St John's Newsletter 5 March 2023

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends,

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus meets the woman at the well and asks him for a drink. She tells him, “You have no bucket and the well is deep.” This took place “in the Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.” (See John 4:5-42)

After 2,000 years, it’s hard to say with certainty exactly where many of the stories in the Bible actually occurred. But we went to this well. Sychar is a well-documented place, now part of the city of Nablus. And as our study leader said, wells don’t move around! Here are the pictures.

In the church located above the well, people leave prayers on behalf of their loved ones.

I know from pulling the bucket up that the water is a long way down. Of course, the rope, pulley, and bucket are modern – and a church has been built over top of the site. But this is the place where Jesus offered living water that would gush up like a spring to eternal life.

I am looking forward to sharing pictures of the Holy Land this coming Sunday immediately following the 10:15 service. In the service, I will say more about this story and some of the other special places – and then come the pictures. Bring a sandwich (and maybe an extra one to share). I hope you will join us on Sunday, 8:00 and 10:15 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.

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
St. Paul’s, Almonte and The Reverend Jonathon Kouri.

Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)

The Rt. Rev. Bruce Myers, Bishop, and the people and clergy of the Diocese of Quebec.

ELCIC

Bishop Jason Zinko, the people and rostered ministers of the Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Synod.

The Anglican Communion from Aba to Zululand

The Church of South India (United).

Parish Prayer Group

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

prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.

JOIN US

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

12 MARCH 2023

Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42

WHAT'S HAPPENING

During Holy Week, our choir will be joined by the Strings of St John's chamber orchestra to perform the Requiem by John Rutter, one of the most prolific and well-loved composers of our time.

The concert will be presented twice: Palm Sunday, April 2 at 2:00 pm, and Good Friday, April 7 at 7:30 pm.

Tickets are available online at www.RutterRequiem.ca.

Come join us for an hour of beautiful music for contemplation and meditation.

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

The prelude this week, Hózhó, was written by Navajo composer Connor Chee. “Hózhó” is a traditional Diné concept meaning “balance and beauty,” reflecting the state of harmony that binds all things together in the universe. Chee tells us that music moves through unbalance to balance, returning us eventually to the beginning sound that is in essence the same, though we have been transformed during the experience.

Sunday March 19th

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

JOIN HERE.

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

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.

FLOWERS

You can help the Altar Guild decorate the church for Easter and remember your loved ones with flowers. Make your donation to St John's noting that it is for Easter 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.