The E-postle July 4, 2021

Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
E-Postle
July 4, 2021

“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”

 

THIS ISSUE AT A GLANCE

• Upcoming Dates
• Worship & Prayer: Ongoing Pastoral Care & Support
• Formation: July/August Indigenous Truth & Reconciliation Online Book Study, Education for Ministry (EfM), Area Youth Group!
• Stewardship: Stewardship Reflection
• Parish Matters: Survey on Reopening Buildings for Worship, Rector Away, Buildings to be Open for Small Groups, Current Parish Office & Buildings Status, Bishop’s Letter re: June 15 Updated Provincial Safety Plan, Financial Status for April and May 2021, Parish Giving, Ongoing Updates Pages, E-Postle Submissions
• Parish Ministries: Anglican Church Women – Fall Bazaar & Jigsaws for Mission to Seafarers, Food Bank Report
• Community News: Summer Offering – Morning Prayer, In the Presence of Ancestors Video, Sacred Teachings Podcast – The Season of Ginny, Spring Street Community Kitchen
• Weekly Devotions: Prayer Cycle, Scripture Readings
• Important Contact Information

 
UPCOMING DATES

***Note: All gatherings below take place online via Zoom unless otherwise indicated.***
(Visit https://www.stja.ca/2021/program-updates/ for connection information)

Sunday, July 4                        8:30am & 10:00am – Sunday Morning Prayer

https://zoom.us/j/542312325?pwd=R3FKTnZ4WUU1YUFveCtzOUljM2FLZz09
Meeting ID: 542 312 325
Password: 010729

Sunday, July 4                        following 8:30am and 10:00am worship – Informal Virtual “Coffee Hour”
Tuesday, July 6                       10:15am – 12:00pm – Bible Study
Tuesday, July 6                       7:00pm – 8:00pm – Prayer Group
Tuesday, July 13                     10:15am – 12noon – 1^st Tuesday AM Truth & Reconciliation Book Study
Wednesday, July 14               7:30pm – 9:00pm – 1^st Wednesday Eve Truth & Reconciliation Book Study
Tuesday, July 27                     7:00pm – 9:00pm – Parish Council

 

WORSHIP & PRAYER

Ongoing Pastoral Care & Support

A note from Vivian:

Please know that St. John’s is here for you as we continue to move through this pandemic. Now that I don’t see many of you as regularly, and with the limitations of virtual interactions, it is more challenging to know what everyone’s state of wellbeing and ongoing pastoral needs are. I invite and encourage you to reach out to me or to any of the other parish resources below, if and as you need.

Rector – Please contact me via rector@stja.ca or cell.  I am happy to connect via phone, email, text, Facetime or Zoom, and, during this pandemic, in-person in urgent situations. I am here for support in crisis times (i.e. emergencies, hospital stays) and if you would like prayer for an upcoming medical procedure or other major circumstance. I am also available for general spiritual support and encouragement, and can offer a listening ear and prayer in the moment.

Community “Phone a Friend” – our Stewardship Team has set up phone teams to call folks each week to “check in” and help lessen isolation and foster connection. Connect with Kristin (bobandkristinkuhn@gmail.com or 778-957-8987) or Natasha (freefromfear101@gmail.com or 604-961-6630) if you’d like to receive or help make these calls.

Sunday Prayers of the People – If you would like to be prayed for in our Sunday intercessions, please email Anne at deacon@stja.ca. You will be prayed for by first name, for whatever time period you indicate. If you are adding someone else, please be sure you have their OK to do so.

Prayer Circle – Please email Sue E. at prayer@stja.ca. This is a group of parishioners who commit to pray for prayer needs of parishioners and friends/families. All requests are kept confidential within the group, and you can let the group know as much or as little detail of the situation they’re praying for, as you wish. If you are requesting prayer for someone else, please be sure you have their OK to do so.

Parish Visiting Ministry – Members of this team focus on our parishioners who are homebound or living in care homes. During this pandemic time, they are praying for and connecting with these parishioners via phone, email, and mail. Please connect with Joanne W. or Alma at pastoralvisits@stja.ca with needs in this area.

