristin Kuhn at 778-957-8987 or the church office.

 

PARISH MATTERS

Adjusted Parish Office Hours This Week

The parish office will have adjusted hours this week (week of June 20) – it will be open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10am-2pm.

Bishop’s Letter re: June 15 Updated Provincial Safety Plan

In response to the updated COVID-19 Safety Plan for the Province of BC that came into effect on June 15, Bishop John has sent out a letter highlighting how these updates will affect diocesan guidelines. In this letter, he also notes, “NO parish (or other place of worship) must change their opening plans because they feel pressure to do so. It is very important that each parish plan for the best time to return to in-person/onsite worship in their situation.”

As you know, Parish Council has been in discussion and discernment since March about these matters, and as of our most recent May 25 meeting, among other planning, we are in process of preparing a parish survey in order to solicit feedback from the wider congregation. We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available, but in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any Council member with questions or comments.

The Bishop’s letter can be found at https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/news/revised-worship-restrictions-in-the-diocese-of-new-westminster

Flower Beds at Back of Church

Now that spring has sprung and summer is fast approaching, we are opening the church grounds to anyone who is interested to tend to the flowerbeds, be it planting or weeding.

You are welcome to do so at anytime; if there are others present who are not in your household/core bubble, please mask/maintain social distance and take other necessary COVID precautions. Please also let Deanna (administrator@stja.ca) know when you are here, so that we are aware of who is on the property. If you should enter the buildings, please continue to log the time with Deanna as usual, for contact tracing purposes.

Current Parish Office & Buildings Status

The Parish Office is now open 3 partial days a week – generally on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10am-2pm – but please note that this schedule may shift from time to time (see revisions for week of June 20 above). 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.

Anyone planning to come inside the church buildings at this time must also check in beforehand with Deanna in 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.

Two of our community 12-step groups are currently meeting in our space; other outside user groups have opted to hold off on meeting in-person for the time being. The 12-step groups are following strict safety protocols and are 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/2021/updates-re-coronavirus/

Financial Status for March and April 2021

We append below the Parish financial status for your information.

Statement of Income and Expenses ending 30^th day of April, 2021

	March 2021 Actual $	April 2021 Actual $	April2021 Budget $	YTD April 2021 Actual $	YTD April 2021 Budget $
Income	$ 15,301.70	$ 14,497.70	$ 18,620.82	$ 57,062.80	$ 74,483.28
Expenses	$ 13,462.85	$ 18,582.86	$ 18,541.32	$ 61,628.92	$ 74,165.28
Surplus (-) Loss	$ 1,838.85	($ 4,085.16)	$ 79.50	($ 4,566.12)	$ 318.00

 

	March 2021 Actual $	April 2021 Actual $	April 2021 Budget $	YTD April 2021 Actual $	YTD April 2021 Budget $
Offering for General Funds	$ 10,355.00	$ 10,811.00	$ 15,333.33	$ 40,630.00	$ 61,333.32
Offering for Property	$ 1,221.70	$ 1,111.70	$ 0	$ 4,422.80	$ 0

Treasurer’s Note: Unfortunately, we had a financial loss in April due to some higher expenses, which has resulted in a current annual loss so far this year. We have time to rebound from this easily.

We received an email from the Diocese that contained great news. We qualified for some financial relief in the form of a Canada Wage Subsidy from the Canada Revenue Agency in the amount of $13,983.34 (for periods from Nov 22, 2020 to May 8, 2021), which will be reflected in the May financials.

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/2021/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/2021/updates-re-coronavirus/ – a collection of all special correspondence from the Bishop 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

Anglican Church Women (“A.C.W.”) News

Jigsaws for Mission to Seafarers
The Mission to Seafarers is seeking donations of jigsaw puzzles. The Seafarers have been confined to their ships during Covid – however, the Mission can still take donations to them. If you are among the many people who, like myself, have rediscovered jigsaw puzzles during Covid you may now be wanting to pass them on. If so, please contact Deanna to arrange for a time to drop them at the PMC during office hours. Thanks very much. – Sharon Cooper

Food Bank Report

At our April meeting, Parish Council decided to continue to support the SHARE Foodbank with donations of $500 per month taken from the St. John’s Foodbank fund (retroactive to January 2021), since our own Foodbank does not have immediate plans to resume in the near future. Thank you to those of you who have continued to support the Foodbank financially. Your contributions will still be helping those in need in our community.

And thank you to those who had supported the St. John’s Foodbank with donations of food while we were still meeting in person. The food has been sorted by date, and items close to their “Best Before” date have been taken to the SHARE Foodbank every month during the pandemic–so food donations have not been wasted!

