News > 2009 Parish Life Notes > 09.10.25 Parish Life

Keeping Company with God

Monday, October 26 at 7:30 PM 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.” This service is held every second and fourth Monday of the month.
From one member of the congregation who attends this service -“I find it very helpful for me personally to set aside time to come before God, with Christian brothers and sisters, in a place where there is candlelight and quiet music. “Keeping Company with God” is a service of meditating on His Word and prayer. It is a time when I can pour out my heart to God and also listen to him.

Seniors Tea

St. John’s Seniors Tea will be held on Tue, Oct. 27 at 1:30 pm in the Trendell Lounge. Come and bring a friend to hear Steven Friebel tell us about his recent trip to Cambodia with the Ratanak Foundation. Please call the church office if you need a ride.

Missions Lunch

Please join us next Sun, Nov 1, after the 11:00 am service, in the Trendell Lounge, to hear Paul Ratsoy speak about his ministry with Lighthouse Harbour Ministries. Cost is $5 for individuals or $10 per family, please call the church office at 604.731.4966 to RSVP. All are welcome.

Griefshare – beginning November 8

GriefShare, a 13 week seminar/support group for people who have experienced the death of a loved one will begin on Sun Nov 8 at 2:00 pm The program will run from Nov 8 to Dec 13, and then resume after Christmas on Jan 10. If you, or someone you know is grieving, this program is most helpful in assisting people to recover from grief. To register, or for more information, please contact Edie Rittinger by email or by phone at 604.731.4966 ext 24.

Operation Christmas Child

This Sunday you will find a list of items to include in the shoe boxes. They can be found at the entrances to the church. Please try to do a box for 10-14 year olds, they are often left out. Our boxes will be going to hot countries. The need is greater than ever before. If you have questions please contact Jean Begg, 604.266.0715.

Advent Quiet Day -
“And His Name Shall Called..."

”November 21, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
This year Irena Tippett and Tanya Hawke 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 in the Trendell Lounge between the 9:00 and 11:00 services. All registrations need to be in the office before 9:00 pm on Tues Nov 17. The cost is $20. For more information please email Marion Maxwell.

Come Hear About Christ Church Jerusalem

Are you interested in the work of the Gospel in Jerusalem? Come hear Jess Cantelon and Kelvin Crombie speak about what God has been doing through the oldest protestant church in the Middle East. Kelvin tells the story of the establishment of Christ Church Jerusalem, the first Protestant, evangelical church to be built in the Holy Land. This mission is built on the shoulders of giants of the faith – Wilberforce, Shaftsbury, Spurgeon, the Wesleys and many others. Jess Cantelon is an ordained Anglican minister that St. John’s has recently begun supporting, who serves at Christ Church Jerusalem. He will tell of his missionary work in Jerusalem. All are welcome, we will meet at 7:30 pm on Mon Nov 9 in the Trendell Lounge.

Community News

Accommodation Needed
The Rev. Peter Young is an Anglican minister in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He will begin a 3-month sabbatical beginning in January 2010 studying at Regent College. He would be appreciative of finding an inexpensive, self-contained suite in Vancouver, or possibly a house-sitting arrangement close to the campus if possible, or on a bus route. If you have a suite or know of something that would be available, please contact Jane Young at 604.264.9244.

Dear friends,

At some point in our lives, we will experience the deep pain of losing someone we love dearly. We, or someone we love, will experience the pain of separation and divorce.

Times such as these provide an opportunity for us to show the love of Christ in caring for people experiencing deep personal loss. Here at St. John’s, we have two programs which are specifically designed to help move people through their grief and loss into a place of healing and joy. Divorce Care, and GriefShare have been a part of our Pastoral Care ministry, and literally hundreds of people have benefited from them over the course of the past ten years.

Both programs are 13-session support groups, centred in Christ. We believe that Christ is the healer of broken hearts and wounded spirits, and He can make us whole again. People of all ages, men and women, Christian and non-Christian – all are welcome. The main “qualification” for people who wish to attend is that they are seeking God’s healing work in their lives, and needing to learn to live again without the one they have lost – whether it be through death or divorce.

Both Divorce Care and GriefShare have proven to be great outreach opportunities for us as well. Typically, we will have at least one-half of every group from churches other than St. John’s. We also have people who have never attended church or heard about Jesus come for help, and find Jesus along the way.

As these programs begin again on November 2nd and November 8th respectively, please pray for the hurting people who will attend – and pray that God will bring the people whom He knows need the help and healing this can bring. Pray also for our leaders – Jim and Annette Fergusson, and Jill Boyce, as well as myself. We deeply appreciate your prayers.

In Christ
Edie