Discovering Christ presents ‘Big Questions’
At one time or another, we are all faced with life’s tough questions – questions about meaning, purpose and
the divine, questions worth exploring, questions that really matter for finding our way in life. This short course
provides a relaxed environment for those still investigating the Christian faith to explore Christian perspectives on God and spirituality, suffering and meaning. Over 5 Wednesday evenings, this course provides a place for you to think and discuss with others interested in similar things. We begin this week on Wednesday Nov 19 at 7:00 pm in Room 100. The course is free but we do ask for a small donation for the sumptuous dinner we provide at the beginning of each session. To register please call Aaron at the office 604.731.4966 ext 22 or email him at dc@sjvan.org
Advent Quiet Day! Joy to the world the Lord has come!
Nov 22 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. This year Jan Hobbis and Judy Thurston will be leading us as we look at the meaning of Advent. The day will include wonderful music, good food, teaching and time to quietly reflect on both Christ’s coming to live with us here on earth and his coming as our King of Glory to take us to live with him forever. Registration forms are available in the church and at the reception desk in the church hall. You may: leave registrations at the front desk, mail them to St. John’s or register in person today, Nov 16, in the Trendell Lounge between the 9:00 and 11:00 am services. All registrations need to be in the office before 9:00 pm on Tuesday Nov 18. For more information please email Marion Maxwell at marsmax1@telus.net Marion Maxwell.
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” will be Monday Nov 24 at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary.
Meet the Artizo interns
Monday, Nov 24 at 7:30 pm please come to the Trendell Lounge to meet the Artizo interns and hear what exciting things have been happening in the program. All are welcome, please RSVP to the church office at 604.731.4966.
Seniors Tea
St. John’s Seniors Tea will be held on Tuesday, Nov 25 at 1:30 pm in the Trendell Lounge. Barbara Constantine will give us an exciting presentation on “Vancouver, the Host City for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.” Do come and bring your friends. Please call the church office at 604.731.4966 if you need a ride.
Children’s art night
On Friday Nov 28, children in grades 3 to 6 from St. John’s are invited to an evening of art from 5:00 to 7:30 pm. We will be working with paint and developing images about the birth of Christ. It is essential to register for this evening by the Wednesday of that same week. Call the church office at 604.731.4966.
Artists in our midst
Here’s a fun way to share your gift in art with others. Join the children on the art evening and create your art alongside them. Please let Ruth know if you would like to come along or if you are interested in knowing more call 604.731.4966 ext 27 or email Ruth.
Upcoming baptism
There will be a baptism service on Dec 14. All interested in being baptized need to contact the church office and complete the application process by Dec 4. For more information please contact Nancy Williams at 604.731.4966 ext 19.
2009 offertory envelopes orders
We will be ordering our 2009 offertory envelopes very soon. If you would like to order ANiC - St. John’s Project envelopes, please contact the office or see Nancy Williams at coffee hour after the 9:00 am service or in the narthex after the 11:00 am service.
ANiC – St. John’s Project offering
ANiC – St. John’s Project can receive donations, as cheques, cash, or securities. To give via cheque or cash:
- Use the ANiC envelopes provided at the back of the church.
- Make cheques payable to "ANiC – St. John’s Project"
To identify yourself for a tax receipt please do one of the following:
- Write your name and address on the envelope
- Write your St. John’s (Shaughnessy) envelope number on the ANiC envelope.
To donate securites please contact the church office.
Operation Christmas Child
Please leave your shoebox gifts behind the reception desk in the church hall. If you forgot to bring it in today you have, as it turns out, another week of grace! We’re not to transport our boxes to Bethel Church in Richmond until the week starting Nov 23.
Parish Announcements
Litigation update. No court date has yet been set, and the legal team will advise as soon as that has happened. It is possible that the date will be in the New Year rather than late November or December as was previously thought. There are no other developments to report.
Accommodation needed. A couple from Victoria, along with their 15 year old son, are in need of a two-bedroom suite, or similar accommodation, for a period of 3-5 months while the father takes ongoing treatment for leukemia. I have met with this family, and can assure you they would make very good house sitters over the winter months to come. If anyone is considering going away this winter, and would welcome this family to stay in their home, that would be much appreciated. Or, if you know of a suitable suite which might be available, please contact Edie Rittinger at 604.731.4966 ext 24.
Children’s Christmas Choir. Children in kindergarten and older are invited to be in the Christmas Choir. All details are in the letter to families available in Sunday School this morning.
Lost and found. Please claim items from the lost and found tables outside the library in the Church Hall. Unclaimed items will go to charity.
Volunteers needed! We are looking for volunteer receptionists and bulletin stuffers. If you have a few hours a week to volunteer please contact Nancy Williams or Joanne McKinnon in the office.
Community News
Living Waters Art Show and Fundraising Evening.
Nov 28, 7:00 - 9:30 pm at 10th Avenue Church (corner of 10th and Ontario). View and bid on specially commissioned works of art. Watch a newly produced DVD and hear testimonies of how God is using this ministry to bring healing into many lives. Visit www.livingwaterscananda.org to find out more. RSVP by November 21st at info@livingwaterscananda.org or 604.301.1470.
New Ed Norman CD: A Cathedral Christmas. Ed Norman’s recording of Christmas organ music is now available. Ed is currently the director of music and organist at St. George’s Cathedral in Kingston, Ontario. Contact Jack or Irena Tippett (604.926.7852 or jctippett@shaw.ca) if you would like to buy a copy. The CD will make an excellent gift!
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Dear Friends,
How’s your retirement planning going? After the last few months, many people are starting to worry. We have all been told we need to start planning for our retirement early - I think the latest advice is immediately after you start kindergarten - and even then, things don’t always go the way we plan. Even if we are wealthy, it won’t hang around for long. Wealth in families rarely lasts to the second generation.
As Christians, we may plan for our financial future, but we know the treasure of the gospel is far more valuable than any amount of dollars. In the letter to Timothy, Paul shows real planning for the future, his concern is for the truth of salvation in Jesus to be preached and protected long after he is gone. He writes to his young friend Timothy, “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” (2 Timothy 1:13-14).
This Sunday and next are Artizo Sundays at St. Johns. The Artizo institute is committed to identifying, encouraging and training young men and women with gifts for ministry so that they might take up positions of ministry leadership in the future. Currently there are 6 Artizo interns at St. Johns. We pray that we can help prepare these young people to proclaim and protect the gospel. In a way, Artizo addresses the question we must all ask: “If Christ doesn’t return, who will tell my grandchildren about Jesus?”. Like wealth, our world makes the precious truth of the gospel very easy to lose in one generation.
Included in this week’s handout you will find a current newsletter for Artizo that will give you a bit more information about the current interns. We would also like to invite everyone to the Artizo “Meet the Interns Night” on Monday, Nov 24 at 7:30pm in the Trendell lounge. This will be an opportunity to meet the Vancouver based interns as well as find out what has been happening with the program. Finally, we would like to thank all those at St. John's who support the program in so many ways and make it possible.
Rev. Eric Thurston
(on behalf of the Artizo Board)
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