The E-postle May 9, 2021
Sixth Sunday of Easter
E-Postle
May 9, 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: Diocesan Synod, Sermons Online, Ongoing Pastoral Care & Support
- Stewardship: Stewardship Reflection, Call for Stewardship Volunteers
- Parish Matters: Office Closed This Week, Flower Beds at Back of Church, Limited Reopening of Parish Office & Buildings, Financial Status for February and March 2021, Parish Giving, Ongoing Updates Pages, E-Postle Submissions
- Parish Ministries: Youth Opportunities, Anglican Church Women (“A.C.W”) Meeting, Food Bank Report, ReSponse Refugee Update,
- Community News: Trivia Night – Defending our Title!, Diocesan Synod Elections – Nominations Sought, Public Survey: Tri-Cities Food Security Assessment and Action Plan, Online Series on “Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion”, Spring Street Community Kitchen – Mother’s Day Brunch Video
- 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, May 9 8:30am & 10:00am –Sunday Morning Prayer
https://zoom.us/j/542312325?pwd=R3FKTnZ4WUU1YUFveCtzOUljM2FLZz09
Meeting ID: 542 312 325
Password: 010729
Sunday, May 9 following 8:30am and 10:00am worship – Informal Virtual “Coffee Hour”
Tuesday, May 11 10:15am – 12:00pm – Bible Study
Tuesday, May 11 7:00pm – 8:00pm – Prayer Group
Saturday, May 15 Diocesan Synod
Thursday, May 20 7:00pm – A.C.W. Meeting
Tuesday, May 25 7:00pm – 9:00pm – Parish Council
WORSHIP & PRAYER
Diocesan Synod
Please keep the 121st Synod of our Diocese of New Westminster in your prayers; lay and clergy delegates from across the diocese will gather virtually next Saturday, May 15 from 8:30am – 1:30pm to receive reports, vote on financial and other mission issues of the diocese, and elect positions. Lay delegates from St. John’s this year are Geri Grigg, Mary Kyle, and John Warren (with alternates on standby – Kristin Kuhn, Natasha MacDonald, and Ruby Ng). Clergy delegates are Vivian Lam, Anne Anchor, and Lilian Elliott.
The theme this Synod is “Wonderful are your works; that I know very well” (Psalm 139: 14b). You can view materials and information about Synod at https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/diocesan-ministries/synods.
Sermons Online
We have begun to post sermons online on our parish YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYEbMPaN__K4WLhbR6ZP4Q/playlists. We hope that this will be helpful if you wish to meditate further on a sermon, or share with friends and family.
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 15:9-17
“This is my command to you: You are to love each other.” A faithful steward takes up this challenge on a daily basis, knowing that it’s not an easy thing, but that this is what Jesus asks of them.
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
Office Closed This Week
Please note that the parish office will be closed this week (May 10 – May 14), and will reopen on Tuesday, May 18. Office voicemails and emails will be checked daily, but for urgent parish matters, please contact Ruby and Rich at peopleswarden@stja.ca and rectorswarden@stja.ca, or Vivian at rector@stja.ca. For pastoral emergencies, please call Vivian as usual on her cell.
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.
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/2021/updates-re-coronavirus/
Financial Status for February and March 2021
We append below the Parish financial status for your information.
Statement of Income and Expenses ending 31st March 2021
February 2021 Actual | March 2021 Actual | March 2021 Budget $ | YTD March 2021 Actual $ | YTD March 2021 Budget $ | |
Income | 13,355.70 | 15,301.70 | 18,620.82 | 42,565.10 | 55,862.46 |
Expenses | 14,352.45 | 13,462.85 | 18,541.32 | 43,046.06 | 55,623.96 |
Surplus (-) Loss |
(996.75) | 1,838.85 | 79.50 | (480.96) | 238.50 |
February Actual $ | March Actual $ | March 2021 Budget $ | YTD March 2021 Actual $ | YTD March 2021 Budget $ | |
Offering for General Funds | 9,801.00 | 10,355.00 | 15,333.00 | 29,819.00 | 45,999.99 |
Offering for Property | 999.70 | 1,221.70 | 0 | 3,311.10 | 0 |
Treasurer’s Note: Thank you to all for the continued support to the church in these difficult times. We had a surplus in March, thanks to increased offerings from everyone. This will help in the months to come as we will resume paying Parish Assessment in April.
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):
- 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.
- 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
Youth Opportunities
Are you a member of our St. John’s community that is aged 14 to 19? Are you interested in participating in youth activities in our church? Did you know that there is an active local Anglican/Lutheran youth group you could be involved with?
Even during the COVID period, the local youth group that meets at St. Laurence Anglican Church is actively meeting, sometimes in person with limited COVID-safe activities and sometimes by Zoom. There are also lots of chances to participate in the youth movement to support youth in our churches 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!
Anglican Church Women (“A.C.W.”) Meeting
The next ACW meeting will be held on Thursday May 20th at 7pm via Zoom. We will be distributing our outreach funds at this meeting.
Please contact ACW@stja.ca for meeting connection information.
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 which were close to their “Best Before” date have been taken to the SHARE Foodbank every month during the pandemic–so the food donations have not been wasted!
Thank you again,
Mary Kyle
ReSponse Refugee Update
We ask for your prayers for the newcomers we have welcomed, and for the refugees that we are waiting to welcome. COVID has delayed processing of refugee files as travel into the countries to do interviews and background checks is impossible in most cases.
The M. family that we welcomed in October 2019 are doing well. Father is working typically 6 days/week. The kids are happily attending school (except for relaxing over spring break – there was not much for them to do).
