The E-Postle March 17, 2019

The Second Sunday in Lent

E-postle

March 17, 2019

 

   “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, Mar 17           8:30 & 10am + coffee hour discussion after each service – 2^nd sermon in Preaching Series – “Jesus’ Ministry Priorities”

Tuesday, Mar 19         10:15am – noon – “The Poetry of Lent” Bible Study in the Parish Hall

Thursday, Mar 21        7pm – A.C.W. meeting  ***note time change to evening

Sunday, Mar 24           8:30 & 10am + coffee hour discussion after each service – 3^rd sermon in Preaching Series – “The Strategy of Jesus’ Ministry”

 

Stewardship Reflection

From Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972):

“Who will fan and force the fire of truth to spread across the world, insisting that we are all one, that mankind is not an animal species but a fellowship of care, a covenant of brotherhood?”

 

Lenten learning opportunities

We are excited to invite you to several opportunities for learning together this Lent at St. John’s:

• Preaching Series on Jesus – remaining Sundays Mar. 17, 24, 31, and Apr. 7. Michael Chin, Anne Anchor, and Vivian Lam are taking turns preaching on a different aspect of Jesus’ ministry, and how that connects to our lives now. At coffee hour after both the 8:30am and 10am services, we are gathering to share our reflections on that week’s sermon topic.
• Lent Worship Words – 6 – Apr. 14 – This Lent, we are reflecting together each day on how different aspects of our worship and worship space bring us closer to God. We are creating our own St. John’s Lenten calendar—both online via our Facebook page, and a physical calendar at the church. Individuals and families are encouraged to sign up to take the lead on reflecting on one day’s word – sign-up sheets are in the parish hall, or contact Vivian at rector@stja.ca
• The Poetry of Lent – remaining Tuesdays Mar. 19, 26 & Apr. 2, 9 – 10:15am-12noon – Our Tuesday morning Bible Study is reading the poetry of Mary Oliver together and reflecting on it and different scripture passages each week. Printed copies of the study guide are available – pick one up in the back of the church this Sunday or contact Jennifer in the parish office at administrator@stja.ca to have the guide emailed to you.

 

Food Bank Bread Help Needed

Help is needed! We are in need of more people to help collect the bread for the Food Bank from Cobs Bakery on alternate Tuesday evenings at 8 pm and deliver it to the church. This takes approximately ½ to ¾ of an hour to complete depending on how much bread is to be collected. Ability to lift the bins, which are a moderate weight, is required. If you are interested in helping out, please talk to Teri Hazelton or Ann Adair-Austin.

 

Cold Wet Weather Mat Program volunteers and donations needed

The Cold Wet Weather Mat Program (CWWMP) is being held again in the Tri-Cities. Even with people being housed at 3030 Gordon there is a need for extra shelter at this time of year.

The people of St. John’s have been helping in many ways since the beginning of this program in 2010. The Hope for Freedom Society continues to provide this unique CWWMP (it is the only one of this sort running in North America) with the help of the area faith communities. The uniqueness of this program is that the guests are able to get a good quiet night’s sleep, which is unusual at other shelter programs with people coming and going all night. Another unique quality is that people are fed dinner and breakfast on site and provided with a bag lunch to nourish them throughout the day. The evening meal is served restaurant style, rather than the guests standing in a line up to receive food and they report that they feel loved, respected and welcomed.

Homelessness is on the increase as our BC economy makes it more difficult for those living on the edges of employment. It is now estimated that 80% of working age people have seen a decline in their living standards. With this also is an increase in addictions and the cycle that goes along with that.

St. John’s is a caring community and can continue to offer support to this program when it is being held at St. Laurence Anglican, Coquitlam, in the month of March.  If you are unable to help on a morning or evening shift you can be part of collecting food for the lunches provided.

There is always a need for juice boxes, soft granola bars or simple bag lunch snacks that are easily chewed. These can be dropped off on Sundays at St. John’s or taken directly to St. Laurence during the week from 10-2.

A sign-up sheet for making sandwiches is posted on the bulletin board by the door in the hall.

Contact Mary Lou Kyle or Anne Anchor if you would like more info or would like to work a shift in March.

