Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

E-Postle

June 23, 2024

 

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 – http://www.stja.ca/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

Coffee/Tea will be served after the 10:00am service

 

 

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

 

Tuesdays                     10:30 am: Bible Study (see link above)

7:00 pm: Prayer Group (see link above)

Fridays                        11 am: Choir Practice

June/July                    Bag Hunger (see text below)

 

Sat – Jun 22                 5-9 pm: National Indigenous Peoples Day Blessing

Ceremony and Feast Rocky Point Park

Tues – Jun 25                     7pm: Parish Council meeting

Thurs – Jun 27                   9.30 am: Planning meeting for High Tea

Sun – Jun 30                        Canada Day celebration – Please wear red and white.

Sat – July 20                       10 am: Spring Street Community Kitchen/Curry Puffs

 

 

NEW THIS WEEK

 

Stewardship Reflection  

Prepared by Ven. Dr. M. Pollesel. John 3: 1-17 

“God sent his son into the world not to condemn the world but to rescue the world through him.” Are you part of God’s rescue team? A faithful steward cooperates with God in bringing God’s dream to fruition.

 

Ginny Harbour

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Ginny on 17 June 2024. Funeral arrangements will be made in Alberta and Ontario.

 

Design of Souvenir Programme Cover

As announced last Sunday, we are looking for a design for the above. We would like your input on what should be included. Please forward all ideas to Rohini at news@stja.ca.

 

Honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day with the community of Port Moody.

Saturday June 22nd 5pm-9pm.   

All are welcome to join in the Coast Salish House Post Blessing Ceremony and Feast, from the Facebook posting of the Port Moody Ecological Society…

‘Join our community in celebration of three house posts carved by Jonas Jones, Damian George, Brent Sparrow and Xwalacktun. These are the final three of five house posts being raised along these waters as part of the In the Presence of Ancestors project. Feast with us and participate in this beautiful sacred work’

Bring your own blankets, and picnic plates and utensils to join in the feast provided to all who attend in gratitude. The blankets created by people at St. John’s will be presented to various honoured people at this event.

 

 

Summer Vacation Bible School August 12-16^th from 9:00 am to Noon

HERO HOTLINE … CALLED TOGETHER TO SERVE GOD

Hosted by Good Shepherd Lutheran & St. Laurence Anglican Churches  at 1504 Sprice Avenue, Coquitlam (corner of Schoolhouse & Sprice) Ages 4 – 11 welcome!  /  Register at gslcc.ca By donation

 

 

Out-of-office

Rev Miranda – July 1 to 15

Rev Anne August 4 to 11

Rector’s Warden Rich – July 9 to 20

Treasurer Sheila – July 22 to August 5

 

 

INFORMATION

 

High Tea Planning Meeting – Thursday June 27 at 9:30 

High Tea on Thursday August 15th… the High Tea is planned to be a parish fundraiser and therefore we will need the help of members of the parish, not just the ACW.  To ease the burden on any one person, we are planning to form several small groups, each one being responsible for a particular area of the High Tea, e.g. advertising, set-up, clean-up, food and so on. If you are able to help or have ideas you want to share, please come to the meeting on Thursday, June 27 at 9:30 am.  If you are unable to attend but would be willing to help or share your ideas, please contact Ferne at mfernem@icloud.com

 

Bag Hunger

Access Youth, need our help. They are short of basic cooking staples and our Parish has committed to helping them. Show them you care with a donation of cooking oil (1 litre bottle) and/or salt.

We will run this challenge for June & July, and then we will switch to another 2 items they need for August and September… So, stay tuned.

Please pick up a brown paper bag at church to announce your pledge to support these families and bring it back with cooking oil and/or salt.

For info on Access Youth and what they do, please log in to: https://accessyouth.org/youth-gour-made/

 

Lost and Found

A pair of prescription Glasses with purplish frames lost on 25 May in the hall. If found, please contact Ann Adair-Austin at cannadairaustin@gmail.com

 

 

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PART OF ST JOHN’S

Vignettes from parishioners of the parish being offered throughout the year of the 125^th Anniversary celebrations. Please forward a written copy to news@stja.ca thereafter. These will be posted in the E-Postle as well as in the Souvenir programme for the Gala Dinner in September.

 

Rosemary de Sa – 16 June 2024

Derek and I first came to St John’s around 28 years ago when we moved from Ontario.  The late Rev. Ron Barnes was priest at that time and Anne Anchor, then Postulant to the Diaconate.  I remember we were warmly welcomed, and I specially remember an elderly lady sitting in front of us named Vera Parker.  She mentioned she was only 3 lbs at birth, her father said she didn’t weigh as much as a chicken – not big enough to make a decent meal!  Later we began to pick her up and bring her to church.

