The E-Postle, April 3, 2022

The E-Postle, April 3, 2022
April 05, 2022

Fourth Sunday in Lent
E-Postle
April 3, 2022

“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

*New or updated announcement this week

  • Upcoming Dates
  • *Rector’s Note
  • Worship & Prayer:
    • *Readers Needed for Holy Week Services
    • *Holy Week & Easter at St. John’s
    • 8:30am Worship Service Transitioning to In-Person
    • Ukraine Relief Efforts
    • *Children’s Talks Throughout Lent
    • Flowers for the Altar
    • Tech & Hospitality Volunteers Needed for Worship
    • Ongoing Pastoral Care & Support
  • Formation:
    • *”Raising Hearts to Remember” Reconciliation Event
    • Lenten Program: Ecological Grief and Creational Hope
  • Stewardship:
    • *Stewardship Reflection
  • Parish Matters:
    • Nominations for the Order of The Diocese of New Westminster
    • Updated COVID Protocols
    • Current Parish Office & Buildings Status
    • Parish Giving
    • Ongoing Updates Pages
    • E-Postle Submissions
  • Parish Ministries:
    • Urgently Needed – Ushers & Counters
    • New Members for the Altar Guild
    • ReSponse News
    • Food Bank Report
  • Community News:
    • New Diocesan Task Force on Homelessness and Housing Affordability
    • 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/2022/program-updates/ for connection information)

Sunday, April 3                       8:30am – ZOOM ONLY – Morning Prayer
                                               10:00am – Hybrid (in-person + Zoom) – Holy Eucharist + Children’s Talk

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

Sunday, April 3                       following 8:30am and 10:00am services – Informal Zoom “Coffee Hour”
Tuesday, April 5                     10:15am–12noon – Bible Study – 5th Lenten Study
Tuesday, April 5                     7:00pm–8:00pm – Prayer Group
Sunday, April 10                     Palm Sunday
8:30am (in-person only) – Morning Prayer, 10:00am (hybrid) – Eucharist + Children’s Talk
Friday, April 15                       12noon (hybrid) – Good Friday worship
Sunday, April 17                     Easter Sunday
                                               8:30am (in-person only) & 10:00am (hybrid) – Eucharist
Tuesday, April 26                   7:00–9:00pm – Parish Council meeting
Saturday, May 7                     9:00am–12:00noon (in person) – “Raising Hearts to Remember” reconciliation event

*RECTOR’S NOTE

Dear Parishioners,

Thank you to all of you who have continued to pray for me and who have offered loving gestures of support, encouragement, and care to me these past few months as I have undergone treatment for breast cancer. As many of you know I have recently completed the chemotherapy phase of my treatment (hooray!), and will be preparing for surgery and radiation therapy in a few weeks. I will be taking medical leave for this next stage of my treatment, beginning on Saturday, April 23, and going at least through June 30. I am tentatively planning to return on July 1, but it will depend on several factors including the scheduling of radiation, and of course whether I feel ready to return at that point or need a little more time for healing.

During these 2 months of my leave, St. John’s will be welcoming the Rev. Dr. Angus Stuart as priest in my stead. He will be working part-time at 2 ½ days a week and his first Sunday here will be April 24. More details of how Angus will engage with the congregation will follow later, but in the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about him, please visit https://bit.ly/subpriest.

I am looking forward to celebrating Easter Sunday with you all, and then taking medical leave in Easter season. I fully intend to embody the season’s themes of resurrection and new life as I complete these final phases of my treatment! I would be grateful if you could continue to hold me in prayer in this upcoming time.

Peace,
Vivian

WORSHIP & PRAYER

*Readers Needed for Holy Week Services

We are looking for a few extra people to help with reading at our upcoming Holy Week services – if you’re able to assist, please let Vivian know this week at rector@stja.ca. Thanks!

*Holy Week & Easter at St. John’s

Holy Week and Easter are just around the corner, and we hope you’ll join your St. John’s family—whether virtually or in-person—in these various ways! If a service is listed as “hybrid” it will be in-person and on Zoom. All Zoom connection and other information can be found at https://www.stja.ca/2022/program-updates/

  • Palm Sunday, April 10, 8:30am (in-person-only) Morning Prayer & 10am (hybrid) Eucharist – We will bless palm crosses with those attending in-person. For those attending virtually, please join in the fun of our palm procession by lifting up a local plant from your garden or household. The 10am service will have a Children’s Talk.
  • Maundy Thursday, April 14 – We encourage you to join our larger diocesan family either at one of our neighbouring deanery churches, or virtually at Christ Church Cathedral. Please be in touch directly with the churches for more information and/or to clarify any COVID protocols in place:
  • Good Friday, April 15, 12noon (hybrid) – Our service will include a meditation on the Cross and a Stations of the Cross reflection on Ukraine.
  • Easter Sunday, April 17, 8:30am (in-person-only) & 10am (hybrid) Eucharist – Both services will have Eucharist, and the 10am will have special children’s programming and coffee hour afterward. We encourage you to dress in your Easter best (however you define that in these unusual times!), and have something colourful to wave in the air each time we hear the word “Alleluia!”.

