First Sunday of Advent

E-Postle

December 3, 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:

Sat – Dec 2                          10 am: Altar Guild to set up for Advent

Sun – Dec. 3                 After 10:00 am service: Advent Wreath workshop

Tues – Dec 5                        10:15am: Bible Study on Zoom (see link above)

                                             7pm: Prayer group on Zoom (see link above)

Wed – Dec 6                        9.30-11.30 am: Wednesday morning prayers

Sat – Dec 9                   3 pm: Spring Street Community Kitchen “cookie jar” making party

4 pm: Carols in the sanctuary

After Cookies/Carols –

Sun – Dec 10                After 10 am service: Bazaar Re-visited

Thurs – Dec 14             12 pm: ACW Pizza Lunch and Hampers for Seniors

Sun – Dec 24                 8.30 am & 10 am: Regular services

                                    7 pm: Family service and Christmas Pageant

10 am: “Midnight” service

Mon – Dec 25              10 am: Christmas Day service

 

 

NEW THIS WEEK

 

Stewardship Reflection              

Mark: 24-3. Prepared by Ven. Dr. Michael Pollesel.        

As we begin a new church year, Jesus reminds us that we are the ones whom God has left in charge; we are the stewards; and we are told to stay alert, carrying out the tasks entrusted to us.

 

Guest Priest this Sunday

We are grateful to the Rev. Gary Hamblin who will serve as guest presider and preacher at both services this Sunday December 3,2023.

 

St. John’s 125^th Anniversary in 2024

 

Council has decided there will be three events in 2024 for the Anniversary Celebrations.  The dates and events are listed below….

Jan 28 – Kickoff worship event

May 26 – Bishop visitation – invitations will be sent to those baptized/married or confirmed at St. John’s to come back for this day and there will be a reaffirmation of baptismal vows etc. The service will be followed by a BBQ.

Sept 28 – Gala Dinner – the culmination event for the year, catered dinner with entertainment held at offsite location.

We are still in need of volunteers for the above celebrations and mini projects. Sign-up sheets are up in the hall.

Please connect with Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca if you feel called to help in making the celebrations a success.

 

Financial Status – September & October 2023

 

	Sept 2023 Actual $	Oct 2023 Actual $	YTD Oct 2023 Actual $	YTD 2023 Budget $	YTD 2023 Budget Difference
Income	13,079.63	17,367.00	159,998.98	199,587.60	(39,588.62)
Expenses	17,861.47	16,518.59	184,080.35	199,587.20	15,506.85
Surplus (-) Loss	(4781.84)	848.41	(24,081.37)	0.40	(24,081.77)
Offering for General Funds	10,273.75	11,893.75	109,380.50	154,850.00	(45,469.50)

 

Wardens’ Note:

Thank you to all who helped increase the Offering for General Funds in October by 15%.

Huge thanks to all, mainly from the Bazaar proceeds, for increasing the October Income by 33%.

However, we are still operating at a deficit of $24,000 and are expected to close the fiscal year with a $30,000 deficit.

 

INFORMATION

Advent Wreath Workshop

On December 3, First Sunday of Advent, after the 10am service. The wreath foundation in a container, and greenery will be provided. Please feel free to bring any interesting foliage from your garden, clippers or pruning shears, and 5 candles (these are usually purple or blue, but white can be used). We will be collecting donations for costs of materials. Please talk to Ann Adair-Austin for further information.

 

Spring Street Community Kitchen and Carolling
The Spring Street Community Kitchen will be hosting one last event in 2023 and that will be a “cookie jar” making party followed by Christmas carolling at St. John’s Anglican Church (Port Moody) on Saturday, December 9 at 3pm. MORE details to come about how you can contribute to this event. Cookie jars and proceeds will be donated to the SFU Campus Ministry which will host food pantries for students in the new year. We are going to need supplies and volunteers to help us before we open the doors to all who want to purchase jars and sing, so please save the date and help us make this event a success!

 

Bazaar Revisited and Bid on a Quilt

We will have a few tables out on Sunday December 10, for pre-Christmas shopping.

There is also an opportunity to bid on a small quilt, with squares quilted by Mickey Marshall and lovingly put together with fabric that was Mickey’s and made into a small lap quilt suitable to decorate the back of your favourite chair. The quilt will be on display from November 26. Details on how to bid will be posted with the quilt.

 

ACW Lunch

The ACW will be holding a Pizza Lunch on Thursday Dec 14 at 12 noon. Following lunch, we will be assembling packages of Christmas treats and cookies for our seniors and ‘shut ins’. The cost for lunch is $15. If you wish to attend, please let Alma know at: almaolden@hotmail.com

If you are able to contribute to the treat packages, please bring 2 dozen small sized cookies or squares.

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT ST. JOHN’S

 

Flower Chart for 2024

This will be up shortly 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.

              

 

READINGS

December 3, 2023, First Sunday in Advent

Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37

 

December 10, 2023, Second Sunday in Advent

Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15A; Mark 1:1-8

 

Also taken from Alma’s email attachment. I don’t have a time frame for it

 

Looks fine