 

 2019 Diocesan Synod Information Sessions

In preparation for Diocesan Synod’s consideration for proposed revisions to our Diocesan Constitution, Canons and Rules of Order, several regional gatherings are being convened to present the current materials for information, comment, consideration and questions, including these upcoming two gatherings:

Saturday, March 30   

• 9:30am – 11:30am – St. Helen’s, 10787 – 128th Street, Surrey
• 1:30pm – 3:30pm – Synod Office, 1410 Nanton Avenue, Vancouver

These consultations are open to everyone, and Synod delegates and clergy are particularly urged to attend. More information can be found at https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/events/2019-diocesan-synod-information-meetings/2019-03-16

 

A Lenten Sequence concert

The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, UK, directed by Graham Ross, is one of England’s most respected choral ensembles. The thirty-voices-strong ensemble are presenting ‘A Lenten Sequence,’ this Friday, Mar. 22, 7:30pm, at St. James’ Church (303 E. Cordova St., Vancouver) which will include Tomás Luis de Victoria’s celebrated Requiem of 1605– widely considered one of the last great masterworks of the Renaissance – interwoven with English motets by William Byrd, Robert Ramsey, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Herbert Howells, and Gerald Finzi.  For more information & tickets, visit www.sjmusic.ca.

 

Death, Dying, & Dessert

Why should you have your estate & funeral planning in place? Come and learn how to make your family’s life a little easier when you’re gone. There will be presentations by the Rev. Wally Shea (Deacon) who is a retired Pre-Planning Counsellor & Funeral Director, and Stephen M. Miller who is a Barrister & Solicitor of Miller Law.

This free workshop will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2:00 to 4:30pm, at St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, 9887 Cameron Street, Burnaby. Please RSVP to ststbby@shaw.ca or 604-421-0472 to reserve your space. Presented with the support of the Anglican Parishes of North Burnaby and Tri-Cities (St. Timothy, St. Stephen, St. Laurence, St. John, St. Catherine).

 

 Less Plastics for Lent calendar

The Anglican Communion Environmental Network and Green Anglicans has created a “Less Plastics for Lent Calendar,” with a practical suggestion for each day of Lent to reduce your use of plastics. Download a PDF of this resource from https://files.constantcontact.com/a9c022f9001/d595440e-bcf3-4647-bddb-ee946084a535.pdf

  

General Synod Volunteers

The Diocese of New Westminster is very excited to host the 42nd General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada July 9 to 16, 2019, at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver, and are looking for people to join the General Synod volunteer team.

 

They are seeking people who are:

• outgoing and friendly,
• have experience in welcoming or greeting at church, or in other frequent capacities,
• and are interested in witnessing the wider Church in action.

 

Volunteers will be assigned in shifts to participate in areas such as meeting participants at the airport, on-site registration, providing local information and directions, etc.

 

Please see https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/diocesan-ministries/general-synod-2019 for more information.

 

Proteins needed for St. John’s Food Bank

Protein-rich foods are often the most expensive items for families to purchase when grocery shopping. People on limited budgets often cannot afford them, and make do with stodgy foods to fill stomachs. Please help those who need them by donating the following to St. John’s Food Bank in March:

• tinned salmon, tuna, chicken, beef (not all can eat pork products)
• shelf stable nut butters
• dried or tinned beans and peas
• powdered or shelf-stable milks
• meaty stews or soups
• cans of vegetables

 

Bring your offerings on Sunday, arrange with the office to drop off during the week, or give some money to this ministry towards the purchase of fresh products.

  

Prayer Cycle

The Anglican Church of Canada – the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate, and the Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Bishop.

The Diocese of New Westminster – the Most Rev. Melissa Skelton, Archbishop, and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of BC and Yukon.

 

This week:

*        St. Cuthbert, Delta – The Reverend Paul Woehrle;

*        Our partner Diocese of Northern Philippines, Bishop Brent Alawas, and especially the people of our twin church at St. John’s Mission, Bila, Mountain Province;

*       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 March 17, 2019 – Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35

Readings for March 24, 2019 – Third Sunday in Lent

Isaiah 55:1-9; Psalm 63:1-8; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9

 

Important Contact Information

Rector – The Rev. Vivian Lam – rector@stja.ca or 604-936-7762

Office Administrator – Jennifer Green – administrator@stja.ca or 604-936-7762

Rector’s Warden- Geri Grigg – rectorswarden@stja.ca

People’s Warden – Ruby Ng – peopleswarden@stja.ca

Treasurer – Cedric Miller – treasurer@stja.ca

Envelope Secretary – Sheila de Vaal – envelopesecretary@stja.ca

Parish Council – Adelaine Miller, Secretary – parishcouncilsecretary@stja.ca

Altar Guild – Brenda Binns – altarguild@stja.ca

St. John Prayer Circle – Sue Elliott – prayer@stja.ca

Pastoral Visiting Ministry – Joanne Walton/Alma Oldenburg – pastoralvisits@stja.ca

Anglican Church Women (ACW) – Sue Hall – 604-936-0176 or ACW@stja.ca

Children’s Ministry /Godly Play – Christina Anchor – children@stja.ca

Prayer Shawls – Rosa Weisensel – administrator@stja.ca

Bible Study – Lynne Milner – biblestudy@stja.ca

Food Bank – Lynne Milner – foodbank@stja.ca