This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends,

We are in the midst of eventful times at St John’s. The pictures below from this past weekend of Pentecost show two significant occasions for our community. Take a look at the St John’s delegation that attended the Odawa Pow Wow this past Saturday. Also see Sunday’s fabulous celebration of the ministry of Director of Music Gordon Johnston.

Looking ahead to this coming Sunday, we are bringing our 8:00 and 10:15 congregations together for shared refreshments at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is welcome and I’d encourage you to bring something. I am making banana muffins. We will hold our first “Listening Session” about the future of music at St John’s following the 10:15 service, in the church immediately as the postlude concludes. Maybe you’re reflecting on your hopes – come and share them as we listen to each other and look to the future.

Please note that this will be our final Sunday of two services before we move to our summer pattern of one service at 9:30 a.m. from June 11 to September 3.

I hope you enjoy the pictures and reports below. I hope to see you this Sunday!

Gary+

GORDON'S CELEBRATION OF MINISTRY

What a wonderful occasion to offer thanks and share stories of Gordon Johnston’s ministry at St John’s. The church was filled with parishioners, friends, musician colleagues, and clergy whose ministry was shaped by Gordon’s teaching and insights on music and liturgy.

Peggy Lister and the Rev Canon Allen Box described the search and interview process and why they chose Gordon to be Director of Music way back in 1986. Cara Gilbertson and Grayson Nesbitt shared stories about Gordon’s role as a mentor who has encouraged singers of all abilities. Notably, Gordon rejected the terminology of “section leads” in favour of “choral scholars” – both to focus on the significant role of St John’s in the formation of music leaders and to raise up the role of all choristers (Having “section leads” reduces the important contribution of all the other singers). Josh Zentner-Barrett continued the theme of mentorship, especially Gordon’s guidance in Josh's 12-year journey to a wider view of leadership and ministry.

Gordon’s leadership at St John’s extended from the congregation into the community. Mary Young presented Gordon’s founding role in the creation of the Strings of St John’s, especially noting his humour that made rehearsals and accompanying worship services such a delight. Claude Dufresne shared Gordon’s founding role in the Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus, especially recalling the welcome and safe space Gordon created at St John’s during the AIDS crisis, with compassion, warmth and support – and many tragic funerals held at St John’s. Evelyn Greenberg, who plays Christmas Carols at St John’s every Christmas Eve, spoke of how Gordon’s welcome has brought her great joy as “a Jew who loves Christmas.”

We heard of Gordon’s many services to the Diocese and the wider church from Bishop Peter Coffin. Peter noted Gordon’s contributions to the Diocese, his leadership at St Paul University, and especially his psalm settings which are sung across Canada, and his online hymn resource, also used across Canada. Beth Bretzlaff, Dean of Ottawa and Rector of Christ Church Cathedral – and former Rector of St John’s – focused on Gordon as a colleague in ministry and one especially committed to serving on teams that are caring and mutually supportive.

St John’s churchwardens, Stephen Giles and Brian Cameron, expressed our parish’s thanks for Gordon’s leadership, noting his role in pastoral care, personal support, and musical mentorship – with special thanks to Gordon’s husband, Gaston Michaud for sharing Gordon with us!

At the conclusion of these tributes, Gordon came forward to speak to the party. In addition to thanking specific individuals who helped along the way, Gordon described a vision of what he has tried to accomplish at St John’s since 1986. “The goal of music ministry is to help people flourish in their lives, and music is a tool for that.”

It was a wonderful party. Thanks to Lannie Mitchell and Detlef and Barb Dransch, our party organizers, as well as to many dedicated volunteers who made this celebration possible.

Plan to be with us for Gordon’s final service on Sunday June 25, 9:30 a.m.

Thank you, Gordon, for your leadership at St John’s!

Gary+

POW WOW EVENT PICTURES

Tulipathon 2023: Thank you for Joining the Walk

Thanks to the wonderful support of members of St. John's, as well as friends and family, St. John's made a major contribution to another successful Tulipathon. Sunday, May 28 was a beautiful, although hot, day for the walk, with 8 members of St. John's walking. As of May 30, the St. John's team had raised just over $7,000. This money will provide rent subsidies to Multifaith Housing Initiative's tenants.

If you still wish to contribute, donations are being accepted until June 30. Please donate to the St. John's Team online at St. John's. Cheque donations (with St. John's on the comment line) can be mailed to Multifaith Housing Initiative, 206-404 McArthur Ave., Ottawa ON, K1K 1G8 or given to Gay for delivery to MHI.

Thank you again for your continuing commitment to affordable housing.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Osiyo, Aanii, Tansi, Hello.

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, a time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

The National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st is a national holiday established in 1996, this day encourages Canadians to honor and celebrate the legacy and culture of the country’s Indigenous communities.

