Who we are:

Church address:
5350 Baillie Street
Vancouver, BC
(on 37th Ave between Cambie and Oak)

Church office address:
2325 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6J 3J2
604.558.4400

St John's Vancouver Anglican Church is a community of Christians dedicated to the exposition and teaching of the Word of God, to the spreading of the good news of the Gospel at home and abroad, and to the application of God's purpose in our own lives and families.

 

News > 2008 Parish Life Notes > 08.02.17 Parish Life

Feb 17, 2008

Dear Friends,

If you were not with us last Wednesday night, you will know from media reports that the Vestry meeting voted in favour of receiving Episcopal oversight from Bishop Donald Harvey and the Anglican Network in Canada, under the jurisdiction of the Southern Cone by a majority of 97.8%. What the media cannot report is what many have described as a real sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit and a God given expression of our unity in Him. As the private ballot was counted, we sang together and prayed together and filled the building with thanks to God for his saving grace.
We began by considering the incalculable wonder of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. We committed ourselves afresh to the glory of God and we heard something of what God has done in our midst over the past year.

I want you to know that we have thousands of people praying for us all around the world, and the support of many churches here in Vancouver and beyond. This is important as we face some of the hurdles that lie ahead. It is more important that we move forward positively now, seeking to reflect the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The mission in May (below) is a brilliant opportunity for us. The unity God gives us is not to be wasted but to be used to extend the fellowship of the Holy Spirit by connecting people to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and sharing the love of God with others.

David Short.

As you heard in our ministry leaders’ reports on Wednesday night, there is so much to be grateful for as a church. A growing youth ministry, a renewed devotion to prayer and a heart for mission are only some of the ways that God is moving among us. Perhaps the most wonderful thing He is doing is continuing to bring people to the knowledge of His loving and saving grace. Isn’t it amazing that He uses us in His work?
Do you remember Jethro from Exodus 18? Moses met his father-in-law in the wilderness and told him about the great things that God had done, especially how He rescued them from the hands of their oppressors, the Egyptians. When Jethro heard this testimony, his response was to worship the Lord. We have the same wonderful opportunity – to give testimony to God’s saving work in our own lives. Pray that the Lord will give you the space in conversation and the words to share, that everyone in Vancouver may come to know God’s rescuing grace, one neighbour at a time.
From May 1-4, Rico Tice, a minister from All Soul’s Langham Place, in London, will be with us. He is especially gifted for speaking to people who do not yet know the Lord. Some events already planned are a Women@10 lunch, a men’s breakfast, and a luncheon for business people. Other events are ‘in the works,’ and a full schedule leading up to and following the mission will be available soon. Please pray that God would give you opportunities for conversation with those for whom you have been praying.

Amber Salladin, for the Mission Steering Committee

Parish Announcements

Lunchtime Bible Study ( 12-1:15 pm). A lunchtime Bible study at the church will be meeting this Tuesday in Room 100, led by Olav Slaymaker. The series is entitled Jesus’ use of the Old Testament. All are welcome to come and bring a bag lunch if you wish. For more information contact Jan at ext. 28 or Jan(at)sjvan(dot)org.

St. John’s Seniors Tea will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 26th at 1:30 pm in the Trendell Lounge. Heather Searle and her daughters, Andrea and Kiara will tell us all about their three month mission visit to Costa Rica. If you need a ride, please call the church office.

Sidespeople are urgently needed to serve at the 7:30 a.m. service. If you already attend this service, and would be willing to serve once every 4 – 6 weeks, please contact Harold Linnington at 602-9941.

Connections - Hospitality Ministry. Do you want to get to know other people at church? Are you finding it challenging to connect with new people at St. John's? Connections is a way to get to know new people or connect with old friends by sharing a light lunch with 6 or 8 others in a host-family's home. You will meet with them after the Sunday services on Feb. 24th and March 30th. How do you get involved? We will have a registration table today after the 9 am service in the Trendell Lounge and after the 11 am in the Narthex. For more information call Jan at ext 28.

Spring Break Easter Camp Registrations. During coffee hour this morning families are invited to register children for our Easter Camp . The camp, for children in kindergarten up to grade 6, will be held on the afternoons of Wednesday, March 19th through to Good Friday, March 21st from 3 to 5 pm. Each afternoon children will hear of what took place during the first week of Easter while preparing singing and drama and art for the Easter Family Celebration on Saturday March 22nd at 5 pm. When registering, families can also register for the feast being held immediately after the celebration service in the Trendell Lounge.

Helpers for Easter Spring Camp. Interested in helping at our Spring Camp with serving snacks, assisting with art, telling stories, directing dramas? Please email Ruth Flannigan at ruthf(at)stjohnsshaughnessy(dot)org.

Enlarged Living Waters Family Support Group. What was formally a parent support group, for those whose children are struggling with or in the gay lifestyle, will now welcome siblings. This group meets once a month and continues
for 14 months. This Christ-centred group is facilitated by a Living Waters staff member and is open to all Christian parents and siblings in the greater Vancouver area. If interested call the LW office (301-1470) or email at lwc@livingwaterscanada. org. Questions – Manya Egerton 261-7785 or megerton(at)telus(dot)net.

Used Stamps. Thank you to all those who generously donate their used stamps to the Arctic Fellowship. Please continue to give. If you would like more information, please call Grace Turner at 872-6031.

Food Bank. As a congregation we continue to support the Food Bank throughout the year. Please remember to bring in non-perishable items for the boxes in the Narthex (Granville Street entrance).

Hard of Hearing Units. We have individual hearing units for use in the church: some are acoustical pieces that fit over your ear, and others are electronic devices for people who have hearing aids with a "T" setting (for telephone). If you want to use one, please see Ted at the sound monitor in the back of the church. Unfortunately, all units have the sound disrupted sporadically for periods of less than a second.

Anglican News

Pacific Coast Anglican Awakening – Sun., Mar. 2nd at 7 pm The Common Cause Partners of BC and the Northwest USA (of which the Anglican Network in Canada is a partner) are planning a special service to celebrate unity of orthodox Anglicans in the Lord Jesus Christ. The service will be held at Fraserview Mennonite Brethren Church, 11295 Mellis Drive, Richmond, BC. The preacher will be Bp Bill Murdoch, suffragan bishop of All Saints Cathedral Diocese in Nairobi, Kenya and dean of the New England Convocation of the Anglican Communion Network.

Community News

Homestart Foundation. Do you have furniture or household effects that you no longer need? Homestart Foundation is a Christian organization that picks up and stores items which are then made available to front line organizations such as homeless, halfway, refugee and women’s shelters. If you can contribute, please call 708-9556 or visit www.homestart.ca.