Third Sunday in Lent

E-Postle

March 3, 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 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

Tues. & Wed.              Reimagining Church, Land & Community

Mar 12 & 13                Mar 12: 7 pm:  Public Lecture

                                    Mar 13: 9 am to 4.30 pm: Public Lecture & Conference

Thurs – Mar 21            ACW: The next meeting will be held at 1pm in the church hall

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 – John 2:13-22

Jesus displays anger at the way in which people have used his “Father’s house” for their own selfish ends. How do we, as faithful stewards, respond, when we perceive injustice in our world?

 

Reimagining Church, Land & Community

March 12 & 13, 2024. A Public Lecture and a Conference for anyone who is keen to learn, share, and explore collaboration, as we work to re-imagine church properties for urban flourishing, Indigenous-settler reconciliation, community justice and services, and affordable and supportive housing.

Venue: First Vancouver Christian Reformed Church, 2670 Victoria Drive, Vancouver.

Enquiries, please contact Tim Dickau tim@citygatevancouver.org or David Kupp david@kabisa.ca

 

Easter Support for a Kinsight family
Christine and Karlis Kesans will be coordinating the Easter gift for a Kinsight family. This is from a Council goal to support a family in need three times a year. If you wish to make a donation to this ministry please do so by envelope with a notation… for the Kinsight family… and  put it on the offertory plate.
We will hear more as this ministry goes forward throughout the year
Questions can be directed to Anne Anchor at deacon@stja.ca

 

 

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.

Michael Lau 25, Feb 2024 @ 8:30 am service.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning in the late summer of 2009. I chatted with my neighbour Sylvia Bradley who lives across the street.

 

I asked her whether she knew of any church in this area as I wanted to find one not far from my house. She was excited to tell me that St. John’s was located down Clark Road just within 2 km from us.  She had been attending for quite some time and said it was a good community.  Shortly after, I went to St. John the Apostle for the first time with my wife. We attended the 10 am service.  Furthermore, I said to my wife that I didn’t mind that the sermon is delivered in English even though it is not my mother tongue. God’s language is universal and I believe the holy spirit will always guide me no matter the language.

 

After a while, Anne Anchor invited my wife and me to join the bible study and my wife was baptized in 2010. I was baptised in my home town Hong Kong in 1978.

 

Later on we decided to go to the 8:30 am service as we would have plenty of time for the rest of the day. It was not too many people at the 8:30 am service, so it was very peaceful and joyful. Everyone has smiling faces particularly John and Brenda, Sharon and Ferne. Since Covid 19, things slowed down a little bit but I hope it will come back as much as before.

 

Terry Walton 25, Feb 2024 @ 10:00 am service.

When we were first married, Joanne and I lived in East Burnaby and attended St Alban’s.  We realized that our two daughters would have to cross a busy street to get to and from the elementary school so we started looking for somewhere else to live.  We found a house in Glenayre on a quiet street within a short walk of the elementary school and moved in 1980 but we continued attending St Alban’s until summer of 1981.  One Sunday Joanne scouted out St John’s while I stayed at home with the kids.  She was greeted by Mary Lewis who some of you may remember and was made to feel at home right away.  We all came the next Sunday and we have attended ever since.  Almost right away we got involved as co-chairs of the Anglicans in Mission campaign to provide income for retired clergy.  It wasn’t long until we were on parish council.  When the Rector’s warden moved to Calgary, I was asked to take over by the Reverend Ron Sands.  The position also meant I was chair of the Day Care Board.  We’ve both held various roles since then.  I’ve been a council member, rector’s and people’s warden, a synod delegate, stewardship chairperson, and served on two canonical committees while Joanne has been a council member, the coordinator of the area ministry team, a Church school teacher, member and president of the ACW and now coordinates the parish visiting ministry team.  As well as participating in Bible Studies, Cursillo and various training events, we both completed the Education for Ministry program.  Being involved has led to many deep and lasting friendships with the people of this parish.

 

            

 

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.

 

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/

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.

 

 

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

3 March 2024 Third Sunday in Lent

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

10 March 2024 Fourth Sunday in Lent

Numbers 21: 4–9; Psalm, 107: 1-3, 17–22; Ephesians 2: 1–10; John 3:14–21