FORMATION

July/August Indigenous Truth & Reconciliation Online Book Study

We will be beginning a 4-week online weekly book study in July and early August, on the intersection of our faith and our journey toward Indigenous Truth & Reconciliation.

There will be 2 groups:
1 – Tuesday mornings (10:15am-12noon) – on July 13, 20, 27 and August 3.
2 – Wednesday evenings (7:30 – 9:00pm) – on July 14, 21, 28 and August 4.

The main book we will be exploring is In This Together: Fifteen Stories of Truth & Reconciliation, edited by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail. In addition to reading and discussing selected stories from this book, we will also be supplementing with various other written and video resources.

From the book publisher: “What is real reconciliation? This collection of essays from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous contributors from across Canada welcomes readers into a timely, healing conversation… these reflective and personal pieces come from journalists, writers, academics, visual artists, filmmakers, city planners, and lawyers, all of whom share their personal light-bulb moments… Without flinching, they look deeply and honestly at their own experiences and assumptions about race.”

You can purchase the book at your favourite retailer, and we have also ordered a limited number of books,  available at a discounted price of $10. (Help is available for those for whom this would be a financial hardship.) Please connect with Deanna at administrator@stja.ca if you would like to purchase through the church.

Education for Ministry (EfM)

We have just completed the 20th year of EfM groups held at St. John’s, and our three graduates are Heather Esposito (St. Laurence), Lois Holmlund (St. Stephen) and Connie Keen (St. Laurence). They were honoured at an on-line graduation service with Bishop John. Congratulations to all three!

A key component to EfM is Theological Reflection that gives you tools by which to reflect on your life, your faith, your personal belief, and your actions. This year this will be from the perspective of “Living Faithfully in Your World”. Through this lens we will study scripture, church history and evolving theologies. Year One is the Hebrew scriptures; Year Two is the Christian Testament; Year Three is the history of Christianity, and Year Four is deepening our understanding of Christian theology. Your commitment is for one year at a time.

The EfM program meets on Wednesday evenings from Sept. to May with mentors Anne Anchor and Debora Jones-Akiyama and fellow journeyers from different parishes. The fee is $350.00 per annum.

Please contact Anne at deacon@stja.ca for more information or if you would like to register.

Area Youth Group!

Are you a member of our St. John’s community that is aged 14 to 19, or are you entering grade 7 this year? If so, that means you are the perfect age to participate in the exciting youth activities happening right now, over the summer, and continuing next year!

The local youth group that meets at St. Laurence Anglican Church meets regularly to have fun together and is involved in all sorts of youth-related community and church projects. There are also lots of chances to participate in the youth movement to support youth in our churches at large, or to add a youth perspective to the work of the church. If you are interested in youth activities and would like to connect with our local youth group, please contact Kristin Kuhn at bobandkristinkuhn@gmail.com or connect with the Parish Office and we will help build that connection with you!

 

STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship Reflection

Mark 6:1-13
“They set out and announced that people should turn their lives around.” We can’t expect others to turn their lives around, unless ours is too. Have you allowed yours to be?

 

PARISH MATTERS

Survey on Reopening Buildings for Worship

Parish Council invites parishioners to complete a survey to share your thoughts on reopening the buildings for worship.

If you have not received an email with the link to the survey, you can request the link via the parish office. The survey should take roughly 15-20 minutes to complete.

We ask you to complete the survey by 5pm on Thursday, July 15, and each adult in a household should fill out a separate survey. Please submit only one survey per person.

Thank you for participating in our parish’s discernment about this topic!

Rector Away

Vivian has been taking a (virtual) spiritual retreat and some vacation time this week of June 28. She will also be taking a seminary course next week, and will be working limited hours then (week of July 5). Please connect with Deanna in the office at administrator@stja.ca or Ruby and Rich at peopleswarden@stja.ca or rectorswarden@stja.ca for routine parish matters during this time.

For pastoral emergencies, to be connected to the on-call priest, please call Ruby.

We are grateful to the Rev. Michael Chin and the Rev. Anne Anchor, who are leading Zoom worship services in Vivian’s absence. Michael will serve as officiant and preacher on July 4, as well as preacher on July 11. Anne will be serving as officiant at on July 11.

