Dear Friends
Week by week, Sunday by Sunday, we tell about who Jesus is. We do it because it turns our eyes and our understanding to who God is. And we intend that the whole process, both what we say and how we go about it, will shape who we are becoming.
We are becoming like him in his love, his compassion, his attention to all those who are left out and suffering, and his deep sharing. It’s how we live up to being created in the image of God.
And now we come to four days of worship services. Should you come to all of them? Which is most important? Those of you who have been part of the St John’s observance will have your favourites. Which one is it for you?
Which is most important? Many will say it’s his death on the cross that is the centre of Christian faith. Others will say it’s the resurrection because life wins. There would be no church if they had not met Jesus in the garden. Let me propose a different way.
This comes from Diana Butler Bass, “The Holy Thursday Revolution.” The first time Jesus appeared to all of the disciples: “When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” They went back to the house where they had shared the supper with Jesus. Jesus doesn’t meet them at the site of his execution. He meets them at the table – the story begins and concludes at the table:
“Jesus loved meals. They knew that. They’d had so many together. Go back through the gospels and see how many of the stories take place at tables, distributing food, or inviting people to supper. Indeed, some have suggested that Jesus primary work was organizing suppers as a way to embody the coming kingdom of God. Throughout his ministry, Jesus welcomed everyone — to the point of contention with his critics — to the table.”
We are going to tell the whole story over these four days. We do it at the table – that’s the table in St John’s church, and at all the tables where we share meals. Every table we share is our vision of the Kingdom of God – a world of love and peace.
But how do we say it in the pandemic. An important note is that for safety reasons, St John’s will be holding back on refreshments in this fresh wave of COVID cases. We hoped for a Resurrection Party on Saturday night but we intend to keep each other safe. The Eucharist itself will be our table of the kingdom – at these services and always. Your table also – it’s to be where you intend and extend love.
Welcome to these services in all their dramatic restating that we are the people of love.
Gary+
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Those On Our Hearts
Bryan, Lannie, John, Christine, Robin, Pat, and The staff, volunteers and participants in the programs of The Well.
Our Parish
Gary, Catherine, Allen, John, Gordon, Josh, Gregory, Kerry and all who minister at St John's.
Our Diocese
Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan; Linda, our Primate.
The Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, Sacred Circle and Archbishop Mark MacDonald.
Good Shepherd, Barrhaven and the Reverend Margo Whittaker.
St. George’s, Clayton and The Reverend Pat Blythe.
Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)
The Most Rev. Anne Germond, Archbishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Algoma.
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada (ELCIC)
The congregations of the Southern Manitoba area of the Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Synod.
ACC/ELCIC
Climate justice and healthy relationships with the earth.
The Anglican Communion from Aba to Zululand
The Church of Pakistan (United) Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
Parish Prayer Group
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Lifelong Learning
Learning from St Martin-in-the-Fields for the future of St John’s
One of the videos from the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa anniversary lectures has become the focus of our conversations about the future of St John’s. St Martin’s is a world away across the pond in London and yet it names so much of what we know. A downtown church that is close to significant cultural institutions with lots of foot traffic. It has open doors to the community – and it’s thriving. The Rector, Sam Wells, grounds this success story in the great movement of God in Creation, Christmas, Easter, and Ascension.
Join our zoom conversation where we apply it to St John’s:
Tuesday, April 26, 7:30 p.m. HERE
Book Study on the Acts of the Apostles
Sam Wells of St Martin-in-the-Fields makes the surprising statement that, in the grand scheme of history, we are still in the time of the Early Church. We tend to think of those first three centuries of Christianity as establishing for once and for all what the church believes. If this is still the Early Church, we are still figuring it out. We are actually the last chapter of the Book of Acts. Let’s review the book we read Sunday by Sunday in the Easter Season: Great stories and why they matter for us.
Three Tuesday evenings on Zoom, 7:30 p.m.
May 3, May 17, May 31. Connect Here (same link for all three sessions).
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Mary & Harry Carter,
Phyliss & John Turner,
Eric R. Turner
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Ena & George Varley,
Mary & Harry Carter, Eric Turner
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Nelson Gildert, Tillie Dickson,
Leo Brousseau
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Wells families and good friends
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Roslyn & Rocke Robertson
Tam, Ian and Touie Robertson
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Lannie Mitchell & John Gallienne
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Our beloved daughter Suzanne
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Gay Richardson & Lannie Mitchell
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Catherine Dore & Peggy Lister
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Catherine MacLean,
Helen MacLean,
Drummond Lister
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The club currently has seven pairs. October to May we play each other pair once in one of the player's homes at a mutually agreeable time, usually in the afternoon. Each session is just 16 hands.
Unfortunately, one of the players has had to stop because of an impending move. Her partner is now looking for a replacement. If you are interested, please get in contact with Bill Broughton for further information.
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Ottawa Anglican Day programs are in need of gently used bath towels.
Donations can be dropped off at The Well.
Thank you in advance for your donations.
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Alliance appeal for Ukraine
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PWRDF is supporting Ukrainians forced to flee their homes due to the Russian invasion. A grant of $20,000 has been issued to an ACT alliance appeal funding the work of ACT member, the Hungarian Interchurch AID (HIA). HIA has been working in Ukraine for more than 25 years in humanitarian and development projects. It had already shipped 28 tons of food to support those fleeing to Hungary, and their staff have been working with refugees at the Ukraine/Hungary border.
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To make a donation go to pwrdf.org/give-today and click on Response in Ukraine. You may also donate by phone at 416-822-9083 or leave a voicemail toll-free at 1-866-308-7973 and PWRDF will return your call. You can mail your cheque to PWRDF, 80 Hayden, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 3G2 or give through St. John’s. Please mark Ukraine in the memo field. Thank you for your support. St John’s PWRDF Committee.
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THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
24 APRIL 2022
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ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST
ANGLICAN CHURCH
154 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, ON K2P 0H8
613-232-4500
office@stjohnsottawa.ca
The Reverend Gary van der Meer, Rector
Major the Reverend Canon Catherine Askew, Honorary Assistant
The Reverend Canon Allen Box, Honorary Assistant
Dr Gordon Johnston, FRCCO, Music Director
Joshua Zentner-Barrett, ARCCO, Associate Organist
Stephen Giles, Rector’s Warden
Michelle Smulders, Deputy Rector's Warden
Steve Chaplin, People's Warden
Jill Moll, Deputy People's Warden
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Anishinabe aking ate awaso kikinawadjichigan.
This land we are upon is the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation.
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