This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

Greetings on All Hallows' Eve. This celebration, with its candy, costumes, and pumpkins, moves us into All Saints Day just as Christmas Eve moves us into Christmas Day. On All Saints Day, we celebrate special people who are examples, role models and mentors in living the life of faith. Then we move from All Saints Day on November 1 to All Souls Day on November 2. Mexico makes a great occasion of the Dia de los Muertos, but it's also an important occasion for us to remember our departed loved ones.

This year, our celebrations coincide exactly with Diwali, celebrated in the Hindu, Sikh and Jain traditions as a Festival of Lights and a celebration of the victory of good over evil. Lamps symbolize illumination within all of us to overcome ignorance (represented by darkness). On this day, Sikhs also celebrate their sixth Guru as a source of inspiration and a symbol of freedom. The imprisoned guru refused his release from prison unless the other 52 political prisoners were also released, and he succeeded in gaining their freedom.

By way of comparison, Diwali is most similar to Chanukah in Judaism and Advent in Christianity; both express profound symbolism with lights. We look forward to a shared learning time with Temple Israel comparing Advent and Chanukah in December (see the calendar below).

This coming Sunday will combine elements of All Hallows, All Saints and All Souls. Scriptures at the morning services focus on the saints. We will read the names of beloved departed members of our community at both services, 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. The Children's All Saints service includes costumes - Halloween Part 2 with Saint Costumes invited - for adults as well as for children.

Please note that this is Daylight Saving Weekend. If you ignore this, you will be one hour early at church. We will reserve an extra table for you to join us at Bridgehead for coffee at 9:15, along with good-humoured smiles.

Gary+

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, November 3 - All Saints Sunday

Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9; Psalm 24; Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, November 10 - Remembrance Sunday

1 Kings 17:8-16; Psalm 146; Hebrews 10:11-25; Mark 12:38-44

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

Worship recordings include prayers, readings, a sermon, and music.

Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost - October 27, 2024

Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost - October 20, 2024

Harvest Thanksgiving - October 13, 2024

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

ABOVE: Sending us out at the conclusion of Sunday Worship:

"Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God."

CHRISTMAS MARKET

Get Ready! Saturday November 23, 10 a.m to 4 p.m.

On Saturday, November 23, our newly-renovated Nave and Chapel will be transformed into a European-style Christmas market, with 25 local artists and craftspeople offering their works for sale. A Bakery and Christmas Café will see lots of business as visitors browse what’s on offer. Last year, at our first Christmas Market, we had 648 people come through our doors to see what it was all about and buy. Almost all of the vendors found it so rewarding they have booked tables for this year as well. Three of our own artists and craftspeople will have tables – Mary Ann Varley, Sherrie Dagg and Luka Erickson.

The Christmas Market is a wonderful initiative, because it helps us build relationships with the Centretown community and with artists and artisans across Ottawa. Equally important, it strengthens the bonds within our parish, as a host of volunteers pull together to prepare for and help on the day itself. Last Sunday, 40 people responded to Jill Moll’s call for volunteers at the end of the service. There is still room for lots more bakers. If you would like to help, please get in touch with Jill Moll HERE.

While many people have been leaders in organizing different aspects of this event, Jill has been the heart and soul of the Christmas Market. Thank you Jill!

Check out some of the works that will be on sale below, and make sure to visit, like and share our Facebook Event page HERE, where you’ll find many more photos of artworks and crafts.

And do plan to join us on Saturday, November 23 from 10 am to 4 pm!

AMAZING GIFT IDEAS BELOW

ABOVE: Christmas decorations by Linda Rutgers

Cat by Marie Lamont

BELOW: Venetian Gems by Mary Ann Varley

Swedish woven fabrics by Mary Poole

ST JOHN'S IN PICTURES THIS WEEK

ABOVE: Cake of gratitude to celebrate Cara's 18 years as Artist in Residence

BELOW: St John's & Friends celebrating their big Eight-Zero

BOTTOM: Coffee in the Nave last Sunday

MAKE PLANS WITH ST JOHN'S

CHILDREN'S ALL SAINTS SERVICE

This coming Sunday 3-5 pm

Bible Story
Eucharist with children in all leadership roles
Free play
Snack
Come in costume as a saint We will guess your saint! This is also for adults - Halloween Part 2!

UPDATE FROM BELONG OTTAWA

Meet Belong Executive Director Shauna-marie Young

Shauna will join us at the 10:15 service on Sunday, November 10. Following the service, Shauna will give us an update on the projected closure of supervised consumption sites (also known as safe injection sites). The site located at the Somerset West Community Health Centre will be required to close according to provincial requirements. There will be significant impacts: mortality of drug users, visibility of drug consumption on local streets, and implications for programming offered by Belong Ottawa. There will be an opportunity for discussion and questions following the service.

Sunday, November 10, 11:45 a.m.

REFUGEE ASSISTANCE UPDATE

TWINS!

Many of you will remember the story of Wahida Azizi and Farzam Tajuddin, the young Afghan couple sponsored by St. John’s Refugee Assistance Group. Their narrow escape from Kabul when the Taliban took over in August 2021 was described in Perspectives, the diocesan newspaper, which you can access HERE. They have settled in very well to their new lives in Ottawa, and Wahida’s thank-you letter to RAG members at the end of the formal sponsorship, can be found HERE .

We are now very excited to report that on Monday, October 21, Wahida and Farzam were blessed with the birth of twins: a son, Hooman, 6 lbs 15 oz. and a daughter, Hasti, 5 lbs 4 oz. Mother, father and babies are all doing very well, and RAG members will continue to support the new family with friendship and practical assistance.

