This week at St John's

THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN'S

Dear Friends:

This Sunday’s Gospel reading has long captured imaginations. Jesus’ ministry has caught so much attention that he is being compared to John the Baptist. King Herod has even heard that John the Baptist has returned from the dead. We get some of the back story about how this news makes the king anxious because he was the one who had John executed. Novels, poems and operas have been written to fill in the details of how that all came about.

This back story has come to overshadow the reason for its telling, and it is certainly interesting, but the really important part is that the story then takes us beyond fears and misunderstandings to show us that Jesus is good news especially for those who are carrying heavy burdens. Jesus brings grace.

On a personal note, I am back from two weeks of rest away from Ottawa. St John’s is coming through some big changes. Special thanks to the clergy team, the churchwardens, and to so many of you who are helping us to experience God’s grace today in the midst of our St John’s version of interruptions.

Please join us this Sunday as we worship in a setting of grace. While the church gets re-constructed, we are in the parish hall at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome!

Gary+

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, July 14 - Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Amos 7:7-15; Psalm 85:8-13; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29

SCRIPTURES - Sunday, July 21 - Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

LISTEN TO RECORDED WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - July 7, 2024

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - June 30, 2024

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost - National Indigenous Day of Prayer - June 23, 2024

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - June 16, 2024

Find all St John's Worship Recordings HERE

WORSHIP IN THE PARISH HALL

Our worship moved into the parish hall this past Sunday, and will remain there until the nave redevelopment is complete. A joint effort by the Wardens, Altar Guild, Servers, Jean Bosco and others transformed the Hall into a lovely, intimate (and cool!) space. Take a look, and please do join us if you are in town this Sunday.

Also, please note that the main door to the parish hall will not be open on Sundays, in response to parishioners' feedback.

PLEASE ACCESS THE PARISH HALL VIA THE RAMP.

Pat Johnston preached and presided;

Gordon Johnston provided the piano accompaniment.

Thanks to Erin Biggs for the photos.

The flowers were given by Emmy Verdun in memory of her sister.

Thanks to Erin Biggs for the photos.

TRANSFORMING OUR NAVE

The past week has seen great progress in the work to redevelop the nave. Scroll down and see!

Dismantling the pews. The work was done in one day.

Pews stacked and ready for removal (which has now been completed). Five of the short pews have found new homes. The remainder will be repurposed by finding new homes or being used in various future projects.

Project Manager Detlef Dransch helps remove the organ trumpets to protect them from dust, under Gordon Johnston's supervision. With all the trumpets removed, the organ has now been wrapped in plastic

Preparing for installation of the HVAC units in the Shop area

Thanks to Detlef Dransch for the photos.

CHAIRS ARE COMING!

55 chairs have been purchased in our Buy-A-Chair Campaign!

Thank you to everyone who has purchased chairs so far. It is very exciting to see this level of engagement in our first three weeks.

We think we can make it to 75 chairs.

Please join in this wonderful opportunity to contribute to our nave renewal project.

Each chair is $200. Buy one or buy more.

Donations can be made:

By e-transfer to office@stjohnsottawa.ca
Through Canada Helps at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/108084658RR0007-church-of-st-john-the-evangelist/
By cheque made out to St John’s Anglican Church Ottawa

If you want to know more, please speak to Pat Fisher, Jill Moll or Barb Dransch.

As the work to install the HVAC units proceeds, the Shop will be closed as of July 2nd for approximately two weeks. Stay tuned for updates.

WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING SHOP DONATIONS DURING THIS TIME.

LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Saturday, July 20

Memorial Service for Robin Dorrell.

First Baptist Church, Laurier and Elgin 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 13

Books & BBQ. Featured book: "True Reconciliation" by Jody Wilson-Raybould.

Saturday, September 21

Memorial Service for Katie Seymour. 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 26

Church Safety Training - Second Session, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, November 23

St John's Christmas Market (Back-up date is Saturday, November 30)

TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Our Parish

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

Our Diocese

Shane, our Bishop; Anne, our Metropolitan; Linda, our Primate.
The Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, The Rt Rev Christopher Harper, National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop, Sacred Circle Events, and the Ministry of Reconciliation.
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
St. James, Manotick; The Reverend John Holgate

Anglican Church of Canada

The Most Rev. Greg Kerr-Wilson, Archbishop, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Calgary.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

The assistant to the bishop and the staff of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories.

The Anglican Communion - Pray for Anglicans Worldwide

The Church of Ireland.

Parish Prayer Group

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

office@stjohnsottawa.ca

A Time of Prayer - Heavenly Creator, thank you that we have been placed into the Body of Christ by faith. May we draw on the example of those faithful disciples who obeyed your Word. We pray that, like them, we may devote ourselves to apostolic teaching, Christian fellowship, the breaking of bread and earnest prayer. May we seek to share the truth of the glorious gospel of the grace of God with everyone we meet, in humility and love. This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

DONATE

CANADA HELPS QR CODE

e-transfer office@stjohnsottawa.ca

HOW YOU CAN DONATE TO ST JOHN'S

Identified donations to St John’s are charitable donations and are eligible for a charitable tax receipt. Receipts for donations made directly through St John’s are usually generated on an annual basis. Donations to St John’s through Canada Helps are receipted by Canada Helps.

Here are the different ways that you can give:

E-Transfer

office@stjohnsottawa.ca

PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance)

Enrol in the PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) program, whereby a designated monthly amount is withdrawn from a parishioner’s bank account or credit card. Peggy Lister, the Envelope Secretary, will provide you with the application form required to enrol in this program.

Weekly Offering Envelopes

Use identified weekly offering envelopes to make your cash or cheque donation to St John’s. A request for such envelopes goes to Peggy Lister, the Envelope Secretary, who will provide the envelopes.

Cash or Cheque Donation on Sunday

Make a cash or cheque contribution during a weekly service. The donation must be identified (i.e. a name & address on the envelope or a cheque with the donor’s information) if the donor wishes to receive a charitable receipt for the donation.

Canada Helps

Make a donation to St John’s through Canada Helps by scanning the QR code on the weekly bulletin, the QR code on the sign at the back of the church or through the ‘donate’ button on the St John’s website. Canada Helps donations can be for a single time or set up as an on-going monthly donation.

With thanks to God for your generous support