Who we are:

St John's Vancouver Anglican Church, Vancouver 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 > 08.03.02 Parish Life

Mar 2, 2008

Dear Friends,

In my home country of New Zealand, telling people about Jesus is often called ‘dropping the J Bomb’. To be honest, it’s a terrible picture about what it means to be a witness for Christ. Our strategy for evangelism is not the militaristic ‘shock and awe’ approach, but rather it’s about having a transparent spiritual journey before other people. This means that when it is appropriate, tell people about how Jesus has changed your life. If an unchurched friend is struggling, tell them you will pray for them. If someone asks you about your weekend, tell them that your heard a great sermon at church (remember though that lying is a sin). Let’s have spiritual conversations with our friends. For those of you who find this idea daunting, here are some things to remember to reduce the awkwardness.

  • Don’t assume people are not interested in your faith.
  • Remember, it’s not about winning arguments.
  • Conversations are a two way event, so practice being a good listener as well as a good talker.
  • Behind the questions people might ask you, there may be more personal issues going on. For example, they might ask you a question about how a good God could let pain exist in the world, when what they really want to know is why they feel constantly disappointed with their life. To get to this issue, you may have to ask them some questions.
  • If someone asks you a tricky question about your faith, don’t be afraid to say you don’t know. If you really don’t know if Adam had a belly button or not, don’t bluff. Just tell them that you’ll get back to them.

Spiritual conversation may seem awkward at first, but bear in mind that our spiritual journey is probably far more interesting to people than you imagine. And finally, remember that we are not in this alone. God is constantly with you, and he will bear witness to the truth in their hearts.

Aaron Roberts,
St John’s evangelist.

God & Film series '08

The task I'm trying to achieve is above all to make you see.
– D.W. Griffith, pioneering American director

Movies have become one of our more popular art forms, and these evenings are designed to challenge us beyond merely watching them into something of what Griffith was after. We plan to enjoy each work for its unique merits as we engage them for new recognitions of the nature of God, our world, and ourselves. The evenings will involve a public screening with refreshments, a brief commentary on the filmmaker’s themes, and opportunities for question and discussion. Join us! All movies are shown at 7:30 pm. Pick up blue invitations at the door to use to invite your friends.

Citizen Kane (1941) Orson Welles March 14
The Passion of the Christ (2004) Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci Mar. 21
The Third Miracle (1999) Ed Harris, Anne Heche April 4
The New World (2005) Colin Farrell, Q’oriana Kilcher April 11

Parish Activities

St John’s Walkers: Invite families, children etc., to our walk at Boundary Bay Regional Park, Tsawwassen at 1 pm on Sunday, March 2nd. Donation to the BC Cancer Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. For details call Brian Cole at 464-0019 or Joann Wilkins at 943-3882.

Special Concert. The Wheaton College Men’s Chorus will be singing at St. John’s on Monday, March 10th at 7:30 pm as part of their spring tour. Their concert will contain music appropriate for Lent, and would be a wonderful opportunity to invite friends to a very satisfying choral evening. The church will be hosting a potluck dinner for the singers, and we are looking for people willing to billet the singers for one evening, directly after the concert. If you can spare your extra room (or your couch) for the evening, please contact Amber Salladin at 319-6048 or amber.salladin@gmail.com.
Billeting Needed!! We need billeting for 50 university-age men (The Wheaton College Men’s Chorus) on the night of Monday, March 10! If you can host one or more of these fine young men, please let Amber Salladin know at 319-6048 or amber.salladin@gmail.com.

Prayer Service. On Monday, March 17, the Prayer Ministry of “Keeping Company with God” will continue with the second of a two part series on the gift of repentance. This is a time set aside during the season of Lent for reflective
prayer and a deeper understanding of what it means to have a repentant heart before the Lord. Please join us for an hour of quiet music and prayer at 7:30. pm.

The Men’s Breakfast team will have the pleasure of having Rev. J.I. Packer speak at the breakfast to be held in the Trendell Lounge on the morning of Saturday, March 15th, with the doors opening at 9 am. Cost is $15 and you can register between services in the Trendell Lounge or reserve a spot by emailing dj.dunkerley@gmail.com

Spring-Break Easter Camp. (Very limited space is available now for kindergarten children) Families
are invited to register their children in the Trendell Lounge during coffee hour this morning. The camp takes place on Wednesday through to Good Friday in the afternoons from 3 to 5pm.The purpose
of the camp is for children to enjoy being with one another and to prepare the Easter Family Celebration to take place on Saturday March 22nd at 5pm.
Families whose children are at the camp are also invited to the FAMILY SUPPER being served by the Banqueting Table immediately after the service; tickets are on sale this morning at the registration table.

Women’s Retreat: April 18th - 20th. Attention ladies! Mark your calendar now to hold the date for the St. John’s Women’s Retreat: Friday, April 18 – Sunday, April 20. This year’s theme is Christ-Centred, Christ-Scented: The aroma of Christ. More details coming soon.

Anglican Events

Pacific Coast Anglican Awakening – Sunday, March 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.

St. John’s part – billeting: We have been asked to provide billets for out of town guests, including, bishops and leaders representing faithful Anglicans from the USA and other parts of the world. Could you host one or more people in your home from March 1st to 4th? Please phone the church receptionist and leave your name, phone number, and the number of people you could billet.

Community News

Book Launch - Monday, March 3, 7:30 You are invited to the book launch of parishioner Craig Gay’s latest book, Dialogue, Catalogue and Monologue: Personal, Impersonal, and Depersonalizing Ways to Use Words. Dr. Gay will be giving a lecture entitled, “Dialogue: The Heart That Beats and the Centre of Life”. Place: Regent College, 5800 University Boulevard.