THE EPOSTLE – JUNE 3, 2018

The E-postle
June 3, 2018
The 5th Sunday after Pentecost

“The Parish of St. John the Apostle is called to be
* A Spirited Community at the heart of Port Moody
* transformed through the experience of the presence of
Christ
* and sent out to share God’s Love”
Upcoming Dates
Sunday June 3 12-2 pm, Parish Visiting Ministry meeting
at the Waltons
1-4 pm, Cedar Weaving at Noons Creek
Hatchery
Wednesday June 6 9:30 am-noon, Coffee & Crafts in the
parish hall

Sunday June 10 1-4 pm, Community Gift Making at Noons Creek
Hatchery
Thursday June 21 6 pm, Blessing Ceremony and Potlatch for
Port Moody Welcome Post
Thursday June 28 6 pm, A.C.W. Wind Up Dinner
Applications close for position of
incumbent for St. John the Apostle
Sunday September 9 Parish Welcome Back BBQ

What do we really mean by “welcome”?

Welcome Post Project Update
Opportunities continue to be open to us all in preparation for June 21, 2018 when “the Port Moody Ecological Society will host a Traditional Coast Salish Blessing Ceremony to raise our Post in Port Moody at ROCKY POINT PARK.” Part of the tradition of a Ceremony is to provide gifts to all attending and this is where you could help. To make arrangements to attend go the Noons Creek website: www.noonscreek.org On June 3rd 1:00-4:00 learn cedar weaving and make gifts. On June 10th 1:00-4:00 there is a Community Cultural Gift Making Exchange where you can help make other gifts to give away or bring supplies for others to help you make gifts of your culture. As well, six members of the congregation are preparing blankets to be presented to the honoured people at the Blessing Ceremony, these will be displayed and blessed at the Sunday services on June 17th.

On the National Church website, I found this stated goal for the church regarding response to the Truth and Reconciliation Report: “There is an urgent need for reconciliation in this land. Now it is time to take action towards a new relationship. Participate in the building of a new and reconciling relationship through learning, listening, and acting.” Last summer Parish Council agreed to support the Welcome Post Project and have had opportunities to hear stories of the Tsleil-Waututh and their relationship to the lands, to hear individual stories about the impact of the Residential Schools on families and the loss of the cultural practises of the First Nations in this area as we heard and what it means to them to be a part of the Welcome Post Project.

Over this past year we have had opportunities to work towards this goal. I must admit it has been a little difficult to find a way in which we could participate as we have no direct connection with a First Nations community in Port Moody. We have learned that the lands and waters around Port Moody were common territory for the summer gatherings of xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish),Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations peoples, on the shores and in the seaside forests there is evidence of this occurring. For me personally I heard that this project has helped recover some knowledge about the place of the inlet in the life of the people of this land. When the presence of people from St. John’s Anglican Church was acknowledged at the beginning of the Nature Walk with Cease Wyss I was humbled and honoured by this meaningful step in reconciliation and a new relationship.

Deacon Anne Anchor

The Search for a New Priest for St. Johns
The Parish Profile is now available through this link:
http://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/jobs/rector-st-john-the-apostle-port-moody

Now that the Parish Profile is being advertised across Canada, the search is on! Applications will be received by the Synod Office until June 21, 2018. At that time, two representatives from the Canonical Committee will sit down with the Archbishop’s Advisory Committee on Appointments to come up with a short-list to interview here in the parish. The interviews are usually conducted by a sub-set of the Canonical Committee over a 2-3 week period. Initial interviews are done in person or by Skype. A second round to discern may involve bringing the candidates to the parish for a face to face visit. If all goes well and the right person is found, the Canonical Committee will then recommend the appointment to the Archbishop.

The name of the new priest will not be announced until a Letter of Agreement is signed (another week or two). If he or she is currently in another position, the announcement will be made public in both places on the same day, and then notice will be given at the prior place of ministry. It may be 2-3 months before the new priest is able to begin but that gives lots of time to plan a party!

