St John's Newsletter 12 June 2022

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends,

Welcome to St John’s this Sunday as we celebrate Trinity Sunday.

There’s a saying that “All Good Things Come in Threes.” If you go looking for it, there are many potential sources including ones that are quite ancient. There’s even a lot of humour about it, such as lists of good things that have come in threes: three French hens, three bones in the ear, three little pigs, three Brontë sisters, three musketeers, “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil”, the primary colours, the Hanson Brothers… it can all get quite silly.

In addition to such warmth about good things, there is also a superstition about bad things coming in threes, such as deaths.

Religion is fully in on this. Hinduism arrived there early with Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. Christianity differs from the other Abrahamic religions in its insistence on being monotheistic while making the Trinity essential to who we are. It’s just that it’s hard to explain!

Recent attempts to explain the Trinity are all over the place. For example, Willliam Young’s famous novel, The Shack, introduces God as a trio of lifegiving strangers, the African-American woman is God (Papa), the Middle-Eastern man is Jesus, and the Asian woman is the Holy Spirit. Richard Rohr’s book, The Divine Dance, moves the focus from the three persons to the energy or relationships between them, a dance into which we are invited as the dance partner. These days, you will see more of an emphasis on the movements of God as they come up in the calendar of the Christian year: Christmas, Easter, Pentecost.

Sam Wells of the Church of St Martin in the Fields offers his own take on the three movements of God. God desires to be in relationship with us (both the Creation and the Incarnation are God’s invitation into relationship). God doesn’t turn away from human rejection (Good Friday and Easter). God’s desire is ultimately to draw us all into the eternal intimate embrace, of which Jesus shows the path (Ascension).

I find myself wondering why so much gravitates towards Three. In storytelling, there is what is called the Rule of Three. This is the writing principle that three characters or three events are more satisfying, effective, and remembered than any other number. Maybe it’s hardwired into the human brain. Psalm 8 asks God, “What is man (humanity) that you are mindful of him (them)?” God works with what God has created.

All this to say this Sunday, you can expect Good Things Come in Threes! You will see it in the music, the readings, the sermon. Why are we made this way? We just are – and it’s also very satisfying to marvel at this mystery of being human and touched by the Divine.

You are very welcome to worship with us this Sunday 8:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

Gary+

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Those On Our Hearts

Robin, The staff, volunteers and participants in the programs of The Well.

Our Parish

Gary, Allen, Gordon, Josh, Gregory, Kerry, Stephen, Steve, 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

The Parish of Mattawa and the Reverend Karen Galt and the Reverend David Shields

Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)

The Most Rev. Gregory Kerr-Wilson, Metropolitan, and the clergy and people of the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada (ELCIC)

Lutheran and Anglican global partners and companions.

The Anglican Communion from Aba to Zululand

The Anglican Church of South America.

Parish Prayer Group

If you wish to have someone prayed for, please call (613) 232-4500 ext 21 or send an email to prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.

JOIN US

THE HOLY TRINITY

12 JUNE 2022

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15

WHAT'S HAPPENING

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, the first Sunday after Pentecost where we celebrate the doctrine of the Trinity: one God who exists in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial persons (see Gary for what that means). This relationship is recognized in the organ at 10:15 AM with a work by Canadian composer Eleanor Daley called trinitas. It is made up of three movements, which will be spread out between the prelude, communion music, and postlude. Each illustrates one person of the Trinity, and is accompanied by a Scripture verse: for the Father — "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2); for the Son — "To the thirsty I will give water without price from the fountain of life" (Revelation 21:6); and for the Spirit — "And I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh" (Acts 2:17). Though we do not hear these exact readings on Sunday, I invite you to find the ways in which the Word of God flows through this music, through our readings, and into this expression of our faith. —Josh

Lifelong Learning

History Walk through Beechwood Cemetery

Saturday June 18, 10:30 in the Gazebo opposite the reception centre at Beechwood.

Join fellow parishioners for this interesting walking tour, guided by a Beechwood staff member. There will be the option to continue afterwards to an informal patio lunch, location to be announced. Please contact the office to register and also if you need a drive to and from Beechwood.

RSVP

Books and Barbeque

There will be 2 'Books and Barbeque' events over the summer. The book is On Consolation: Finding Solace in Dark Times by Michael Ignatieff (available at Perfect Books on Elgin Street, at the Ottawa Public Library, both print and audio, and in Kindle format).

At the first session in July, the book will be introduced and the first few chapters discussed. At the second session in August, discussion will focus on the book as a whole.

For now... mark your calendars!

The first gathering will be on Wednesday July 6 at 6 pm at the home of Michelle Smulders and Ian Myles.

Come to enjoy a burger and a lively discussion!

TAKE NOTE

Get Involved in our Local Community:

Sunday Farmers’ Market

The Elgin Street farmers market starts its second season on Father's Day, June 19th with a fun filled Launch Day event. The market is on Sunday mornings from 9am to 1pm in Boushey Square, at Elgin and Waverley, until October 9th. A variety of vendors will provide fresh produce, bread, honey, local beers, prepared foods, and arts and crafts. Live musicians will often perform. Let’s go as a delegation from St John’s and express our welcome and support them with a few purchases. We’ll walk over together following the 10:15 service!

Food basket for the Centretown Emergency Food Centre

Please remember to bring an offering for the Centretown Emergency Food Centre.

St. John's is one of 23 downtown churches supporting this ministry, and our food and money contributions are essential, since the city is no longer funding it(The Centre no longer meets their funding parameters - there's no problem with its administration). Anything is welcome, but obviously not out of date cans or dried goods.

Money is better than a gift card, because the Centre deals with suppliers who sell them food at cost.

These days, and particularly in the summer, many people need this help.

Please give regularly and generously.

Our neighbour and partner in community ministries The Well is in need of bath towels and socks. Donations can be dropped off at The Well.

First Baptist Church

140 Laurier Ave. W., at Elgin St., Ottawa is seeking to employ a part-time custodian for an average of 18 hours per week, usually in the mornings. Duties include general cleaning of the church building, and maintenance of the grounds of the church. A list of duties will be shared with applicants. Only successful applicants will be interviewed. Application deadline is June 20, 2022.

To apply, please send a resume to

First Baptist Church, 140 Laurier Ave. W., Ottawa, ON K1P 5J4

The Christian Council of the Capital Area is holding their annual service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (postponed from January) on Sunday, June 12 at 4 PM at All Saints Anglican Church, Westboro. The service recognizes the witness of Christians across the Middle East, drawing from the Scriptures for Epiphany. Josh is leading music for this service, in partnership with ecumenical clergy from across the city. A freewill offering will be accepted towards the work of the Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre. See https://www.eventbrite.com/e/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-worship-service-tickets-344359537647 for more details.

St. Basil's parish presents

"Conversations for Our Times"

To Hope, or Not To Hope —

Recovering a Culture of Peace

Sunday, June 12th 2:30 PM by Zoom

with

Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C.

We live in frightening times — the Ukraine war, the climate crisis, the unending COVID pandemic, modernization of nuclear weapons, and worsening economic and social inequalities. Our invited speaker, Hon. Douglas Roche, brings the wisdom of his life experience to guide us towards hope in the face of these many global threats. A distinguished author, parliamentarian and diplomat, Douglas Roche has specialized throughout his 50-year public career in peace and human security issues. This will indeed be a "conversation for our times".

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lcumrqDorGNe4Eeb7rWqrklBJtghwhpHJ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

PWRDF responds to ACT

Alliance appeal for Ukraine

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.

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.