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 > 08.03.09 Parish Life

Mar 9, 2008

Dear Friends,

I am not making this up—this week the British journal Time and Mind published an essay by Benny Shanon of Jerusalem’s Hebrew University claiming that the Exodus can be explained by mind altering drugs. The psychology professor suggests that the Israelites were likely high on a hallucinogenic drug when Moses was supposed to have come down the Mountain with the 10 commandments.

His theory is based on the fact that the hallucinogenic brew ayahuasca from the Amazon contains the same psychoactive molecules that are found in several plants in the Sinai desert. So the thunder and lightening on the top of the Mountain can be explained by the people of Israel being in an “altered state of awareness.”

These kinds of stories often pop up on slow news days and are a wonderful opportunity for conversation at the water cooler for Christians who are alert. For example, we are told that over 600,000 people left Egypt (Exodus 12:37) which would require a mind altering large quantity of ayahuasca to bring on the same hallucination for the whole people of Israel. More than that, it is very hard to explain the angel of death and the passover, or the crossing of the Red Sea, or the beauty and wisdom of the 10 commandments through hallucinogenic drugs.

Shanon admits he is more familiar with ayahuasca than with the bible, having “partaken of the . . . brew about 160 times in various locales and contexts.”

The Apostle Peter says:

in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence

News stories like this provide an excellent opportunity to ‘make a defense’ for the gospel. And in the end, knowing the God of Exodus, the God of glory and grace is better than all the hallucinogenic drugs in all the world have to offer.
David Short.

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 March 21
The Third Miracle (1999) Ed Harris, Anne Heche April 4
The New World (2005) Colin Farrell, Q’oriana Kilcher April 11

Parish Activities


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 Chain. Crises (loss of work, accidental injury, death in the family, or illness) often come upon us unexpectedly. St. John’s has a prayer chain; the members would be glad to pray for you or your family/friends in your time of need. Please phone the church office (731-4966) to be put in touch with the prayer chain. If you have questions, please speak to Edie Rittinger (ext 24) or Ruth Matheson (ext 12).

The Men’s Breakfast team. On Saturday morning March 15th, Dr. Rev. J.I. Packer will speak at the breakfast to be held in the Trendell Lounge. Doors open 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

Preliminary Theological Certificate (PTC) The next ‘PTC’ 10 week course on Ephesians starts Sunday March 16, 11:15 am - 12:15 pm at the Church of Good Shepherd. Costs are: Adult - $85; Husband/wife using same notes – $125; Concession (unemployed, pensioners, f/t students) – $50; Full-time ministry workers – $50. Payment by cheque only made out to ‘Artizo Institute’. Cost includes course book, international postage and exam marking. *Concession rate does not apply to those who do not write the exam.

Baptism. The next baptism services will be held March 30th and May 25th at the 9 and 11 am services. The Baptism prep classes which parents and godparents are required to attend, will be held March 19th and May 22nd respectively at 7 pm in the Library. Please contact Diane for more details.

Spring-Break Easter Camp. (Kindergarten is now full) 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.
Easter Supper. 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.

St. John’s seniors Easter communion and lunch will be held on Tuesday March 18. Communion will be in the chapel at 11 am with lunch to follow in the Trendell Lounge. Come and bring a friend for this very special celebration. Please call the church office if you need a ride.

Church Easter Decorating. Please join us for Easter decorating on Saturday, March 22, at 9 am in the sanctuary. Coffee and snacks provided. Donations of greenery can be left outside the south chapel door. Donations for the plants and the accompanied greetings for the Easter bulletin will be received at a table in the Trendall Lounge the two Sundays prior to Easter.

Marriage and Parenting. Please join us on Friday March 28th at 7 pm in the Trendell Lounge to hear Julie and Ken Moser speak on their many years of wisdom of ministering to teens. Please bring an appi or dessert to share. For more info please email Elizabeth at elizabethsiemens@telus.net.

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.

The Sermons Online ministry. Three people for two jobs are needed:

  • one person who goes regularly to the Evening Service to do post-production and ftp the evening service sermon to the St. John’s website. Nothing other than a PC/Mac with a CD-Rom is needed.
  • two people are needed to help with an archival project, to convert aging cassette tapes to digital format. You will need a PC/Mac and a Cassette Player to do this job. Contact Daniel Gore if you are interested, websermons@stjohnsshaughnessy.
    org, 778-840-8993.