St John's Newsletter 5 March 2023

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends,

This past month has been an eventful time for me and also an eventful time for St John’s. The result of this is a newsletter full of activities and dates for you to join at St John’s!

For my part, I am back at St John’s after a month away in Israel, Palestine and Jordan. I participated in the course, “The Palestine of Jesus” offered by St George’s College located at St George’s Anglican Cathedral in Jerusalem. It was a very rich experience. Based on a past experience of being in Israel, I went wanting to resist that version of Israel that I would describe as “Bible Disneyland.” What I found truly exceeded my expectations – instead I experienced a re-enchantment with the stories of Jesus. This was a real blessing and I expect it will affect how I tell and interpret Jesus over the coming months. But I would especially like to share this experience with you through two events.

A Presentation of Pictures and Stories

Stay after church on Sunday, March 12. Bring a sandwich lunch (and a few extra sandwiches in case someone doesn’t have any). There will be a brief presentation about Affordable Housing at Bells Corners and then we will present pictures and stories of the Palestine of Jesus. Sunday, March 12, 12:00 p.m.

An Evening Coffee House

It just so happens that my visit to Israel coincided with the annual convention of Reform Rabbis. It was a delight for me to share a meal with Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg of Temple Israel. The Rabbis saw a different version of Israel, especially current Israel, including meetings with the mayors of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and also a meeting with the Palestinian Authority. Rabbi Daniel and I will share our experiences and stories of current life in Israel and Palestine as a coffee house evening at Temple Israel on Friday, March 24, 7 p.m.

While I was away, life was a bit crazy at St John’s! The extreme cold Sunday service, the boiler, the HVAC, the flood, the soffit and fascia…

All of this has meant some recalculating of our finances for the coming year.

With permission of the Bishop of Ottawa, we will delay our Annual Vestry Meeting to Sunday, March 19. This extra time will help us to work on our plan for the coming year.

We invite you to join us for the Budget Overview Meeting on Wednesday, March 15. Plan to join us on Zoom at 7:00 p.m. JOIN HERE.

Special thanks to the St John’s team that handled everything so well over the past month. Thanks to our churchwardens: Stephen, Brian, Michelle and Jill. Thanks to our parish administrator Kerry Bradley for many long hours and late evenings dealing with these building challenges and to Detlef Dransch and Ted Reeve, who also went the extra mile. Thanks to Allen Box who faithfully led services: 4 Sundays, Ash Wednesday, and a funeral, all done with love for the people of St John’s. Finally, let me say, especially after a month away from snow, how much I love the stuff! I’m looking forward to seeing you this Sunday, 8:00 and 10:30 a.m.

Gary+

COVID Safety Update from the Diocese of Ottawa:

Green Stage means parishes observe normal liturgical and social practices, while following these public health recommendations:

asking people to stay home when they are sick;
encouraging mask-wearing in indoor spaces; and
keeping up-to-date on COVID boosters.

We continue to recommend mask-wearing for those who are distributing communion.

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Those On Our Hearts

Margaret, Maura and family, Pat H, 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 Diocese of Jerusalem and Archbishop Hosam Naoum.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
Bishop Susan Johnson and Bishop Michael Pryse.
The Parish of Huntley and The Reverend Dr. Mary-Cate Garden.
Holy Trinity Metcalfe and all who minister there.

Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)

The Rt. Rev. Sandra Fyfe, Bishop, and the people and clergy of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

ELCIC

The dean, council, and congregations of the Northern Area of the Eastern Synod.

The Anglican Communion from Aba to Zululand

Church of the Province of South East Asia.

Parish Prayer Group

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

prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.

JOIN US

SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

5 MARCH 2023

Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Maundy Thursday Supper

Parishioners who have been around for a while will remember a St John’s tradition of holding a supper on Maundy Thursday. Gary, the Wardens and Parish Council are excited by the idea of reviving the supper this year on April 6 as a community-building event, with the difference that it will not include the recreation of a Passover Seder. We are pleased that a few people have volunteered to assist Michelle Smulders, our Deputy Rector's Warden, to help pull it all together. If you would also like to help, please contact Michelle.

Tickets available here

TAKE NOTE

POSTPONED

Budget Overview Meeting on Wednesday, March 15 @ 7pm.

JOIN HERE.

Vestry Sunday March 19th after our 10.15am Worship service.

PWRDF News

The PWRDF St. John’s Committee sends huge thanks to parishioners and friends who attended the PWRDF Feb. 22^nd Ash Wednesday Soup-Supper event. All told we raised $1805 from your donations that evening and enjoyed a wonderful array of delicious soups. Thank you all for your generous donations of both food and money!

An update on earthquake relief to Syria and Turkey: PWRDF allocated $35,000 to the ACT Alliance to support its members working in Syria. PWRDF has so far received $88,825 for earthquake relief. $5,000 has been allocated to the Diocese of Jerusalem, working in Northern Syria.

PWRDF also participated in the Earthquake Humanitarian Coalition appeal, as a member of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Donations made to PWRDF between February 6 and 22 were eligible for a Government of Canada match. The appeal has raised more than $12 million for earthquake relief in the two countries.

LENTEN RESOURCES

This Lent PWRDF presents a collection of favourite reflections from partners and volunteers during Pray with PWRDF, with music, videos and PWRDF stories. You can subscribe to receive a daily Lenten message in your inbox at pwrdf.org/Lent2023.