News > 2010 Parish Life Notes > 10.01.24 Parish Life

Keeping Company with God

Mon, Jan 25 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 or 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.”

Confirmation Preparation

St. John’s first confirmation service in several years is scheduled for Sun, Jun 20, 2010.
Confirmation in the Anglican Church marks the point in the Christian journey at which the participation in the life of God’s people, inaugurated at baptism, is confirmed by the bishop by the laying on of hands, and in which those who have been baptised affirm for themselves the faith into which they have been baptised and their intention to live a life of responsible and committed discipleship.
If you are 16 years or older, and are interested in being confirmed, there is an 18 week preparation course for Confirmation beginning shortly. If you would like to register for this course please email or call the church office at 604.731.4966. For more information on confirmation please call Keith Ganzer or Rev. Dan Gifford at the church office.

St John’s Seniors Tea

St. John’s Seniors monthly tea will be held on Tues, Jan 26 at 1:30 pm in the Trendell Lounge. Joanne Lawrie, our church Director of Ministry, will up-date us and answer your questions on our present situation regarding the church property. Please call the church office, 604.731.4966, if you need a ride.

Small group Bible studies

We have a number of small group Bible studies that meet in Vancouver, around the lower mainland and at the church. It is a great encouragement to be involved with others in the congregation throughout the week, to study the word of God and pray together. If you are not presently in a small group and would like to be, or would like more information, please see Jan Hobbis in the Narthex after the 9:00 am or 11:00 am service this morning, email, or call her at 731.4966 ext. 28.

Interested in learning more about small group leadership?

If you are interested in learning more about the requirements for being a small group leader and being equipped to lead, please give email, or call Jan Hobbis at 731.4966 ext. 28

Men’ s Breakfast

Come and meet Bishop Charlie Masters who is the ANiC (Anglican Network in Canada) bishop for Eastern Canada. He will give his testimony and talk about how God has been working in his life. This is a great chance to get to know Bishop Charlie and to be encouraged by his ministry. The breakfast will take place from 9:00 -11:00 am on Sat Feb 6 in the Trendell Lounge. The cost will be $15 (please pay before the Breakfast), you can sign up by calling the church office, or between the 9:00 and 11:00 am services and after the 6.30 pm service.

New to St John’s?

If you are new to St John’s, we would like to get to know you! Please join us for a free ‘Welcome lunch’ after the 11am service in the Trendell Lounge on Feb 7. You can register by email, or phoning the church office at 731.4966.

How to Give to St. John’s Vancouver

In late December we were informed that St. John’s Vancouver received charitable status much sooner than we had anticipated. Thanks be to God. As of Jan 1, 2010 we are now able to accept donations supporting the ministries of St. John’s through this new corporation. St. John’s Vancouver replaces the ANiC - St. John’s Project. Please make cheques payable to St. John’s Vancouver.

Please Pick Up Your Giving Envelopes

If you gave to the Ministries of St. John’s more than once in 2009 you were likely assigned a giving code, and 2010 giving envelopes. You may pick up your envelopes at the back of the church. Make sure you check the address on the envelope box and ensure it is correct. When using these envelopes please make your cheques payable to St. John’s Vancouver, as we are no longer accepting cheques for the ANiC-St. John’s Project
If you don’t have a giving code, or giving envelopes, and would like some, please contact Krista by email or phone at the church office 604.731.4966 ext. 19.

Alpha Marriage Course

We are planning to run a seven-week Alpha Marriage course, beginning Wed, Feb 3. This is a very practical course giving any married couple the tools to build a strong and healthy marriage 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, (pre-registration is required) please contact Jan by email or phone at the church 604.731.4966 ext 28.

Arctic Fellowship

Please save your used stamps and bring them into the office to be used by Arctic Fellowship. For more information on this ministry please contact Grace at 604.872.6031.

Parish News

Condolences
Our condolences to Mim Phibbs  in the loss of  her sister Eleanor Spaulding. Eleanor died in Alberta on Sunday, January 17. Please pray for Mim and Paul as they mourn her passing.

Condolences
Please keep Calvin Morris and his family in your prayers as they mourn the sudden death of his brother Gordon Morris on January 5.

Community News

Open House Today at Genesis Vancouver

Sunday January 24 2010 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
203 West 6th Avenue in Vancouver (Corner of Columbia and 6th)
Genesis Vancouver is a Christian long-term recovery and reintegration program for mothers with children seeking a way out of sexual exploitation. Our program provides housing, support and alternatives to families like these. The open house is an opportunity to have a tour of our day program facility, to meet staff, board members and volunteers. You can find out more about who we are and what we are doing. We will attempt to answer all your questions. There will be light refreshments available. Your children are welcome.

Dear Friends,

Today we are blessed to have Bishop Stephen Leung with us, as a brother in Christ and a faithful friend of St. John’s for many years. Bishop Stephen was consecrated bishop this past November and will be shepherding multicultural congregations throughout the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) as well as remaining Rector at Church of the Good Shepherd.

Good Shepherd is the oldest Chinese Anglican congregation in Canada and just recently celebrated 120 years of gospel ministry in Vancouver. Over those years, this congregation has constantly shown their commitment to reach the Chinese community in Vancouver with the good news of Jesus, they have planted churches, and recently they have purchased a new church home. They are a loving and vibrant light of the gospel in Vancouver. Under Bishop Steven’s leadership, Good Shepherd has grown in breadth and depth in Christ and has been an example to us of faithfulness and stepping out in faith.

In the early years of the past decade, due to their tremendous growth, Good Shepherd looked for a larger building in which to meet. They ended up exchanging properties with Metropolitan Tabernacle and renting their buildings to one another. Metropolitan Tabernacle was willing to sell their property to Good Shepherd, but the unrest in the Diocese of New Westminster encumbered Good Shepherd’s $2.2 million building fund, which is called the Chun Bequest, so they signed a five-year lease instead. At the end of five years, they decided to purchase the building without the help of that building fund. They didn’t have the money and the price of the property had greatly increased, so what did they do? They prayed and they went forward. They raised the money from the leadership and congregation for the down payment (some parishioners took out second mortgages for this purpose) and Metropolitan Tabernacle reduced the selling price significantly because they saw Good Shepherd as a wonderful mission to Vancouver. Good Shepherd now has a permanent home for their congregation with room to grow. We rejoice with them at this marvelous outcome of their prayers.

We at St. John’s have had blessed partnership in the gospel with Good Shepherd over the years. They have been a tremendous support and encouragement to us as we have gone through the Anglican crisis together. It has been a great privilege for me personally, over the years, to preach at their services, teach at parish gatherings and join them for many and various celebrations of ministry.

It is important for us to note that after Justice Kelleher’s judgment, Good Shepherd leadership met to discuss and pray about next steps. They knew that if they appealed they would jeopardize the 2.2 Million dollar Chun Bequest that had just been awarded to them. However, they also realized the impact of the judgment on the other ANiC parishes. At the first ANiC parish leadership meeting after the judgment, Bishop Stephen communicated Good Shepherd’s intention, which was to follow the other parishes’ lead. If the decision was to appeal they would partake in it because, “What is important is that we are unified in the gospel and in our stand; we will do what you need and ask of us.”

Today, we thank God that Bishop Steven is a true example of what the Bible says a bishop should be: a person who embodies and lives out the unity of the gospel in the church. We also are thankful for our continuing friendship with Good Shepherd as we serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us warmly welcome Bishop Steven today!

Dan Gifford