Fifth Sunday of Easter

E-Postle

May 7, 2023

 

8:30am & 10:00am – ***Zoom services only for 5/7***

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

 

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS: 

Tues – May 9               10:15am – Bible Study on Zoom (see link above) / 7:00pm – Prayer group on Zoom (see link above)

Wed – May 10               1^st Wednesday Morning Prayer Space

Thurs – May 11              Spring Street Community Kitchen

Fri-Sat – May 12-13      Diocesan Synod

Tues – May 16                Parish Council meeting

 

Sun – Jun 4                      Blessing of blankets for National Indigenous Peoples Day ceremony

Sun – Jun 18                    Honoring National Indigenous Day of Prayer

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

 

NEW THIS WEEK:

COVID Concerns

A note from Vivian:

As announced earlier in the week, we unfortunately have had several parishioners (8 that we are aware of, as of Friday – for full disclosure I am one of these 8 since Thursday) test positive for COVID in the past week. Please hold everyone in your prayers for milder symptoms and quick healing.

While it is always difficult to pinpoint exactly what the source or sources of the outbreak were, it most likely originated at worship last Sunday. This is a sobering reminder that the virus is still circulating in our neighborhoods and of our need to be vigilant. Watch for symptoms and stay home if unwell. Take extra precautions if you have been recently exposed. Help us to care for our community and let the clergy or wardens know if you’ve tested positive after being at church, so that we can notify folks of any major potential exposures.

Out of an abundance of caution, a reminder that we have:

• Postponed the 5/6 Spring Tea. Date TBD. Tickets sold may be refunded upon request, or you may keep it for the new date.
• Moved to ZOOM-only worship services for 5/7. The Zoom link can be found here or at the top of this Epostle.

Stewardship Reflection

John 14:1-14 prepared by the Ven. Dr. Michael Pollesel:

Jesus tells Philip that anyone who believes in him will be able “to perform even greater feats” than he himself has. A faithful steward lives AS IF they have not only heard this message, but have also accepted it as a basis for their day-to-day interactions with those around them.

Celebrating Easter New Life at St. John’s: Formation & Education Ministries (updated)

This week we celebrate our ministries relating to spiritual formation and learning – The Tuesday Bible Study, Education for Ministry, Seasonal Studies, and future Children/Youth Learning:

—Tuesday Bible Study – this has been a regular ministry at St. John’s for many years. We meet every Tuesday morning at 10:15 am for about 1 hour 45 minutes. We used to meet in person in the church hall but more recently have been meeting on Zoom. We generally study the upcoming lectionary readings for the following Sunday, but during Advent, Lent and on other occasions, we may study a specific book or program. We use the Serendipity Study Bible when our focus is the lectionary which has a series of commentaries and questions to aid our study. All parishioners are welcome to join us; the link can be found under: This Week’s Worship and Programs in the E-postle. Come and check it out!

—Education for Ministry (EfM) – The key intent of this program is to empower lay people for their work in the world and the church with knowledge of the foundations of our faith in scripture, church history, and the evolution of various theologies. A great part of understanding how this knowledge may impact our life is shaped by the component of guided theological reflection based on faith tradition, culture, or life events for example.

Additional readings are offered for discussion to enhance understanding the world in which we live today … Living Faithfully…  Global Village… Spiritually Mature … Journey into God. We have a long tradition of this program at St. John’s (over 20 years and many graduates); if you are interested or would like more information, contact Debora Jones-Akiyama or Deacon Anne.

—Seasonal Studies – During special seasons of the church year like Advent and Lent, and at other selected times of the year, our parish embarks on various learning opportunities to share our experiences of God and to learn from and grow with each other. We have met in-person and online, and have read various books together, reflected on art and poetry, delved more deeply into particular scriptures, all using a faith lens. Recent topics have ranged from forgiveness, to Indigenous Truth & Reconciliation, to ecological issues, to our links to previous generations. Vivian and Anne are always interested in what you would like to study next – please drop us a line at rector@stja.ca or deacon@stja.ca.

