Dear Friends,
As always, welcome to church this coming Sunday. I hope you will join us for the service at 8:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.
I don’t know if you have noticed, but it seems there are new people in church almost every Sunday. We’re glad you’re here!
How can we know who is new when so many of us are wearing masks? First let me say how grateful I am that you’re wearing them. As the cold weather comes, there will be more colds, move flu, more covid. Currently, our safety requirement – from the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa – is that masks are required for anyone with a role in worship service except for someone speaking at a microphone. Otherwise, masks are optional. We will keep you posted if this changes.
Masks do make the social part of church challenging. It’s harder to hear. We miss the cues that facial expressions give us. We might not even recognize people we know very well. So how do we know when we are meeting someone who is here for the first time? And if you’re new, will St John’s – by which I mean the people of St John’s – be welcoming and friendly?
I know there are a lot of books out there about how to talk to strangers. You could do this:
· Say “Hi, how are you?”
· Wear your nametag, or let us know you want one and it will be ready by next Sunday!
· Say something like, “I know you can’t see all of my face to recognize me, I’m (your name!)"
I think people find this difficult because they don’t know what to say next. Maybe you’re worried that if you ask if someone is new, the reply will be that they have been here 30 years. Relax! We all intend kindness.
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This Sunday, following the 8:00 a.m. service, you could say, “Would you like to come over to Bridgehead for coffee with us?” | |
This Sunday, following the 10:15 a.m. service, you could say, “Would you like to come with me downstairs to make an Advent Wreath – or to check out the Christmas Baking? I want to get a jar of honey before it sells out. And by the way, the banana bread here is the best in the world!”
Let’s help each other feel safe and welcome this Sunday!
Gary+
PS
This Saturday is the Tour of the Hindu Temple. We still have a couple spaces, so please send a reply email to express interest. We will reply with details if there’s still room for you to join (maximum 15 participants).
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COVID Safety Update from the Diocese of Ottawa:
“Winter is on the horizon, people are indoors more, and COVID infections are on the rise. Throughout the pandemic, our response to the reality of the virus has been science-based and in line with public health, and this latest challenge must be met the same way. Effective this Sunday, October 30th, all liturgical leaders — including clergy, choirs, servers, chalice bearers, readers, intercessors, and sidespeople/greeters — must wear a mask before, during and after services except when speaking into a microphone, eating or drinking.”
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Gregory Saygon Concludes his role as Custodian
After many years as custodian at St Johns Gregory will be leaving his position as custodian. We are grateful for his service and wish him well in his future endeavors.
Gregory has been a parishioner at St John's since his childhood and continues to be apart of the St John's family. Gregory attends the 8am service where he continues to be on the roster as a scheduled worship reader.
St John's will be initially engaging to Sky High Janitorial services until the end of January to give us time to assess our future custodian needs .
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Those On Our Hearts
Cathy, Laurie, Darren and Family, Pat H., The staff, volunteers and participants in the programs of The Well and St Luke's.
Our Parish
Gary, Allen, Gordon, Josh, Gregory, Kerry, Stephen, Brian, Michelle, Jill and all who minister at St John's.
Our Diocese
- Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan; Linda, our Primate.
- Staff at Ascension House
- Vocations to the priesthood
- For the residents, staff, and Chaplains of the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre
Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)
The people of the Anglican Church of Canada.
ELCIC
The people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
The Anglican Communion from Aba to Zululand
The Nippon Sei Ko Kai.
Parish Prayer Group
If you wish to have someone prayed for send an email to:
prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.
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FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
27 NOVEMBER 2022
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Ronald Hannah
This Friday is the funeral for Ronald Hannah – in the church at 11:00 a.m. with reception following in the chapel. Read more about Ron’s life HERE.
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Hindu Temple Worship Field Trip
Saturday, November 26th
Here are the details for the Hindu Temple visit:
4835 Bank Street in Leitrim (south of Ottawa)
Saturday, November 26 - Be ready to start the tour at 9:15 a.m.
Preparation/Requirements: Remove your shoes in the temple, head coverings are not required, you are expected to wear a mask.
There is still room for 2-3 more people.
