Second Sunday after the Epiphany

E-Postle

January 15, 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.

 

There will be NO Coffee & Refreshments after the 10 am service.

 

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS:

Tues – Jan 17                          10:15am – 12noon – Epiphany Book Study #2 at Zoom Bible Study

Thurs – Jan 19                         1 pm – ACW AGM

Tues – Jan 24                          7:00 – 9:00pm – Parish Council Meeting (Zoom)

Sun – Jan 29                            Chinese New Year celebration lunch

Jan 1 – 31                                Cold Wet Weather Mat month at St. Laurence Coquitlam

Sun – Feb 26                            Annual Vestry Meeting

 

NEW THIS WEEK:

Stewardship Reflection

John 1:29-42 – from Tim E. Haut:

“When Jesus turned and saw them following him, He said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’

Reflection: ‘What are you looking for?’ is a question all of us confront sometime in our life. And here at the beginning of a new year, it’s a question for the journey that lies ahead in these weeks and months to come.” 

ACW (Anglican Church Women) Annual General Meeting

will be held this Thursday, January 19th at 1pm in the church hall. We will be discussing plans for the upcoming year, as well as electing positions for the executive committee.

CHINESE NEW YEAR Celebration Lunch

After a hiatus of 3 years, we are now ready to celebrate and usher in the Year of the Rabbit.

Subject to health advisories permitting it, we will be celebrating with lunch on Sunday 29 January at Lougheed Wonton Restaurant at 12 noon.

Tickets, limited at 40, are now on sale at $22.00 per person. Deadline for confirmation is Sunday 22 January.

Please contact Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca 

NEW REFUGEE FAMILY GIVING TREE

is set up in the Church Hall for people to sign up. Please consider donating a welcoming gift for our arriving family. Choose a tag labeled with suggested school supplies from the baggie beside the Giving Tree, or donate some money to help with the cost of a school supply order.

Put your name on the tag and attach it to the tree. Please give your gift to a member of the ReSponse Team – Mary Kyle, Karlis Kesans, Sheila De Vaal, Richard Owen or Laurie Fox. There are also a number of household items that have not been purchased yet. We will be posting a list of those items beside the tree.

Please contact Mary Kyle for more information. We will be keeping track of items that have been purchased, so please let Mary know what you will be giving, so we can avoid getting duplicates.

If you know of a 3-bedroom apartment or townhouse for rent at a reasonable price, please let Mary know. 

Intercessors and Lay Assistants

We are looking for more people to sign up for the above. You may not need to be on duty more than one Sunday a month when we have reached the ideal numbers. Please connect with Anne at deacon@stja.ca or Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca

New Council Members

As we prepare for Vestry to be held on Sunday 26 February, following the 10am service, we are seeking 2 more council members to form the leadership team. If you have the interest to participate in and contribute to the ever-growing needs of our parish, please connect with Vivian, Anne, Rich or Ruby.

Sunday Coffee & Refreshments

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.

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 for flowers for the altar.

Return-It Express

As you plan your next visit to designate proceeds from your recycling to St. John’s, remember to:

• Use clear or transparent bags of up to 75 litrecapacity (No Name, Glad and Western Family are a few brands that sell clear plastic bags in this size category).
• Ensure you only include a maximum of 12 glass bottles in each bagto prevent breakage.
• Only includerefundable, ready-to-drink beverage containers in your bags. For more information on acceptable container types, visit https://www.return-it.ca/beverage/products/.

Use a pre-printed label from the Parish Office, or you may also scan your bags at the depot with the church’s phone number – 604-936-7762.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Worship Service

During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18-25), Christians around the world are invited to pray for the unity of all Christians, to reflect on Scripture, and to participate in jointly organized ecumenical services and to share fellowship.

A local prayer service will take place this Thursday, Jan. 19, 7:30 PM at Como Lake United Church, and will include Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans and United Church members.

See the announcement at St. Laurence’s page, and contact them with any questions.

 

INFORMATION:

Cold Wet Weather Mat Update

The boxes for donations are in the Narthex (back) of the church.

One is for supplies for daily bagged lunches such as juice boxes, (soft) granola bars, home-baked cookies or bars, pudding or fruit cups, chip bags, and a fruit or veggie snack.

The other is for personal toiletries & small clothing items such as shampoo, small soaps, toothbrushes/paste, floss, deodorant, shaving products, chap sticks (small sizes). If you wish to donate socks or underwear, they must be new.

Seeking Epiphany Written/Photographic Reflections (updated)

Check out the reflections posted daily (Mon-Fri) on our Facebook page and also our diocesan parish webpage. Thanks to everyone who is contributing!

In Epiphany we are exploring the flip side of darkness, and reflecting on how God can be found in the more obvious “light”. We invite you to consider writing a very brief reflection on “Where in your ordinary, everyday life does God shine clearly?” Photo responses would also be welcomed (please add a caption).

Our goal is 30 people sharing reflections and we just need 9 more people to participate – we’re hoping for a wide diversity of people of all ages and abilities and interests. Please let Vivian know at rector@stja.ca if you can help out with this project, and she will assign you a day to offer your reflection.

Epiphany Book Study (updated)

Last chance to purchase books at the subsidized price of $10 – contact the office by this Tuesday Jan. 17. Audiobooks and e-books can also be purchased directly from your favourite retailer.

Join us at weekly discussion of the book Learning to Walk in the Dark, by Barbara Brown Taylor, exploring how God can be (sometimes unexpectedly) found in “darkness”. We are meeting Tuesday mornings (10:15am-12noon) at Zoom Bible studies. 

School Work Experience Program

We are delighted to have a new partnership with School District 43, in which we are offering work experience to students with cognitive differences. Students are joining us during the school year each Friday to help with assembling worship bulletins, as well as other office tasks as assigned. Please keep this new program connecting us to our wider community in your prayers.

Christmas Card from Angus

We recently received a beautiful Christmas card with the following message from the Rev. Dr. Angus Stuart (who served as Interim Priest in 2022 while Vivian was on medical leave):

To Vivian, Anne, Ruby, Rich, and all our dear friends at St. John the Apostle, Port Moody,

A wish for peace and happiness at Christmas and through the New Year.

With much love, Angus & Christine. We treasure the weeks we spent journeying with you all this year.

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.

 

Readings for January 15, 2023, Second Sunday after the Epiphany

Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-12; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42 

Readings for January 22, 2023, Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 5-13; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23

 

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