This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

Welcome to St John's this Christmas.

We've had a bit of Christmas along the way already and it's been fun.

Our first Christmas Market was a great success. We decorated for it and we left the decorations up. We had our Christmas Decorating Party this past Sunday. We finished the decorating along with lunch and Christmas Songs on the piano accompanied by Evelyn Greenberg.

Evelyn is a Jewish woman who loves Christmas. I learned something really fun planning the carols with Evelyn. Almost all the secular Christmas songs were written by Jews: I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, and all the others too. There's a documentary movie about this called "Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas." I downloaded it - what a pleasure to watch. It's very heart-warming, created by the CBC, with so many themes of universal compassion, belonging while being different (consider Rudolph...), feeling sad at a time of year when you're supposed to be happy, and opening yourself to the mystery of great stories.

Evelyn will be back to play Christmas Carols on the piano on Christmas Eve before the "late" service - come and sing along at 9:45 p.m. Please see the schedule below of all the Chris.

In this newsletter, you will see pictures that tell what's happening at St John's. Here is a bit of news. The Rev Canon Pat Johnston has joined St John's as Honorary Assistant Priest. Karen McBride, who is completing her studies of theology at St Paul University, will be doing a ministry internship at St John's for the next four months. The pictures are thanks to Petr Maur, husband of Anna Sharrett of the St John's Choir. Thanks and welcome to Pat, Karen, and Petr!

I hope to see you at St John's as we celebrate the birth of Christ!

Gary+

PS This newsletter covers two weeks - the next newsletter will come out in the first week of January.

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, December 24

Advent 4: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:46b-55; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

Christmas Eve: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

SCRIPTURES – Monday, December 25 - Christmas Day

Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-12; John 1:1-14

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, December 31 - Epiphany

Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, January 7 - Baptism of the Lord

Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11

WORSHIP RECORDING: Sunday, December 17 - Advent 3

Hymn, Collect, Gospel, Sermon, Lord's Prayer, Final Hymn (words to the hymns included so you can sing along). Listen HERE.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

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

CELEBRATING ADVENT 3

Above Left: The Rev Canon Pat Johnston

Above Right: Commissioning of Karen McBride as Ministry Intern

Below: Learning Assessment Group to support Karen McBride:

Jamie Tomlinson, Monica Patten, Pat Fisher (left) and Karen Marks (right)

Bottom: Worship Team for Advent 3: Pat, Wendy, Allen & Gary

DEDICATIONS

Thank you to everyone who donated poinsettias in memory of loved ones.

Memorial Names

Jan Calder

George & Evelyn Sparks

Jean Barrett Brooks

Scott Driscoll

Jim Bell

Etienne Hanns Gumpert Bell

Jack Hampson

Pat and Bert Moll

Phyliss & John Turner

Eric Turner

Mary & Harry Carter

Bill & Pat Tomlinson

Cecil & Gloria Brown

Ena & George,

Mary & Harry, Eric

Roslyn, Rocke, Tam

Ian & Stuart Robertson

John Maxwell

John van der Meer

Sherwin & Betty Robinson

Beverley family members

Mary & Ormand Giles

Jim Campbell

Suzanne Fraser

Ken & Gwen Greene

Fred Greene

Karl & Elfriede Dransch

Dora Broughton

Art, Donna & Elizabeth Fox

Christine Dahms, Winnifred Smart

Cyril Dahms, Dawn McDougall

Shari Siamon

Janine Mathieu

Margaret Beddoe Lawrence

Sylvia Norine Smith

Olive Higdon Schurman

Howard Higdon

Howard Staveley

Linda Cornett & Linda Abel

Elizabeth

Other donors

Donor

Glenn Calder

Wendy McCutcheon

Christine Brooks

Linda & Rick Clippingdale

Mary Frances Bell

Jill Moll

Pat & John Turner

Pat Johnston & Jamie Tomlinson

Mary Ann & Ross Varley

Bea Robertson

Jane Maxwell

Gary van der Meer

The Robinson family

Paul Beverley

Stephen Giles

Family members

Lannie & John

Barb & Detlef Dransch

Bill Broughton

Gloria Fox

Pat Fisher

Denis & Krisha Seguin

Peter Trepanier

Jill Courtemanche

Barbara Dorrell

Anonymous

Ted Reeve

June Wells

STAR WORDS

Star Words (yes, that’s right, not Star Wars) are coming to St. John the Evangelist on Sunday, January 7, 2024. Maybe you know someone from another congregation who has received a Star Word during the Epiphany season. The words like “commitment”, “faith”, “restraint”, “conversation” are all different and you are encouraged to keep the one you draw and prayerfully reflect on it throughout the year. More tips will be given to help you use your word to grow in faith. Speak to Canon Pat if you’d like to know more.

PWRDF HAS BOUGHT TWO WHOLE FARMS!

Bravo St. John’s! A number of parishioners came forward last Sunday and more

donations were received to allow us to purchase TWO whole Farms (9 food security

projects around the world). A grand total of $1,380 was raised! We have a $160 surplus

which PWRDF St. John’s proposes that we allocate to 1) purchasing beehives for women

working with our partner ILSA in Colombia and 2) to PWRDF’s emergency response (ACT

Alliance relief in Ukraine).

Thank you one and all for your generous support to a number of key PWRDF projects

and partners. Truly a very meaningful Christmas gift.

DECORATING PARTY AND SING-ALONG

UPDATES

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC POSTING

The Christmas Season comes, as always, with a great focus on music. Special thanks to Barb Hallam-Price for her very able leadership as Interim Director of Music.

At the same time, we are preparing for the future. The position of Director of Music has now been listed online. We are grateful for input from Barb Hallam-Price, Gordon Johnston, Frances Macdonnell, and Paul Lex (Director of Human Resources for the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. We are advertising with the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and on our own St John’s website.

Read the posting on the St John's website HERE.

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

Prayers for those in leadership roles: Gary, Allen, Pat, Karen, 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.
Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa, The Very Reverend Beth Bretzlaff, The Reverend Canon Douglas Richards. Deacon Jarrett Carty.
St. James, Otter Lake and all who minister there.

Anglican Church of Canada

The Rt. Rev. Christopher Harper, National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop, and the staff of Indigenous Ministries; the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples; Dawn Maracle, Indigenous Justice Animator.
The Director and staff of General Synod Communications and Information Resources; Amal Attia, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and the staff of Financial Management and Administration.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Carmen Ramirez, Assistant to the National Bishop, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Peter Wall, Assistant to the National Bishop for Worship.
Trina Gallop Blank, Assistant to the National Bishop, Communications and Resource Generation, and the staff of Communications.

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide