E-Postle December 18, 2022

E-Postle December 18, 2022

 

Fourth Sunday of Advent

E-Postle

December 18, 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

 

This Week’s Worship & Programs – https://www.stja.ca/2022/program-updates/ – current information on what’s going on at St. John’s, including Zoom links and the bulletin and scripture readings for Sunday worship.

 

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS:

Tues – 20 December                          10:15am – 12noon – Advent Discussion #3 at Zoom Bible Study

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

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

 

NEW THIS WEEK:

Stewardship Reflection: Matthew 1:18-25

“Look the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel which means, “God is with us.”

Pastoral Note – Diane Jackson

We were sad to learn the news that parishioner Diane Jackson died earlier this month. Please keep her family in your prayers as they mourn this great loss, and may Diane rest in God’s peace. Sympathy cards to the family may be sent in care of the office.

Sheila Maciejewski Funeral Postponed

Please note that the funeral for parishioner Sheila Maciejewski has been postponed to sometime in January. We will make an announcement once the date has been finalized.

Please 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.

Christmas at St. John’s

We are looking forward to you and your loved ones joining us in-person or virtually at any of our 3 Christmas services. (Zoom connections will be found here as we move closer to the dates.).

  • Saturday Dec. 24, 7pmChristmas Eve Family service – geared toward our younger members (and the young at heart) and will include a telling of the story of Christmas through a spontaneous pageant (all are welcome to join in!), your favourite carols, and Christmas communion.
  • Saturday Dec. 24, 10pmChristmas Eve Formal service – a more formal Christmas Eve service including Christmas communion, the singing of beautiful carols, and lovely music offered by our choir. Art supplies will be available for younger worshippers.
  • Sunday Dec. 25, 10amChristmas Day service – a more relaxed service to continue our celebration of Christmas. Join us after you’ve opened your presents, and sing beautiful Christmas carols and take part in the joy of Christmas communion. Art supplies will be available for younger worshippers.

Note: See safety precautions for in-person worship here.

We will also be collecting food and toiletries donations at all Christmas services for the Tri-Cities Cold Wet Weather Mat Program. (See below for a list of needed items.)

Recyclables Donations

Thank you to those who have continually taken their recyclables to Return-It depots, and have designated proceeds to go to St. John’s.  Since just before the pandemic, we have accumulated a total of $367.41.

Please ensure that you have a pre-printed label on your bags to save you and the staff time in sorting. This can be obtained from the office. You may also scan your bags at the depot with the church’s phone number – 604-936-7762

 

INFORMATION:

Blue Christmas Services

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

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.

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.

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! 

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).

Wardens’ Note: 

We have 2 more weeks to the end of our financial year and a last call to ask 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

 

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

Readings for Christmas Services, December 24 & 25, 2022

Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:1-20

 

 

 

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

Graphic at top of page (Inspired by Matthew 1:18-25):

“The Courageous Choice” by Lisle Gwynn Garrity 

A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org

 

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