Who we are:

St John's Vancouver Anglican Church, Vancouver is a community of Christians dedicated to the exposition and teaching of the Word of God, to the spreading of the good news of the Gospel at home and abroad, and to the application of God's purpose in our own lives and families.

 

News > 2010 Parish Life Notes > 10.02.07 Parish Life

February 7, 2010

     

Vestry Meeting - Tuesday, February 9

Our Annual Vestry (General) Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9 at 7:30 pm in the church. You are considered to be a member of the parish if you have been baptized, are 16 years of age or older, attend Sunday services regularly, have had your name on the parish list for at least 3 months, and are not a member of any other Anglican parish in the Diocese. The annual vestry meeting is an important event in the life of the church where we review the previous year, and make plans and set budgets for 2010. Sign-in begins at 7:00 pm in the Narthex (West Nanton Avenue entrance).

Prayer for the Vestry Meeting

It is important that we pray for the Vestry Meeting on February 9. To this end, we invite you to join us in one of three ways on Tuesday, the 9th – come and pray with us at Morning Prayer at 9:30 am in the church, or Evensong at 5:30 pm in the church, or be in fellowship with us in prayer at your home or work throughout the day. It is important that we never take God’s blessing and presence for granted; He truly is our Guide and Keeper.

So how should we pray? Here is a brief guide for prayer.

  1. Thank God for leading us safely through the perils of the past years and for blessing us with generous hearts and a financial surplus in 2009.
  2. Pray that everyone who comes to the Vestry Meeting will be encouraged and built up in the Gospel.
  3. Ask God to keep growing us in our trust and love for Him.
  4. Praise the Lord for all His mighty works.

Keeping Company with God – Monday

Feb 8 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 or hold up this congregation in prayer, this is a place of “prayer care”. This service is usually held every second and fourth Mondays of the month. However the service will not be held on Monday, Feb 22.

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.”

Christianity Explored

The Christianity Explored course meets Thursday nights at 7:00 pm in the Church Hall for a wonderful home-cooked meal, short presentation and discussion. The course runs for 7 weeks and is designed for those who are curious about Christianity or are new to the Christian faith. Christianity Explored provides a warm, pressure-free environment to explore questions of faith and life. It’s informal, fun and you can choose to be silent or say whatever you want. No question is too hostile or basic and no knowledge of faith is expected!

If you have any questions or wish to register please contact Aaron by email or phone at the church office, 604.731.4966 ext 22.

The course is free, but a small donation is asked to help cover the cost of the awesome food. The next Christianity Explored course begins on February 18.

Baptism Services – Sunday, March 14

Are you interested in baptism, for you, or your child? Our next baptism services are scheduled for Sunday, March 14 at either the 9:00 am or 11:00 am service. The application deadline for baptism is Monday, March 1. For more information please contact Krista at the church office by email or phone at 604.731.4966 ext 19.

Connections: Hospitality Ministry  

Do you want to get to know other people at church?  Are you finding it challenging to connect with new people at St. John’s?  Connections is a way to get to know new people or connect with old friends by sharing a light lunch with 6 or 8 others in a host-family’s home.  You will meet with them after the Sunday services on February 28 and March 28. So check your plans for those dates. How do you get involved?  We will have a registration table next Sunday, after the 9:00 am service in the Trendell Lounge and after the 11:00 am in the Narthex. For more information or to register now, contact Jan at the church office by email or phone at 604.731.4966 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 contact Jan Hobbis by email or phone at the church office, 604.731.4966 ext 28.

Bishop From Malawi to Visit

Bishop Brighton Malasa and Father Grant Tebulo will spend 12 days in the parish from April 15 to 27. If you are able to help by providing accommodation for either or both of these guests, for all or half the time, or if you would like to invite them for a meal, or if your Bible Study Group would like to invite them for a meal, please contact Peggy Smart at 604.222.3771.

Community News

The Baranduin Ensemble at St. John’s - Friday February 19, 2010 at 8:00 pm. The Baranduin Ensemble returns to the stage in a joint concert with Terry Fullerton. Featuring favourites from the Baroque Era and beyond, this concert is being presented to support relief efforts in Haiti. Admission is by donation with all proceeds going to Haitian aid.  www.baranduin.ca

Motet - Monday, Feb 22 at 8:00 pm at St. John’s.
A new sacred music group is performing for the first time in Vancouver!  This first performance will include Duruflé’s Messe cum jubilo alongside chants, motets, and organ improvisations.  Dedicated to promoting good liturgical music for worship, this ensemble strives to maintain the tradition of sacred music for the Church, beginning with chant and incorporating newer music based on chant.  Admission by donation.   www.MOTET.ca

 

 


   Dear Friends,


Welcome to St. John’s! It is wonderful to have Bishop Charlie Masters preaching at our 9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 6:30 pm services today. During this past week, Bishop Charlie has visited a number of the ministries that form our life at St. John’s. It has been great getting to know Bishop Charlie and for him to become familiar with what God is doing in our parish.

Next Sunday, February 14 is not only Valentine's Day, it is also a very good day to invite people you know to St. John’s. At the 9:00 am and 11:00 am services Aaron Roberts, our pastoral evangelist, will be preaching a sermon that will explain the good news of Jesus in a clear and winsome way. As Vancouver welcomes the world to the 2010 Winter Olympics, I invite you to welcome your friends to St. John’s during this time of special hospitality in Vancouver.

Finally, this Tuesday, February 9 is our Annual Vestry Meeting. Please plan to attend this yearly all-church gathering if you have been part of St. John’s for the last 3 months or more. Vestry is a time when we hear what is happening in the ministries of the church, listen to God’s word, look at our budget together, elect our leadership, pray together, sing, and look forward to what God may have for us in this coming year. Pray with me in the next couple of days that our Lord Jesus will direct this meeting so that He is the focus of each of the different agenda items. Our goal in Vestry is to commit ourselves together as a church family to the work of the Gospel in Vancouver in 2010. Thank God that He has called each of us to this joyful and glorious work.

Warmly,

Dan Gifford