This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

Lots of reactions to the sudden arrival of snow: This morning I heard delight. I also heard regret and a new urgency about snow tires. The snow brings to prominence an urgent ask from the St John’s Community Shop. We need men’s coats. We heard on Sunday, with humour, that men keep their coats a long time - but this is a good time to change yours for a new one. For weeks, now, the shop has experienced the greater need evident in Ottawa. All coats are welcome, of course, but for men’s coats a special urgent plea!

Rev Caz Ducros & Gary dressed for the Santa Shuffle Run on December 2

On a very happy note, the change to winter scenery comes as we count down two weeks to St John’s first-ever Christmas Market on Saturday, November 25. The latest count is 31 artisans and artists! I have discovered how much I enjoy baking – it is a very good way to procrastinate – and now I’m looking forward to bringing mine to contribute. Eating always coincides with happy occasions. Plan to come and spend the day with us at St John’s. See the details below.

CHECK OUT THE NEW CHRISTMAS MARKET SIGN!

TOP: Tuesday and it looks like Summer

BOTTOM: Thursday and it looks like Winter

Looking forward to seeing you this coming Sunday. As our social calendars get busy, keep the 8:00 service in mind. It’s early enough to come before your day really starts – and it’s quick – 40 minutes. If you have a Sunday with big plans, start your day early with worship and set the tone to appreciate all the other blessings of the day. And if you love music, 10:15 is the place to be…

Hope to see you Sunday!

Gary+

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, November 12, 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Amos 5:18-24; Psalm 70; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, November 19, 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.

Zephaniah 1:7,12-18; Psalm 90:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30

SERMON – Peace & Remembrance Sunday, November 5, 10:15 a.m.

Listen to last Sunday’s Sermon HERE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

ST JOHN'S CHRISTMAS MARKET

Get ready for the festive season at St. John’s European-style Christmas market, with over 30 Ottawa artists and artisans offering their artwork and Christmas crafts for sale. There will be hot drinks, snacks and baked goods for you to enjoy as you browse the artists’ tables. This is a great chance to pick up artworks, hand-made gifts and Christmas ornaments for your loved ones or yourself!

Click HERE for updates and to see some of the beautiful items that will be for sale. If you are on Facebook, Like and Share our Christmas Market posts with your friends!

CHRISTMAS MARKET

BAKE SALE

REFRESHMENT STAND

Hello St. John’s Family!

The holiday season is upon us!!

Thank you all so much for your enthusiasm about the Bake Sale and Refreshments stand for the Christmas Market. If you are interested in volunteering to help price treats or staff the refreshments stand, please fill out a form at this link: https://rb.gy/i8wth

We are looking forward to receiving all of your goodies and treats on Friday Nov 24th from 7-9 pm in the Well. To make this first St. John’s Christmas Market easier on everyone we request that everyone bring their treats already wrapped in CLEAR bags similar to these (https://canada.michaels.com/en/mini-loaf-treat-bags-by-celebrate-it/10406594.html ), closed with ribbon or twine. We have included some guidelines below for the number of items per bag.

Please also indicate if the item contains nuts, seeds or other common allergens. Please also indicate if your item follows any particular dietary restrictions, such as gluten free, dairy free, vegan, or vegetarian.

Cookies:

- Small cookies: 6 per bag

- Medium cookies: 4 per bag

- Large cookies: 2 per bag

Brownies: 1 per bag, in squares or rectangles approx. 4x6 inches

Muffins:

- Large muffins: 1 per bag

- Small muffins: 2 per bag

Loaves: 1 per bag

Pies: Please speak to one of us

Tarts: 2 per bag, on a styrofoam or paper plate if fragile

Bread: 1 loaf per bag

Scones/pastries: 2 per bag

Jam/honey: no bag necessary but please clearly label

Any other baked goods you can think of!

In order to make sure that all pricing is consistent, we ask that you do not price your own treats. That being said, you may feel free to bring an ingredient list if you used any expensive ingredients that would affect how your contribution is priced.

Please find us at coffee time or email rcgregg@outlook.com if you have any questions about packaging.

Thank you for all your hard work and baking efforts!

Rebecca and Christine

TANGO ORCHESTRA

Rahim our long time renter is very excited to present Bandonegro Tango Orchestra hailing all the way from Poland. Rahim's Tango night just happens to be their only Ontario stop on their North American Tour. This is a night you are not going to want to miss!

