This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

Well done! St John’s Christmas Market was a great success. Check out the wonderful pictures!

Thanks to everyone who helped. You baked, you shopped, you came to meetings, and you showed a lot of leadership. Thank you for supporting this new St John’s initiative. Based on the response, we are already looking ahead to next year.

How well did we do? I am surprised by how many people said to me: “We hope you make lots of money!” When we have the financial numbers ready, we will happily share them, but if raising money was the purpose of this event, we would have gone about it very differently. Our main focus was to invite people into the church to get to know us. We kept track and that number is impressive: 650 people came, explored, visited, and talked to us!

This past weekend was also our Commitment Sunday for Rooted in Abundance, this year’s stewardship campaign. We are so grateful for this commitment to ongoing support for the ministries of St John’s. If you would like to complete a commitment card in the coming weeks, we would be happy to receive it, especially as we plan for the coming year.

Looking ahead to this coming weekend, please join us for worship for the First Sunday of Advent. Services are at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.

Welcome to St John’s!

Gary+

PS Advent Wreaths: We will be making Advent Wreaths during refreshments - this Sunday at noon! We would be grateful for cedar and pine boughs if you have trees or bushes to trim. Please let us know if you need candles for a wreath that you already have. Send an email HERE.

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, December 3, 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37

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

Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2,8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8

REFLECTION FROM SUNDAY – Sunday, November 19, 10:15 a.m.

Listen to last Sunday’s Sermon with excerpts from the service HERE.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

For more information about the services noted above click for details HERE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

CHRISTMAS DECORATING PARTY

Stay for the Party on Sunday December 17!

Christmas Songs at the Piano
Sandwich lunch provided
Help Decorate the Church
Bring Poinsettias (see below)

The party begins right after the 10:15 service!

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

This year there are two ways to participate in filling the church with poinsettias for Christmas.

Bring a poinsettia or several to church on Sunday, December 17. Join in the great poinsettia hunt. If you wish to donate the flowers and designate them as a memorial to loved ones, please include a card noting the names of those being remembered. If you prefer to be reimbursed for your purchase, please include your receipt with your contact details.

Make a financial donation for the purchase of poinsettias. Please note the names of the people to be remembered. Donations can be put on the collection plate any Sunday or dropped off at the office.

Tickets

BUY THE FARM!

Support PWRDF for Christmas

With thanks to Marilyn and Allan Box for launching St. John’s campaign to support PWRDF’s World of Gifts program, an annual event that happens every fall to support a variety of PWRDF projects around the world. Marilyn and Allan have designated their gift to “Buying the Whole Farm” which will support 9 food security projects in 8 different countries (Colombia, Tanzania, South Sudan, Malawi, Cuba, Mexico and Guatemala). Total cost = $615.

If you would like to participate in St. John’s campaign to ‘buy the whole farm’ please make out a cheque to PWRDF for whatever amount you choose; write “Buying the Whole Farm” – St. John the Evangelist, Ottawa in the bottom left corner, and give it to Jane Maxwell at the PWRDF Christmas card table on Sunday. You may also leave a cheque (or cash) in the office.

Thank you for joining the campaign!

2024 CHURCH CALENDAR

Order your Christams Calendar by contacting Gay Richardson. Order deadline is December 10th. There is a delay in printing and so calendars will not likely be available until later in December. As well, a cost has not been yet set. (Last year they were $5 since there were enough in the order.) Payment will not be taken now but please add your name to Gay’s list if you would like one.

PWRDF CHRISTMAS CARDS

Now On Sale!

PWRDF Christmas cards have arrived and we will be selling two different designs illustrating “Peace on Earth, Good Will to All”. Each pack contains 12 cards. A donation of $25 is suggested. If you wish to purchase cards please bring cash in the amount of $25 or a cheque to church in the next few weeks. Christmas cards have continued to be popular at St. John’s and we usually sell out every year. The funds raised from Christmas cards go to support the life-saving work of The Primate’s Fund and its partners around the world. Thank you for your support. St. John’s PWRDF Committee

A FEW MORE PICTURES!

OF INTEREST

WRITERS FESTIVAL

Join Peter Mansbridge and Adrian Harewood on December 4th at St. John the Evangelist. Start time 7:00pm - doors open at 6:30pm.