Thank you again,
Mary Kyle

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

Community Kitchen in the News

Our Spring Street Community Kitchen was featured recently in the Tri-City News! Check out the article at https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/its-all-a-big-experiment-port-moody-community-kitchen-ponders-post-pandemic-future-3868868.

June 24 Spring Street Community Kitchen – “Family Cooking with Pasta Polo’s Fred Soofi”

Join us on Zoom for the next online Spring Street Community Kitchen this Thursday, June 24, 6-7pm. Our special guest chef is Fred Soofi, Restaurateur and Owner of Pasta Polo for 20 years, who will demonstrate the cooking of a simple, healthy, affordable, and tasty family meal – a spaghetti primavera. As always, there will be opportunities to ask questions and share conversation with others.

As a special bonus for this kitchen, Fred has generously donated two $25 Pasta Polo gift certificates which will be given to two lucky participants!

Pre-registration is required for this free event – 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 Spring Street Community Kitchen are being re-gifted to the communities we serve. Funds raised for this gathering will be gifted to the Hope for Freedom Society. Hope for Freedom Society has been assisting marginalized people in BC since 1997. They provide long-term residential supportive recovery for men and women suffering addictions, and also assist individuals in the Tri-Cities through their homeless outreach initiatives and meal programs. Donations can be given via https://www.stja.ca/supporting-st-johns/; please designate your gift to our Community Kitchen project.

We also welcome volunteers for future kitchens – planning, hosting, moderating, and tech support are just some of the roles available. Email us at SpringStreetCommunityKitchen@gmail.com.

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

In the Presence of Ancestors (formerly The Welcome Post Project)

June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day and typically there has been a ceremony around the house post that was carved for the year. This celebration is unable to continue for this year, but there will be COVID-spaced places at Noons Creek Hatchery to honour ‘In the Presence of Ancestors’.

There will also be a video of people of the community sharing why they ‘wish to thank the original caretakers of these lands’ which will be shown on the Noons Creek Facebook and webpage. Our own Deacon Anne has participated as a ‘person of Port Moody’ in the filming of this video.

Please continue to participate in events (and watch the video recordings if you can’t make it) offered through Noons Creek as listed below. Our work of listening to Indigenous elders and people of wisdom has never been as important as it is now. Listening to the stories is one concrete way of walking alongside Indigenous people as we move together on the journey of healing and reconciliation.

“‘In the Presence of Ancestors’ reasserts the presence of the original caretakers of these Coast Salish Lands and Waters, inviting all of us to join this legacy of ancestors and ensure a healthy future for all of our relations.” (from the Port Moody Ecological Society website)

As part of honouring of the land in this area, those that hold a sacred responsibility to care for the future of these lands and waters have been commissioned to carve house posts that will be raised in ceremony along the Shoreline Trail by June 21, 2023. Stories from the Musqueam people are the focus for events this year; these will be on Zoom. The house post will be carved by Chrystal Sparrow at Noons Creek throughout the year.

Remaining Dates
– Mon Jun 21, 1-4pm: National Indigenous Peoples Day – Honouring Musqueam (There will be some in-person activities, with some portions livestreamed)

For information on the program’s events go to  https://www.noonscreek.org/presence-ancestors/. (Some event recordings also posted at https://www.facebook.com/Noonscreek/videos/)

Bishop’s Pastoral Letter re: Kamloops Indian Residential School

Bishop John recently wrote a pastoral letter re: the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The letter offers reflection on the work at hand for the larger Church and all of us as individuals, in the ongoing journey of truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.

https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/news/pastoral-letter-from-bishop-john-stephens

 

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 Province of BC and Yukon – The Most Rev. Lynne McNaughton, Metropolitan.

The Diocese of New Westminster – the Rt. Rev. John Stephens, Bishop.

And this week:

• St. John, Sardis – The Venerable Allan Carson, The Reverend Larry Adkins;
• St. Faith, Vancouver- The Reverend Adam Yates;
• St. Alban, Richmond – The Venerable Louie Engnan;
• St. Alban, Burnaby – The Reverend Gregory Jenkins;
• Our partner Diocese of Northern Philippines, especially the people of our twin church at St. John the Evangelist Mission, Balugan; and Brent Alawas, their current Bishop and Prime Bishop-elect of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines.
• 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 June 20, 2021 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost & National Indigenous Day of Prayer

1 Samuel 17: 1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49; Psalm 9:9-20; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41

Readings for June 27, 2021 – Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43

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	Rich Thompson	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	Geri Grigg,     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