Everyone on the parish e-list will be receiving a weekly update of notices and coming events instead of an insert in the Sunday bulletin.  Physical copies of this email will be available on Sundays for those who do not have email or prefer a paper version.

 If you know of an event of interest to the parish, please send details to the parish office. 

A Safe Community

On Saturday April 1, members of the St. John’s community who work with vulnerable persons gathered for a training workshop on the diocesan sexual misconduct policy.  We are called to grapple with this sensitive topic because, as Bishop Melissa Skelton reminds us:

“All Christians- lay and ordained- are called to be signs and agents of God’s love in the world.  The church must therefore be a place of welcome, respect, and safety for all people.  No one entering our community should ever have cause to fear for their well-being or the betrayal of their trust… You are helping to ensure that our church remains a place of safety and dignity where all may know the forgiveness and peace of God”.

 

Some simple and important guidelines:

1. Ask before you give a hug.
2. When you see or experience inappropriate behaviour ask that it be stopped.
3. Do not be alone with a child.
4. If an unusual or inappropriate encounter occurs, tell someone.
5. All of us have a responsibility for maintaining a safe environment.

If your ministry involves working with the elderly, children, or vulnerable persons, or you are in a position of authority within the Church and have not taken this workshop in the last five years, speak to me about future workshops.  As part of our commitment to each other in faith, position descriptions for volunteers in the church which outline responsibilities and risk assessments are in process.

Yours in Christ,

Stephanie+

Readings for Easter Sunday April 16th

Jeremiah 31:1-6

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Acts 10:34-43

Matthew 28:1-10

Upcoming Dates

April 13- Maundy Thursday supper 5:30 pm, liturgy 7 pm beginning in the Church Hall

April 14- Good Friday service 10 am

April 16- Easter Sunday services 8:30 and 10 am

April 17- Fellowship Supper with Lower Mainland Moslem Community

April 22- Re-Sponse Refugee Deanery Gathering and Potluck @ St. Laurence, Coquitlam

April 29- Healthcare Forum in the Church Hall

May 6 – Spring Tea 2-4 pm

May 9- Provincial Election

Sources of Transformation Lenten Series

During our period of preparation for Holy Week and Easter, the parish has been focusing on how God continues to transform us in community. Worksheets for you to provide input are still available at the back of the church or through the parish website at www.stja.ca  if you have missed a Sunday.  Please forward all comments to the parish office.  A summary of your comments will be available shortly for your review.

Birds Nest Collection

Thank you for your donations of spare change to the Birds’ Nest Society to assist First Nations youth.  Bring your tins to church on Easter, or bring a bag full of change to add to the collection, marked “Birds Nest”.

 

Maundy Thursday Simple Supper and Liturgy

This coming Thursday April 13, St. John’s is hosting members of St. Andrew’s United Church for a simple soup and bread supper and a joint liturgy beginning at 5:30 pm in the hall.

CHANGE OF PLANS:  The community kitchen to make turkey soup on Saturday is cancelled.  Instead, members of St. John’s who are willing to make a pot of soup to share are invited to continue to sign up on Sunday on the downstairs flipchart or email the parish office to indicate.

Stewardship Reflection

In the bread and the wine God is saying,

“I love you.”

In the offering, no matter how small or inadequate it may be, I am saying to God,

 “I love you too”.  (the Most Rev. Douglas Hambidge)

 This week, you are asked to offer thanks for those who took the time to assist with the Spring Clean-up of the parish grounds on Saturday.  If you were unable to help out, there are always tasks that you can do on your own schedule.  Please contact Rich Thompson at 604-939-1258 or rich.thompson@shaw.ca to discern where you might offer stewardship of our property resources.

Easter Flowers

The Altar Guild is planning to decorate the church for Easter on Saturday April 15th and donations towards the flowers and lilies would be appreciated. If you wish to do so, you may allow us to purchase an Easter lily for you. As in previous years, we would order the lilies to come in on Saturday, use them in the church for Easter Sunday and they could then be taken home after the 10 a.m. service.  To order a lily, which will cost $10.00, please speak to a member of the Altar Guild or phone Brenda Binns at 604 931 2482.Thank you.

Dinner with the Muslim Community

Enjoy dinner with members of the Muslim community on Easter Monday, April 17 2017. It will be an unforgettable experience of dialogue and inspiration.  This will be an unprecedented opportunity for our respective congregations to build bridges of peace and tolerance by sharing personal journeys and learning about the journeys and values of each other. Proceeds will support mobile medical units for the Rohinga people in Myanmar. Please reserve tickets in advance by calling Rachel at 604-363-3144 or emailing zarah.rachel@gmail.com. She is coordinating church group attendance and seating and can either drop tickets off at St. John’s or leave them at the door during the event. 6:30 – 10:00 PM at the Aria Banquet Hall, 12350 Pattullo Pl, Surrey.  Tickets $30/person; must be reserved in advance. Forum on Public Health Care On Saturday April 29th,  St. John’s will be hosting a Forum on Public Health Care where the BC Health Coalition will be speaking on their various advocacy campaigns in support of public healthcare in advance of the provincial election.  Come get informed on issues and ask your questions.

 

Community Choral Event

The Coquitlam Chorale presents “Canadian Choral Fantasy”, to be held at Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship church Saturday, April 22nd at 7:30 pm Sunday, April 23rd at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $20.00 for adults/seniors, and $10.00 for children, and can be purchased from Charlotte Robertson 604 937-5724.

St. John’s Spring Tea

You are invited to our Annual Spring Tea on Saturday, May 6th, between 2 pm and 4 pm to be held in the church hall downstairs, entered from the back of the church.   Delicious pie and ice cream and a beverage for $5.   Visit our bake table, craft table and plant table.   Parking at the back and the side of the church.    Tickets at the door.

Who You Gonna Call?

Interim Priest- The Rev. Stephanie Shepard rev.seshepard@gmail.com or 778-773-6816

Parish Office- Karen Evans stjohn7@shaw.ca or 604-936-7762

Wardens- Geri Grigg gerigrigg@gmail.com Terry Walton terry&joanne_walton@telus.net  Maureen Simons mesimons@telus.net or through the parish office

Treasurer- Chelsea Belyk chelsea.belyk@gmail.com

Parish Council- Adelaine Miller, Secretary adelainemiller@shaw.ca

St. John Prayer Circle- Sue Elliott Elliott.sue1@gmail.com

Pastoral Visiting Ministry- Joanne Walton terry&joanne_walton@telus.net