Sixth Sunday After Pentecost

E-Postle

July 9, 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 bulletin and scripture readings for Sunday worship.

 

Click here for contact info for parish ministries

 

There will be Coffee hour following the 10am service. 

 

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS: 

Tues – Jul 11                  10:15am – Bible Study on Zoom (see link above) / 7pm – Prayer group on Zoom (see link above)

Sun – Jul 16                    (after 10am service) Parish Visiting Ministry meeting

Sun – Jul 23                    (10am service) Cedella Alibaksh baptism

Tues – Jul 25                  Parish Council meeting

Wed – Aug 2                  10am – Coffee and Crafts

Thurs – Aug 10               1-3pm – “High Tea at St. John’s” Fundraiser

 

NEW THIS WEEK

Stewardship Reflection

Matthew 11: 16—19, 25-30 – Prepared by the Ven. Dr. Michael Pollesel.

It’s difficult to find many these days who don’t feel “overburdened.” We all seem to have a great deal on our “plates.” Jesus reminds us that the faithful steward is the one who comes to Jesus and asks him to share the burden.

Anne Anchor Leave of Absence

As announced at last Sunday’s services, our deacon Anne Anchor is currently in hospital, waiting for an infection to clear. She has decided, wisely, to take a leave of absence from parish duties for the rest of the summer, in order to rest and to focus on healing. During this period, please contact Vivian at rector@stja.ca or Georgette at administrator@stja.ca for any deacon-related business.

Please continue to keep Anne in your prayers. Messages of care and concern can be sent to her in this time via her personal email.

E-Postle Entries

Please note that any entries for the E-Postle need to be forwarded to news@stja.ca by Thursday morning.

Summer Fun… High Tea at St. John’s!

A note from Ferne Malcolm: 

I am concerned about the finances at St. John’s and thought maybe we could have some quality time together this summer, plus also put a little money in the coffers.

The date for High Tea will be Thursday, August 10, at 1:00pm. I would do a great deal of the planning and ask for help where it is needed. All we need is for you to come and bring family and friends!

We will have tables for four, six or eight people. These could be made up of your friends from St. John’s, guests, or family that you might care to invite. To make it special, perhaps one member of each group would provide the china… luncheon plate, cup and saucer, teapot, and serving plates or a tiered serving plate. Maybe you have matching napkins? (Note: you don’t have to bring your own china as we do have lots at our disposal at the church… though none of it is terribly fine or terribly fun!) We would have tea made, but if you would prefer a special blend, please bring it… there will be lots of boiling water.

The cost for a ticket will be $40.00 with all funds going to St. John’s General Fund, except for a small amount to cover costs.

For more information or to reserve tickets, contact Ferne. Tickets will be available until August 2. 

Music Director Job Posting

Our job posting for parish Music Director is now up at https://bit.ly/STJAMusicDirector. We will also have printed copies available on Sunday at the back of the church. Please help us spread the word to musician family, friends, and colleagues. Application deadline is Thursday, July 27.

Guest Musician

We extend a warm welcome to Amber Tarling, who is serving as guest musician at our 10am worship service this Sunday, July 9.

 

INFORMATION

Community Garden

All garden boxes in Phase One of our community garden in the front yard of the PMC have been assigned. We are now keeping a waitlist – please email garden@stja.ca to enquire.

We would welcome donations of previously-loved or new garden tools such as pruning shears, shovels, rakes, forks, loppers, trowels, and spades. Please connect with Karen Ebbett.

Please see our website information page and like, follow, and share our Community Garden Facebook page, where we are posting pictures and updates on this exciting project!    

Parish Council June Meeting Summary

Parish Council had a productive Zoom meeting on Tuesday, Jun 27. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, Jul 25.

Besides our usual group prayer and spiritual reflection and general reports, we finalized our 2023 goals; discussed our current financial deficit; affirmed offering temporary space in the PMC basement to support diocesan ACW outreach (if needed); and celebrated the progress of our Community Garden.   

Financial Status – April & May 2023

	April 2023 Actual $	May 2023 Actual $	May 2023 Budget $	YTD May2023 Actual $	YTD May 2023 Budget $
Income	18,287.00	14,755.75	19,958.76	77,086.00	99,793.80
Expenses	19,202.49	18,536.77	19,958.72	94,153.06	99,793.60
Surplus (-) Loss	(915.49)	(3,781.02)	0.04	(17,067.06)	0.20
Offering for General Funds	12,263.75	9,403.75	15,485.00	52,148.75	77,425.00
Offering for Property	665.00	560.00	0.00	3,110.00	0.00

Warden Note on Financials

Parishioners can see above from the financial figures that the parish is not where we would like to be from a budget perspective. Up until the end of May, we have an accumulated deficit of $17,067. If our finances continue in this same manner, we can expect to finish the year with a deficit of just under $41,000.

Here are some smaller numbers to consider: We have 121 regular givers in our parish (a couple counts as 2 people). If each contributor were to give an additional $7 per week, we would be able to hold the deficit at its present level. In order to balance our books by year end, we need each giver to donate an additional $5.50 per week.

When we presented the budget at Annual Vestry, we knew it was aspirational, and we were pleased that it was approved by the members of the congregation. We are now asking you to increase your contribution to the church, if at all possible, in order to meet the goals that we set together. Failing this we must be prepared, at the next Annual Vestry meeting, to make difficult decisions about which programs and expenses are to be cut.

-Rich Thompson 

Revised Office Hours

Beginning June 27, office hours have changed to: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am-2pm and Fridays 1-5pm.

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT ST. JOHN’S

Flower Chart for 2023

This is up at the Narthex (at the 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 to donate 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 FOR ALL AGES 

Education for Ministry (EfM)

A course of study offered on Zoom, on Wednesday evenings, for people who yearn to shape their faith into action and to strengthen their walk with God.

Participants have been asked why they have taken EfM…

• to speak with knowledge about their faith
• to be in community with fellow people who are on a journey
• for disciplined Bible study
• to live a life grounded in faith
• to deepen their understanding of their relationship with God

EfM offers…

Community with: 

• fellow people of faith
• enquiring people of faith
• discerning people of faith
• people longing for wisdom

Insight into: 

• Hebrew scripture
• New Testament
• Church history
• various theologies over time

A way to think theologically:

• in your day-to-day life
• in your place of work
• in your family
• wherever you minister in your church community

We meet weekly September to May, with breaks at Christmas and Easter. The program runs for four years but each year is taken independently. The seminar has people who are studying in all four years; this adds a real depth of richness and support for all present.

If you wish to find out more about this amazing and enriching program please contact Debora Jones-Akiyama, or one of the many in your parish who have participated in this course.

 

Readings for July 09, 2023, Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

GENESIS 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; (in place of Psalm) SONG OF SOLOMON 2:8-13; ROMANS 7:15-25A; MATTHEW 11:16-19, 25-30

Readings for July 16, 2023, Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

GENESIS 25:19-34; PSALM 119:105-112; ROMANS 8:1-11; MATTHEW 13:1-9, 18-23