Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

E-Postle

February 12, 2023

 

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 – https://www.stja.ca/2023/program-updates/ – current information on what’s going on at St. John’s, including Zoom links and the bulletin and scripture readings for Sunday worship.

 

There will be NO Coffee & Refreshments after the 10 am service.

 

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS:

Sat – Feb 11                               1:00pm – Mickey Marshall memorial service

Thurs – Feb 16                           1pm – ACW meeting

Wed – Feb 22                            10:00am and 7:00pm – Ash Wednesday services

Sun – Feb 26                              Annual Vestry Meeting

Thurs – Mar 9                            Spring Street Community Kitchen (at Inlet United Church)

 

NEW THIS WEEK:

Stewardship Reflection

From Working Preacher – Matthew 5:21-37

“Jesus wants his disciples to be people of integrity, people who are faithful to their promises. People who have no need to swear that they are telling the truth because they are truth tellers.”

Passing of the Rev. Dr. Catherine Hall

Wednesday morning, February 8, I received a call from Deacon Trudi Shaw that Cathie had passed away peacefully that morning while in the palliative care unit of Nanaimo Regional Hospital.  During her last days, she was surrounded by family and friends, God’s love, and was in the prayers of many of those who had been touched by her in their lives. Rest in peace faithful servant of God.  An announcement will be made regarding her service at a later date. – Deacon Anne

Sheila Maciejewski Funeral Update

At this time, Sheila Maciejewski’s family has decided not to have another funeral service beyond the one held last month in Kelowna. Vivian and Lilian will, however, be officiating at a small family-only interment of Sheila’s ashes at the end of this month.

You may contact the Parish Office for the mailing address to send the family condolences; you may also give cards/notes to the office to forward on to the family.

Syria/Turkey Earthquake Response

All of us have been touched in some way by the news of the earthquakes this week in Syria and Turkey. You can make a donation to the Syria/Turkey Earthquake Response through the Primates World Relief and Development Fund by going to https://pwrdf.org/give-today/ for details as to how to give.

Please continue to hold the people who are in mourning, who are recovering, and who remain homeless in prayer at this time.

Ash Wednesday—Feb. 22

Everyone is invited to begin the season of Lent together as a community on Wednesday, Feb. 22. There will be two opportunities to observe Ash Wednesday with your St. John’s family: a morning service (spoken) at 10am and an evening service (with music) at 7pm. All ages are welcome. We are still determining if Zoom is possible for the evening service – if so, it will be the same Zoom link for Sunday worship, found on our website.

Annual Vestry Meeting – Feb. 26

Annual Vestry will be a hybrid meeting (in-person and on Zoom) on Sunday, Feb. 26, upstairs in the sanctuary beginning at 11:30am. The official notice has just been sent out via email (and postal mail for those without email addresses on file), and the Annual Vestry Reports and Financial Reports will be sent as soon as they are ready.

Note that only tea and coffee will be served downstairs in the Hall that day. You may bring a bagged-lunch but it is preferred that you do not eat in the sanctuary.

Rector Away

Vivian will be away on vacation beginning Monday, Feb. 13, and returning on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Please connect with Joanne at administrator@stja.ca, Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca, or Rich at rectorswarden@stja.ca for time-sensitive parish matters during this time.

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

We are grateful to the Rev. Georgina Harris who will serve as supply clergy next Sunday Feb. 19.

Forward Day by Day Booklets

Large and small print copies of the Feb-Apr 2023 “Forward Day by Day” booklets are in the back of the church. (Each day’s devotional is also online here.) These booklets are published by Forward Movement, a ministry of the U.S. Episcopal Church; they contain a daily devotional with scripture excerpts and short meditations, with each month featuring a different author.

Return-It Express

Thanks to all who have been depositing your recyclables to benefit St John’s account. We have been reminded to scan all bags, and to not overfill your bag to make sorting and counting more efficient for the staff.

