News > 2008 Parish Life Notes > 08.09.21 Parish Life

Global Anglican Future Conference

Following GAFCON, Lambeth and recent events Thursday, October 2, 2008, 7:30 pm at St. John's: You are invited to a national ANiC meeting that is being repeated across Canada, entitled "Looking to Jesus-in a world of confussion". The evening will explore major recent events n the Anglican Communion and then focus on the future of ANiC in the context of these dramatic developments. St. John's is hosting this and we would like to provide hospitality. If you would like to help, please contact Ruth Matheson, ext 12.

ANiC Offer Specifics

ANiC can receive donations of funds and securities. Offi cial receipts will be issued from ANiC for Income Tax purposes. If you wish to give to the St. John’s project please:
• make cheques payable to ANiC – In trust for St. John’s    Project
• use ANiC Envelops provided at the back of the church
• place envelopes in the offertory plate or drop off at the church office

Keeping Company with God

Are you feeling weary and heavy laden? Needing to come to God for his care and comfort? Then come to“Keeping Company with God” tomorrow, Monday September 22th at 7:30PM in the sanctuary. Whatever your need; a quiet time with God at the end of your day, a place to receive prayer support for personal concerns or a desire to hold up this congregation in prayer – this is a place of prayer care.

Discovering Christ presents DC2 Building Foundations

This course meets for 6 weeks every Tuesday night at 7:15 pm in the Trendell Lounge. DC2 is designed particularly for those new to the Christian faith or those still investigating. This is a warm, pressure-free environment to explore some of the foundations of Christianity. Watching video clips and looking at classical artwork are some of the ways we will study a variety of topics including an overview of Church history, a survey of the Bible, prayer, and tips on understanding ‘Christianese’.

Those new to St. John’s are also particularly encouraged to attend. Please register by emailing Aaron Roberts or by phoning the church office at 604.731.4966 ext 22. The next course begins Sep 23 and there is no fee for attendance.

Welcome Lunch

If you are new to St. John’s, we would like to get to know you! Please join us for our welcome lunch after the 11:00 am service in the Trendell Lounge on September 21. You can register by emailing or by calling the church office at 604.731.4966.

New to the Evening Service?

If you’ve recently come to St. John’s and want to hear more about the church and especially the Evening Service, we have just the thing for you! After the Evening Service on Sunday, Sep 28, you are invited to a dessert and tea/coffee in room 100. You will meet some of the people connected with that service and ways you can connect. Any questions, please email Manya Egerton or phone 604.261.7785.

Youth Surge

All youth are invited to come out for a night of singing, prayer and fellowship (and a few surprises!) on Friday
September 26th. The cost is $5 and it begins at 7:00pm in the Trendell Lounge. This is open to youth from all
over the city, so invite your friends!

UBC Christianity Explored

This is a 7 week course for students of UBC that will begin this Wednesday the 24th. Christianity Explored is an
informal course for people who would like to investigate Christianity, or just brush up on their basics. For more
information please contact Aaron Roberts ex 22

Ted and Gloria Farewell

After Ten years of faithfully serving St. John’s as the verger, Ted has decided to retire and he and Gloria will be leaving us at the end of September. Ted and Gloria have purchased a retirement home in the booming town of Biggar, Saskatchewan where the slogan is appropriately....”New York is big...but this is Biggar”

We have been very blessed by both Ted and Gloria and they will be greatly missed. We will be sending them off between the 9-11 service, on September 28th. For anyone wishing to make a retirement contribution (non-receipted), please give it to Sandy Harmel, leave it in the church office for her, or place in the offering plate in a separate envelop, addressed to Sandy Harmel. Cheques should be made payable to “Sandy Harmel in trust”.

Central Focus

This Tuesday, Sep 16 at 7:15 pm: Central Focus will begin for the fall term. The first evening will be an introduction to the Gospel of Luke, and registration. Throughout the year we'll meet in the Trendell Lounge in small groups. Newcomers are most welcome! For more information call Jan at the church office, ext 28 or email.

Home Groups

Most of our home Bible study groups are starting up in the next few weeks. We have a new group starting for young singles/couples living/working in the UBC area. There are also small groups in other areas of the city and Lower Mainland. If you are interested in being in a group please call Jan at the church office, ext 28 or email.

Tuesday Noon Bible Study

Sep 30 at 12:00 pm: Tuesday Noon Bible study will begin. Watch for details soon, and check the calendar.

