News > 2009 Parish Life Notes > 09.03.29 Parish Life

Parish Luncheon Celebration… Come one, come all!

On Sunday, Apr 5, following the 11:00 am service, we are planning a parish luncheon to celebrate the court decision that allows Mehran to remain in Canada permanently. We will have a delicious middle-eastern meal. It is a wonderful opportunity for our St. John’s family to rejoice in God’s goodness together.

The cost will be $5 for individuals and $10 per family. It would be helpful for us to know numbers, in terms of planning for the food. Please call the church office and let us know if you are planning to come.

If you would be willing to help with the day, with set up or clean up, call Jan at 604.731.4966 ext. 28 or email

Senior’s Communion & Lunch

St. John’s Seniors Easter Communion and Lunch will be held on Tuesday, March 31. The event will begin at 11:00 am with Holy Communion in the Chapel, and lunch to follow in the Trendell Lounge. Please feel free to bring a friend. Rev. Richard James will preside at Communion and speak at the lunch. Please RSVP to the church office at 604.731.4966.

Men’s Breakfast

At the Men’s Breakfast on Apr 4, 9 am - 11 am, Richard James will be speaking on “How To Love Your Kids, Grandkids, Nieces and Nephews (and help them love the Lord)”. Cost is $15. If you are interested please contact the office at 604.731.4966 or sign up between the 9:00 and 11:00 am services.

Join Us in Easter Decorating in the Sanctuary

On Apr 11 between 9:00 am and 11:00 am we will be decorating the sanctuary for Easter. No experience is neccessary and coffee and snacks will be provided. Greenery, especially ivy is welcome. You may leave your
decorations outside the south chapel door.

Baptisms

Our next morning baptism service will be on Apr 19. If you are interested please phone Krista in the office, 604.731.4966 ext 19.

Faith Today Magazine

ANiC has made available free copies of Faith Today magazine for all members of the parish. They can be picked up on the tables near the exits.

Easter Flowers and Messages

Donations for Easter flowers, and Easter messages that appear in the Parish Life Notes are being taken in the Trendell Lounge after the services this week and next. Please see Edith Winters.

Did you give to St. John’s more than once in the last six months?

If so you may have giving envelopes waiting for you in the narthex. Please have a look. When you use preprinted giving envelopes it greatly helps in the administration of donations. Please contact Krista at 604.731.4966 ext 19 or email to order envelopes.

Library ~ Come And See

Among recent titles added to our shelves and which are just right for Easter are:
1) Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross, a book of brief meditations by 24 well-known authors.
2) John Piper’s Finally Alive is described as “wonderful” by one of the many excellent reviewers.

Alpha Marriage Course

We are planning to run a seven-week Alpha Marriage course, beginning Monday, Apr 20. This is a course designed to help strengthen marriages and is suitable for marriages of all ages and stages, whether you are newly weds or have been married for years. If you’d like further information or would like to register, (preregistration is required) please call Jan at the church, 604.731.4966 ext 28 or send email

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.

Daily Bible Reading Guide – to help you read the Bible every day

Today in your bulletin, you will find a copy of the Bible Reading Guide for the next 9 weeks, Mar 29 - May 30. This guide is an abbreviated version of the Book of Common Prayer Table of Lessons (pp. xvi to xlv), which was written with the assumption that a person would pray and read two passages from the Bible, morning and evening. We chose one of those four readings for this little Guide. If you don’t have a Prayer Book, Norah Johnston (604.224.8986) would be glad to provide you with one at cost. There are two readings – one from either the Old or New Testaments and the other a Psalm. May God bless and enlighten you as you read His word.

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@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 at 604.988.5084 or email: lhouse@beacom.com to book your place.

Volunteer Opportunity

Kingcrest International Neighbours (www.kingcrest.org), a ministry that runs ESL classes and helps many refugee claimants and newcomers to Canada in East Vancouver, is looking for volunteers in the upcoming 10-week Spring Term, Apr 14 to Jun 19, 2009. We need volunteer teachers who can teach 2 hours once or twice a week in the morning or in the evening, host friends to spend time with students and orient them to life in Canada, and helpers to help with Alpha ESOL Bible Study, refreshments, childcare and other administrative work. No previous training or experience is required. Please contact Kingcrest at 604.327.6262 or e-mail info@kingcrest.org. More details about this ministry may be found on the bulletin board in the church hall.

Being in the Anglican Communion with the gospel at the centre brings wonderful blessings for us.

UPPER SHIRE, MALAWI

Below is an exert from a letter by Father Eston about his parishes’ faithfulness in praying for us. Father Eston is now rector of the Jali Parish in the Diocese of Upper Shire, but was our main contact with the Diocese of Upper Shire under Bishop Malango, and he remains a faithful friend and partner in the Gospel.

“We have as a parish resolved to dedicate one Sunday the 22nd of March for a special prayer service during this lent season for St Johns in view of her trying moments to seek God’s help in it and I will record the whole prayer service to send to you afterwards. We pray for you and be encouraged, Keep the Truth from the Scripture and Faith as it is passed to us through it and through the succession of the Apostles.”

In Christ Services,
Rev Fr Eston Dickson Pembamoyo MA

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Mark Calder, who came from Sydney to encourage us last spring during his long service leave, has organized an event within Sydney to hear the story of the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) and pray for us. His parish, St. Andrew’s Roseville, will be hosting “The Canada Briefing” on May 12th with our own Lesley Bentley giving an overview of ANiC. Lesley and Bev Greenwood are both down in Sydney to speak at St. Andrew’s Women’s retreat May 15th-17th and encourage the local ministries.

Both of these offerings come out of a sincere love for God and a vision for his church. How humbling and what a blessing it is to be in worldwide communion.

Joanne