News > 2010 Parish Life Notes > 10.05.09 Parish Life

 Keeping Company with God

Mon, May 10 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.”

Baptism - Final week to apply

Our next baptism services are scheduled for Sun, Jun 13 at the 9:00 am and 11:00 am services. If you or your children are interested in baptism please contact Krista at the church office by email or phone at 604.731.4966 ext 19. The deadline for application is May 13.

Missions Lunch

There will be a Missions Lunch after the 11:00 am service next Sunday in Trendell Lounge. The Cambodia Team (Karol Boschung, Chris Pain, Jan Hobbis and Graham Meakins) will report on their recent trip to Cambodia with Ratanak to work on the “Sanctuary” building. This building is becoming the key centre for the transformation of Svay Pak, a community whose past is deeply linked with child exploitation.

Seniors’ Bus Trip May 19

St. John’s Seniors annual May bus trip will be on Wed, May 19. We will visit Irving House, a heritage home, and the New Westminster Museum. Lunch will follow at The Boathouse at the Quay in New Westminster. The Bus will leave St. John’s at 9:15 am and return about 2:15 pm. The cost is $20 per person to be collected when we leave. Please call the church office to sign up by May 12.

 Artizo Gradudation May 16

Christianity Explored

The Christianity Explored course currently meets on 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 contact Aaron by email or phone at 604.731.4966 ext 22. The course is free, but a small donation is asked to help cover the cost of the awesome food.

Legal Update:

The Appeal date has been set for Sep 13 and will be heard by a three-judge-panel over four days. The process leading up the Appeal Trial is as follows:

• May 3 -  Appeal Factum to be filed by the Parishes.
• Jun 28 - Joint Factum and Cross Appeal to be filed by the Diocese
• Jul 26 - Reply to Joint Factum and Cross Appeal to be filed by Parishes
• Aug 9 - Reply to be filed by Diocese
• Aug 16 - Joint Appeal books and Joint Transcripts are to be filed by both parties

‘The Factum’ has been posted on the Anglican Network in Canada website, www.anglicannetwork.ca under News & Events, should you like to read it.

While we continue to regret that the legal process has been necessary, we are thankful to God for his continued guidance and provision through it. We are also thankful that we have received over 80% of what is required (including remaining pledges expected to be fulfilled) to be able to pay all our anticipated appeal costs. Please prayerfully consider participating financially as well as prayerfully.

As we go forward, specifically pray for our legal team as they prepare for Sep 13 and that God will provide three faithful and fair judges on the panel of appeal.

If you do not have context for this update and/or would like to learn more, please visit our website.

Operation Baby Bottle: Happy Mother’s Day

Today, May 9, we at Crisis Pregnancy Centre (Vancouver) ask you all to join with us in our annual Operation Baby Bottle Campaign as we collect up our loose change for one month between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Please pick up a baby bottle(s) from Janice Raaby in the Trendell Lounge during the coffee-time between the services. Or call Janice at 604. 736.0969 for further assistance. 

St. John’s Vancouver Staff - New Email Addresses

This Mon, Apr 26 all staff at St. John’s will have new email addresses. The nomenclature of the new addresses will be firstname@sjvan.org. For example Krista Friebel will now be krista@sjvan.org, and Ruth Matheson will be ruth@sjvan.org. Please update your address books.

Ordination Service

May 16, 4:00 pm at Grace Baptist Church, Hope BC

Bishop Trevor Walters is going to ordain Doug Beattie, an Artizo grad, as Deacon for the ANiC Church of the Resurrection in Hope. If you are able to attend, you would be most welcome. The address of Grace Baptist Church is 949 3rd Ave, Hope, BC.

Parish Family News

Condolences Please pray that God will comfort Keltie Worrall.  Her mother, Carole, died on Apr 17 in Halifax and a service was held there.  Also pray for her father, Brian, and her brothers, Ian and Bruce.

Community News

Recital of Sacred Music
‘Psalms for Pilgrims’, with soprano Cathy Rempel Quicke and pianist Judi Hiebert Levesque, on Fri May 14 at 7:30 pm. To be held at St. Stephen’s United Church, 7025 Granville St. in Vancouver. Admission is by donation and all proceeds will go to support the Christian Blind Mission.

Regent College Free Public Lectures – 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm
This Wednesday, May 12, Dr. Rod Wilson will speak on Why is Emotional Intelligence Missing in So Many Churches and Christian Institutions? 5800 University Boulevard.

Regent College Prayer Retreat – Sat, Jun 5, 8:45 am to 4:30 pm. Bruce and Carolyn Hindmarsh are leading this retreat. Cost is $28/person. Retreat is held at St. Helen’s Anglican Church, 4405 West 8th Avenue. To register phone: 604.221.3348 OR email.
 

Dear St Johns,

The last seven months, working as youth minister, has brought me to my knees. Not so much in exhaustion, but in thanks and praise. Personally, it has been a challenging and rewarding time. I would like to thank two groups.

Firstly, the volunteer youth leaders. This outstanding group of young adults have risen to the difficulties of a transition period. By and large the youth ministry has flourished over the past year: the gospel has been preached, new kids have joined the group and we have led stable Bible studies. Praise be to God. Humanly speaking, this is thanks to the youth leaders. This has not been without cost to the them: many of them are feeling wear with the additional burdens. I would ask two things of you. Firstly, please pray for the youth leaders; pray that will be sustained through the transition, and that we would have wisdom in sharing Christ with the kids. Secondly, please thank them and encourage them. Knowing the congregation supports them would come as a great comfort!

Secondly, I would like to thank God. He has done a great work this year. Rather than loosing kids, God has chosen to bless us with a growing youth ministry. He has sustained the leaders through this time. He has given the kids a love for the Bible and one another: they come to hear his word proclaimed!

Most of all, we need to thank God for sending his son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to die for us. By him and only by him can the youth ministry stand! Praise be to him!

Ben Short.