The E-postle March 21, 2021

Fifth Sunday in Lent
E-Postle
March 21, 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: Pastoral Note – Marilyn Pollock, Palm Sunday Worship – March 28, Children’s Sundays in Lent, Ongoing Pastoral Care & Support
• Stewardship: Stewardship Reflection, Community “Phone a Friend”
• Formation: Lenten Book Study – “The Book of Forgiving”
• Parish Matters: Beware Email Scams, Limited Reopening of Parish Office & Buildings, Financial Status for December 2020 & January 2021, Parish Giving, Ongoing Updates Pages, E-Postle Submissions
• Community News: Sacred Teachings Podcast Season 6 – Suicide: The Other Pandemic, Spring Street Community Kitchen
• 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, March 21                  8:30am & 10:00am – Sunday Morning Prayer + (at 10am) Children’s Talk

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

Sunday, March 21                  11:00am – 12:30pm – 4^th Sunday Lenten study – “The Book of Forgiving”
Tuesday, March 23                 10:15am – 12:00pm – 5^th Tuesday Lenten study – “The Book of Forgiving”
Tuesday, March 23                7:00pm – 8:00pm – Prayer Group
Sunday, March 28                   8:30am & 10:00am – Palm Sunday Morning Prayer
Thursday, April 1                    (livestreamed from the Cathedral)
                                               7:30pm – Maundy Thursday worship
Friday, April 2                         12noon – Good Friday worship
Sunday, April 4                       8:30am & 10:00am – Easter Sunday Morning Prayer

WORSHIP & PRAYER

Pastoral Note – Marilyn Pollock

We are sad to announce the death of parishioner Marilyn Pollock this past week, and offer our deepest condolences to her family. Let us join together in praying in this difficult time, as we grieve Marilyn’s passing and take hope in our faith’s assurance of resurrection and new life.

For those who would like to send sympathy cards to the family, you may direct them to the Parish Office – we will forward these cards as we receive them.

Palm Sunday Worship – March 28

For next week’s Palm Sunday worship on Mar. 28, we invite you to find a local plant from your garden or household (could be a branch, some leaves, or even a potted plant!) to lift in the air on that day. This will be in the spirit of the original Palm Sunday where people gathered palm branches (the local vegetation of the time) to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem!

You could also create a paper version of the palms – there are lots of ideas on the internet – here’s an easy one suitable for all ages: https://ministry-to-children.com/palm-sunday-leaf-craft/

One-Year Pandemic Reflections

Last Sunday we marked the one-year anniversary of this pandemic, and created a prayer-poem that wove together our reflections on things we’ve missed and things we’ve learned in this past year. Thank you to all who contributed their rich reflections!

The prayer-poem and the accompanying “word clouds” can be viewed at: https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/news/one-year-anniversary-of-pandemic-prayer-poem

Children’s Sundays in Lent

Younger friends are invited to join us on the remaining Sundays of Lent at the 10am service for a special kids’ program. Each week a video of the Godly Play theme “The Mysteries of Easter” will be offered at the Children’s Talk. Let’s learn about Jesus together in Lent!

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.

 

STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship Reflection

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

John 12:20-33
Want God to honour you? “No problem,” says Jesus. The faithful steward will be found wherever Jesus is. Care to join him?

Community “Phone a Friend”

The Stewardship Team is looking for volunteers to keep the phone a friend program going. If you have time to make a few calls once a week to help keep our community connected, please call Kristin (778-957-8987) or email bobandkristinkuhn@gmail.com. Thanks to all the volunteers who have been so kind as to offer their assistance with this project so far. You have been appreciated greatly!

-Your Stewardship Team

 

FORMATION

Lenten Book Study – “The Book of Forgiving”

This Lent, we are excited to be reading together Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s book, “The Book of Forgiving: the Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World.”

There are 2 weekly opportunities to meet on Zoom for this book study:

• Tuesday mornings (through Mar. 23), 10:15am-noon at our Bible Study
• Sundays after the 10am service (through Mar. 28), with an extended coffee hour running from (roughly) 11am until 12:30pm – bring your lunch or a snack!

The reading schedule is (read these chapters before our gathering):

• Week #4 (Tues 3/16 or Sun 3/21) – Chs 6, 7 – Part 2b – The Fourfold Path – Granting Forgiveness, Renewing or Releasing the Relationship
• Week #5 (Tues 3/23 or Sun 3/28) – Chs 8, 9, 10 – Part 3 – All Can Be Forgiven

From the publisher: “Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Chair of The Elders, and Chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, along with his daughter, the Reverend Mpho Tutu, offer a manual on the art of forgiveness—helping us to realize that we are all capable of healing and transformation.”

