Third Sunday of Advent

E-Postle

December 11, 2022

8:30am (in-person only) & 10:00am (in-person + Zoom) – Holy Eucharist

https://zoom.us/j/542312325?pwd=R3FKTnZ4WUU1YUFveCtzOUljM2FLZz09

Meeting ID: 542 312 325

Password: 010729

Program & Worship Updates/Links – https://www.stja.ca/2022/program-updates/ – current information on programs, including Zoom meeting information and the bulletin and scripture readings for Sunday worship.

 

There will be coffee and refreshments after the 10 am service. 

 

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS:

Tues – 13 December                          10:15am – 12noon – Advent Discussion #2 at Zoom Bible Study

[POSTPONED] Sat – 17 December                             11 am – Sheila Maciejewski Funeral

Sat – 24 December                             7pm – Christmas Eve Family Service, 10pm – Christmas Eve Formal Service

Sun – 25 December                            10am – Christmas Day – one service only

 

BOUQUETS:

Thank you to Geri Grigg, John Warren and all who assisted with making the Christmas Community Kitchen & Caroling event a resounding success.

Thank you to the ACW ladies for making festive cookie tins to deliver to our senior elder members and those who are housebound.

 

NEW THIS WEEK:

[POSTPONED] Sheila Maciejewski Funeral this Sat. Dec. 17

We are sad to announce that parishioner Sheila Maciejewski has died. A funeral service will be held at St. John’s this Saturday, Dec. 17, 11am [NOW POSTPONED], with a reception following in the Parish Hall. There are plans to Zoom the service – if this materializes, connection info will be found at our church website.

As we grieve this loss together, please also keep her children John, Julie, Kelly, and Pete, and the rest of the family in your prayers. May Sheila rest in God’s peace.

Sympathy cards may be sent to John Maciejewski via the parish office.

Guest Preacher

We are excited to welcome the Rev. April Stanley this Sunday, Dec. 11, as our guest preacher at both services.

Christmas Services 2022 – Lay Assistant, Intercessor & Usher

We need a Lay Assistant and an Usher for the 10pm service on Christmas Eve, and an Intercessor for the 10am service on Christmas Day. Please let Ruby know if you are able to help. 

Blue Christmas Services

For those who find the holiday season difficult, a number of our church neighbors are offering more meditative services, that allow space for grieving and loss even in the midst of the joy and hope of Christmas.

• Tuesday, Dec. 20, 6:30pm – in-person and livestreamed, Christ Church Cathedral
• Wednesday, Dec. 21, 7pm – in person at their Ioco site (1790 Ioco Rd.), Inlet United Church
• Wednesday, Dec. 21, 7:30pm – in person and Zoom, St. Stephen’s Burnaby

Exciting News! We will be welcoming our Refugee Family in the New Year.

Please consider donating a welcoming gift for our arriving family as part of your Christmas giving.

Possible gifts include items to set up a home:
* bed and bathroom linens
* kitchen supplies
* first aid kit
* basic tool set
* cash donation

Please contact Mary Kyle for more information.  We will be keeping track of items that have been purchased, so please let Mary know what you will be giving, so we can avoid getting duplicates.

On a second note, if you know of a 3-bedroom apartment or townhouse for rent at a reasonable price, please let Mary know.

Cold Wet Weather Mat Update

A sign-up sheet for sandwich makers has been posted on the stage panels. This involves four optional days.

Over the rest of December and through January a donation box for food supplies will be at the back of the church. These items are suggested…

• supplies for daily bagged lunches—juice boxes, granola bars, home-baked cookies or bars, pudding or fruit cups, chip bags, and a fruit or veggie snack.

There is also a box for personal toiletries

• shampoo, small soaps, toothbrushes/paste, floss, deodorant, shaving products, chapstick (small sizes).

Contact Anne Anchor at deacon@stja.ca with any questions.

New National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop

The Rt. Rev. Christopher A. Harper, Diocesan Bishop of Saskatoon, has been named National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop and Presiding Elder of the Sacred Circle, with pastoral oversight over all Indigenous Anglicans. Read more information about Bp. Harper in this diocesan article.

 

INFORMATION: 

Help with Christmas Bulletins

We are looking for a couple of volunteers who can pitch in to help with assembling bulletins a few days before our Christmas services. Please connect with Joanne in the office at administrator@stja.ca if you would be available. Thank you! 

Christmas Eve Family Service

Christmas is just around the corner and we can’t wait to welcome the neighborhood, especially younger folks and their families at our 7pm Christmas Eve Family Service. If anyone would like to help with planning this sometimes chaotic but always fun service, please speak with Vivian ASAP at rector@stja.ca.

Parish Advent Program – “From Generation to Generation”

All are welcome to join us on Zoom each Tuesday of December, 10:15am – 12noon. We are sharing and discussing our learnings from our Advent devotional guide – “From Generation to Generation”.

Every morning, our Facebook page is also featuring bite-sized excerpts to reflect and comment on.

The daily devotional guide offers Biblical commentary, poetry, visual art, hymns, journaling, and recipes, and can be accessed from the links below.

There are 3 electronic versions of the devotional guide – a smaller-print one to view on a device and a smaller-print one to print. There is also a large-print version that can be viewed on a device or printed.

Please contact administrator@stja.ca for the links to the electronic versions or to ask the office to print you a copy (donations are welcome to offset printing and mailing costs).

COVID Protocols

• remain the same, other than these 2 changes:

• offertory plate will be passed again each Sunday
• in the office, masks are required when social distancing is not possible

We ask that all still remain vigilant in regards to COVID infections. By staying home if you are unwell and letting the clergy or wardens know if you have tested positive, we will avoid further spread in our community. Masks are required at worship. 

Wardens’ Note: 

We have less than a month to the end of our financial year and we are running at a deficit of close to $50,000. We are asking that you prayerfully discern whether you are able to contribute a little more to assist the parish and the wider community as we follow our mission. 

Parish Giving

• may be made by cheques, PADs or through e-transfer directly to the church account. Please contact Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca or Sheila at treasurer@stja.ca for more details.

 

 

Readings for December 11, 2022 – Third Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 35:1-10; Canticle 18 – Luke 1:47-55 (in place of the psalm); James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

 

Readings for December 18, 2022 – Fourth Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

 

 

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Rector	The Rev. Vivian Lam	rector@stja.ca	604-936-7762
Deacon	The Rev. Anne Anchor	deacon@stja.ca
Parish Office	Joanne Fong	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	Sheila De Vaal	treasurer@stja.ca
Envelope Secretary	Antoinette Woodman & (Asst. Env. Secretary) May Fung	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
Bible Study	Lynne Milner	biblestudy@stja.ca
Building Repairs / Maintenance	Rich Thompson	property@stja.ca
Children’s Ministry/Godly Play		children@stja.ca
E-Postle	Ruby Ng	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