And while we're on the subject of refugees, did you know that Peggy Lister, who has so many volunteer responsibilities here at St. John's, is also Chair of the Diocesan Refugee Ministry Office Management Board? You can read a profile of Peggy in the latest issue of New Beginnings, the newsletter of the Refugee Ministry Office, which you can access HERE. While you're at it, you can also subscribe to New Beginnings to stay informed about refugee issues across the Diocese.

GOSPEL OF LUKE

READ-THROUGH

~ Start Reading! ~

We will read the Gospel of Luke aloud together, coinciding with our lectionary’s focus on Luke for the whole year beginning on the First Sunday of Advent. Luke is a long gospel, so we will do Part 1 as preparation for Advent and Christmas. PART I: Luke 1:1 to 13:35

[Part 2 will take place in February as preparation for Lent, Holy Week and Easter.]

We will start right after the 10:15 service: Bring a sandwich, get a drink from the refreshments table and join us in the Parish Hall. Facilitated by Pat Johnston and Gary van der Meer.

Sunday, November 17, 11:45 a.m.

TAKE NOTE

ABOVE: Roof Replacement

BELOW: Office Entrance

TIPS FOR STREET PARKING AROUND THE CHURCH

Since the sale of our parking spots, we need to rely on other places to park. This includes the street parking in the neighbourhood. Some parishioners and/or volunteers have received parking tickets. Here are some tips to help decipher the parking restrictions in the area. The following two examples were found within one block of the Church.

ABOVE: Spotted on Somerset Street West, east of Elgin (i.e., adjacent to the Church). Also on MacLaren and Gilmour east of Elgin.

Maximum 2-hour parking, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, 7 days per week (including on Sundays!).

ABOVE: Spotted on Somerset Street West, west of Elgin.

Maximum 2-hour parking, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM on Saturday; no restriction on Sunday!

ABOVE: Please also check the parking meter for the times when you need to pay for parking. Most street parking is free on Sundays in the neighbourhood.

Beware, one might infer from this meter that there is no 2-hour limit on Saturday/Sunday. This is not true. The 2-hour limit still applies.

LOOKING AHEAD

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Sunday, November 3

All Saints Children's Service, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 10

Update from Belong Ottawa by Executive Director Shauna-marie Young

Saturday, November 16

Housing with Heart, a concert to support Multifaith Housing Initiative’s affordable housing project Dream LeBreton. 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at All Saints Westboro. More information about the concert HERE; more information about the project HERE.

Sunday, November 17

Gospel Read-Through Part 1 - the Gospel of Luke, 11:45 a.m.

Saturday, November 23

St John's Christmas Market. Plan to be with us in the Nave, Chancel, Chapel and Parish Hall. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Now recruiting volunteers.

Sunday, November 24

Walk In Love Stewardship Campaign conclusion - Commitment Sunday, 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Saturday, November 30

Rev Karen McBride - Ordination to the Priesthood, Parish of Julian of Norwich, 7 Rossland Ave at Merivale, Ottawa - 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, December 14

Temple Israel Visit - Shared sermon: "Comparing Advent and Chanukah" by Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg and Gary van der Meer

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

Prayers for those in leadership roles: Gary, Allen, Christina, Pat, Kimberly, Kerry, Jesse, Monica, Barb, Jeff, Marianne, and all who minister at St John's

Prayer Requests: Ted, Diana, Pat, Wilma & Alice

Our Diocese

Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan and Acting Primate
The Diocese of Jerusalem and Archbishop Hosam Naoum
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Bishop Susan Johnson and Bishop Carla Blakley
Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Annual Synod Meeting, November 7-9
Parish of Maberly-Lanark St. Alban's Maberly St. John's Balderson St. Paul's Lanark St. Stephen's Bathurst & all who minister there

Anglican Church of Canada

The Principal, faculty, students, and staff of the Vancouver School of Theology

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The Principal-Dean, faculty, students, and staff of Martin Luther University College

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

For those who have died in war and for renewed commitment to work for peace
La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico

Parish Prayer Group

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

office@stjohnsottawa.ca

A Time of Prayer:

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Grant that, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, we your followers may be joined together in unity and peace, and that we may be a holy temple acceptable to you. We pray that as we, and others, plant seeds and bring water, you will bless our efforts and bring forth a bountiful harvest. May your hand be upon every seed that is sown and every drop of water that is poured. We trust in your faithfulness to bring growth and abundance in all areas of our lives and the lives of our parishes. Thank you for providing the inspiration and means for fulfilling your promises. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

DONATE

CANADA HELPS QR CODE

e-transfer office@stjohnsottawa.ca

HOW YOU CAN DONATE TO ST JOHN'S

Identified donations to St John’s are charitable donations and are eligible for a charitable tax receipt. Receipts for donations made directly through St John’s are usually generated on an annual basis. Donations to St John’s through Canada Helps are receipted by Canada Helps.

Here are the different ways that you can give:

E-Transfer

office@stjohnsottawa.ca

PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance)

Enrol in the PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) program, whereby a designated monthly amount is withdrawn from a parishioner’s bank account or credit card. Peggy Lister, the Envelope Secretary, will provide you with the application form required to enrol in this program.

Weekly Offering Envelopes

Use identified weekly offering envelopes to make your cash or cheque donation to St John’s. A request for such envelopes goes to Peggy Lister, the Envelope Secretary, who will provide the envelopes.

Cash or Cheque Donation on Sunday

Make a cash or cheque contribution during a weekly service. The donation must be identified (i.e. a name & address on the envelope or a cheque with the donor’s information) if the donor wishes to receive a charitable receipt for the donation.

Canada Helps

Make a donation to St John’s through Canada Helps by scanning the QR code on the weekly bulletin, the QR code on the sign at the back of the church or through the ‘donate’ button on the St John’s website. Canada Helps donations can be for a single time or set up as an on-going monthly donation.

With thanks to God for your generous support