St John's Newsletter

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends,

This week’s newsletter is full of gratitude. We are grateful for opportunities to learn together and from each other:

We are grateful for the Blanket Exercise this past weekend. Thanks to our facilitators, Tealey and Dom, who helped us to feel the impact of history and their personal stories. Thanks to Kimberly Johnston-Breen, St John’s Indigenous Engagement Coordinator, for her sensitive leadership. Thanks to the All My Relations committee of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa whose generous financial support allowed us to offer this experience for free.

We are grateful for artists – Art Credo begins this week! See the details below for the Vernissage (official opening) and also for two new Art Credo Events: Paint-Along and Poetry Open Mic. See details below. Thanks to all who have signed up to volunteer over the next three weeks. We have a few more spots and we welcome your participation. And plan to visit!

We are grateful for Gordon Johnston. Over 40 years of music ministry at St John’s, Gordon’s leadership has made St John’s a music destination for the city, a wonderful supportive community singers and other musicians, and a sacred space to worship God in “the beauty of holiness.” We look forward to celebrating Gordon on Sunday, May 28. In addition to that being the final choir service before the summer – and the celebration of Pentecost – you are invited! Plan to be with us Sunday afternoon 5-7 p.m.

Welcome as we worship God this Sunday, 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.

Gary

Lunch Discussion:

You’re invited to stay following the 10:15 service for a brownbag lunch conversation about the theology presented in the sermons of Holy Week. This is especially for you if you have found the idea of Jesus dying for your sins to be challenging. There is room for different ways of thinking about crucifixion and resurrection – and room for you to make up your own mind.

WITH THANKS

Thank you to all who participated in the Blanket Exercise on Saturday, April 22nd with our Mohawk and Cree Knowledge Keepers, Tealey and Dominic. They led us on a journey of stepping into First Nation, Métis and Inuit perspectives of colonization history. It was thought provoking, and painful at times.

Throughout the exercise Tealey and Dominic shared their personal stories of courage and complex trauma in an honest and transparent way. We concluded with a sharing circle and shared with each other, how we were impacted by this exercise.

This experience has now become part of the history of St John's, and provides a foundation for moving forward in our journey of truth and reconciliation with our Indigenous community at large.

Kimberly Johnson-Breen

St John's Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

WHAT'S HAPPENING

ART CREDO IS COMING!

Mark your calendars! This year’s 44th Art Credo Exhibit and Sale will run from Saturday April 29th to Sunday May 14th . This year’s show will comprise 115 works of art from 48 artists.

The Vernissage will be in the evening of Friday April 28th . Everyone is invited to come; and to bring a friend! Come meet some of the artists and get a preview of the art.

We are still looking for volunteer sitters. If you can offer 3 hours of your time during the exhibition to act as a sitter, there is a sign-up sheet on-line at https://tinyurl.com/yx6e5tvj .

Contacts: Detlef Dransch at ddransch@sympatico.ca, tel. 613.592.9897

or Mary Ann Varley at varleymaryann1@bell.net , tel. 613.745.2996

GET YOUR TICKET HERE

All are welcome at Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St. Ottawa, Saturday, April 29 from 2-4 p.m. for a fundraising concert with The Wild Cards, a jazz swing band, in support of Knox Church's Out of the Cold program.

Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Advance tickets available through the Knox Office (613-238-4774; knoxottawa@rogers.com) or online through Eventbrite (check the event notice at knoxottawa.ca or go directly to eventbrite.ca and search for 'Out of the Cold Wild Cards'.

Join us for an afternoon of offering gratitude for ministry partners, supporters, and volunteers, raising funds for the Out of the Cold meal program, and enjoying good music together.

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Those On Our Hearts

Linda & Rick, Heather & Scott, The staff, volunteers and participants in the programs of The Well/La Source

Our Parish

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

Our Diocese

Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan; Linda, our Primate.
The Area Parish of the St. Lawrence, The Venerable Peter Crosby, the Reverend Adam Brown and the Reverend Cynthia MacLachlan.
The Area Parish of South Carleton, The Reverend Carolyn Seabrook and The Reverend Allan Budzin.
The Brotherhood of Anglican Churchmen, its groups and members.

Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)

The Most Rev. Anne Germond, Bishop and The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Assisting Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Missionary Area of Moosonee.

ELCIC

The congregations of the Winnipeg area of the Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Synod.

The Anglican Communion from Aba to Zululand

The Episcopal Church.

Parish Prayer Group

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

prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.