This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

Welcome to the Easter Season. If keeping the 12 days of Christmas seemed like a challenge, there are 50 days of Easter!

Look to Sunday scriptures to help us keep this season. In the Gospel for this coming Sunday, Thomas, who was not present on Easter Sunday, says those words for which we remember him as Doubting Thomas: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

It is natural and important to doubt, and I’m looking forward to preaching about how doubt helps us to be people of profound faith. If you ever have doubts, you are in good company. I hope this helps with your faith in the Risen Christ. And I hope it helps you keep faith about your challenges, your hopes, and your future.

Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.

Gary+

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, April 7 – Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, April 14 – Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Easter Sunday - March 31, 2024

Good Friday - March 29, 2024

Palm Sunday - March 24, 2024

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

Idris sprinkles the congregation with water following his baptism

Above: Candlelight in the darkened church during the Vigil readings

Below: Light and Music to celebrate the Resurrection at the Vigil

Below: the Resurrection Party following the Easter Vigil

EASTER GRATITUDE

We have just come through a wonderful celebration of Holy Week and Easter. Thank you for being part of it:

Thank you for the music! Thanks to Barb, joined by Tom, Gordon, our choir, trumpeters, and timpanists. Thanks for all the music and especially the Fauré Requiem.
Thanks to the many volunteers who helped us make the church beautiful, especially members of the Altar Guild, Barb Dransch who coordinated our Holy Week Clean Up Crew, and our custodian Jesse Psaila.
Thanks to all who participated in the Maundy Thursday supper. We are especially grateful to Rabbi Mikelberg for a wonderful presentation about Passover and the Seder, joined by Temple Israel members Mark and Merle. Thanks to Heather Wacyk, manager of The Well, for connecting how Jesus washed the disciples' feet to how The Well serves those in need. We are so grateful for our coordinator, Michelle Smulders, and so many people who shopped, delivered, cooked, served, and cleaned.
Thanks to all our readers. The stories of our “Christian High Holidays” (the Rabbi’s phrase) have been beautifully told – your well-prepared readings have shown us our key story. Special thanks to our ministry intern, Karen McBride, who coordinated Good Friday's dramatic reading of the Passion of Christ.
Thanks to our baptism and confirmation discussion group for your faithfulness over the whole season of Lent. Special thanks to Idris Bachene, and his baptism presenter Jeff Biggs, for your enthusiasm and your witness. Every baptism calls on us to make a vow of support as a community, and it’s always a privilege and blessing to do so.
Thanks for all the bulletins, courtesy of our administrator Kerry, our ever-robust office volunteer team, and our photocopier troubleshooter Greg!
Thanks to our clergy team. Pat, Christina, Allen, and Karen have been very present throughout Holy Week, and I am so moved by their dedication and support for each other, as well as for me as Rector of St John’s.
Thanks to our churchwardens who make sure that everything goes smoothly, from the warmth of leading the announcements to seamlessly covering for the unexpected - thanks to Barb, Monica, Marianne, and Jeff.
Thanks to all of you who show St John’s welcome and hospitality. This includes greeters at all the services, refreshments, notably the Resurrection Party, and all of you as you smile a warm greeting as we give each other the Peace, and as we speak words of kindness and friendship.

Thanks for being here! Attendance over the whole week has been robust and significant. May you be blessed as we celebrate the Risen Christ.

Gary+

UPDATES

CHILDREN'S EASTER SERVICE

Please join our age-appropriate children’s service. We will retell the stories of Holy Week and Easter, celebrate the Eucharist with roles for everyone, including ringing the bell, carrying the cross, wearing robes, giving communion. We will conclude with a snack (English Muffin pizzas) free play (running around the church). Everyone is welcome.

This Sunday, April 7, 3 PM

ART CREDO IS COMING!

The 45^th Art Credo Exhibit and Sale promises to be another wonderful art show! It will run from Saturday, April 20^th to Sunday, May 5^th. We will have 116 works of art from 50 artists.