Aunt worked extended hours during Covid to cover for those who chose not to work, but her hours have now been depleted since most employees have returned. She has decided to give her full attention to upgrading her English so she is able to find a better job.
The families we are waiting for are:
- N. Family (Country of Origin: Afghanistan; Country of Residence: Turkey. Application submitted 04/2020)
This month we checked on the N. family, including their 5 children, who have had to move. It is very difficult to find someone who will rent to refugees, but they found a new home. They live in a 1-bedroom crumbling apartment. Father works in construction. His wage is very low, but he is happy to have a job. The kids can go to school in Turkey and have learnt to speak Turkish. Across the street from their new apartment is a store that was looking for a janitor so Mother has started working there cleaning in the evenings. She will get a very low wage, but she is just hoping that she gets paid at the end of the month as sometimes refugees DO NOT get paid and if they complain they may be threatened that the employer will report them for working without being a citizen.There is an 8pm curfew in Turkey. They can shop for 2 hours on Friday but the stores are completely shut down on Saturdays and Sundays. - A. (Adult male. Country of Origin: Syria; Country of Residence: Turkey. Application submitted 02/2021). More information will be provided on A’s situation in future updates.
- S. Family (Mother and 2 adult children. Country of Origin: Afghanistan; Country of Residence: Turkey. Applications submitted 02/2021). More information will be provided on the S. family in future updates.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Trivia Night – Defending our Title!
Calling all trivia buffs! St. Stephen’s Burnaby will be holding a fundraising Zoom Trivia Night on Saturday, May 29, 7pm. St. John’s team, The Magnificent 7, were the winners at the last Trivia Night, and we are not ready to yield our trophy! If you are interested in forming a parish team (we need 8 people) to defend our title, please connect with Vivian at rector@stja.ca.
It is $10 per person to support this event, and you can also participate as an individual (you will be assigned to a team). More information at https://www.ststephenburnaby.ca/events/trivia-night–93/2021-05-29
Diocesan Synod Elections – Nominations Sought
Are you looking for a new way to use your gifts in ministry? Does serving God’s mission in the wider diocese, province, or national church sound interesting?
Diocesan Synod will be held on May 15, and there are several leadership positions that will be elected at this meeting. The Synod Nominations Committee’s hope is to have our diocese’s many forms of diversity reflected in its leadership, and to have a robust list of candidates from which to choose. Those who possess the necessary gifts but may not yet have had the chance to serve in a diocesan capacity are especially sought.
You do not need to be a Synod Delegate to run for most positions, but you do need to be nominated by a Synod Delegate (from any parish). Nomination forms are strongly encouraged to be submitted by May 1, but will be accepted until the Close of Nominations at 2pm on May 14.
Positions to be filled at Synod 2021 are:
- The Treasurer
- Archdeaconry Representatives to Diocesan Council
- Youth Representatives to Diocesan Council
- The Court of the Diocese of New Westminster
- The Bishop’s Advisory Committee on Appointments
- Secretaries of Synod
- The Anglican Initiatives Fund Administrators
- Delegates to General Synod
- Delegates to Provincial Synod
To view brief videos explaining what many of these roles entail, as well as to view the nomination materials, visit https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/diocesan-ministries/synods/pages/2021-nominations-committee-videos-descriptions-and-forms.
For any questions about these roles or the nominations/elections process, please connect with Vivian at rector@stja.ca.
Public Survey: Tri-Cities Food Security Assessment and Action Plan
For those who are interested in giving community input into a developing Tri-Cities Food Security Action Plan, please answer a 10 minute online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tricitiesfood. The survey will be up until May 15, and there is even a chance to win 1 of 3 cash prizes of $50, if you enter your email or phone number at the end of the survey!
This is a joint project with the Cities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody; the Villages of Anmore and Belcarra; and the Tri-Cities Food Council to assess and identify opportunities to improve the food security of residents in the region. The Plan will rely heavily on input from the general public of the Tri-Cities Region and provide a road map for local governments to address challenges and seize opportunities to improve food security. The Plan is expected to be completed in mid-2021.
Online Series on “Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion”
The Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership (TCLIP), chaired by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and SHARE Family and Community Services is sponsoring an online series in May called “Dismantling Barriers & Fostering Belonging: An Anti-Racism Initiative”.
From their website: “Join us for three weeks of engaging activities as we learn together to deepen our understanding of the importance of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in our communities. From speakers, workshops and dialogues to exhibits and performances, these activities will provide opportunities for us to connect, empower and transform our communities to be stronger and more inclusive.”
More information and registration can be found at https://tricitieslip.ca/dismantling-barriers-fostering-belonging-an-anti-racism-initiative/
Spring Street Community Kitchen – Mother’s Day Brunch Video
Thanks to all who joined us for our April Spring Street Community Kitchen focusing on “Mother’s Day Brunch” recipes. The video of the cooking portion of the evening can be found at https://youtu.be/l5HNmTslB18, as well as at our Facebook page (with recipes) at https://www.facebook.com/SpringStreetCommunityKitchen.
Funds raised in support of our Spring Street Community Kitchen are being re-gifted to the communities we serve, and for April’s kitchen, we will give to Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. Donations can be given via https://www.stja.ca/supporting-st-johns/ and be sure to designate your gift to our Community Kitchen project.
We would love your participation and feedback! We welcome you to send your brunch 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:
- The Deanery of Tri-Cities / North Burnaby – The Reverend Eric Mason, Regional Dean
- The Archdeaconry of Burrard – The Venerable Kevin Hunt, Regional Archdeacon
- 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 May 9, 2021 – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17
Readings for May 16, 2021 – Ascension Sunday
Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53
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.) |
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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 |
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