 

INFORMATION:

ACW (Anglican Church Women) Meeting

Thursday, February 16th at 1pm in the church hall. We will be collecting the United Thank Offering at this meeting. The ACW continues to collect used clothing, household linens and blankets for the Bales to the North program. Most needed at the moment are: blankets and men’s clothing. If you have any items to donate, please contact Ann Adair-Austin.

 

HOW YOU CAN SERVE THOSE IN NEED

Next Community Kitchen

Please join us for our next Spring Street Community Kitchen on Thursday, Mar. 9, 6-8pm at Inlet United Church.

We will be making a breakfast casserole and lunch sandwiches to be served to guests of the Cold Wet Weather Mat program, hosted by Coquitlam Alliance Church in March. All ingredients and equipment will be provided; we are inviting kitchen participants to bring items to add to packed lunches. There will also be some social time after we are done cooking to visit with old and new friends!

Pre-registration for this free kitchen is required – please email your name, email address, and any questions to SpringStreetCommunityKitchen@gmail.com.

(The Spring Street Community Kitchen is a partnership between St. John’s and Inlet United Church – like and follow us at our Facebook page.)

Refugee Family

A Giving Tree is set up in the Church Hall for people to sign up. Please consider donating a welcoming gift for our arriving family. Choose a tag labeled with suggested school supplies from the baggie beside the Giving Tree, or donate some money to help with the cost of a school supply order.

Put your name on the tag and attach it to the tree. Please give your gift to a member of the ReSponse Team – Mary Kyle, Karlis Kesans, Sheila De Vaal, Richard Owen or Laurie Fox. There are also a number of household items that have not been purchased yet. We will post a list of those items beside the tree.

Please contact Mary Kyle for more information. We will be keeping track of items that have been purchased, so please let Mary know what you will be giving, so we can avoid getting duplicates.

If you know of a 3-bedroom apartment or townhouse for rent at a reasonable price, please let Mary know.

 

HOW YOU CAN SERVE IN THE PARISH COMMUNITY

Wednesday Morning Prayer Space

We will begin experimenting soon with opening the church for personal prayers and meditation on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 am to 1 pm. It is intended that we will have a “pair” of volunteers to sit in the sanctuary and welcome anyone who would like to come in to pray. If you feel called to this ministry, please connect with Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca or Vivian at rector@stja.ca.

Intercessors, Lay Assistants and Technical Support Assistants

We are looking for more people to sign up for the above. Please connect with Anne at deacon@stja.ca or Ruby at peopleswarden@stja.ca

New Council Members

As we prepare for Vestry to be held on Sunday 26 February, following the 10am service, we are seeking 2 more council members to form the leadership team. If you have the interest to participate in and contribute to the ever-growing needs of our parish, please connect with Vivian, Anne, Rich or Ruby.

Sunday Coffee & Refreshments

A Roster/Sign-up sheet is on the notice board in the kitchen. Please consider signing up if you are able, or if you would like to contribute treats.

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT ST. JOHN’S

Flower Chart for 2023

is up at the Narthex (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 for 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.

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMATION AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Epiphany Reflections

In Epiphany we are exploring the flip side of darkness, and reflecting on how God can be found in the more obvious “light”, considering the question “Where in your ordinary, everyday life does God shine clearly?” through written and photographic reflections.

Check out the reflections posted daily (Mon-Fri) on our Facebook page and also our diocesan parish webpage. Thanks to everyone who is contributing!

 

Readings for February 12, 2023, Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37

Readings for February 19, 2023, Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9

 

 

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Rector	The Rev. Vivian Lam	rector@stja.ca	604-936-7762
Deacon	The Rev. Anne Anchor	deacon@stja.ca
Parish Office	Joanne Fong	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	Sheila De Vaal	treasurer@stja.ca
Envelope Secretary	Antoinette Woodman & (Asst. Env. Secretary) May Fung	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
Bible Study	Lynne Milner	biblestudy@stja.ca
Building Repairs / Maintenance	Rich Thompson	property@stja.ca
Children’s Ministry/Godly Play		children@stja.ca
E-Postle	Ruby Ng	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