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.
Keeping Company with God
Mon, Nov 23 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.”
Senior’s Tea
St. John’s Senior’s Tea will be held on Tue, Nov 24 at 1:30 pm in the Trendell Lounge. Come and bring a friend as we travel to “Antarctica” with Trudy Wijnbeek. If you need a ride please call the church office.
Men’s Breakfast
The next Men’s Breakfast will take place on Dec 5, 9:00 am -11:00 am in the Trendell Lounge. The talk will be titled “How Jesus Renovates and Restores Men’s Lives”. It will take the form of five testimonies from men who will share how Jesus has brought great change and restoration into their lives. Cost is $15.00 and you can register in person in the Trendell Lounge between the 9:00 am and 11:00 am services, or by calling the church office at 604.731.4966
November 29 - Advent Carol Service
Next Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent and we will be holding our annual Advent Carol Service at 4:00 pm in the church.
Installation Services for our new ANiC Bishops
This past week Bishop Charlie Masters and Bishop Stephen Leung were installed as new Bishops in the Anglican Network in Canada. Today, Nov 22nd at 3:00 pm, Bishop Trevor 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).
Upcoming Baptism Service
Sunday, December 13
We will be holding our next baptism service on Sun, Dec 13. If you are wanting baptism for your child, or yourself, please contact email Krista in the church office or call 604-731-4966 ext 19. The deadline for baptism applications is Nov 30.
Nominations for Church Committee
Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven people of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. Acts 6:3
Just as the early church had to quickly figure out how to care for the needs of the growing group of Christians, so do we at St. John’s, each year, need to identify leaders to help run the mission and ministry of the church. Please prayerfully consider whether you or someone you know would be willing to serve on church committee. To find out more, or to nominate someone please email the People’s Warden, Lesley Bentley or phone at (604) 261-9495. Nominations will close Tue, Jan 5, 2010.
Children’s Christmas Choir
The Sunday School Christmas plans are underway and we are excited about working towards something wonderful this year. We are starting rehearsals for the Christmas Choir (Kindergarten - youth) on Nov 29 at 10:30 am in room 100. These rehearsals will happen every week at 10:30 am. Further information about the Christmas play will be given in early December! If you have any questions please contact Lisa Nikkel at 604-731-4966 ext 27.
Christians in Iran
Thanksgiving: Last week we prayed in the children’s focus for Marzieh and Maryam, the two women in an Iranian jail because they became followers of Jesus. On Wednesday they were released from Tehran’s Evin prison without bail, after being detained for nearly nine months for refusing to recant their faith. Praise God for His wonderful answer to many prayers for them!
Expecting Emmanuel
A Special Advent Prayer Service
Mon, Dec 14 at 7:30 pm in the church
Are you already feeling wearied by the thought of the Christmas season?
Is there too much to do, and very little of it connected to the birth of Jesus?
Is there pain or loss in your life that makes it hard to think about celebrating this year?
Do you desire to spend some time in quiet prayer and meet Emmanuel, our God, who is truly with us?
Then come to this special “Keeping Company with God” Advent service. Please feel free to invite friends or neighbours.
Let’s Keep in Touch
Two weeks ago we mailed out a St. John’s “state of the union” letter to everyone on our parish list. If you did not receive this letter it means we do not have your address. If you are new to St. John’s, or have recently changed addresses, please fill out a blue Welcome card which you will find in the pew rack. You should also include your email address so that you can receive prompt legal updates. These cards can be placed in the offering plate or in the Parish Mail Box located at the Granville Street entrance to the church.
Parish Family News
Baptisms
Congratulations to the Salladin family. Caleb Henry Fort Salladin will be baptised today at the 11:00 am service.
Community News
Living Waters International Market and Silent Auction (The “Splash”)
This will be held at 10th Ave. Alliance Church (Ontario and 10th) on Nov 27 at 7:00 pm. There should be lots of good things to buy and it will be a lot of fun. The director of LW travels extensively and always brings back lovely things. This is an event that anyone would enjoy attending. Bring your neighbors and friends. Email Manya Egerton for more details.
Missions Fest - January 8-10, 2010
Missions Fest is both earlier and at a different location in 2010. It is to be held Fri, Jan 8 to Sun , Jan 10, at Broadway Church (2700 East Broadway), The Italian Cultural Centre and Vancouver Technical School. Featured speakers are Will Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, USA; Paul Henderson, Power to Change, Canada; Jamie McIntosh, International Justice Mission, Canada; Jackie Pullinger, St. Stephen’s Society, China and Alex Ribeiro, International Sports Ministry Coalition, Brazil. Brochures on Missions Fest are available at the doors to the church.
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Dear Friends,
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:1-2).
In this short passage from Paul’s letter to Timothy, we see Paul’s concern that the truth about Jesus Christ would continue to be protected and proclaimed after Paul dies. Paul is writing from a Roman jail awaiting his execution. Here’s a puzzle for you. Q: How many generations of this ‘passing-down’ does this passage speak about? Think about it? … I see five. Christ to Paul, Paul to Timothy, Timothy to ‘faithful men’ then the ‘faithful men’ to the ‘others’. Ok … the first one about Christ to Paul isn’t really in this passage; you will have to read the rest of 2 Timothy to see it!
The passage speaks about a ‘given’ in the Christian faith; it is something inherited from the very beginning of God’s action for our salvation, and it is to be passed on as long as this world lasts. Paul is not talking about Christians being interested in history for history’s sake, nor of being insensitive to the world around us. What he is saying is that there are non-negotiable truths about our faith that we must stand by at all costs, as well as make sure, under the sovereignty of God, that these truths are protected and proclaimed to the generations that come after us, until Christ returns.
Last Sunday and this Sunday are Artizo Sundays at St. John’s. The Artizo Institute exists out of the concern of 2 Timothy 2:2….who will lead and proclaim Christ in the future? Thus, it is committed to identifying, encouraging and training young men and women with gifts for ministry so that they might take up positions of ministry leadership in the future. Currently there are 7 Artizo interns at St. Johns. You have probably seen some of them around our church being trained in ministries such preaching, leading small groups or teaching kids in Sunday school. We pray that we can help prepare these young people to lead churches and protect and proclaim the gospel, and to train others to do the same, until Christ returns.
Included in this week’s handout you will find a newsletter for Artizo that introduces all the current interns and gives a brief update on the program. We would also like to invite everyone to the Artizo “Meet the Interns Night” on Monday, November 23rd at 7:30 pm in the Trendell Lounge. This will be an opportunity to meet the Vancouver-based interns as well as find out what has been happening with the program. Finally, we would like to thank all those at St. Johns who support the program in so many ways and make it possible. Please continue to pray for Artizo.
Rev. Eric Thurston
Artizo Director of Training
(on behalf of the Artizo Board)
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