8:30am Worship Service Transitioning to In-Person

Beginning on Palm Sunday, April 10, the 8:30am worship service will begin to meet in-person. At this time, there will not be a Zoom component to this service, but you are always welcome to attend the later 10am hybrid service via Zoom.

Ukraine Relief Efforts

We join the world in prayer for the people of Ukraine in this time of war. The Primate’s World Relief & Development Fund (PWRDF) is supporting Ukrainians forced to flee their homes with a $50,000 grant to fund the work of ACT Alliance member Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA). To donate and for more information, please visit https://pwrdf.org/pwrdf-supports-ukrainians-forced-to-flee/.

*Children’s Talks Throughout Lent

For the 5 Sundays of Lent and Palm Sunday, we look forward to having a Children’s Talk at our 10am worship.

Flowers for the Altar

Due to services having been held via Zoom, we ask that anyone who had signed up to have flowers at the Altar choose an alternative date as in-person services have now resumed. Please speak to Brenda Binns or any member of the Altar Guild.

Tech & Hospitality Volunteers Needed for Worship

We are continuing to look for help with technical support aspects of both Zoom services and in-person services, as well as people who could help online with hospitality and welcome for our Zoom participants. Training will be provided. If you or someone you know is interested, please connect with Vivian at rector@stja.ca to chat. Descriptions of the roles can be found at http://www.stja.ca/2022/e-postle-ongoing-announcements#techsupport.

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 described at http://www.stja.ca/2022/e-postle-ongoing-announcements#pastoralcare, if and as you need.

FORMATION

*”Raising Hearts to Remember” Reconciliation Event

We will gather on Saturday, May 7, 9:00am-12:00noon in the Parish Hall for a “Raising Hearts to Remember” session. This is a diocesan project in which we have been asked to participate. During this time you will be taught the craft of felting a heart. This will also be a time of discussion around the Residential Schools. These hearts will hang from a tanned salmon skin Wheel of the Four Directions at the Synod Office. This is a creative way to honour the children in gravesites found across Canada, but particularly at Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.

From the Diocesan Missioner for Indigenous Justice, Kerry Baisley:

“Raising Hearts to Remember is an opportunity for individuals to learn about Canada’s Residential Schools while creating a felted heart that will become part of a work that Commemorates the Missing Children in Kamloops and other Residential Schools, holding vigil for them during the process of identification and repatriation.

Sessions will have the goals of:

  • Provide education about Residential Schools.
  • Provide opportunities for community members to share questions and grow in their knowledge about residential schools.
  • Provide opportunities to develop needle felting to create a collectively-made piece that is not a “work of art” but a work of community caring and sharing.”

If you are interested and/or to RSVP, please speak with Anne Anchor or contact her at deacon@stja.ca.

Lenten Program: Ecological Grief and Creational Hope

This Lent, we are using a program developed by the Diocese of Toronto to explore what it means to have Biblical hope in the face of the climate crisis. Beginning Tuesday March 8 and going for 5 weeks until April 5, we are meeting during our Tuesday morning Bible study time (10:15am-12noon) to discuss, share, and learn together.

The program guide that we are using can be downloaded from https://www.toronto.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/LentCurriculum2022.pdf. It includes additional resources and activities for use during the week. If you would like a printed copy mailed to you, please contact Deanna in the office at administrator@stja.ca – donations are welcome to offset printing and mailing costs.

STEWARDSHIP

*Stewardship Reflection

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

John 12:1-8
One of the questions today’s gospel asks me is: what is my motivation in being a steward? Am I truly interested in taking care of others, or am I just worried about myself?

PARISH MATTERS

Nominations for the Order of The Diocese of New Westminster

It has been 2 years since we nominated Sylvia Bradley, who received the ODNW in November 2020, and it is time now to nominate our next exceptional parish leader.
The purpose of the Order is to honour and give special recognition to lay members of the Diocese who have given outstanding service over a significant period of time in their volunteer ministry.
Information on eligibility criteria can be found at: https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/programs/the-odnw
Should you wish to nominate someone, please let the Wardens know by 3 April – Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca and Rich at rectorswarden@stja.ca.

Updated COVID Protocols

At our March 19 retreat, Parish Council discussed updates to our parish COVID protocols, in light of the recent changes to provincial and diocesan requirements.

Worship – for our in-person worship, we will be maintaining the protocols decided on March 1, with one change –we will no longer require the checking of vaccine passports. Please see https://www.stja.ca/2022/current-worship-safety-protocols/ for our current safety protocols for in-person worship.

