Second Sunday of Advent

E-Postle

December 4, 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.

 

NO Coffee & Refreshments after the 10am service.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS:

Sat – 3 December                                Christmas Community Kitchen and Caroling Event

Tues – 6 December                             Advent discussion #1 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

 

BOUQUETS:

Thank you to all who assisted with making Bishop John’s visit last Sunday a success.

For the story on the Diocesan website about the Bishop’s visit, including photos, please login to

https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/news/recognizing-and-celebrating-the-holiness-of-life

 

NEW THIS WEEK:

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 neighbourhood, 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. 

Stewardship Reflection:

Matthew 3:1-12 – by Eugene H. Peterson:

“I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next. The main character in this drama—compared to him I’m a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, the Holy Spirit within you changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”

 

INFORMATION:

Christmas Community Kitchen & Caroling

We are excited for our very first in-person Spring Street Community Kitchen, followed by “Feed the Soul’s” inaugural community singing event this Saturday, Dec. 3! All ages welcome.

It will be a Christmas-themed afternoon hosted here at St. John’s, and will have 2 components (feel free to come to one or both):

• 3:30-4:30pm – making Christmas cookie mixes-in-a-jar in the Parish Hall
• 4:30-5:30pm – carol singalong upstairs in the church

Donations will be collected for the Tri-Cities Cold Wet Weather Mat Program. Cookie-mix-making is free, with suggested donations for the completed jars. Caroling is admission by donation.

We would also welcome volunteers to help set up and clean up.

Click here for more details on cookie-mix-making

Click here for a caroling flyer

Please email SpringStreetCommunityKitchen@gmail.com to RSVP, or if you have any questions.

St. Stephen’s Christmas Market – Sat. Dec. 3

St. Stephen’s Burnaby invites all to join their annual Christmas Market this Sat. Dec. 3, 10am-3pm. There will be many craft and gift vendors, and a display of nativity scenes to enjoy in the church. Visit their website for more information.

Parish Advent Program – “From Generation to Generation”

Beginning this Tues. Dec. 6, all are welcome to join us on Zoom each Tuesday, 10:15am – 12noon. We’ll be 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).

Diocesan Advent Email Devotional – A Very Anglican Advent

This year the annual Diocesan Advent devotional will continue exploring the richness of persons found in the Anglican tradition. The daily devotional offers a thought-provoking quote from an Anglican past or present and from around the Anglican Communion. Novelists, politicians, scientists, nuns, and more will all be quoted in a daily email during the season. Click here for more information including how to sign up.

Office Administrator Change

We welcome Joanne Fong as our new temporary Office Administrator. Office hours remain Tues/Thurs/Fri 10am-2pm.

COVID Protocols (Update)

As of Nov. 22, 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.

Cold Wet Weather Mat Program – the return of a greatly needed program in the Tri-Cities

Orientation December 10^th 9:30-11am at St. Laurence to sign up for the month of January.

There will be many ways to participate…

Volunteer to work 2 hour shifts early morning (5:30-7:30am) and evening (9-11pm)

Provide items – during the month of January we will be seeking donations… more info to come

Anne Anchor will be attending the orientation and can sign up for you if you are unable to attend. Anne can be contacted through deacon@stja.ca

Wardens’ Note: 

We have just under a month to the end of our financial year and we are running at a deficit of close to $50,000 by year-end. 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 4, 2022 – Second Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

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

 

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