St John's Newsletter 8 January 2023

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends,

Counting from Christmas Day, yesterday (Thursday) was the 12^th Day of Christmas. We let go of the 12 Drummers Drumming to welcome the Magi on Epiphany - today, January 6. I have decided I like my Christmas lights – I will keep them going until February 2, the Presentation of the Lord in the temple. That’s where the elderly Simeon and Anna recognize the child and give glory to God. So happy Epiphany!

The events on our calendar come with their own logic and they come at great speed. Here are the highlights:

This Sunday: We retell the baptism of Jesus which initiated his ministry – and we celebrate all the ministries of our community, and the people doing them! This Sunday, we feature one particular ministry as we commission Kimberly Johnson-Breen as St John’s Indigenous Engagement Coordinator. For this occasion, we welcome special guests: Louella Tobias, cultural grandmother, and Merlin Homer, songwriter (we are singing her music). The commissioning takes place during the service and continues with an Indigenous ceremony in the parish hall, with refreshments served. Please join us!

Looking ahead, the other big news – I will be participating in a course “The Palestine of Jesus” at St George’s College in Jerusalem. I will be away January 31 to February 27. I am so grateful to Allen Box who will lead worship and pastoral care while I am away.

The timing of my travels has an impact on our upcoming plans for St John’s:

The Annual Vestry Meeting will be held on Sunday, March 5.
Written submissions for the Annual Report document are due Sunday, January 22.

In the meantime, life at St John’s continues to be an adventure. I hope you will join me for the tour of the Sikh Gurdwara – Saturday, January 14 (details below). And we are going to have another movie night before I go: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – Wednesday, January 25 (details below). I am no Indiana Jones but I will be visiting places in the movie (Petra!) – and bringing back pictures of my adventure to share in a photo evening when I’m back.

So it’s the start of a great year. Happy New Year from me and from your churchwardens. I am so grateful for all their leadership!

Hope to see you Sunday!

Gary+

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 30^th, 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.”

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Those On Our Hearts

Barbara D, Pat H, The staff, volunteers and participants in the programs of The Well

Our Parish

Gary, Allen, Gordon, Josh, Kerry, Stephen, Brian, Michelle, Jill and all who minister at St John's.

Our Diocese

Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan; Linda, our Primate.
Parish of South Dundas and The Reverend Mark Lewis.
For all clergy under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Ottawa.

Our Community Ministries:

Anglican Day Programs: Centre 454; St. Luke’s Table; The Well/La Source
Centre 105 (Cornwall)
Cornerstone Housing for Women
Ottawa Pastoral Counselling Centre
Refugee Ministry

Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)

Dr. Andrea Mann, Director, and the staff of Global Relations; Ryan Weston, Lead Animator, Public Witness for Social and Ecological Justice.

ELCIC

The Assistants to the Bishop and the staff of the Eastern Synod.

The Anglican Communion from Aba to Zululand

The Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma).

Parish Prayer Group

If you wish to have someone prayed for send an email to:

prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.

JOIN US

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

8 January 2023

Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17

FLOWERS

The flowers are given in loving memory of John Patten and Paul and Erika Busing by Monica Patten, her children, and the whole Busing family, to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for lives well lived.