Note: on Easter Sunday, we will be passing the offertory plate, and we will also offer coffee hour. At this and future coffee hours, there will be socially distanced tables, and masks will be required unless you’re eating/drinking/seated at a table. If there aren’t enough seats and you’re standing and eating/drinking, you will be required to be socially distanced from others around you while your mask is off.

Parish Office – We will continue with our previous protocols. Masks are required, and the office is not currently open to walk-in visitors (please make an appointment to come by).

Small Groups – Parish small groups may decide on their own safety protocols, but must continue sanitizing any high-touch surfaces before leaving the church, and booking space through the Parish Office. Masks and distancing while unmasked are recommended. Groups may also move ahead with outreach events, with precautions to be determined based on what is planned.

Outside User Groups – The 12-step groups, Port Moody Korean Presbyterian Church, and other outside user groups may decide on their own safety protocols, but must continue sanitizing any high-touch surfaces before leaving the church. Masks and distancing while unmasked are recommended.

Note: On March 15, Bishop John issued a new pastoral letter re: the recent provincial loosening of COVID restrictions at https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/news/pastoral-letter-from-the-right-reverend-john-stephens-regarding-march-10ths-phos-orders. The letter outlines how COVID safety requirements will be lifted throughout the diocese now and in the coming weeks. 

The Parish Council of each church determines what particular safety protocols are best for their community in light of current diocesan and governmental guidelines. Council will keep the parish informed of any changes in our safety guidelines.

Current Parish Office & Buildings Status

Please read the current status of Worship, Parish Office, Small Groups, and Outside User Groups at http://www.stja.ca/2022/e-postle-ongoing-announcements#buildingstatus

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 Sheila 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/2022/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/2022/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

Urgently Needed – Ushers & Counters

St. John’s urgently needs ushers and counters.  Currently, we only have 4 volunteers in each area which means that they have to attend every other Sunday.
USHERS – to greet everyone at the door, hand out bulletins, and check for/instruct people on safety protocols.
COUNTERS – to count and record Sunday collections.
We desperately need 2 to 4 more volunteers to make scheduling easier. With a full roster of volunteers, you would only need to volunteer once a month.
Training will be provided. If you think you can serve in this very important ministry, please contact Bonnie SooChan at bsoochan@shaw.ca or in church on Sunday.

New Members for the Altar Guild

The members of St. John’s Altar Guild are looking for some new members to join us. We work in groups on a 4-week rotating schedule, usually on a Saturday morning, arranging flowers, cleaning the brass, setting up for the Eucharist and laundering the altar linens. Please speak to Brenda Binns or any member of the Altar Guild if you are interested in joining us.

ReSponse News

Please visit http://www.stja.ca/2022/e-postle-ongoing-announcements#response for current information on the ReSponse refugee ministry.

Food Bank Report

Please visit http://www.stja.ca/2022/e-postle-ongoing-announcements#foodbank for current information on the Food Bank.

COMMUNITY NEWS

New Diocesan Task Force on Homelessness and Housing Affordability

Congratulations to parishioner Sharon Cooper who has recently been appointed to a new diocesan Task Force on Homelessness and Affordability. The Task Force’s purpose is to increase awareness and understanding of the issues and causes surrounding homelessness and housing vulnerability, and to provide practical options for the Diocese and its parishes to use their gifts and resources to respond

To learn more about the Task Force’s work, please visit https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/news/diocesan-council-strikes-task-force-on-homelessness-and-housing-affordability

Spring Street Community Kitchen

Thanks to all those who participated in our most recent kitchen, where Fred Soofi, founder of Pasta Polo, made a Persian dish in celebration of Nowruz (Persian New Year). The video and recipe will be available soon at https://www.facebook.com/SpringStreetCommunityKitchen.

Please save the date for our next kitchen Thursday, May 26, 6-7pm. More information coming soon.

Donations in support of our Spring Street Community Kitchen are being re-gifted to the communities we serve. Funds raised for March’s gathering will benefit the Coquitlam Animal Shelter. Donations can be given via https://www.stja.ca/supporting-st-johns/; please designate your gift to our Community Kitchen project.

(The Spring Street Community Kitchen is a partnership between St. John’s and Inlet United Church – 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 Oakridge – The Rev. Marion Wong, Regional Dean
  • care+share Outreach Program
  • Our partner Diocese of Northern Philippines, 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 Kathy Martin.
  • The brothers and sisters who share our worship space: The Port Moody Korean Presbyterian Church.

*Readings for April 3, 2022 – Fifth Sunday in Lent

Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8

*Readings for April 10, 2022 – Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

Liturgy of the Palms – Luke 19:28-40. Liturgy of the Passion – Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 23:1-49

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Rector The Rev. Vivian Lam rector@stja.ca 604-936-7762 (church vmail) / 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 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 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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