E-Postle April 9, 2023

Easter Sunday

E-Postle

April 9, 2023

 

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/2023/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.

 

Click here for contact info for parish ministries

 

There WILL BE Coffee Hour following the 10am service.

 

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS:

Sat – Apr 8                       Clean-up of church grounds, weather permitting

Sun – Apr 9                     Easter Sunday services + (after 10am) Easter Egg Hunt

Tues – Apr 11                10:15am – Bible Study on Zoom (see link above) / 7:00pm – Prayer Group on Zoom (see link above)

Sat – Apr 15                   Spring Dance in Church Hall

Tues – Apr 18                Parish Council meeting

Thurs – Apr 20               ACW meeting

Sun – Apr 30                   Companion Diocese Presentation

 

Sat – May 6                     Spring Tea

Thurs – May 11              next Spring Street Community Kitchen

Sun – Jun 18                    Honouring National Indigenous Day of Prayer and blessing of the blankets

Wed – Jun 21                  National Indigenous Peoples Day; Coast Salish Blessing Ceremony @ Rocky Point

 

NEW THIS WEEK:

Stewardship Reflection

Prepared by Ven. Dr. Michael Pollesel – Matthew 28: 1-10

“The disciples had locked the doors for fear”. “Don’t be afraid”. So much of our modern culture, especially in this part of the world seems to be based on fear. What would life be like, both personally as well as corporately, were we to live “AS IF” we had nothing to fear?

As faithful stewards and disciples can we at least try during these 50 Easter days.

Clean-up of Church Grounds for Easter – weather permitting (updated)

We will call this off if there is rain, but will carry on if there is a slight drizzle. This Saturday, 8 April, starting at 9am. Please bring your family along for a work-out in raking leaves & debris and trimming of plants & hedges.

Grounds Coordinator is still recovering from surgery, but will be there to work alongside you!

Refreshments will be served.

Easter at St. John’s

This Sunday Apr 9—whether you’re joining us virtually or in-person—we encourage you to dress in your Easter best, however you define that! Don’t forget to bring bells to ring (or other gentle noisemakers) and/or something colourful to wave in the air each time we hear the word “Alleluia!”.

The 8:30am (in-person-only) service will have hymns. The 10am (Zoom + in-person) service will include children’s programming and an Easter Egg hunt after the service. Coffee hour follows both services. 

Zoom connection and other information can be found at https://www.stja.ca/2023/program-updates/

Tech Difficulties on April 6

Apologies to anyone who was unable to access Zoom worship on Maundy Thursday. We had some technical difficulties that we have now fixed. Good Friday’s Zoom went ahead with no issues, and all should be well for our Easter Sunday 10am service! If you missed it, Deacon Anne’s Maundy Thursday homily (as well as other Holy Week/Easter preaching) will be posted on our YouTube channel.

Spring Dance

Saturday April 15 at 6pm

Rolling Ball Productions is inviting all in the Tri-Cities to a Spring Dance at St. John’s Church Hall.

Limited tickets @ $10 are now on sale. You may scan the QR code in the flyer found on our Facebook announcement. Entry is only for those aged 19 and above.

Anglican Church Women (ACW) meeting

The next ACW meeting will be held on Thursday April 20 at 1pm in the Church Hall. We will be collecting baby items for the Diocesan layette program. Each year we collect new baby clothing, bibs, towels, blankets etc. to donate to this program, as do other churches throughout the Diocese. These new baby items are collected at our Diocesan ACW warehouse, bundled up into a layette and donated to the churches in the North, and also locally for needy families. This outreach is open to all members of the parish. If you would like to make a donation, or would like more information, please speak to Ann Adair-Austin or Sue Hall.

Sorrento Centre

For generations, Sorrento Centre has been a place where families and young people gather for fun, spiritual nurturing and growth. This Anglican retreat and conference centre has a beautiful historic 24-acre main campus, with private waterfront on the Shuswap, hiking trails and nearby biking routes.

See the Sorrento Newsletter for more info on a youth May weekend event, 1-week adult summer courses, and summer youth jobs.

 

INFORMATION:

Companion Diocese Presentation

The Executive Archdeacon of our Diocese, the Ven. Philippa Pride, will be our guest speaker at the 10am service on April 30. She will be giving us a presentation of her journey to our Companion Diocese in the Northern Philippines, including material re: our sister church, St. John’s in Balugan. Her presentation will be given as our sermon that day via PowerPoint. Also, she is planning to stay after the service for a Q&A session. Please mark your calendar for an interesting visit! Further details are forthcoming. Please speak to Brenda Lou-Hing with any questions. 