The Vernissage will be in the evening of Friday, April 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Everyone is invited to come and bring a friend. You'll get an early peek at the artwork, meet some of the artists, enjoy some wine & cheese, and listen to some live music.

We are still looking for volunteers. If you can offer 3 hours of your time to act as a sitter, there is a schedule where you can sign up online HERE. You can also contact Detlef or Mary Ann to sign up. We could still use some helpers with receiving the artwork on Thursday evening April 18^th and hanging the artwork in the church on Friday morning April 20^th.

Contacts: Detlef Dransch at ddransch@sympatico.ca , tel. 613.592.9897

or Mary Ann Varley at varleymaryann1@bell.net , tel. 613.745.2996

LIVING IN THE AGE OF THE SPIRIT

Join us for a quiet time led by Sister Elizabeth Ann of the Anglican Sisters of St. John the Divine. Sister Elizabeth Ann will give a series of talks each followed by a time of individual quiet reflection and ending with a time of sharing. Together we will ponder such questions as “ How do people of faith listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives?”; What does being Spiritual and Religious even mean in today’s culture?”; “How can we remain hopeful in today’s world?” Cost is $45. Beverages and snacks will be offered on Saturday.

St. Aidan’s Anglican Church

934 Hamlet Road, Ottawa

Friday, April 26, 7-9 PM &

Saturday, April 27, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM

COSA GALA

IT TAKES A VILLAGE!

Join the two tables of St John's parishioners who have already confirmed for the fifth fundraising gala for Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) Ottawa, on Friday, April 26, 2024.

CoSA Ottawa, one of 13 CoSA sites in Canada, is volunteer-driven, involving local citizens who are trained to support people who have been incarcerated for committing sexual offenses. Along with a network of advisors, community partners, and official supporters, they help these individuals develop a meaningful and crime-free life in the community.

CoSA's mission:

No More Victims - No One Is Disposable.

CoSA Ottawa has operated out of St John's Church for over 25 years. CoSA currently works with 14 clients, supported by 35 volunteers, and managed by one staff member. Their survival is possible with your help! We all need to help to ensure CoSA becomes sustainable in the Ottawa Gatineau region.

The Gala includes a full dinner, raffle and auction, and special guests Adrian Harewood and Catherine McKenney. Find out more about the Gala HERE.

For information about CoSA Ottawa and to purchase a ticket to and/or sponsor It Takes a Village! Gala, contact the Director, Kathleen Weedmark, at director@cosa-ottawa.ca.

Note: the early bird ticket price has been extended to March 31st, to accommodate vacationers during March Break.

INTERFAITH SHABBAT

Temple Israel - Friday, April 12th

Temple Israel invites non-Jewish friends and family to the Shabbat service at 6:15pm on Friday, which will be followed by dinner then a presentation on antisemitism for adults starting at 8pm.

During the presentation on antisemitism, children will be downstairs for separate programming. This is a fantastic opportunity for Temple Israel members to provide their non-Jewish friends/family with the opportunity to learn more about our traditions and culture. Anti-Semitism and how it affects the Jewish community will be discussed.

RSVP to https://tiottawa.shulcloud.com/event/240412K.

Questions? Please reach out to Tamara by email (tamara.taub@gmail.com) or the Temple Israel office at cathy@templeisraelottawa.com

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

Prayers for those in leadership roles: Gary, Allen, Christina, Pat, Karen, Barb, Kimberly, Kerry, Jesse, Monica, Barb, Jeff, Marianne, and all who minister at St John's. Those in need of our prayers: Robin, Diana, Sarah.

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.
Julian of Norwich
The Reverend John Bridges, interim priest
Deacon Elizabeth December, and all who minister there

Anglican Church of Canada

The Provincial Synod of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The congregations of the Central Manitoba area of the Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Synod.

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

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.

A Time of Prayer - Living God, we thank you that through the resurrection of Jesus our lives and ministries are transformed. Give us humble and obedient hearts, that we may receive what you have made known to us. May we be bold in serving you and bringing your Good News to our communities. Help us to share of ourselves and our possessions with one another and especially with people in need. Amen.