Join us at Milonga de La Confesión on Tuesday, November 14th for a live performance by Bandonegro, one of Europe's best quartet Tango Orchestra.

Coming from Poland, Bandonegro specializes in both traditional Argentinean tango and tango neuvo along with their own compositions infusing both jazz and classical music. They have presented their music during music festivals in Poland, Argentina, Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Portugal, etc. On November 14th, they will be visting the nation's capital as part of their new international concert tour. Come and experience their special sound that binds music, dance, and passion.

Advanced purchase: $50

Purchase through e-transfer to rahimslatinfriday@gmail.com

Purchase at the door: $60 (cash or debit/credit cards )

Limited space available!

UPDATES

UPDATE ON REFRESHMENTS

Staying after the worship service is a wonderful time of friendship and hospitality. We have been trying different locations to see what works best for us. The 8:00 service goes over to Bridgehead and we take up a bunch of tables for a good visit. Our latest experiment following the 10:15 service is to hold refreshments in the nave (the main body of the church). In the summer, we were in the narthex (“church word” for an entrance hall), and we have also been in the chapel (upper-level room to the right), and the parish hall.

The reason for this location experiment is the growing realization (across many churches) that while people who know each other will readily move to another location, newcomers and visitors are less likely to stay. Already after just a few weeks in the nave, have you noticed the difference? There are more people and there’s more laughter. I saw conversations between people who I knew were meeting for the first time. The furniture almost requires people to stand closer to each other and, if you think about it, that’s a nice catalyst to have. The nave is a beautiful space with various places to sit or stand – it’s easy to stay and enjoy the space following the service.

This feels like success. It comes with two notable challenges. We keep running out of refreshments. There’s also the cost. We did a calculation, and it’s approximately $20 per week to supply coffee and refreshments. While we do have a donation jar, people are carrying less cash these days. It seems our refreshment volunteers have been donating the lovely brownies and cookies. We need some support especially if more people are staying afterwards. Here’s what you can do:

Put a larger bill in the donation jar once in a while

St John’s now has e-transfer! Please indicate "Hospitality" in the subject line: office@stjohnsottawa.ca

If you’re baking for the joy of it, share your enjoyment by bringing some to church (but not the store-bought cookies!). If you would like to bring, let us know by Wednesday so we don't end up with too much.

I want to encourage you to stay following the worship service. It is the strength of our inner bond of community friendship that enables us to be an outward-facing church!

Gary+

NATIONAL HOUSING DAY

A Celebration by Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI)

Beginning in 2000, Canada has celebrated National Housing Day (NHD) on November 22. Each year, Multifaith Housing Initiative (MHI) celebrates this day on the Sunday closest to this date. MHI’s National Housing Day celebration is on November 19th, 2023 from 3:00 - 5:00 PM at Ottawa City Hall. This is an interfaith celebration to raise awareness about housing, homelessness, and the affordable housing crisis in Ottawa.

There will be musical performances by Just Voices and speeches by the Mayor of Ottawa and MHI's Executive Director, Suzanne Le. The keynote speaker is Carl Nicholson who will talk about affordable housing in Ottawa. Conversation and refreshments will follow after the speakers.

St John’s has been an MHI supporter since its beginning in 2002. If you are interested in affordable housing, please come. The event is free to attend and takes place at Jean Pigott Place inside Ottawa City Hall. Click the button below to RSVP on Facebook.

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

Prayer for those in leadership roles: Gary, Allen, 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.
Our Community Ministries:
Belong Ottawa: 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 Lower Ottawa Valley:
Holy Trinity, Hawkesbury
St. John’s, Vankleek Hill
St. Michael and All Angels, Maxville
Parish of Grenville/Calumet
The Chapel of St. Paul’s, Fenaghvale
The Reverend Bob Albert

Anglican Church of Canada

The members of the Council of General Synod.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The members of the National Church Council.

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

Igreja Anglicana de Mocambique e Angola.

Flowers

The flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Louis Arsenault, Eileen Dunn Arsenault, and Louise Arsenault by their daughter and sister Kathleen Arsenault.

Parish Prayer Group

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

prayer-request@stjohnsottawa.ca.