Spring Tea

For our fundraising Spring Tea on May 6th, we will be serving PIE and BROWNIES with ice-cream, along with tea & coffee. Please mark your calendars!

We do have some volunteers to bake pies but more are always welcome. There will also be a Bake Table, Craft Table, Jewellery and Plants Tables. If you are able to help or contribute, please connect with Ferne or Ruby peopleswarden@stja.ca! 

Seeking 125^th Anniversary Ideas

2024 will be the 125^th anniversary of our church’s official opening. We will be spending the year remembering and celebrating God’s work in our parish over these many decades, and reconnecting and reaching out to our surrounding neighbourhoods.

We are looking for your ideas of ways we can mark this anniversary year – no idea too small or big for us to consider! Please mark your idea down on the newsprint (downstairs in the Parish Hall), speak to any Council member directly, or email the office at administrator@stja.ca. If you’d be interested in helping with planning, please connect with Vivian at rector@stja.ca.

Temporary Office Hours

Through April, the Parish Office will have temporary adjusted hours: Tuesday through Friday, 8am-11am.

 

HOW YOU CAN SERVE THE WORLD AROUND US

Spring Street Community Kitchen

Our next gathering will be at St. John’s on Thursday, May 11, 4-6pm, where we will come together for some bulk cooking of soups and sandwiches and have supper together afterward. A portion of this food will go to a local shelter run by Progressive Housing Society, and the rest will be for us to take home for ourselves and/or to share with those from our own networks.

Registration required: please send your name and email address to SpringStreetCommunityKitchen@gmail.com.

Check out our Facebook page for photos and videos from past events, as well as to keep updated on future ones. If you have ideas for this ministry collaboration with Inlet United Church, would like to be more involved, or have any questions, please connect with Vivian in-person or at rector@stja.ca. 

ReSponse Refugee family

The Refugee family consisting of a father; mother; 3 boys aged 8, 7 and 2; and a grandmother will be arriving on May 9^th.

There is still a need for a reasonably-priced 3-bedroom suite in the Tri-Cities that will be available May 1; please speak with someone from the ReSponse Team—Mary, Karlis, Sheila, Laurie, or Richard.

We continue to pray for a safe arrival for our new family.

 

HOW YOU CAN SERVE IN THE PARISH COMMUNITY

Wednesday Morning Prayer Space

As part of our mission to be a spirited community in the centre of Port Moody, we are hoping to have our space open once a week for people to just come in and sit down in a quiet space. We are looking for 4 more people who are willing to come in pairs to be present while people who seek quietness and release of daily stresses for a short time come into this space.

We will begin experimenting soon with opening the church for personal prayers and meditation on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 am to 1 pm. If you feel called to this ministry, please connect with Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca or Vivian at rector@stja.ca.

Intercessors and Tech Support Assistants

2 critical roles in Sunday worship are those who lead us in prayers and those who keep our tech running smoothly. We are looking for more people to sign up – training and support will be provided, especially for those without past experience interested in learning! Please connect with Anne at deacon@stja.ca or Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca.

Sunday Coffee & Refreshments

Hospitality and fellowship are so important to our community’s ongoing health and growth. We would love to have more folks be part of this vital Coffee Hour ministry! A Roster/Sign-up sheet is on the notice board in the kitchen. Please consider signing up if you are able, or if you would like to contribute treats.

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT ST. JOHN’S

Flower Chart for 2023

is up at the Narthex (back of the church, by the chapel).  Should you wish to commemorate a birthday, anniversary or give in memory of a loved one, please consider signing up to donate flowers for the altar.

Parish Giving

Donations 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. You may also give via PayPal/credit card via our website.

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMATION AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Ongoing Learning

All are welcome at 2 of the weekly online groups that meet for spiritual learning. Zoom links here.

• Tuesdays, 10:15am-12noon – Zoom Bible Study. Explores the upcoming Sunday’s readings together. From time to time throughout the year, the group discusses a book, or has a special seasonal study.
• Tuesdays, 7-8pm – Zoom Prayer Group – explores different forms of contemplative prayer and meditation, and prays for those in our lives and in the wider world.

Readings for April 9, 2023, Easter Sunday

Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 28:1-10 

Readings for April 16, 2023, Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16, 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31