Summer Book Study
Lillian Daniel’s book “Tired of Apologizing for a Church I Don’t Belong To” explores what it means to give voice to the hope that is in us for being part of a faith community. Discussion on spirituality without stereotypes and religion without ranting encourage us to speak more openly about why faith matters. There is interest in reading this as a book study this summer in the Tuesday morning group. If there are others who would like to join in, form another small group, or read alongside, please email or phone the Parish Office by June 6 so that we can order enough copies. Suggested donation $20 when the book arrives.

Gardener Needed for Parish Ministry Centre
Are you a lover of roses? The beautiful flowers outside the Parish Ministry Centre need a loving touch to trim and weed, and the hedge would appreciate a haircut. Please volunteer to turn the garden from wild to wonderful. Bring your own tools or phone to use those at the Church. This is a short term project which can be done according to your availability.

Financial Update until April 20, 2018
For the year to date up to the end of April, both income and expenses are down from amounts budgeted at the February annual vestry meeting. April does not include the fundraising from the Spring Tea, but also reflects a slight dip in general contributions. How can you help out before summer with your giving?

2018 income to date: $68,050.89 2018 budget: $75,942.72 difference: ($7,891.83)

2018 expenses to date: $73,119.92 2018 budget: $75,942.68 difference: ($2,822.76)

excess/shortfall: ($5,069.93) $0.04 ($5,089.07)

Stewardship Reflection
“Empowered by our Creator’s love, we choose to serve as God’s children. Sustained by God, we serve, unaware of major outcomes following our prayers or actions which may seem minor. Sit in my love. Serve in my love. My joy will be yours. A phenomenon called Grace!”
– From Forward Day by Day
–
In what way do you serve without seeing the outcome of your prayers or actions? This week, pray for the joy that comes from God’s grace when you are not thanked for your service.

A.C.W. Wind Up Dinner
St. John’s A.C.W. will be hosting their Chinese Take-Out, ‘wind-up’ dinner on Thursday, June 28th at 6 pm. The cost will be $15. All are welcome to attend. At our May meeting, we resolved to disburse funds raised throughout the year to various outreach projects. These are the projects that we chose to support this past year and the funds that they received :

1. St. John’s Church (Capital Improvement Fund) $1,500
2. Syrian Refugee Program $ 300
3. Bird’s Nest $ 300
4. L’Arche $ 300
5. Mission to Seafarers $ 300
6. St. Jude’s $ 300
7. Annual Fund (VST) $ 300
8. The Home-Coming Society $ 300
9. Tri-Cities Women’s Shelter $ 300

Prayer Cycle
In the Anglican Communion-
* Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby; Primate of Canada Fred Hiltz and Indigenous Archbishop Mark McDonald; BC & Yukon Archbishop John Privett;
* our partner Diocese of Northern Philippines, Bishop Brent Alawas, and especially the people of our twin church at St. Johns Mission, Bila, Mountain Province;
* Archbishop and Metropolitan Melissa Skelton and this week:
St. Columba, Pitt Meadows
The Deanery of Peace Arch and The Rev. Stephen Laskey,
Regional Dean

*In our parish: priests prayerfully considering applying for incumbent
*The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada- National Bishop Susan Johnson, BC Synod Bishop Greg Mohr;
*The brothers and sisters who share our worship space: The Port Moody Korean Presbyterian Church and the Polish Evangelical Church.

Readings for June 10, 2018 3nd Sunday after Pentecost
1 Samuel 8:4-11 & 16-20; Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35

Important Contact Information
Interim Priest- The Rev. Stephanie Shepard rev.seshepard@gmail.com
Parish Office- Kelly Million stjohn7@shaw.ca or 604-936-7762: 9 am- 1 pm Monday through Thursday
Wardens- Geri Grigg gerigrigg@gmail.com or Ruby Ng rubyngchen@gmail.com
Treasurer-
Envelope Secretary- Sheila de Vaal
Parish Council- Adelaine Miller, Secretary adelainemiller@gmail.com
Altar Guild- Brenda Binns Brenda.Binns@hotmail.com
St. John Prayer Circle- Sue Elliott Elliott.sue1@gmail.com
Pastoral Visiting Ministry- Joanne Walton terry&joanne_walton@telus.net
or Alma Oldenburg almaolden@hotmail.com
Anglican Church Women (ACW)- Sue Hall 604-936-0176 sbhcat@hotmail.com