Second Sunday in Lent

E-Postle

March 5, 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 Coffee Hour following the 10am service.

 

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS:

 

Sun – Mar 5                             (after 10am service) In-Person Lenten Study #1 “Invited”

Tues – Mar 7                            10:15am – Zoom Lenten Study #2 “Invited”… link above / 7:00pm – Zoom Prayer Group … link above

Thurs – Mar 9                          Spring Street Community Kitchen (at Inlet United Church)

Thurs – Mar 16                        ACW meeting

Sat – Mar 25                            Council Retreat

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

 

NEW THIS WEEK:

Stewardship Reflection

Reflections on Stewardship prepared by the Ven. Dr. Michael Pollesel:

“Jesus came to earth to help in God’s ‘rescue mission’. In other words, Jesus came to help work out God’s dream for creation. A faithful steward looks for ways through which s/he can also assist in helping to bring God’s dream closer to reality. How are you doing?” 

Commissioning of New Leaders

A reminder that we will be saying a blessing over our new Parish Council and ACW officers this Sunday, Mar. 5, at the 10am service.

Anglican Church Women (ACW)

— the next meeting will be held on Thursday, Mar. 16 at 1pm in the church hall. We will be discussing plans for the Spring Tea, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 6.

Calling All Bakers!

For the Spring Tea in May, we hope to serve pie with tea & coffee. If you are able to bake a pie or two, please let Ferne or Ruby peopleswarden@stja.ca know by Mar. 31.

Annual Vestry Reports

We have some printed copies of this year’s Annual Vestry Reports available in the back of the church, for anyone who would like a copy.

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 easel found 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. 

Bishop’s Lenten Message

Bishop John has offered a Lenten message to our wider diocese. Please view the video here. 

Gospel Concert @ Inlet United Church

Marcus Mosely Ensemble is bringing their full gospel sound spanning gospel, jazz, R&B, pop, rock, Christian rock, folk, and blues to a concert at Inlet United Church on Saturday, Mar. 11, 7:30pm. Tickets are on a sliding scale, $1-$40. Everyone is welcome! To purchase tickets and for more information, visit Inlet United’s Web site.

 

INFORMATION:

Calling All Knitters for “In the Presence of Ancestors Project”

“In the Presence of Ancestors” (previously ‘Welcome Post Project’) is returning this spring in preparation for National Indigenous Peoples Day. Here is the notification from Tasha Faye Evans:

“I am so excited to offer you an update on the ‘In the Presence of Ancestors Project’. Many of you have been wondering what is happening and the easiest answer is to share this date and meet you there! Please mark June 21, 2023 into your calendars! We are finally ready to host our Coast Salish Blessing Ceremony at Rocky Point Park where we will bless the first three house posts and honour the carvers Zac George, Chrystal Sparrow, Brandon Gabriel Art, Jonas Bige, Keeperlekeyten Lekeyten.

We will be hosting a program of workshops to prepare for this day, including cedar weaving, tea making, community gift making, and opportunities to learn about Coast Salish protocols.

Later this Spring, Chrystal Sparrow will be coming to Noons Creek to complete her carving. Please join the Noons Creek Facebook page to stay informed. We are a family coming together to host this special event. If you wish to help in any way please contact our volunteer coordinator Nishka Valdez Pogroszewski at nishkavaldez88@gmail.com”.

We have once again been asked to provide some knitted blankets for the ceremony on June 21. Please contact Anne Anchor at deacon@stja.ca for details. Help is available to purchase the wool if needed. 

New Temporary Office Hours

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

 

HOW YOU CAN SERVE THOSE IN NEED

Next Community Kitchen

Please join us for our next Spring Street Community Kitchen this Thursday, Mar. 9, 6-8pm at Inlet United Church.

We will be making a breakfast casserole and lunch sandwiches to be served to guests of the Cold Wet Weather Mat program, hosted by Coquitlam Alliance Church in March. All ingredients and equipment will be provided; we are inviting kitchen participants to bring items to add to packed lunches. There will also be some social time after we are done cooking to visit with old and new friends!

Pre-registration for this free kitchen is required – please email your name, email address, and any questions to SpringStreetCommunityKitchen@gmail.com.

(The Spring Street Community Kitchen is a partnership between St. John’s and Inlet United Church – like and follow us at our Facebook page.)

Refugee Family

A 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 post 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.

 

HOW YOU CAN SERVE IN THE PARISH COMMUNITY 

Wednesday Morning Prayer 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. It is intended that we will have a “pair” of volunteers to sit in the sanctuary and welcome anyone who would like to come in to pray. If you feel called to this ministry, please connect with Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca or Vivian at rector@stja.ca.

Intercessors, Lay Assistants and Technical Support Assistants

We are looking for more people to sign up for the above. Please connect with Anne at deacon@stja.ca or Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca

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.

 

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 for 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”

Our first in-person session of our Lenten program begins this Sunday Mar. 5 (we had our first Zoom session this past Tuesday). The program runs for 5 weeks. All are welcome to join us!

This Lent we are learning together through a program called “Invited”, exploring what it means to engage in genuine, Christian invitation. The program begins with the conviction that invitation is at the very heart of the Gospel—that Jesus invites each one of us to come and follow him, and being an invitational people is at the very core of our identity as Christians.

We are sharing our ideas, hopes, and dreams about how to live our lives of faith—as individuals and as a parish community—in ways that are relevant to the world around us, and we will brainstorm how to more naturally and confidently invite others to join us on this journey.

Every session will have a video viewing, followed by sharing and discussion. There will be 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. Each week’s sessions will cover the same topic.

 

Readings for March 5, 2023, Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17

Readings for March 12, 2023, Third Sunday in Lent

Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42

 

 

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/Wed/Thurs/Fri, 8am-11am, 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