News > 2009 Parish Life Notes > 09.03.15 Parish Life

‘Voice and Violin’ ~ a wonderful evening of classical music

Please plan to come to a benefit concert for ‘Genesis’, featuring violinist Karen Foster, with guest artist, soprano, Jane Corrall. They will be featuring the works of composers Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Sibelius, Grieg and Poulenc. The concert will be held tomorrow, March 16, at 7:30 pm in the church, with admission by donation. Refreshments will be served in the Trendell Lounge after the performance.

Children’s Choir

There will be no rehearsal this Monday, March 16th due to Spring Break. Have a great break and we’ll see you March 23rd.

Flowers

If anyone is interested in having flowers placed on the credence table, please contact Edith Winters for information at 604.322.6474

Office Volunteer Needed

We have had many people respond to the need for office volunteers. Thank you! We still have one opening on Thursday mornings for a receptionist from 9 am to 1 pm. If you can help please contact Krista at the church office ext 19.

Baptisms

Our next morning baptism service will be on April 19th. If you are interested please phone Krista in the office ext 19.

Concert

Music on Main is presenting parishioner, Brian Mix, at the Cellar Restaurant & Jazz Club (3611 West Broadway) on Tuesday, March 10. He will be performing a beautiful program of two of Bach’s Cello suites. Doors open at 6:30 pm; music begins around 8 pm. Tickets are $15.

Divorce Care

Divorce Care begins on Monday, Apr 6 at 7:00 pm and will be held on a twice-weekly basis, concluding on May 21. If you or anyone you know is experiencing the pain of divorce or separation, this program is proven to be most helpful in moving towards recovery. For more information please contact Edie Rittinger or 604.731.4966 ext 24.

Women’s Retreat

Ladies, the brochures for the women’s retreat are now out. You can pick them up at the church office or in the sanctuary. Registration is going to start the week of March 23. You can drop your registration form off at the office, at Women at 10 or in between the morning services on March 29, April 5, or April 19. Because this retreat fills up fast, avoid disappointment and register early. You must fill out the form and attach payment to secure your registration. Thank you and if you have any questions that the brochures don’t answer, please feel free to contact Darrell Thomas at 604.269.9011

Lighthouse Harbour Ministries Spring Dinner

Lighthouse Mission to Seafarers is having a Dinner-Fund Raiser at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2009 at J.P. Fell Armoury in North Vancouver (freewill offering). A captivating video about the lives of Christian seafarers and the music of Michael Hart will be featured. Please call Paul Ratsoy @ 604.988.5084 or email: lhouse@beacom.com to book your place.

Dear Friends,

Part of what we are about at St. John’s is endeavouring to extend the work of the kingdom of God beyond our own congregation. We seek to equip, support and encourage Gospel ministry among God’s people in Canada as well as overseas. One of these ministries is among the Sudanese people in the Lower Mainland. Emmanuel Sadarak is an Anglican Minister who lives in North Delta and has been attending St. John’s for the last two years. He, along with a number of other Sudanese Christians, have been praying for years about starting an Anglican church. There are 5000 Sudanese living in the Lower Mainland many of whom are Anglicans, yet there are no Anglican churches for them. Last Spring Emmanuel began to hold services every Sunday afternoon in his home complete with sermon, Bible readings, prayers and hymns. By this past Fall this gathering had grown to around 35 people, which meant that the Sadarak home was very crowded on Sundays! This group under Emmanuel’s leadership decided that it was time to find a larger facility to meet in and to apply to become part of a faithful Anglican structure. God, in his good timing, brought about the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) this past year, which is exactly what this little congregation had been praying for.

Therefore last October, Emmanuel and the elders of this group came to our church committee to seek St. John’s support as they seek to become part of ANiC. Church Committee enthusiastically recommended that St. John’s support this new little church with people to help, with finances and with prayer. Today there is very good news to report because, after a lot of hard searching by several of our parishioners, a wonderful church facility (Southside Baptist church in Surrey) was found that is available on Sunday afternoons. On March 1st this group, which is now named the Sudanese Anglican Church, had their first service and they are now meeting every Sunday at 2.30 pm. In three weeks Bishop Don Harvey will meet with Emmanuel and the elders of this church to discuss licencing Emmanuel and welcoming them into ANiC. Please pray for this new church and the growth of our relationship with them.

Lastly, please mark your calendars on April 5th. We will have a luncheon to celebrate the recent decision that allows Mehran to stay permanently in Canada. It will take place after the 11 am service on April 5th and will very likely include very good Persian food. This is a wonderful opportunity for our family in Christ here at St. John’s to rejoice in God’s goodness together.

God bless you,
Dan Gifford