Artizo ‘Meet the Interns’ Dessert Night
Mon, Nov 23 at 7:30 pm in the Trendell Lounge. The ‘meet the interns’ night is an annual November event that is part of St. John’s ‘Artizo Sundays’. It gives you an opportunity to meet and find out more about the interns and to get caught up with what is happening with the Artizo program. Everyone is invited to come along! Any questions, contact Eric Thurston at 778-834-2771.
St. John’s Children’s Choir
No Rehearsal this week
This Wednesday’s rehearsal is cancelled due to Remembrance Day, Nov 11. Rehearsals will resume next week, Nov 18. If you have a child who loves to sing (7-14 years old) and would like to know more about the choir please contact David and Sarah Poon at 604-729-0836 or dporgan(at)gmail(dot)com.
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.
Lost and Found
Please claim items from the lost and found outside the library in the Church Hall. Unclaimed items will go to a charity.
Prayer for Iran
News from Iran dominates our headlines, but behind the scenes God is building His church. If you would like to pray for Iran in a disciplined and focused way, Iran 30 is a short easy to read booklet with prayer topics over 30 days, which will help you play your part in proclaiming Christ to Iranians. The booklets are available today in the Trendell Lounge for a small donation.
ANiC Synod and Three New Bishops
This year’s ANiC Synod is happening this week in St. Catharines, ON; St. John’s is sending 5 lay and 2 clergy delegates. On Friday the following will be consecrated as bishops: Stephen Leung, Charlie Masters, and Trevor Walters. Bishop Harvey will continue as Moderator and senior bishop until Synod of 2010. Please pray for all at the Synod and the three bishops-elect.
Sat, Nov 21 at 2:00 pm, Bishop Leung will be installed at Church of the Good Shepherd, 189 West 11th Avenue, Vancouver.
Sun, Nov 22 at 3:00 pm, Bishop Walters will be installed at St. Matthew’s Abbotsford, 2010 Guilford Drive, Abbotsford (overflow parking has been arranged at Henderson’s Funeral Home and at Grace Church).
St. John’s Walkers – Sunday November 15
Next Sunday we will be visiting the Reifel Bird Sanctuary. If you would like to join us please meet the group at 10:45 am outside the library located in the church hall. Wear comfortable footwear and bring a packed lunch. For more information please contact Joann Wilkins at 604.943.3882 or Brian Cole at 604.464.0019.
St. John’s Book Club
We will be reading the book “The Body - Being Light in Darkness” by Charles Colson. Next meeting is Nov 18th. For more information please contact, Linda 604.266.4374.
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.
Youth Retreats in November
Please keep the St. John’s youth group in your prayers. Senior Youth (grades 10-12) will be on a weekend retreat from November 6-8, and CTC (grades 7-9) will be on retreat from November 13-15.
Parish Family News
Condolences
Please keep Marilyn and Dick Richards in your prayers. Marilyn’s mother, Jessie McKenzie went to be with her Lord in her 97th year. A celebration of her life will be held at Granville Chapel on Sat, Nov 14 at 2:00 p.m.
Condolences
Please keep Peggy Andrews in your prayers. On Oct 29, her beloved son, Bruce, died suddenly in Australia, where he lived. There will be a memorial service for Bruce here at St. John’s in a few week’s time.
Community News
Heavenly Voices
November 14th, 7:30 pm Holy Rosary Cathedral
VancouverVoices’ opening concert for 2009/10 celebrates the divine glories of choral sound and organ in Holy Rosary Cathedral. Peter Butterfield directs two organists, including St.John’s own David Poon, VancouverVoices and Vancouver VoicesYouth in a concert featuring Vierne’s elegant “Mass,” Britten’s dramatic “Rejoice in the Lord,” and the soaring music of Byrd, Palestrina, Stanford and Howells. Tickets $20/$25, through TicketsTonight.ca or at the door. www.vancouvervoices.org
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Dear Friends,
For sometime now I have been struggling with symptoms of chronic stress and exhaustion. Over the last few months these symptoms have become debilitating, so my doctor has ordered me to remove myself from all commitments for a period of recovery. I am uncertain as to exactly how long this means, but I think it may well be several months.
I have been deeply moved by the response of St. John’s leadership to my situation: particularly by my warden David Avren and the other trustees, and by senior staff Dan, Joanne and Ruth. The privilege of having not just the support but the genuine love of one’s leaders is something which is more rare than it should be, and I want to express my thanks to God. Of course, I have asked Dan to step into the role while I am on leave, and the trustees are making arrangements to cover the ministry needs. They have matters so very well in hand my fear is that you will not miss me!
I want you to know my complete confidence in God and in the leadership of St. John’s. I do not need to remind you of the attitude expected of Christians toward their church leaders:
encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing . . . respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you . . . esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 1 Thess. 5:11-13
This is a strange place for me personally (although not uncommon for clergy I am discovering), and for us as a church, yet this too is from the hand of our heavenly Father. As we await the court decision be certain of God’s continued sustaining grace. Continue in your prayers and watchfulness. I call on you to resist Satan, to grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to work for the unity of the body. Submit to your leaders and avoid divisive words and actions because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Please attend carefully to what God is telling us from the book of Acts. And do not fear, because the living God is with you.
David Short
Dear Friends,
For most of us, upon reading David’s message above, the first question would not be “why?” but rather “why not sooner?” David has carried a heavy load in leadership these past 8 years locally, nationally and internationally as we have been seeking every way to stay in the widest communion possible with the Anglican Church throughout the world. Travel, speaking, teaching, writing, training, strategic thinking and planning have all become part of his daily life, as well as, of course, being the rector of St. John’s which has, through God’s grace, continued to grow and thrive over this time. On doctors’ recommendations, and with the full support of the leadership at St. John’s David is beginning a period of rest and recovery.
During this time Dan Gifford will be acting rector. Dan, as you probably remember, ably held this position in 2004 while David was on a 6-month sabbatical. We are grateful to God for Dan’s leadership, wisdom, faith and love for St. John’s. As trustees it is our prayer that you will all support Dan, Jim and all our ministry and administrative staff in every way possible over the next few months. God has abundantly blessed us with talent in so many areas and we ask you to honour Him by supporting each other, supporting your leadership and continuing to work diligently for the Gospel.
Please keep David and Bronwyn in your prayers for now, and we will update you when visits, emails and other kinds of support will be helpful.
Please also pray for each other, for unity and faithfulness and know that all those in leadership are praying along with you.
In Christ,
David Avren, Rector’s Warden
Lesley Bentley, People’s Warden
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