Liveword Women’s Conference

Mark your calendars now and register for the women’s conference on Saturday October 18. We invite you and women from churches throughout the Lower Mainland to attend a day of solid teaching and great music, as three speakers (Carolyn Hindmarsh, Marion Maxwell, and Polly Long) teach from the Psalms. Brochures are available in the church and on the reception desk. For more details visit our website under Special Events or contact Jan Hobbis at the church office, 604.731.4966 ext 28 or by email

Children's Choir

Were you surprised when your child enjoyed singing in the Christmas choir? This musical opportunity might be just right for your family. The fourth season of the St. John’s Children’s Choir begins Monday, September 15 from 4:30 - 5:30 pm. Open to children aged 7 and up who are independent readers. The St. John’s Children’s Choir learns to read music and sing properly, while serving the body of Christ at both St. John’s Shaughnessy and St. John’s Richmond. Contact Amber Salladin for more information, 604.319.6048.

Parish Announcements

Flowers. The flowers on the Credance Table are given to the glory of God in memory of Eleanor Rix by her family.

Parish Prayer. Parish prayer will be moving to from the 1st Tuesday of every month to the 1st Monday of every month. The next parish prayer will be October 6th.

Community News

Living Waters. This 24 week program will begin on Tuesday, Oct 7, 2008 at Tenth Avenue Alliance Church (at the corner of 10th and Ontario). This is a Christ centered discipleship ministry that deals specifically with relational and sexual brokenness. The program involves worship, teaching and small group prayer. Email or call the Living Waters office at 604.301.1470 for more information, or to apply. Space is limited. Questions? Call or email Manya Egerton 604.261.7785. All enquiries are confidential.

Bible Study Fellowship. Want to be part of an enriching Bible study? Join BSF (an inter-denominational Bible Class) to study the Life of Moses. We meet at St. John’s on Wednesday, 9:20-11:20 am. Introduction class on Sep 10 & 17 and the first Wednesday of every month (no child care on introduction days). If you need more information please contact: www.bsfinternational.org.

Arthur Turner Training School. The Arctic Fellowship is hoping to continue support of the ATTS in the Diocese of the Arctic, through your donations of stamps. Thank you to all who already give. For further information please call Grace Turner at 604.872.6031.

Welcome to St. John’s. Today as we continue our sermon series on the Gospel of Luke at all our services today, we are looking the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born in Bethlehem because Mary and Joseph were forced by Roman rulers to leave their home in Nazareth for taxation purposes. He was born in the lowliest of circumstances, in obscurity, in the form of a helpless baby. The contrast of Jesus’ birth with the power of Caesar Augustus who ruled the whole civilized world is striking. And yet we know through the revelation of Luke that Caesar and his governor Quirinius were only instruments in the hands of God who was carrying out His eternal purposes by having Jesus born in Bethlehem, the city of David, to be one day revealed as King of Kings in His Resurrection. As J. C. Ryle writes “Little did they (Caesar and Quirinius) think that they were helping to lay the foundation of a kingdom before which the empires of this world would all fall down one day and Roman idolatry pass away”. And so we see from the very beginning of Jesus life that the Gospel is about the reversal of the powers and status of this world.

It is appropriate that as we look at Jesus, who was born to refugee parents, that I give a brief update on Mehran. As many of you know Mehran fled to Canada from Iran because his life was in danger through his conversion to Christianity. Here in Canada he was rejected as a refugee and was about to be deported to Iran when we at St. John’s became aware of his plight this past January. Mehran had been attending St. John’s for six months before and so it was a very natural step to decide to stand as a congregation with our brother in Christ who had no advocate and who was powerless before those who would send him back into danger. Therefore, we have helped to provide Mehran with a good lawyer, we have committed to the government of Canada to be his sponsor for 10 years, a number of you have written affidavits on his behalf and many of you have befriended him. These are ways that we recognize Mehran’s deep significance before God as His redeemed child--a complete reversal of the status Mehran now has in the eyes of the governments of the world.

Many of you have asked for news on Mehran’s status with regard to our government: With the help of many at St. John’s, Mehran’s lawyer put together very good applications for Mehran to stay in Canada. They were submitted by the July 31st deadline. It will likely be 4 months or more before a decision on Mehran’s case is made. The overall success rate of these applications is low and so we ask your prayers for a positive decision. If the application is accepted he will immediately become a resident of Canada, if it is rejected he will be sent back to Iran. I want you to know that in this time of uncertainty for him Mehran feels deeply blessed to be part of this church family and is very thankful to be surrounded by so many people who genuinely care for him. The stress that he is under is much less of a burden because you are carrying it with him.

As you leave St. John’s today may our Lord Jesus help you to live your life in the light of the grace revealed in 2 Corinthians 8:9, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Yours in Christ Jesus, Dan Gifford