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World AIDS Day – Thursday, December 1st
This year, our observance takes the form of a Candle-Lighting memorial and thanksgiving those who have served and led at the forefront of HIV/AIDS. Special Remembrances:
Jay Koornstra & Dr Bruce Marshall. Further memorials invited - All are welcome to attend and share. Light Refreshments served. Thursday, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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2023 CHURCH CALENDAR
ORDER DEADLINE 27 NOVEMBER
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Gay Richardson is taking orders for 2022 Church Calendars. The cost is $5 each. Calendars should be available on Sunday December 11th at church. Delivery to those not at church can be arranged with Gay. Please pay with cash (exact amount required) if at all possible; otherwise cheques can be made payable to Gay Richardson. | |
Our choir will join with the choir of Woodroffe United Church and the Strings of St John's chamber orchestra to present a concert of music for Advent and Christmas, featuring Vivaldi's "Gloria".
Performances will be Sunday, December 4 at 2pm at Woodroffe United Church, and Sunday, December 11 at St John's. Tickets ($20) will be available at the door.
They are also available online at www.VivaldiGloria.ca. We hope you'll join the choirs and orchestra for a concert of festive music.
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Are you concerned? Do you feel anxious, overwhelmed and lost on how to act? You are not alone. Connect with like-minded people to explore the relationship between your life and climate change.
Climate Change and You - A six part program of discovery and learning.
Wednesdays starting January 11, 2023
6:45 to 9:00 pm on Zoom
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Registration form here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19fLd5KaGaqho1hHonSG3V4tFbEItmP96kbIRwb3f7Xo
This program encourages you to explore the relationship between your life and climate change and helps you work with the complex emotions that make it difficult to act. We do this through two-hour facilitated group workshops over the course of six weeks. Each week, you explore a new way climate change relates to your life.
Offered to St John’s and friends of St John’s by trained facilitators from Carbon Conversations Toronto.
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You can help the Altar Guild decorate the church for Christmas and remember your loved ones with flowers. Make your donation to St John's noting that it is for Christmas Flowers and if applicable, please include a note to indicate the names of the people to be remembered. You can put your donation in the collection plate any Sunday or drop it off at the Office. | |
The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of our parents and son
Mary and Harry Carter,
Phyliss and John Turner and
Eric Turner
by John and Patricia Turner.
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Refugee News: New Arrival | |
RAG is very happy to announce that a new family from Afghanistan arrived on November 10. They moved into their freshly-painted (by St. John’s volunteers) fully furnished three-bedroom apartment in Sandy Hill on November 10. The father is Gulagha. He is 44 years old. He will probably work in construction, or get his certification as a plumber. His wife, Munira, is 33. They will be supported by their brothers already here in Ottawa: Khalid, who has been here for about 8 years, and Sayed Jan, who we sponsored in 2019. This picture shows their mother who is also here in Ottawa next to Gulagha. | |
Sayed Jan, Farhad -17, Munira, Gulagha, Rasta - 3, Safia - 9, Ahmand - 7 | |
PWRDF Christmas Cards are coming to St. John’s! Sales begin Dec. 4th
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PWRDF Christmas cards are on order and should be available for sale by Dec. 4. This year’s Christmas cards feature two unique designs. The cards contain the message “Christmas Peace” in Oji-Cree, Inuktituk and the five official languages of the Lambeth Conference of the worldwide Anglican Communion: English, French, Japanese, Spanish and Kiswahili.
The design we have access to right now is the “Peace on Earth” card. The Holy Family card is on order. The cards come in packs of 12 and a minimum donation of $25 per pack is recommended.
Thanks to the prayers, actions and gifts of Anglicans across the country, PWRDF has supported partners in Canada and around the world for more than 60 years, making a world of difference.
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THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
4 DECEMBER 2022
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ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST
ANGLICAN CHURCH
www.stjohnsottawa.ca
154 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, ON K2P 0H8
613-232-4500
office@stjohnsottawa.ca
St John's on Facebook!
St John's on Instagram!
The Reverend Canon Gary van der Meer, Rector
The Reverend Canon Allen Box, Honorary Assistant
Dr Gordon Johnston, FRCCO, Music Director
Joshua Zentner-Barrett, ARCCO, Associate Organist
Stephen Giles, Rector’s Warden
Michelle Smulders, Deputy Rector's Warden
Brian Cameron, People's Warden
Jill Moll, Deputy People's Warden
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Anishinabe aking ate awaso kikinawadjichigan.
This land we are upon is the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation.
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