THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

READINGS THIS WEEK The Fourth Sunday of Advent Micah 5:2-51; Luke 1:46b-55; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45 Christmas Eve Isaiah 52:7–10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1–4; John 1:1–14 Christmas Day Isaiah 62:6–12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4–7; Luke 2:1–20 

TO REMEMBER THIS WEEK IN PRAYER Our Clergy Beth, Caroline, John, Gary, Michael Our Diocese The Well, Rachel Robinson Executive Director, the staff and the participants. The Diocese of Jerusalem Redeemer Church, Amman, Jordan. The Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) The Provincial Synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of British Columbia and Yukon. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada (ELCIC) The dean, council, and congregations of the Southern Interior Conference of the British Columbia Synod. Sunday's Flowers The flowers at the altar this Sunday December 23rd are given to the glory of God and in celebration of the lives of Marcus and Sylvia Cloete by their children and grandchildren. Parish Prayer Group If you wish to have someone prayed for please email  prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca   or call (613) 232-4500 ext 21.

PWRDF World of Gifts! Looking for a unique, meaningful Christmas gift for a friend or family member? Why not shop at PWRDF’s World of Gifts. You can make a world of difference by making a gift at ( www.pwrdf.org/world-of-gifts ) PWRDF Christmas Cards – Sold out! The PWRDF Committee at St John’s extends a big “thank you” to all those who bought PWRDF Christmas cards this year. We sold out within a few weeks of sale. Thank you for supporting PWRDF programs around the world and here in Canada through your purchase of cards and your support all year.

QUILTS PLEASE A Christmas Bedtime Story, the service for children and the young at heart on Christmas Eve at 7 pm, features quilts on the floor for the children to sit upon. If you are able to lend a colourful quilt or blanket, please drop them off on Sunday morning (December 23rd)

CROCK POTS Beth needs to borrow some crock pots for the mulled apple cider on Christmas Eve. If you would please drop them off at the office - last chance is on Sunday morning 23rd December.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS The Church Office will be closed from December 24 th through January 2nd 2019. The next edition of This Week At St John's will be published on January 4th.

COMMUNITY THRIFT SHOP HOURS The Shop will be closed for the Christmas/New Year's holiday from Saturday, December 22nd, 2018 to Tuesday, January 1st, 2019. The Shop will re-open on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019.

WHAT'S HAPPENING!

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS Sunday, December 30th Regular Services – 8 & 10.15 am Come end the year with us!

ELGIN STREET CONSTRUCTION NEWS Heads-up! effective January 7th 2019 Elgin Street will be closed from Catherine to Somerset. Status and parking tips for the New Year are available on the Elgin Street Renewal website: ( www.ottawa.ca/elgin-street )

Weekly, January 7th to March 18th Joe Gunn will be teaching a 10-week course at the Ottawa School of Theology & Spirituality. The course, will examine 10 stories of justice efforts among faith communities. Details on this course and more at ( www.osts.ca/courses )

PASTORAL CARE IN THE PARISH Monday, January 14th 7 pm Come and learn about formal and informal pastoral care in the parish, as we move to having a new Pastoral Care Team at St John’s. Verna Nuttel, of the Ottawa Pastoral Care Training Course, will be our speaker and guide.

BETH'S SABBATICAL ADVENTURES Wednesday, January 23rd – 7 pm Beth will show slides and share stories from her time in England and Scotland, and reflect on reconciliation, connection, soul-time and pilgrimage.

SCRIPTURE READINGS  *next* week The First Sunday After Christmas 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52

St John the Evangelist Anglican Church  www.stjohnsottawa.ca  154 Somerset St. W., Ottawa, ON K2P 0H8 613-232-4500 office@stjohnsottawa.ca On facebook! here --->   StJfb The Reverend Canon Beth Bretzlaff, Rector The Reverend Dr Caroline Ducros, Deacon BGen (Ret’d) The Venerable John Fletcher, Honourary Assistant The Reverend Canon Dr Gary Hauch, Honourary Assistant The Reverend Michael Hicks, Honourary Assistant Dr Gordon Johnston, FRCCO, Organist and Choirmaster Laura Macdonald, Church Administrator Brian Cameron, Rector’s Warden Detlef Dransch, Peoples' Warden Kathleen Arsenault, Deputy Warden