Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

E-Postle

August 20, 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 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:

 

Tues – Aug 22                  There is NO bible study this week.

Fri – Sep 1                   11 am Choir practice

Wed – Sep 6                9:45 am Coffee & Crafts

Sat – Sep 9                  9:00 am- 11:00am Tri-Cities Winter Shelter Meeting @ St Laurence

Sat – Sept 9                 4-6 pm – Garden Party/BBQ

Sat – Sep 16                 1 pm – Bob Goodbe Memorial Service

Tues – Sep 26              7:00-9:00pm – Parish Council meeting

 

 

NEW THIS WEEK

Stewardship Reflection

Matthew 15: 10–28 – Prepared by the Ven. Dr. Michael Pollesel
“Your trust is enormous,” says Jesus to this Canaanite woman. A faithful steward is one who is able to show enormous trust in Jesus. If you were asked about your level of trust in Jesus, just how would you respond?

 

Clergy Updates

From Vivian – Surgery completed successfully on Tuesday. Its slow going at the moment but I feel the progress little by little to regain strength and mobility. Thank you everyone for your prayers, thoughts and encouragement – really helped me to stay calm and at peace knowing I was held by the love of God in no small part, through you all.

 

From Anne – Thank you all for your love, prayers and support. My strength is improving as I prepare for my gall bladder removal on 31 August.

 

Prayer Circle & Sunday Prayers

Prayer is an essential part of our Parish life. In addition to the regular Public and Liturgical Prayers in our Sunday worship services, we have a weekly Intercession to meet the general prayer requests of our congregation. Presently, Ann Adair-Austin is coordinating, and you may send requests to her at cannadairaustin@gmail.com

We also have a “Prayer Circle” – a group of our members who dedicate themselves to meeting the prayer requests of individuals on a more personal level. Prayer requests may be sent to Sue Elliott at  prayer@stja.ca

 

ACW- Coffee & Craft

Wednesday 6 Sept at 9.45 am

We will be doing “a postmortem” on the High Tea event, set a date for a Parish Garage Sale, and perhaps get a committee to look after advertising, plus speak very generally about the Fall Bazaar.  Please join us for a coffee and plenty of discussion.

 

Tri-Cities Winter Shelter (formerly Cold Wet Weather Mat program)

Saturday 9 Sept at 9 to 11 am at St Laurence

Info meeting with details on what working either a morning or evening shift will involve. You will have the  opportunity to sign up for whatever shifts you prefer. If you are unable to attend this meeting, arrangements can be made to select shifts by email. Information on making sandwiches for distribution to the guests will be provided at a later date. If you would like to help but cannot attend this meeting, please contact Sylvia Wallis (St. Laurence co-ordinator) at Sylviawallisccb@gmail.com  and she can add you to the schedule.

 

Guest Priest this Sunday

We are grateful to the Rev. John Bailey who will serve as guest presider and preacher at both services this Sunday August 20,2023.

 

Guest Musician

We extend a warm welcome to Richard Reinhardt, who is serving as guest musician at our 10am worship service this Sunday, August 20th.

 

St. John’s 125^th Anniversary in 2024

This is in reference to Vivian’s letter dated 6 August regarding the above.

 

Planned special celebration events:

• 2024 – Kickoff worship event – with joyful music, maybe tie in to building history.
• 2024 – Ethnic heritages celebration event – with potluck, sharing recipes, people wearing clothes reflecting their heritage. Perhaps tie in with World Day of Prayer.
• May 2024 – Bishop visitation to church on 5/26 (Trinity Sunday) – possibly invite those baptized/married at St. John’s to come back for this day + have reaffirmation of baptismal vows etc.
• July 2024 – Community BBQ – with children’s games + possible potluck for sides
• 2024 – Gala Dinner – will be big culmination event for the year, catered dinner with entertainment held at offsite location
• 2024 – special Bazaar with 125th anniversary theme to close off the year.

 

Possible mini-projects:

• Commemorative Items
• Commemorative Book – could contain stories, history, recipes, greetings from local businesses, etc.
• Photo Directory of Current Members
• Oral History Project – interviews to collect stories and history of the parish
• Refreshed Website

 

In Vivian’s absence, please connect with peopleswarden@stja.ca if you are interested in being part of this momentous occasion, either to lead, or take part in planning and making it happen. We will put interested people into teams to collaborate together, right after the garden party.

 

RATS!!!!

We’ve become aware of an increasing problem with rodents in the church hall. Although we have taken steps to deal with the problem, and may bring in a professional exterminator, we would like to remind users of the hall of a few steps that we should be taking to help reduce attractants. The compost bin in the kitchen should be emptied into the outdoor green bin at the end of each day. The plastic bag should be placed in the outdoor garbage. If there is any food waste in the kitchen garbage, it too should be emptied at the end of the day. Plastic table cloths should be cleaned with spray cleaner before being folded and placed in the drawers. All food products should be stored only in the refrigerator, except for the ground coffee and tea bags which are in the corner cupboard. We do not encourage drop-off of returnable beverage containers, and any used in the kitchen should be thoroughly rinsed. If we can take these precautions, we should be able to make our space less attractive to pests, and hopefully avoid the expense of hiring an exterminator service.

 

 

INFORMATION

 

New Music Director

We are glad to announce that Gail Craig has been appointed as Music Director, and we look forward to welcoming her to the position beginning September 1. Choir practice will resume on this day at 11 am.

 

Community Garden & Back-to-school party

A garden party/BBQ to launch the Community Garden— as well as to celebrate students going back to school— will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 4 to 6 pm. There will be outdoor music, games and face painting for children, hot dogs and cold beverages. This event is open to the wider community. There is no charge but donations are welcome.

Please see our website information page and like, follow, and share our Community Garden Facebook page, where we are posting pictures and updates on this exciting project!

 

Pastoral Note: Robert Goodbe Memorial Service

Please note in your calendars that a memorial service for parishioner Bob Goodbe has been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16 @ 1pm, here at St. John’s. Bob died in June. Please continue to keep his daughter Patti Flanagan, grandson Brian McGlashan, and the wider family in your prayers at this time. Sympathy cards may be sent to the family via the parish office.

 

HOW YOU CAN SERVE THE WORLD AROUND US

 

Helping Out with Children & Youth

We are looking for folks to help make our brainstormed ideas for children and youth spiritual formation a reality! We will be experimenting with fun, interactive activities for our younger members and visitors one Sunday a month beginning this September through December. If you’d be interested in lending a hand on one of these Sundays, please chat with Vivian in-person or at rector@stja.ca.

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT ST. JOHN’S

 

Flower Chart for 2023

This is up at the Narthex (at the 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 FOR ALL AGES

 

Education for Ministry (EfM)

A course of study offered on Zoom, on Wednesday evenings, for people who yearn to shape their faith into action and to strengthen their walk with God.

We meet weekly September to May, with breaks at Christmas and Easter. The program runs for four years but each year is taken independently

If you wish to find out more about this amazing and enriching program, please contact Debora Jones-Akiyama at debora_snowman@yahoo.ca or one of the many in your parish who have participated in this course.

 

READINGS

August 20, 2023, Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

GENESIS 45:1-15; PSALM 133; ROMANS 11:1-2A, 29-32; MATTHEW 15:10-28

 

August 27, 2023, Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

EXODUS 3:1-15; PSALM 105:1-6, 23-26, 45C; ROMANS 12:9-21; MATTHEW 16:21-28