As we explore this book together, we will pray and ponder about how forgiveness connects to our own lives and to the many issues that we and our wider communities grapple with, in the world around us. We will also practice living out more fully what we pray each week in the Lord’s Prayer – “forgive us our sins, as we forgive others who sin against us”.

 

PARISH MATTERS

Beware Email Scams

Please continue to stay vigilant about email scams. Recently fraudulent emails claiming to be from Vivian have appeared again – the message claims that she is in a meeting and emailing to ask you to handle a request discreetly or otherwise ask for a favour. When you reply, the person asks you to purchase a gift card (or something similar) so that she can help someone in need. Please note that Vivian would never ask for help in this manner!

You can often tell that a message is fake if you look carefully at the originating email address, if the tone/wording seems strange, and if the request asks you to give money in an odd way. If you ever have any doubt about an email’s authenticity, please feel free to call Vivian (or email rector@stja.ca directly in a separate email) to confirm.

For further information, here are 2 government resources re: email fraud recommended by the diocese:  https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/protect-fraud/internet-email-telephone.html and https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm

Limited Reopening of Parish Office & Buildings

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. 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.

We have recently welcomed back two of our community 12-step groups; 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/2020/updates-re-coronavirus/.

Financial Status for December 2020 & January 2021

We append below the Parish financial status for your information.

Statement of Income and Expenses ending 31^st day of January 2021

	December 2020 Actual $	January 2021 Actual $	January 2021 Budget $	YTD January 2021 Actual $	YTD January 2021 Budget $
Income	25,963.70	13,907.70	18, 620.82	13,807.70	18,620.82
Expenses	18,026.57	15,230.76	18,541.32	15,230.76	18,541.32
Surplus (-) Loss	7,937.13	(1,323.06)	79.50	(1,323.06)	79.50

 

	December 2020 Actual $	January 2021 Actual $	January 2021 Budget $	YTD January 2021 Actual $	YTD January 2021 Budget $
Offering for General Funds	18,045.00	9,663.00	15,333.33	9,663.00	15,333.33
Offering for Property	2125.70	1,069.70	0	1,069.70	0

Notes:
Offerings were down in January from December, which is to be expected. We did suffer a loss for the month, but I’m sure that things will improve as the year goes on. We are receiving a relief from the Diocese of the Parish Assessment for the first 3 months of the year which is also a great help.

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.

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

Sacred Teachings Podcast, Season 6 – Suicide: The Other Pandemic

Season 6 of The Sacred Teachings podcast is entitled “Suicide: The Other Pandemic,” and can be listened to at https://www.anglican.ca/im/podcasts/. [Note: This season contains themes of suicide that may be harmful or triggering to some audiences. If you, or someone you know is struggling mentally or physically, please contact The Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 833-456-4566 or send a text to 45645.]

This week’s final episode, “You Are Original”, features an interview with Mira Martin, from the Maori Anglican Church of New Zealand.

The season consists of eight episodes tackling this difficult topic, and features guest host Peter Downie as well as a wide range of Indigenous speakers whose personal and community lives have been impacted by this other pandemic.

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.

Spring Street Community Kitchen

Check out the video for our last Spring Street Community Kitchen on “One Pot Meals” at https://youtu.be/HfinDkc3Mhk. If you go to our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SpringStreetCommunityKitchen, you’ll also see links to the evening’s recipes as well as ones submitted by the wider community – feel free to add your own!

Funds raised in support of our Spring Street Community Kitchen are being re-gifted to the communities we serve, and for February’s kitchen, we will give to Crossroads Hospice Society, which provides compassionate care and support to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Donations can be given via https://www.stja.ca/supporting-st-johns/. Be sure to let us know that your donation is designated for our Community Kitchen project.

We would love your participation and feedback! We welcome you to send your one-pot recipes at SpringStreetCommunityKitchen@gmail.com and we will share them on our Facebook page. We are also looking for volunteers for future kitchens – planning, hosting, moderating, and tech support are just some of the roles available.

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

 

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. Christopher, West Vancouver – The Reverend Karen Urquhart;
• St. Cuthbert, Delta – The Reverend Paul Woerhle;
• The Archdeaconry of Granville – The Venerable Stephanie Shepard, Regional Archdeacon;
• 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 21, 2021 – Fifth Sunday in Lent

Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-13; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33

Readings for March 28, 2021 – Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

Liturgy of the Palms: Mark 11:1-11
Liturgy of the Passion: Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 15:1-39

 

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