This day also aligns with the Summer Solstice, a sacred time of ceremony, music, dancing, drumming, feasts, and story sharing. This day begins the shift from Spring to Summer and a time to set your intentions to move forward in a good way!

A day to take a moment to learn a Creation Story.

*See the Anishinaabe Creation Story below:

https://youtu.be/ZaxHDZptL9U

A time to attend festivities:

https://summersolsticefestivals.ca/

A time to watch Indigenous-created content, listen to a podcast or read a book written by an Indigenous author.

Take deliberate moments during the month of June to continue your commitment to acknowledgement and commitment to learning more about the land, the people, and the history of what is now called Canada.

Wado, Chi-Miigwech, Niá:wen,

Merci, Nakurmiik, Thank you!

Ditsaligohi itsehesdi (Live united, work as a team)

Kimberly Johnson-Breen

St John's Indigenous Engagement Coordinator

St. John's will be one of the Doors Open sites on Saturday June 3. Shuttle map can be found if you click on the Doors Open poster.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT

Several of us at St. John’s care for others in our families, sometimes all day long and other times only occasionally. Recently a few of us got together and shared our experiences – the challenges, the loneliness, the search for resources to help us, and of course the rewards. Another conversation is planned for Wednesday, June 14, 2:30-3:30, by Zoom. If you are a caregiver for a family member or friend or know someone else who is, this is a conversation you might want to join. Of course, participants from our first conversation are welcome to join in as well. Zoom Link

In the meantime, if you would like more information, please get in touch with Monica Patten (monica.patten@rogers.com ) or Vicki Robinson (v.g.robinson@sympatico.ca)

Reserve a seat

Listening Sessions for the future of music at St John's

Please join us to offer your input. What are your hopes for music? What do you hope for in our future music director?

Sunday, June 4 (in the church immediately following the service)

Thursday, June 8 (especially for the choir)

Sunday, June 11, 7 p.m. on Zoom. LINK. **Please Note Revised Time.**

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Those On Our Hearts

The staff, volunteers and participants in the programs of The Well/La Source

Our Parish

Gary, Allen, Gordon, Josh, Kimberly, Kerry, Stephen, Brian, Michelle, Jill and all who minister at St John's.

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.
St. Columba, Ottawa and the Reverend Karen Coxon.
St. Barnabas, Deep River and the Venerable Patrick Stephens.
St. Barnabas, Ottawa and the Reverend Canon Stewart Murray.

Anglican Church of Canada (ACC)

The theological colleges and training programs within the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario: Canterbury College, Huron University College, Renison College, the Anglican Studies Program at Saint Paul University, Thorneloe University, Trinity College, Wycliffe College.

ELCIC

Luther College at the University of Regina and Luther College – High School.

The Anglican Communion from Aba to Zululand

The Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria.

Parish Prayer Group

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

prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.

FLOWERS

The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Catherine MacLean and family by Catherine Doré.

TAKE NOTE

Thank You for the Music – Gordon Version

On Sunday mornings, we show up and robe up before

The congregation starts trickling in the front door

‘Cause he has a talent, a wonderful thing

And everyone listens when we start to sing

We’re so grateful and proud

All we want is to sing it out loud

So we say thank you for the music, the songs we’re singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it, we ask in all honesty

What would life be without a song (not a dance!) what are we?

So we say thank you for the music

For giving it to me

Together on Thursday night, we sing note after note

We know practice makes perfect, our voices we devote

And we've often wondered, how did it all start?

Who found out that nothing can capture a heart

The way our Gordon can?

Well, whoever it was, we’re all fans!

So we say thank you for the music, the songs we’re singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it, we ask in all honesty

What would life be without a song (not a dance!) what are we?

So we say thank you for the music

For giving it to me

We’re all so lucky, our maestro is beyond compare

We wanna sing it out to everybody

What a joy, what a life, he has shared!

So we say thank you for the music, the songs we’re singing

Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

Who can live without it, we ask in all honesty

What would life be without a song (not a dance!) what are we?

So we say thank you for the music

For giving it to me

So we say thank you for the music

For giving it to me

A NEW ST JOHN’S VIDEO

Over the past year, St John’s transitioned from videos of Worship Highlights to videos for

community engagement. With the focus on coming together in person, we have made fewer videos. But we have a new one this week: Parishioners Marilyn Box, Pat Fisher, and Vicki Milnes welcomed Sister Connie of the Sisterhood of St John the Divine to St John’s. As Associate members of the Sisterhood, all three have participated in retreats at St John’s Convent in Toronto. I have also had a special connection with St John’s Convent and it was a delight to welcome Sister Connie to St John’s for a Community Connections video.

Gary+