Second Sunday in Lent

E-Postle

February 25, 2024

 

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 – http://www.stja.ca/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

 

Coffee/Tea and Chinese New Year treats will be served after the 10am service.

 

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

 

Tuesdays                     10.30am: Lenten study (see link above for Tuesday Bible Study)

7:00pm: Prayer Group (see link above)

Fridays                        11 am: Choir Practice

Sun – Mar 3                 10am service: Blessing of New Parish Council and ACW Executives

Wed – Mar 6               11 am: ACW World Day of Prayer

7 pm: Induction of The Rev Stephanie Shepard as rector of Holy Trinity Cathedral

Sat – Apr 13                9am: Parish Council retreat

Sun – May 26               Trinity Sunday – Bishop’s Visit

 

NEW THIS WEEK

Stewardship Reflection              

Prepared by Ven. Dr. Michael Pollesel – Mark 8:31-38

Jesus reprimands Peter for not thinking in God’s terms. A faithful steward spends some of their time

trying to discern God’s terms, so that they can act accordingly.

 

Access Youth

We are pleased to announce that Access Youth is now occupying the basement of the PMC.

They run a food program that helps youth learn life skills that will enable them to provide for themselves going forward in life and to find work. Weekly, this organization receives food that they package up, provide recipes for and deliver to approximately 50 families in need. The program also touches on something we often think of at St. John’s – what about the children/young people? This might not be what we traditionally think of Youth Work, but in some ways it is.

For information on what they do, go to https://accessyouth.org/

 

 

 

Thank You

To all who have so willingly come in to help clear and clean the PMC Basement and cart away stuff to Value Village. As always, you are very much appreciated!

 

Rev Stephanie Shepard

Wednesday 6 March, 2024 – 7 pm

We all are invited to the induction of Stephanie as the rector of the Parish of Holy Trinity Cathedral @ 514 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster V3L 1C4.

There is limited parking at the cathedral but street parking is available on all surrounding areas with the cathedral most accessible from Carnarvon St.

Please view invite and parking availability on the notice board at the hall.

 

Nominations for the Order of The Diocese of New Westminster

It is time now to nominate our next exceptional parish leader.

The purpose of the Order is to honour and give special recognition to lay members of the Diocese who have given outstanding service over a significant period of time in their volunteer ministry.

Information on eligibility criteria can be found at https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/programs/the-odnw

Should you wish to nominate someone, please let Rev Miranda know at interim@stja.ca by 2 April, 2024.

 

World Day of Prayer

Wednesday 6 March, 2024 – 11 am. ACW ladies are organizing a get-together, to be followed by lunch.

We will be viewing the World Day of Prayer Service: “I Beg You – Bear with One Another in Love” produced by the WDP Committee of Palestine. Everyone is welcome.

Should you wish to contribute a dish, please connect with Antoinette @ toni.woodman@shaw.ca to let her know.

 

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PART OF ST JOHN

 

The following are vignettes from parishioners of the parish being offered throughout the year of the 125th Anniversary celebrations. If you are asked to offer one week, please accept so that we may get to know a bit more about our friends in the pews. Please forward a written copy to news@stja.ca thereafter. These will be posted in the E-Postle as well as a compilation for print later in the year.

 

Ann Adair-Austin 18 Feb 2024 @ 10 am service.

Back in the late 1980’s, my friend Sue Meredith and myself, as well as our children, who were pre-school age at that time, attended Como Lake United Church in Coquitlam. We enjoyed the time we spent there, met some lovely people, and we became quite involved with the Sunday School.

However, having been raised in the Anglican church from a child, I felt I was missing some of the more spiritual traditions, that I was used to. In about 1991, there were some changes going on at Como Lake church, and Sue and I decided that maybe we should go church shopping and try out a few different churches in the neighbourhood. We had a list of possible churches to visit, and decided to start with the one located closest to where we lived, which was St. John’s.

On our first visit to a Sunday morning service, we were greeted so warmly by many people, and for me the service was so much more of what I had been accustomed to. I remember specifically talking with Anne Anchor following the service, who invited us to join the rest of the congregation for coffee-hour downstairs. We had a brief chat about why we were there, and I think that Anne was quite pleased to hear that we had previous experience teaching Sunday School.

I think it was that day that we decided that we wouldn’t bother looking at any other churches, but would give St. John’s a try – for a while at least. Over 30 years later, we are both still here! I think that it may have only been our second visit to St, John’s when Anne approached us about considering teaching Sunday School, which eventually we both did, and of course that followed with being involved with other roles in the church which gave us a purpose and a commitment to stay.

I think it was Sue who suggested that we should join the ACW at St. John’s and see what they were up to, so we did, and we have both been committed to them ever since.

I have held various roles at St John’s; Sunday School coordinator, Intercessor, Parish Council member, member of the board for the daycare centre that was once held in the PMC, and ACW president, but my favourite of all, of course, has been teaching Sunday School and spending time encouraging our young children as they journey with God.

Some of them are still here at St. John’s, with children of their own now. Well, sometimes anyway! I fondly recall the days of Vacation Bible School – a week long intense dive into bible stories, music, crafts, food and so much fun. I cherish those days of wonderful comradeship with the other adult volunteers and of course the children themselves. I have been generously mentored and encouraged by so many other members of St. John’s over the years and the fellowship that we share has cemented my commitment to this parish. The people here have a way of making you feel like family, which of course makes this place of worship feel like home.

            

INFORMATION

Bible Study on Tuesdays at 10:30am.

The Bible Study Group will be studying a book this Lent titled Healing our Broken Humanity by Grace Kim and Graham Hill – Practices for Revitalizing the Church and Renewing the World.

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT ST. JOHN’S

 

Flower Chart for 2024

Is up in 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

25 February 2024 Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 17:1-7,15-16; Psalm 22:22-30; Romans 4: 13-25; Mark 8: 31-38

3 March 2024 Third Subday in Lent

Exodus 20:1–17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18–25 John 2:13–22