Fourth Sunday in Lent

E-Postle

March 19, 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: 

Sun – Mar 19                               (after 10am service) In-Person Lenten Study #3 “Invited”

Tues – Mar 21                              10:15am – Zoom Lenten Study #4 “Invited”… link above / 7:00pm – Zoom Prayer Group … link above

Sat – Mar 25                                 Council Retreat

 

Sun – Apr 2                                   Palm Sunday services

Wed – Apr 5                                 Coffee & Crafts

Thurs – Apr 6                               Maundy Thursday – 6:00pm soup supper + 7:00pm worship

Fri – Apr 7                                     12noon – Good Friday service

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

 

Sat – May 6                                  Spring Tea

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

 

NEW THIS WEEK:

Stewardship Reflection

John 9:1-41 – Sunday by Sunday: Reflections on Stewardship – prepared by the Ven Dr. Michael Pollesel.

The Pharisees (those “in the know”) seem to think they’ve got all the right answers. The blind beggar (who has been “on the sidelines”) seems to recognize who Jesus really is, and what he’s about. What kinds of implications are there in this story for those of us who consider ourselves to be faithful disciples and stewards?

Maundy Thursday Soup Supper + Worship

After a pandemic hiatus of 3 years(!) we will be gathering in-person for Maundy Thursday on the evening of Thursday, Apr. 6.

We will be enjoying a simple soup supper downstairs in the Parish Hall at 6pm, and then moving upstairs for a 7pm worship service which will include foot washing and a Stripping of the Altar.

If you are able to help provide some of the soup or assist with setup/cleanup, please connect with Ann Adair-Austin at cannadairaustin@gmail.com.

Calling All Bakers! (updated)

For our fundraising Spring Tea on May 6th, we hope to serve 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 and Craft Table so time to start planning how you might contribute to those.

Please connect with Ferne or Ruby peopleswarden@stja.ca if you can help! 

ReSponse Update + Donations for Pots & Pans

We are so excited to tell you that we have had notification that our new Refugee family will be arriving on May 9!!!  This is a family consisting of a father; mother; 3 boys aged 8, 7 and 2; and a grandmother.

We would like to thank everyone so much for all the donations we have received so far.  And thank you for storing the items until we can find a home for the family. We have nearly everything that will be needed although we are still looking for a high chair and a kitchen garbage can and we will need to order school supplies when we know which school the children will be attending.

St. Laurence Church is collecting money toward a new vacuum for the family. We are hoping that we can buy a set of new pots and pans especially from the people from St. John’s.  If you would like to make a donation of $10 or $15 you will be able to claim it for income tax.  Please mark “Refugee Family” on your envelope.

If anyone knows about 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.

And please pray for a safe arrival for our new family.

Thank you,

St. John’s ReSponse Team 

Spring Street Community Kitchen

Our Mar. 9 community kitchen “Making Breakfast & Lunch for our Neighbours in Need” went wonderfully and, along with friends at Inlet United and the wider community, we were able to provide the TriCities Cold Wet Weather Mat Program with some delicious food for their guests, and collected many additional items for bagged lunches. Thanks to all who participated!

Our next gathering will tentatively be in May at St. John’s, and will involve everyone coming together for some bulk cooking. A portion of this food will go to a local charity, and the rest will be for us to take home for ourselves and/or to share with those from our own networks. More details soon.

Check out our Facebook page for some photos from our most recent event, as well as to keep updated on future ones. If you have ideas for this ministry, would like to be more involved, or have any questions, please connect with Vivian in-person or at rector@stja.ca.

 

INFORMATION:

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 newsprints (upstairs by the chapel, or 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.

Two Financial Notes

As per discussion at Annual Vestry, a brief addendum to the notes of the 2022 Financial Statements has been made, clarifying the source of funds added to the CTF investments. These updated notes have been emailed this week to the parish list (and mailed to those without email addresses).

Please connect with Sheila at treasurer@stja.ca if you need a physical signature for your 2022 tax donation receipt (in addition to what has already been sent to you).

People’s Warden Away

Please note that Ruby is away from Mar. 15 through Mar. 21. While she is away, please contact Joanne at the office at administrator@stja.ca, Rich at rectorswarden@stja.ca, or Vivian at rector@stja.ca for any parish matters.

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

Coast Salish Blessing Ceremony on June 21^st

Thank you to all who have volunteered to knit blankets for National Indigenous Peoples Day.

 

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 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

Lenten Program… “Invited”

Join us during Lent as we explore what it means to engage in genuine, Christian invitation. Jesus invites us each to come and follow him, and so invitation is at the very heart of the Gospel and is the core of our faith identity.

We are wrestling in these 5 weeks with how faith and church can be relevant to the world around us, and we are learning together how to feel more natural and confident as we invite others to join us on this journey.

Every session includes a video and sharing and discussion. There are 2 opportunities each week to gather – online on Tuesday mornings at our 10:15am Zoom Bible studies, and in-person on Sundays after the 10am service. All are welcome! 

Readings for March 19, 2023, Fourth Sunday in Lent

1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

Readings for March 26, 2023, Fifth Sunday in Lent

Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45