This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends,

Welcome to St John’s weekly update. You will see some wonderful opportunities here for coming together.

I especially want to draw your attention to a letter I have written to begin this year’s stewardship invitation. I have been sharing my adventures growing tomatoes and, in my letter, I talk about bringing my abundant tomatoes to our local food bank. It really opened my perspective on how we think of St John’s as “Rooted in Abundance.” Read my letter HERE.

Looking ahead, you can expect a “Rooted in Abundance” letter from our churchwardens next week. Our season of stewardship begins on Sunday, October 29. I’m so grateful to Barbara Dransch and Emmy Verdun, our stewardship co-chairs, and the whole stewardship committee, including Jim Cummings, Peggy Lister, and Stephen Giles. They are very dedicated – and I love the theme the committee has chosen with all the rich and rooted gardening images for this autumn season.

This coming weekend is exciting and full. Karaoke on Friday evening – come and sing! Saturday morning is our final session of “Our Home and Treaty Land” as we focus on our local context to better understand how we are all treaty people. On Sunday, you’re invited to stay after the worship services for a seminar session, “Preparing for a Funeral” facilitated by Sean Copeland of Whelan Funeral home. You will see details for all these events below.

I’m looking forward to welcoming you to worship services this Sunday at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. We are delighted to celebrate the baptism of Darien at 10:15, and we look forward to welcoming Darien’s family.

May our welcome be a sign to you of God’s loving embrace.

Gary+

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, October 15, 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Isaiah 25:1-9; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, October 22, 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Isaiah 45:1-7; Psalm 96:1-13; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22

SERMON – Sunday, October 8, 10:15 a.m.

Listen to last Sunday’s Sermon HERE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Karaoke Night is a St John's Event with our own private room. You are welcome and so are your friends! Let us know if you would like to meet for supper beforehand - there's a wonderful Indian restaurant right downstairs! Let us know HERE.

MEDICINE WALK IN THE FALL COLOURS

We are planning a Fall Colours Hike! Picking up from our study of “Our Home and Treaty Land,” we welcome as St John’s Indigenous Engagement Coordinator Kimberly Johnson-Breen. Kimberly will guide us for our first St John’s Medicine Walk. Let us know if you’re able to join us – also if you need a ride, or if you able to offer a ride. Let us know Let us know HERE.

Come and learn – and enjoy the fall colours! We will leave from St John’s Church at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 21.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1 P.M.

HYMN SING FOR ALL SAINTS

HYMN SING is back - our first one since the Pandemic! Take a break for lunch and come back to church on Sunday, October 29 at 1:30 p.m. After our morning worship for Remembrance Sunday, our hymn sing will celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

Cara Gilbertson, Artist-In-Residence & Grayson Nesbitt, Choral Scholar collaborate with Interim Music Director Barb Hallam-Price to encourage the congregation and choir of St John’s to have fun singing hymns of your choosing. This event is perfect for beginners, professionals, and everyone in between.

Get your voice in shape
Feel the joy as you sing
Suggest a hymn – you might even be introduced to a new favourite!

Everyone is welcome. Send us your hymn suggestions by Wednesday, October 25, so we can prepare. Suggest hymns HERE.

[please note the revised date!]

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29 - 1:30 P.M.

ST JOHN’S CENTERING PRAYER GROUP QUIET DAY

This Quiet Day is a one-day retreat for the practice of silence and stillness. Silence and stillness are key elements for contemplation in all religious traditions. The day will include two sessions of centering prayer with introductory comments for persons who are not familiar with this type of contemplation to learn the simple basics. It will also include a session of lectio divina, an ancient form of bible reading. This will be followed by periods of silence.

This is not a conference. Except for the bible study, participants will remain silent in silent prayer.

For more information and to register, please contact the Reverend Garth Bulmer HERE.

Let us know if you need transportation. Bring a bag lunch. $15/person.

Location: St Mary Magdalene Anglican Church - Chelsea, Quebec.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 - 9:30 - 3:30 P.M.

BOOK STUDY - FINAL SESSION

Our Home and Treaty Land:

Walking Our Creation Story

For the third and final session on our book study, the book draws us towards considering the unceded territory on which we live in the Ottawa area. How should a treaty be formed today? What should it say? We will consider how the book brings us to personal involvement with "Treaty is the key to the shared narrative, shared spirituality and shared respect for the land."

The dialogue between Rev. Dr. Raymond Aldred, a status Cree, and Rev. Dr. Matthew Anderson, a settler-descended biblical scholar is intended to help us be engaged as a community. Let's look ahead.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 - 9:30 A.M.

This Session takes place in The Well

ST JOHN'S CHRISTMAS MARKET

Saturday, November 25, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

HOLD THIS DATE IN YOUR CALENDAR!

We want this first-ever Christmas Market to be a great event – the more the merrier! We are now calling our list of volunteers - if you signed up, or you would like to sign up, we welcome your participation. Find out more from HERE

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

Gary, Allen, Barb, Kimberly, Kerry, Jesse, Stephen, Brian, Michelle, Jill, and all who minister at St John's. Prayers for those in need: Robin. Pray for our friends at Temple Israel during this time of conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Pray for Darien and his family!

Our Diocese

Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan; Linda, our Primate.
The Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, Sacred Circle, and the Ministry of Reconciliation and National Indigenous Archbishop, The Most Rev. Christopher Harper.
For clergy and lay people who minister in hospitals and long-term care facilities throughout our Diocese For all clergy under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Ottawa.
Emmanuel Arnprior, The Reverend John Stopa.

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. Lynne McNaughton, Bishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Kootenay.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The dean, council, and congregations of the Vancouver Island Region of the British Columbia Synod.

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Angicans Worldwide

The Anglican Church of Kenya.

Parish Prayer Group

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

prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.