This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

If you were able to join us at services last Sunday, you may remember that Gary is on retreat this week at the Society of Saint John the Evangelist’s monastery in Cambridge. We pray that this will be a refreshing and enriching time for him. I’m sure he’ll have much to share about his week at SSJE when he returns!

His absence was part of a larger plan, however: to give me the experience of being left in charge of the work of parish for a short time. I have been so grateful for the trust and support you’ve all shown me during my ministry internship at St. John’s! It has been a wonderful learning experience, and as I prepare to conclude my time with you in this role on Sunday, April 21, I have some exciting news to share…

Earlier this week Bishop Shane announced that, God willing, on Trinity Sunday, May 26 at 4pm in Christ Church Cathedral Ottawa, he will ordain me as a transitional deacon. He has also announced my appointment at Deacon-in-Charge of the parish of Julian of Norwich effective May 30th.

As you will see below, however, life at St. John’s continued to be very rich in the past week and will be vibrant in the weeks to come with all the special activities and opportunities planned! It was especially meaningful to hold a Children’s Easter Service last Sunday. As you'll see from the photos (which parents have agreed we can share) it was full of the joy of the Easter story! Many thanks to the Children’s Ministry team for its dedication, as well as to Petr Maur for all the wonderful photos!

One of the readings for Sunday (1 John 3:1-7) in fact talks about our inheritance as children of God. And as I prepare my sermon for Sunday, I find myself thinking about these precious, happy faces, and about how much God desires abundant joy for all his children!

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

Yours in the risen Christ,

Karen

SCRIPTURES – Sunday, April 14 – Third Sunday of Easter

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

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, April 21 - Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Second Sunday of Easter - April 7, 2024

Easter Sunday - March 31, 2024

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

Above: A vibrant Second Sunday of Easter!

Below: Parishioners are always willing to lend a hand at St. John's!

THE CHILDREN'S EASTER SERVICE IN PHOTOS

Above and below: The children's procession

Below: Retelling the story of Holy Week and Easter with props from Godly Play

Below: Celebrating the Eucharist

Below: Ringing the bells was great fun, even for the smallest of the children!

UPDATES

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION JOURNEY

Osiyo Nigadv, Hello everyone,

Welcome to Spring, the time to continue our Truth and Reconciliation journey together (gadugi).

As a reminder, I have included The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Ten Principles for Reconciliation:

The United Nations "Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples" provides the framework for Reconciliation at all levels and across all sectors of Canadian society.
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, as the original peoples of this country and as self-determining peoples, have Treaty, constitutional, and human rights that must be recognized and respected.
Reconciliation is a process of healing of relationships that requires public Truth sharing, apology, and commemoration that acknowledge and redress past harms.
Reconciliation requires constructive action on addressing the ongoing legacies of colonialism that have had destructive impacts on Indigenous peoples’ education, cultures and languages, health, child welfare, the administration of justice, and economic opportunities and prosperity.
Reconciliation must create a more equitable and inclusive society by closing the gaps in social, health, and economic outcomes that exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.
All Canadians, as Treaty peoples, share responsibility for establishing and maintaining mutually respectful relationships.
The perspectives and understandings of Indigenous Elders and Traditional Knowledge-Keepers about the ethics, concepts, and practices of Reconciliation are vital to long-term reconciliation.
Supporting Indigenous peoples’ cultural revitalization and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, oral histories, laws, protocols, and connections to the land into the Reconciliation process are essential.
Reconciliation requires political will, joint leadership, trust-building, accountability, and transparency, as well as a substantial investment of resources.
Reconciliation requires sustained public education and dialogue, including youth engagement, about the history and legacy of residential schools, Treaties, and Indigenous rights, as well as the historical and contemporary contributions of Indigenous peoples to Canadian society.

Please remember these upcoming dates:

May 5th is MMIWG2S National Day of Remembrance If you would like to learn more here is the website: mmiwg-ffada.ca

May 27th and 28th are Odawa's 44th Annual Traditional Pow Wow days. Please visit Odawa's website for more details: odawapowwow.ca

June 21st is National Indigenous People's Day (June is National Indigenous History Month).

June 22nd will be a Medicine Walk with Grandmother Louella Tobias as she walks and teaches us at Mud Lake.

September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

I am looking forward to what Creator Sets Free will have us do to continue our gadugi journey. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Wado, Kimberly

"Reconciliation is not an Aboriginal problem - it is a Canadian problem.

It involves all of us." - Justice Murray Sinclair

PARKING AT SOMERSET GARDENS

Parishioners and volunteers may notice more cars parked in our parking spots next door at Somerset Gardens. We have reached agreement to rent spots to a local business for the month of April on a first-come-first-served basis. If you need parking for a volunteer activity and cannot find an open spot at Somerset Gardens, please look for free parking on the neighbourhood streets. If you cannot find any and want to be reimbursed for paid parking, then St John’s will do so.

The parking lot at Somerset Gardens will be power washed on Thursday, April 18. Please do not park at Somerset Gardens on that day. In order to remind parkers and discourage the use of the parking spots, the garage door will be closed on Wednesday April 17. The church, the condominium corporation and the contractor will not be responsible for any damage to vehicles during the cleaning process.

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

A TASTE FOR LIFE IN SUPPORT OF BRUCE HOUSE

HIV disease has not disappeared. In fact, the number of those infected is going up. Bruce House provides supportive housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. The Taste for Life event is a fundraiser for Bruce House which has been supported by St. John's people for many years. It is fun and easy to join in. Just dine out at one of the participating restaurants and they will donate a portion of your tab to the cause of housing in our community. For a list of where to dine, check out the website.

More Info and Participating Restaurants

PDF copy of Newsletter

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

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.

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
The Parish of Grenville/Calument with The Reverend Bob Albert

Anglican Church of Canada

The Most Rev. Anne Germond, Archbishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Algoma.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

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

Together

Climate justice and healthy relationships with the earth.

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

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.