—Future Children & Youth Spiritual Learning – the spiritual formation of our younger ones has always been important to St. John’s. We are in a season right now of regrouping, revisioning, and reforming, and invite those with a heart for this ministry to join in. Please connect with Vivian in-person or via rector@stja.ca to chat further about the following 2 opportunities:

• • We are gathering folks soon to dream and vision about what God is calling our church to when it comes to nurturing the spiritual lives of children and/or youth in our church and in the wider community. We’re not limiting ourselves to the model of a weekly Sunday School, and are open to all sorts of other ideas and things to experiment with – the sky’s the limit!

• • The 4 churches in our area are hoping to put together a deanery confirmation preparation class soon for youth. Please reach out if you have youth in your family who would be interested in participating, or if you feel called to help with planning and leading this effort.

Easter is all about recognizing the risen Jesus among us, and so we are spending these 50 days of the Easter season lifting up where we see Jesus moving in ministries and programs at St. John’s, and where we sense God’s new life springing forth.

Each week we’re featuring different places at St. John’s where we see the risen Lord on the move, and we invite you to prayerfully discern if you might feel called to be involved… We will have a description of the ministry/program here in the E-postle, as well as some sharing at Sunday worship.

Anglican Church Women (ACW)

The next ACW meeting will be held on Thursday May 18 at 1pm in the church hall. We will be dispersing our funds to our outreach mission during this meeting.

Area Vacation Bible School – July 10-14

St. Laurence Anglican and Good Shepherd Lutheran in Coquitlam are partnering to lead Vacation Bible School this year! Kids ages 4-11 are invited to journey with Daniel in ancient Babylon as we learn what it means to be courageous and have integrity in the face of difficulty…and have a whole lot of fun. VBS will be five mornings, July 10-14, from 9-12 noon at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1504 Sprice Ave., Coquitlam. If you are interested, contact Jason Wood, St. Laurence’s Youth and Family Minister, at stlyouthandfam@gmail.com.

Youth Retreat @ Camp Artaban

The Diocesan Youth Movement is leading a youth retreat at Camp Artaban on June 2-4, open to youth ages 11-19, in collaboration with PWRDF. The theme is “Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly”. Information and registration can be found here.

 

HOW YOU CAN SERVE THE WORLD AROUND US

Spring Street Community Kitchen

Registration required: please send your name and email address to SpringStreetCommunityKitchen@gmail.com.

Join us in the Parish Hall this Thursday, May 11, 4-6pm for some bulk cooking of soups and sandwiches, and a light supper/snack and socializing afterward. A portion of this food will go to a local shelter run by Progressive Housing Society, and the rest will be for us to take home for ourselves and/or to share with those from our own networks.

Entry is by donation, suggested $5. All ingredients and equipment will be provided.

Check out our Facebook page for photos/videos from past events and keep updated on future ones. If you have ideas for this ministry collaboration with Inlet United Church, would like to be more involved, or have any questions, connect with Geri at gerigrigg@gmail.com or Vivian at rector@stja.ca

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT ST. JOHN’S

Join our 125^th Anniversary Planning Team

We are in the process of forming a planning team to ensure that our 125^th Anniversary celebrations next year will be as special as possible! Our first meeting will be in the next couple of weeks, so please connect with Vivian in-person or at rector@stja.ca if you’d like to help.

Thanks to everyone who has written celebration ideas on the post-it notes on the newsprint in the Parish Hall – we’ll keep it up for a little longer so please keep the suggestions coming!

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 FOR ALL AGES

Indigenous Plant Walk @ Inlet United

Join Inlet United on Thurs. May 18, 6:30-8pm (rain or shine) for an easy-paced Indigenous Plant Walk around the IOCO neighborhood with Lori Snyder – Indigenous herbalist and educator of wild, edible, and medicinal plants. Meet at Inlet’s IOCO site – 1790 Ioco Rd. Register via office@inletunited.ca. Donations gratefully received.

Ongoing Learning

All are welcome at 2 of the weekly online groups that meet for spiritual learning. Zoom links here.

• Tuesdays, 10:15am-12noon – Zoom Bible Study. Explores the upcoming Sunday’s readings together. From time to time throughout the year, the group discusses a book, or has a special seasonal study.
• Tuesdays, 7-8pm – Zoom Prayer Group – explores different forms of contemplative prayer and meditation, and prays for those in our lives and in the wider world.

 

Readings for May 7, 2023, Fifth Sunday of Easter

Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14 

Readings for May 14, 2023, Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:7-18; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21