Buildings to be Open for Small Groups

Parish Council decided at our June meeting that beginning in July, and pending diocesan permission for indoor non-worship gatherings, small groups who wish to meet for ministry gatherings may do so, provided they 1) contact the parish office to book time through Deanna, and 2) follow all COVID protocols (current guidelines can be found at https://www.stja.ca/2021/updates-re-coronavirus/, specifically “Guidelines for User Groups”).

The main protocols include:

• obtaining prior approval to meet via the church office
• keeping a contact tracing list of people attending
• wearing a mask
• physical distancing of 2m/6ft
• keeping hands clean with soap and water or hand sanitizer
• disinfecting any touched surfaces as directed
• no sharing of food or drink
• using washrooms on an emergency-use-only basis
• staying home if feeling sick or having had any potential exposure to COVID

Current Parish Office & Buildings Status

The Parish Office is now open 3 partial days a week – generally on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10am-2pm – but please note that this schedule may shift from time to time. For now, the office will not be open to walk-in visitors – anyone coming by the office for a necessary purpose will need to make an appointment beforehand and follow Covid safety protocols as directed.

Anyone planning to come inside the church buildings at this time must also check in beforehand with Deanna in the office at administrator@stja.ca – even if you plan to be here just for a brief period of time. This is to enable necessary contact tracing, notification to anyone else in the building at the same time, and to review safety protocols as needed.

Two of our community 12-step groups are currently meeting in our space; other outside user groups have opted to hold off on meeting in-person for the time being. The 12-step groups are following strict safety protocols and are permitted to meet under the current provincial health order.

You may view the full reopening plan, the most recent guide for outside user groups, as well as diocesan updates at https://www.stja.ca/2021/updates-re-coronavirus/

Bishop’s Letter re: June 15 Updated Provincial Safety Plan

In response to the updated COVID-19 Safety Plan for the Province of BC that came into effect on June 15, Bishop John has sent out a letter highlighting how these updates will affect diocesan guidelines. In this letter, he also notes, “NO parish (or other place of worship) must change their opening plans because they feel pressure to do so. It is very important that each parish plan for the best time to return to in-person/onsite worship in their situation.”

As you know, Parish Council has been in discussion and discernment since March about these matters, and as of our most recent May 25 meeting, among other planning, we have prepared a parish survey in order to solicit feedback from the wider congregation. We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available, but in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any Council member with questions or comments.

The Bishop’s letter can be found at https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/news/revised-worship-restrictions-in-the-diocese-of-new-westminster

Financial Status for April and May 2021

We append below the Parish financial status for your information.

Statement of Income and Expenses ending 31^st day of May, 2021

	April 2021 Actual $	May 2021 Actual $	May 2021 Budget $	YTD May 2021 Actual $	YTD May 2021 Budget $
Income	14,497.70	27,296.04	18,620.82	84,358.84	93,104.10
Expenses	18,582.86	16,481.08	18,541.32	78,110.00	92,706.60
Surplus (-) Loss	(4,085.16)	10,814.96	79.50	6,248.84	397.50

 

	April 2021 Actual $	May 2021 Actual $	May 2021 Budget $	YTD May 2021 Actual $	YTD May 2021 Budget $
Offering for General Funds	10,811.00	10,295.00	15,333.33	50,925.00	76,666.65
Offering for Property	1,111.70	1,111.70	0	5,534.50	0

Treasurer’s Note: We have a surplus in May but only because of the financial relief that we received from the Government of Canada. Our expenses were consistent with most months since we stopped in-person worship.

We received an email from the Diocese in May that contained great news. We qualified for some financial relief in the form of Canada Wage Subsidy from the Canada Revenue agency in the amount of $13,983.34 (for periods from Nov 22, 2020, to May 8, 2021), which is reflected in the May financials.

Parish Giving

Thank you to all who have continued with your offerings via PADs and cheques. If you wish to e-transfer your contributions directly to the church account, please contact Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca or Amalia at treasurer@stja.ca for more details. There are also links on our website at https://www.stja.ca/supporting-st-johns/ if you would prefer to donate by PayPal or Credit Card.

