News > 2008 Parish Life Notes > 08.07.13 Parish Life

Jul 13, 2008

How do we speak to friends and family about the position we’ve taken regarding same-sex blessings?

July 15th at 7:30 pm. This is one of the questions that Dr. Robert Gagnon will address on Tuesday night in the Trendell Lounge when he speaks to us regarding society, sex and Holy Scripture and how we live and witness in our world today. Robert Gagnon is a New Testament scholar specializing in Pauline literature and Biblical ethics. We will have an informal time of questions and answers. Many of us at St. John’s have heard Robert and have found him a very engaging and winsome speaker. If you want answers to the very practical problems of living out your faith in our sexually charged society, this is an evening for you! Check out his web site at: http://www.robgagnon.net/

Gafcon – The Stories with Pictures!

July 23rd 7:00 pm. Come to the Trendell Lounge to hear amazing stories from our reps who attended the Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem.

Forgiveness and Grace

July 24th 7:00 pm: Guest Speaker at St. John’s Richmond. You are invited to visit with St. John’s Richmond and hear Cambodian Soreaksa Himm speak on forgiveness. He watched his family murdered, crawled out of the mass grave, searched for the killers... and forgave them. Come and be challenged by grace! (A brief bio is available on the Ratanak website www.ratanak.org) St. Johns Richmond is located at 8140 Saunders Rd. Richmond. For information call 778-833-1963.

Summer Nursery

The nursery and toddler’s room programs will be informal and parent run for the duration of the summer. Parents will be responsible for the supervision and care of their children from week to week, along with some assistance from the youth.

Summer Youth Activities

There are a number of activities happening every week throughout the summer. See the "SUMMER" page in the Youth net section of the St. John’s website for details.

Ekklesia (young adults) will continue to meet through July.

Divorce Care Course

August 25 – Oct 6. This is a seminar/support group for people who are either going through divorce, or who are already divorced. This year we will be offering Divorce Care on a twice-weekly basis for 7½ weeks – Monday and Thursday evenings each week. Cost of the course materials is $20.00, and pre-registration is strongly advised. If you, or anyone you know, would benefit from this very helpful program, please email Edie Rittinger or call 604-731-4966 ext 24.

Other news

July 20th Luncheon. Susan Norman works with Inter Varsity Christian fellowship on the campus of Queen’s University and we will be hosting a luncheon for her after the morning service. The cost is $5 per person or $10 per family. Please call the church office to confi rm your attendance.

July 27th Luncheon. Doug and Anna-Marie Graham serve in China and we will be hosting a luncheon for them on July 27th after the morning service. The cost is $5 per person or $10 per family. Please call the church office to confirm your attendance.

Position Vacant, Birth to Three Ministry. St. John’s Shaughnessy is looking for someone who has a passion for serving children from birth to three years of age and supporting the families of these children in bringing up their children in Christ. The position is for 10 hours a week, starting as early as July, but definitely by September 1st, 2008. Enquiries by email: employment@sjvan.org

Enquiries by mail:
St. John’s Shaughnessy
Attn: Employment
1490 Nanton Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6H 2E2

Parish Announcements

Marriage Announcement. Congratulations to Christina Leung and Ed Ng who are getting married here on July 19th. Please keep this couple in your prayers.

Anglican News

GAFCON. It is possible to download a copy of one of the key documents for the Global Anglican Future Conference, “The Way, the Truth and the Life” from the GAFCON website. If you don’t have internet access, but would like a copy please call Nancy at ext 15 in the church office. The GAFCON final statement can be viewed here or a copy can be obtained from the church office.

Dear Friends,

I am very grateful for the opportunity to have been with you last Sunday, July 6th. I enjoyed and appreciated the warmth of your welcome, the joy and depth of your worship and for the hunger for God’s word which was very evident. As Executive Archdeacon of ANiC, I count it one of the joys of this calling to be able to visit you from time to time and enjoy your fellowship.

These are exciting days! The outcome of GAFCON has made any of the legal challenges which we may face relatively small in comparison to the path that has been set before us. ANiC and all its Common Cause Partners now have a mandate to move ahead. Through the Primatial Council of Global godly leaders, there is now through them, a mechanism and a place to appeal for direction towards the formation of a North American Province.

The Reverend David Short, your rector, commented last Sunday in his opening welcome that the Global fellowship of authentic confessing Anglicans that has now been formed and known as GAFCON is an Anglicanism we can all legitimately
be proud of. I completely agree, and am trusting that together, we of ANiC can take our part in this North American Province. To me, the thought of Anglicans in Canada taking our place in the Body of Christ and working towards a great harvest here and thus helping fulfill the Great Commission as we await the return of our Lord and Saviour, makes all the struggles of these days more than worthwhile.

When I consider you as a people and the riches of consistent and faithful biblical teaching you are receiving, I cannot but conclude that you are all well prepared for even more significant service in the cause of the gospel in these exciting days.

And yes, ANiC continues to grow. Last Sunday, we welcomed our eighteenth Parish, this one known as the Church of the Good Samaritan, St. John’s, Newfoundland. Their rector is the Reverend Darrell Critch who is a fine preacher and leader. They met for their first Sunday in an outdoors amphitheatre. Apparently there were 103 present including our Moderator, Bishop Don who was thrilled to partcipate in that historic service.

Do pray for the the leadership of ANiC, ANiC B.C. and of course your own pastoral team here, under David’s wonderful leadership. If you can, check our ANiC website: www.anglicannetwork.ca often and let’s see what the Lord will do. He is able!

Ven. Charlie Masters