 

Derek had his first heart attack about a year or two after.  We had a lot of stress from trying to finish our basement and Derek was at cricket practice near Como Lake and Poirier when it happened.  He was rushed to RCH but did not have bypass surgery until about 2 weeks later.  He had 5 vessels bypassed and the surgery took a long time.  Fr. Ron Barnes stayed at the hospital with me, holding my hand and praying with me during the surgery.  He was wonderful.

 

We found the congregation very warm and welcoming and our eldest grandchild, Karina, used to travel to stay with us in the summer holidays and she loved and looked forward to attending vacation bible school which was run by Anne Anchor.  Derek and I celebrated our 50^th wedding anniversary at St John’s.  We renewed our vows – the priest then was Rev. Grant Rodgers.

 

Derek joined the choir and enjoyed that.  I remember that we could not go to Ontario for Christmas during Covid and after the 10am service the organist La Ree Mohr asked us what we were going to do for our Christmas meal.  We told her we were going to Denny’s.  She promptly replied that we were invited to her house for Christmas dinner.  Again, a warm welcome and an invitation the next year also.  She regularly took in people with nowhere to go or ‘strays’ as she called them.

 

Part of the attraction of St John’s was the feeling of multi-racial, multiculturalism, especially after St Margaret’s joined.  At first, they used to sit on the right side of the church and St John’s on the left.  Later that changed and now we are all one big mix, with everyone accepted.

 

Sadly, Derek died from a heart attack whilst walking with me on the Crunch on 1^st March 2022.  I was in a state of shock and suicidal.  The policewoman said that I could not be left alone that night and asked if I had family here.  All three of our daughters live far away so could not come until the next day.  She insisted that a neighbour spend the night at the house.  The next morning, after the neighbour left for work, I noticed a car in the driveway.  It was Betty and Mel, who stayed 2 hours, to be relieved by Joanne and Terry and after them Rosa.  They each stayed 2 hours and repeated until my family arrived.  They basically were lifesavers, and it is this true Christian spirit that makes this church so special and the multi ethnicity Derek and I found very special with everyone accepted.  The congregation is very caring and warm, and I will forever be thankful.  On another occasion, Antionette took me to hospital for an eye operation and drove me home after and Betty and Mel also took me to Eagle Ridge for a procedure.

 

Fr. Ron Barnes, quite elderly himself, even drove all the way from Kelowna to be at Derek’s funeral.  Soon after Derek died, David Gordon presented me with a lovely lifelike drawing of Derek.  These are all caring acts, and that is what seems to define St John’s.  Sylvia has always been very supportive and has helped me whenever I have been feeling down or depressed or needed a prayer – as was Rev. Vivian who, on the first anniversary of Derek’s death, offered to walk up to where he died and say some prayers with me and our eldest daughter Virginia, despite the weather being terrible – cold, sleeting and windy.  She can’t possibly know how much comfort this gave us.

 

Now, our interim priest, Rev. Miranda, is also very caring and has told me I can call her anytime I need to talk.  She is a very welcome addition and has livened us up with her beautiful singing voice, and her bongo drum playing; just what we need since we are rapidly ageing!

 

We also recently welcomed a lovely family from Colombia and some new younger enthusiastic choir members, helping to boost lagging numbers.  So, you see we are growing again and enriching our older congregation with younger people.

 

I cannot name everyone and please forgive me if I have left anyone out.  My point is,

St John’s is a very caring church and has always welcomed newcomers and I’m sure will continue to do so in the future.

 

I know Derek would want to express his thanks alongside mine for all your support over the years – it’s an honour to be part of the congregation.

 

Sheila De Vaal ODNW – 11 Feb 2024

 

My husband Jake moved to Vancouver in December of 1997, and the children and I arrived the following August.

Soon it was September and thoughts of back to school had arrived. It was time to get back to routine and for the De Vaal family, that meant back to church. So, come Sunday, all 6 of us climbed into the car and drove down to St Johns. We arrived about 15 minutes early and found no cars in the parking lot; we were not sure what to do. While we were deciding, an older gentleman stepped out of the back door. Jake and I got out to talk to him. He informed us that St Johns was having outdoor church that week and all were invited. Jake and I stood there undecided but were convinced that it would be fun.

So, we climbed back into the car and followed the gentleman to Old Orchard Park, and even found a parking spot. What we were not told was that it was outdoor church and a picnic.  After church we tried to sneak away but that was not to happen. Soon we were seated at a picnic table and a feast was put before us. A great time was had by all.

The following Sunday we returned to St. John’s, and for a while, the kids became regular attendees.

I was soon drawn into the activities and before long was a Sunday school teacher, and the following year I became a counter. That started my path down the road of being a member of the financial team among other things.

 

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT ST. JOHN’S

 

Flower Chart for 2024

This is up in 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.

 

READINGS

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 23 June 2024

1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16; Psalm 133; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41

 

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 30 June 2024

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43

 

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