Ongoing Updates Pages

There are 2 important pages on our parish website which will be updated regularly as we have new information (links to both pages can also be found at the top of our homepage www.stja.ca):

1. Program & Worship Updates/Links – https://www.stja.ca/2021/program-updates/ – current information on programs, including Zoom meeting information and the bulletin and scripture readings for Sunday worship.
2. Updates on Covid-19 at St. John’s –  https://www.stja.ca/2021/updates-re-coronavirus/ – a collection of all special correspondence from the Bishop and from our parish re: actions that St. John’s and our greater diocese are taking with the Covid-19 virus.

E-Postle Submissions

If you have submissions for the E-Postle, please email them to Kathy by Wednesday at 9:00pm at news@stja.ca.

 

PARISH MINISTRIES

Anglican Church Women – Fall Bazaar

With anticipation that we may possibly soon be resuming to more of a normal life at St. John’s, the ACW have been discussing the Fall Bazaar which is usually held in November. We realize that it may not be with the same traditions as we have become used to, and that some adjustments may have to be made in concordance with the Provincial and Diocesan guidelines around Covid. As this is a Parish event we would like to ask if anyone would be interested in organising this event. Substantial support and guidance will of course be offered to whomever felt called to volunteer. Please contact Alma at 604 788 2562.

Anglican Church Women – Jigsaws for Mission to Seafarers

The Mission to Seafarers is seeking donations of jigsaw puzzles. The Seafarers have been confined to their ships during Covid – however, the Mission can still take donations to them. If you are among the many people who, like myself, have rediscovered jigsaw puzzles during Covid you may now be wanting to pass them on. If so, please contact Deanna to arrange for a time to drop them at the PMC during office hours. Thanks very much. – Sharon Cooper

Food Bank Report

At our April meeting, Parish Council decided to continue to support the SHARE Foodbank with donations of $500 per month taken from the St. John’s Foodbank fund (retroactive to January 2021), since our own Foodbank does not have immediate plans to resume in the near future. Thank you to those of you who have continued to support the Foodbank financially. Your contributions will still be helping those in need in our community.

And thank you to those who had supported the St. John’s Foodbank with donations of food while we were still meeting in person. The food has been sorted by date, and items close to their “Best Before” date have been taken to the SHARE Foodbank every month during the pandemic–so food donations have not been wasted!

Thank you again,
Mary Kyle

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

Summer Offering – Morning Prayer

You are invited to join a drop-in morning prayer group every Wednesday at 6am, starting June 30^th and continuing until August 25^th. Each session will include silent meditation and a liturgy of prayer from Philip Newell’s Praying with the Earth – Prayers for Peace.

This group is hosted by Contemplative Outreach of Greater Vancouver. For further information and the Zoom link, contact Christine Kesans at chris.kesans@gmail.com or 604-944-7447.

In the Presence of Ancestors Video

A video of people of the community sharing why they ‘wish to thank the original caretakers of these lands’ was made for National Indigenous People’s Day by the “In the Presence of Ancestors” project, and can be viewed at https://www.noonscreek.org/presence-ancestors/nipd2021/. Our own Deacon Anne participated as a ‘person of Port Moody’ in the filming!  

Sacred Teachings Podcast – The Season of Ginny

“The Season of Ginny,” the new seventh season of the Sacred Teachings podcast, is in honour of the Rev. Canon Ginny Doctor, who recently died from COVID. Ginny was Executive Producer and the heart and soul of the Sacred Teachings series, and was an important figure in the world of Indigenous advocacy and human rights.

The second episode of Season 7 is “All About Music”. (This and new episodes can be found at https://www.anglican.ca/im/podcasts/.) Ginny Doctor believed in the healing power of music. Whether to lift the Spirit or reclaim the Spirit, for Ginny it began and ended with music, and she spent a lifetime sharing this gift with the world. (Note: this episode contains themes of suicide that may be harmful or triggering to some audiences. If you, or someone you know is struggling mentally or physically, please contact The Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 833-456-4566 or send a text to 45645.)

