Legal Update
The Legal Committee advises that our lawyers are seeking a special hearing of our case before a panel composed of 5
members of the Court of Appeal, rather than the usual 3, with a hearing date for our appeal in September. As the Diocese
is not in agreement on these and other procedural matters, there may soon have to be a short hearing before the court to
resolve the various issues. We will continue to update you as proceedings progress.
Living Waters
Want to help Christian young people take on the challenge of living in the world today? Then come to “A Thousand Whys” on
April 9 when Darrell Johnson, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Vancouver, and his wife, Sharon, will launch a trust
fund to honour their son and to expand The River—the Living Waters Canada ministry to youth. Hear why the Johnsons want to equip young people, and how you can support Living Waters. First Baptist Church, 969 Burrard St. in Vancouver at 7.30 p.m.
Free parking at Nelson Square (808 Nelson St.). For more info, call 604.301.1470 or go to www.livingwaterscanada.org.
A local pastor writes - “In my role as Pastor of Discipleship working in the Vancouver downtown core I am seeing the many ways more and more young people struggle with identity and gender issues. They need a safe place and safe people who will listen to them and take them seriously, who will be honest with them, and who will model a life of hope. I am thankful that God has raised up the River program. It is an invaluable resource for educators in the community and in the church to serve our youth.” Jan Porcino, Pastor of Discipleship, First Baptist Church, Vancouver
Free Accommodation And The Use of a Car For The Rev. Dr. Sam Chan And His Family Needed.
As mentioned in previous notices, Dr. Chan and his wife and two sons (ages 2 and 6 months) are planning to come to
Vancouver on study leave from April 24 to June 25 to study at Regent. Sam is a medical doctor and a professor of theology,
ethics, and preaching at Sydney Missionary and Bible College, Australia. He has visited and preached at St. John’s in
the past. He is highly regarded by David Short and Dan Gifford and Dan would be happy to give him a reference, if need
be. He’ll be helping out at St. John’s while he is here. If you know of some free accommodation for them, please contact
Ruth Matheson, 604.731.4966,
Living Waters
Want to help Christian young people take on the challenge of living in the world today? Then come to “A Thousand Whys” on April 9 when Darrell Johnson, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Vancouver, and his wife, Sharon, will launch a trust fund to honour their son and to expand The River—the Living Waters Canada ministry to youth. Hear why the Johnsons want to equip young people, and how you can support Living Waters. First Baptist Church, 969 Burrard St. in Vancouver at 7:30 pm. Free parking at Nelson Square (808 Nelson St.). For more info, phone 604.301.1470 or go to www.livingwaterscanada.org.
A local pastor writes – “The River is a ministry that our youth and young adult groups are crying out for. They want a place to talk openly and safely about the tension they feel in their lives between the values of their parents and church and the sexually charged culture. In The River young people hear real life stories and learn about topics, like peer pressure and temptation ,through interactive skits and small group discussion. Working with churches and pastors, The River staff model how to talk about the issues facing our young people and equip churches to enter into life-changing conversations with their youth. I thank God for the ministry of Living Waters and am excited to see our churches embrace what The River has to offer.”
Prayer Book Society of Canada, Vancouver Chapter
The AGM will be held on Tuesday, March 30th at 7 pm in Room 100 of St. John’s Church Hall. Prior to the meeting, you
are invited to attend Evensong at 5:30, followed by dinner at 6:15 ($8 by donation). If you plan to come for dinner, please
RSVP to Norah Johnston, Chairman, 604.224.8986. For more information, please pick up a sheet from the tables in the
Narthex or North Chapel.
Free Accommodation And The Use of a Car For The Rev. Dr. Sam Chan And His Family Needed.
As mentioned in previous notices, Dr. Chan and his wife and two sons (ages 2 and 6 months) are planning to come to Vancouver on study leave from April 24 to June 25 to study at Regent. Sam is a medical doctor and a professor of theology, ethics, and preaching at Sydney Missionary and Bible College, Australia. He has visited and preached at St. John’s in the past. He is highly regarded by David Short and Dan Gifford and Dan would be happy to give him a reference, if need be. He’ll be helping out at St. John’s while he is here. If you know of some free accommodation for them, please contact Ruth Matheson, 604.731.4966, Ext 12. IT would also be very helful if someone could lend them a car or rent one for them.
Women’s Retreat
Come all ladies to a weekend away to be refreshed by God’s word and wonderful company. The retreat this year is going to be April 23-25 and it will be at Loon Lake Educational Centre in Maple Ridge. The topic is Learning to trust God, the journey from entitlement to thanksgiving. Our speakers are Marion Maxwell and Kerensa Symons. Registration starts March 28, 2010. Cost of the retreat is either $155.00 for four people to a room, or $200.00 for two people to a room. If you have any questions please contact Darrell Thomas at 604.269.9011.
Parish Family News
Community News
Concert - 8:00 pm Friday March 12 at St. John’s Shaughnessy Church - The Baranduin Ensemble serves up an evening double-feature, presenting the Triple Concerto for violin, flute and harpsichord (BWV 1044) and the famous Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. David Poon will be performing on harpsichord, and Sarah Tippett will be playing violoncello, with a guest appearance by Angela Hodgson on violin.
Tickets are $15 at the door ($10 for students and seniors). Visit www.baranduin.ca for more information.
God’s Loving Touch Renewal Conference
March 19 and 20
You are invited to this conference hosted by St. Andrew’s, Delta (Anglican Network in Canada). It will be held at Cedar Park Church, 5300 44th Avenue, Ladner, B. C. The speakers will be Bishop Malcolm Harding and Archdeacon Paul Crossland, rector of two ANiC parishes in Manitoba – one in Brandon and the other in Dauphin. There is a brochure posted on the bulletin board in the church hall. For more information or to register: phone – 604.943.8727; email – godslovingtouchconference(at)gmail(dot)com.
|
|
“Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
Acts 13:3
Dear Friends,
As you read this letter the Cambodia team will be just landing in the city of Phnom Penh. Four people from St. Johns
(Jan Hobbis, Chris Pain, Karol Boschung, Graham Meakins) have joined the Ratanak Foundation team for a 2-week
mission trip. The focus of their work will be to finish the renovations on The Sanctuary. This building, in the heart of
the sex trade district of Svay Pak, was initially built to serve as a brothel. God had other plans, however, and in the
fall of 2009 the building was purchased by the Ratanak Foundation. Later this Spring the building will officially open
and serve as a church, school, health clinic, kid’s club and residence for staff and clergy.
The Cambodian team is relying on your prayers. We know from the Book of Acts that whenever the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed opposition is not far behind. Please pray
• For protection of the team: for both their physical and spiritual health;
• For The Sanctuary: that it would be a centre where the community of Svay Pak would know the healing power of Jesus Christ;
• For the church in Cambodia, that it will grow in its ability to disciple Cambodian men and women
The team will be blogging about their work and you can follow them by either visiting the Ratanak web site www.ratanak.org, or email me at sfriebel(at)shaw(dot)ca and I will send you their updates.
Within our congregation are a number of other people currently on short-term mission trips who would covet your
prayers including;
• Dave Carter, providing counseling to earthquake victims in Haiti;
• Sophia Underhill, working with orphans in Uganda;
• Jamie Turner, Olivia Smyth, Nick Jones working in a Christian school in India.
Steven Friebel
|
