Keeping Company with God –
Monday, July 13th
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. The service will be held in the sanctuary at 7:30 pm. If you have any questions, call or email Manya Egerton at 604-261-7785.
The St. John’s Summer Youth Program has begun!
Be excited, because the summer youth program has finally begun! This Tuesday morning starting at 9:30 am David Short will be teaching from 2 Peter, and on Thursday, starting at 10:00 am there will be the weekly Morning DevOceanal at Spanish Banks East (near the main concession stand). There are several other events throughout the week. For more information on our summer programs please visit the St. John’s web site www.stjohnsvancouver.org, or pick up a flyer, available at the office desk. For further questions don’t hesitate to email the youth interns, Chloe Moore or Robert Edwards. We hope to see you soon!
St. John’s Summer Camp
The youth summer camp is taking place August 15-20 at Point Roberts, Washington. Flyers are available at the church entrances and the front desk of the church office. For more information visit our website or contact Chloe Moore or Robert Edwards (email addresses above). To register please email Julie Moser.
Synod Travel Fundrasier
The ANiC office is asking people to collect Air Miles (not Air Canada Aero Plan) to help with the travel costs of Synod. If you are interested in helping please contact the church office for an ANiC Air Miles card.
Thanks from the Arctic Fellowship
Thank you to everyone who has donated used stamps and stamp collections to the Arctic Fellowship. This year so far we have raised over $1,000 for the Diocese of the Arctic and the training of native clergy. Please continue to bring your used stamps to the church office.
Operation Baby Bottle
Many thanks to all those persons who are helping us in this annual fundraising campaign, we truly appreciate your generosity. Several of the bottles have been returned, but many are still “hiding” somewhere in your homes or vehicles?? Please return your baby bottles and donations to Janice, in the Trendell Lounge, during the coffee-time. Please, do not return the bottles to the Reception or Office. (For further assistance: call Janice at 604.736.0969).
Update on Legal Giving
We give great thanks to God for the generosity of the congregation in meeting our legal expenses. Please keep in mind two things: 1) these figures are dependent on people fulfilling their pledges and, 2) we continue to welcome giving to the legal fund to help meet any future legal costs.
Cheques for the legal fund should be made payable to ANiC - St. John’s Project and please indicate in the memo line of the cheque that it is to be directed to the legal fund. Also, please indicate on your giving envelope that it is to be directed to the legal fund.
Acts for All!
As we look forward to studying Acts together this Fall, we are planning a parish day of teaching, led by our own David Short, on Sep 12. This day is a wonderful way to help prepare us for the sermon series, Sunday school and for small groups. We will have Bible studies available if your group would like to study Acts along with the sermon series. Save the date now… mark your calendars!
Parish Family News
Condolences
We grieve with Mike and Jill Treschow and Paul, in the death of their 18 year old son and brother Sam. Sam died on Wednesday morning (July 8th) after a long illness and is now present with the Lord. You will be familiar with Sam’s name from our weekly prayers. We continue to pray for Jill, Mike, and Paul, and his grandfather, Harry Robinson, as well as the other Treschow and Robinson family members in this time of loss, remembering that Jesus said: “…he who lives and believes in me shall never die”.
Condolences
We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Velva Wells. Velva was one of our dear seniors who passed away on Friday, Jul 3. Her Memorial Service was held yesterday at King Edward Court, where Velva was a long-time resident. Please pray for her daughters Deborah, Marie and Ann and their families as they mourn their beloved Mom and Grandmom.
Parish Community News
Regent Public Lectures
5800 Univesity Boulevard. 8:00 - 9:30 pm.
- Monday, Jul 6 - Paul Helm: 'Translating the Faith into Other Cultures: Where is the Limit?'
- Wednesday, Jul 8 - Paul Barnett: 'Paul’s Conversion and Pastoral Ministry Today'
- Monday, Jul 13 - Mark Noll: 'Saints from the Non-Western World: Exemplars Worth knowing, Stories Worth Telling'
- Wednesday, Jul 15 - Bruce Walke: 'Why Were You Born?: An Exposition of Psalm 8'
For more information, see the poster on the hall bulletin board or go to http://www.regent-college.edu
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Dear Friends,
One of the great privileges of being a Christian minister is to be involved with brothers and sisters as they die, and to be part of that very important task God has given to each of us to help each other die well. We’ve been reminded very publicly this week that the non-Christian world is a world without windows, focused on the present, preaching that all that matters is now. But in the face of death this is a very difficult creed to follow.
The Christian world is a world with windows—as Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. ” The resurrection means that our life here is more significant than in a world without windows because it counts forever. The resurrection is the framework for our tears and struggles, and changes how we live in the here and now.
To ‘live and believe in Jesus’ means that we are all walking toward the same destination, which is Christ, and our lives here and now are controlled by what pleases Him. One of the evidences of this in our church over the past 6 months has been the way in which we have joined together to raise the money needed to pay for our legal defence fund. This came at a time of difficulty for many and it meant giving sacrificially on top of our usual St. John’s giving.
I am delighted to let you know that, as of this week, we have met our target, (though any continued givings will still be welcome and useful for our legal needs) and there are therefore two things that need to be said. First, we need to give thanks to God for His goodness and provision to us once again. Thank you to those who took leadership in our congregation to raise these funds, and to all who have prayed and given. Over 70% of those who give to St. John’s have participated in the legal defence fund and this is part of “living and believing” in Jesus.
Second, we continue to ‘live and believe’ in a context of considerable uncertainty regarding our near future. We do not know either the decision or the timing of the judge, and although the leadership is considering our options, it is just not possible to make plans certain. That is why it is so important to live in a world with windows, because we continue to depend on God and on His resurrection power rather than ourselves. So we give thanks to God and continue to ask Him to pour out His mercy on us, and to give us His life and grace and goodness, which Jesus assures us He delights to do.
David.
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