Carleton’s Adrian Harewood hosts a conversation with legendary journalist and #1 bestselling author Peter Mansbridge in celebration of his new book of first-person stories, How Canada Works: The People Who Make Our Nation Thrive.

In this latest collection of personal stories, Peter Mansbridge and co-author Mark Bulgutch shine a light on the everyday jobs that keep our nation running and the inspiring people who perform them with empathy and kindness.

WOMEN’S ADVENT RETREAT

GALILEE CENTRE

The women of St. John the Evangelist are invited to participate in a weekend retreat on

December 8 – 10, at the Galilee Centre in Arnprior coordinated by the Rev Claire

Bramma.

The retreat will start on Friday, December 8 with check-in from 3:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m. At

4:30 p.m., the Reverend Claire will welcome everyone and provide information about

some housekeeping arrangements. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. followed by the

first session at 7:30 p.m. Throughout the weekend participants will read scripture, sing,

pray, participate in group discussions, and craft hanging ornaments for the Jesse Tree.

As well, there will be individual time for reflection and walks. The Theme of the Retreat

is “Prepare the Way of the Lord. Telling your story and proclaiming Christ’s

story with the Jesse Tree.”

Although women from St. Stephen’s are the largest group, there are five participants

from the parish of the Valley, a couple from St. Thomas’s Stittsville, and one from our

congregation. If you would like to attend, please email office@ststephensottawa.org as

soon as possible. The cost for the retreat is approximately $260. Registration will close

on November 29.

The Rev. George Kwari will be joining the group on Saturday and thanks the Reverend

Claire for her leadership and willingness to run the retreat on his behalf.

Marilyn Collins

UPDATES

VOLUNTEER AT ELGIN STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL

Good Day Volunteers!

We hope you’re all doing well. Please review the requests below made by teachers needing assistance in your area. If you’re interested in a volunteer opportunity, please reach out to me at jbimbachi@onfe-rope.ca and I will be more than happy to coordinate the placement.

Elgin Street Public School (Centretown): Reading Support – Various Grades (in-person)

They are looking for a few volunteers to come into their Grades 3/4 , 4 , 4/5 , 5/6 classrooms to help students with reading. The classes are any day between the following times: 8:15 - 10:15am or 11:00 -1:00pm.

THE SHOP NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Colder weather is here. Urgent need for:

Men’s winter jackets/coats
Men’s winter boots
Mitts and gloves

Also, do you have a surplus of reusable bags that are taking up space in your cupboards?

Please donate them to the Shop!

PWRDF GAZA Hospital Appeal

For several years, PWRDF has supported the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza with surgical equipment, improved access to health care and during emergencies. The hospital is run by the Episcopal (Anglican) Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East, with whom the Diocese of Ottawa has had a partnership for many years. Shortly after the war started in Gaza, the Al-Ahli Hospital was hit by a strike sustaining damage to upper floors and the ultrasound and mammography departments. A second deadlier strike a few days later injured four staff. After the violence, the hospital’s director, Suhaila Tarazi, issued an emergency appeal to support its health services in this time of crisis. PWRDF has responded with a grant of $30,000. This grant will cover the cost to employ six additional nurses, two doctors, five operating room specialists, one psychosocial specialist and four cleaners to work at the hospital for the next three months.

Through our membership in the Canadian Food Grains Banks, PWRDF has joined the Humanitarian Coalition in an emergency appeal to respond to mounting needs. To support the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, we ask you to donate to PWRDF’s Gaza Hospital Emergency Appeal. You may donate online, by phone at 416-822-9083 or leave a cheque on the collection plate made out to PWRDF - Gaza Hospital Appeal. Thank you for your support.

St. John’s PWRDF Committee

Photo Credit: The New York Times

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

Prayer for those in leadership roles: Gary, Allen, Barb, Kimberly, Kerry, Jesse, Stephen, Brian, Michelle, Jill, and all who minister at St John's. Prayers for those in need: Robin.

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.
Parish of South Dundas, The Reverend Mark Lewis.

Anglican Church of Canada

The people of the Anglican Church of Canada.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

The Church of North India (United).

Flowers

The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Eric Turner by John and Patricia Turner his parents.

Parish Prayer Group

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

prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.