The season of 8 podcasts will continue to explore Ginny’s work fighting racism, battling the pandemic of suicide in Indigenous communities, and helping to blaze a trail of self-determination for the Indigenous Anglican Church. We will hear about her writing and poetry and peek into the very soul of this deeply artistic and spiritual Mohawk woman.

The teachings, languages, traditions and stories of the Ancestors are shared in this podcast, which is sponsored by the Anglican Church of Canada. Highly respected Indigenous speakers are featured in this series, with a different theme for each season, including the sacredness of Creation and finding meaning in a global crisis.

Spring Street Community Kitchen

Thanks to all who participated in our most recent Spring Street Community Kitchen “Family Cooking with Pasta Polo’s Fred Soofi”. The video is available at https://youtu.be/iN5D62U_6cI.

Note that funds raised in support of our Spring Street Community Kitchen are being re-gifted to the communities we serve. Funds raised for this gathering will be gifted to the Hope for Freedom Society. Hope for Freedom Society has been assisting marginalized people in BC since 1997. They provide long-term residential supportive recovery for men and women suffering addictions, and also assist individuals in the Tri-Cities through their homeless outreach initiatives and meal programs. Donations can be given via https://www.stja.ca/supporting-st-johns/; please designate your gift to our Community Kitchen project.

We also welcome volunteers for future kitchens – planning, hosting, moderating, and tech support are just some of the roles available. Email us at SpringStreetCommunityKitchen@gmail.com.

(The Spring Street Community Kitchen is a partnership between St. John’s and Inlet United Church – be sure to like and follow us at https://www.facebook.com/SpringStreetCommunityKitchen.)

 

WEEKLY DEVOTIONS

Prayer Cycle

The Anglican Church of Canada – the Most Rev. Linda Nicholls, Primate, and the Most Rev. Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop.

The Province of BC and Yukon – The Most Rev. Lynne McNaughton, Metropolitan.

The Diocese of New Westminster – the Rt. Rev. John Stephens, Bishop.
And this week:

• St. Thomas, Chilliwack – The Reverend Allen Doerksen, The Reverend Jennifer Burgoyne, The Reverend David Koe;
• St. Thomas, Vancouver – The Reverend Michael Batten, The Reverend Ron Wickens, The Reverend Brynn Craffey;
• The Anglican Church Women – Gail Revitt, President;
• Our partner Diocese of Northern Philippines, especially the people of our twin church at St. John the Evangelist Mission, Balugan; and Brent Alawas, their current Bishop and Prime Bishop-elect of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines.
• 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.

Readings for July 4, 2021 – Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13

Readings for July 11, 2021 – Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Psalm 24; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29

 

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Rector	The Rev. Vivian Lam	rector@stja.ca	604-936-7762 (church voicemail) / 604-723-5029 (cell)
Deacon	The Rev. Anne Anchor	deacon@stja.ca
Parish Office	Deanna Lemke	administrator@stja.ca	604-936-7762
(No drop-in visitors at this time – please make an appointment to come in. General office hours are Tues/Thurs/Fri, 10am-2pm, but may occasionally change.)
Rector’s Warden	Rich Thompson	rectorswarden@stja.ca
People’s Warden	Ruby Ng	peopleswarden@stja.ca
Treasurer	Amalia McGlashan	treasurer@stja.ca
Envelope Secretary	Sheila De Vaal	envelopesecretary@stja.ca
Parish Council	Geri Grigg,     Secretary	parishcouncilsecretary@stja.ca
Altar Guild	Brenda Binns	altarguild@stja.ca
Anglican Church Women	Alma Oldenburg	ACW@stja.ca	604-788-2562
Bible Study	Lynne Milner	biblestudy@stja.ca
Building Repairs / Maintenance	Rich Thompson	property@stja.ca
Children’s Ministry/Godly Play	Christina Anchor	children@stja.ca
E-Postle	Kathy De Vaal	news@stja.ca
Food Bank		foodbank@stja.ca
Parish Visiting Ministry	Joanne Walton/Alma Oldenburg	pastoralvisits@stja.ca
Prayer Circle	Sue Elliott	prayer@stja.ca
Prayer Shawls	Rosa Weisensel	administrator@stja.ca