SERMON NOTES
WH AT ’S UP AT S T. JOHN’S JOIN THE CHOIR
LEARNERS’ EXCHANGE
We’ve had several well-earned retirements in the choir recently and are in need of new sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses. We practice weekly on Thursdays from 7:30-9:30 pm and perform at both the 9:00 and 11:00 am service (you get to choose which service you’ll sing at). Our upcoming big concerts are:
Every Sunday in the Café Room at 9:00 am, Learners’ Exchange offers stimulating speakers and engaging discussions.
• November 10 – Remembrance Day Concert
• Dec 2 – Advent Carol Service
• Dec 16 – 9 Lessons & Carols Service
Sept 23: Harvey Guest The Trinity Sept 30: Dan Gifford Update on Gafcon
If you are interested, contact Terry Fullerton, terry@sjvan.org or 604329-9594, or David Poon, dporgan@gmail.com or 604-729-0836.
KEEPING COMPANY WITH GOD | SEPT 24 AT 7:30 PM “ The Lord will Satisfy”
WOMEN’S SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDIES Evening studies for women will be starting up later this month. If you are interested in being part of one be in touch with Kimberley this week to register kimberley@sjvan.org FINANCIAL UPDATE As many of you know, a long-time member of our church passed away in 2017 leaving St. John’s a generous financial gift. In late August we received the first portion of that gift ($2,500,000) which has now been set aside in a separate interest-bearing account. We are grateful to God for this donor’s financial legacy and St. John’s is committed to using the gift to the glory of God and for the growth of his kingdom. The donation will enable us to advance St. John’s pillars of Gospel Proclamation, Gospel Formation, and Gospel Application in ways that might not otherwise have been possible. The Trustees are planning to hold a congregation meeting in late November to share the vision and plans for this wonderful gift. We do, however, remain committed to the budget we voted on at our 2018 annual vestry meeting as this is the budget that funds and sustains our current ministries. Below is an update on our offerings. Offerings to the General Fund to August 31, 2018
$1,184,213
Total 2018 Offerings budget
$2,192,000
Offerings still needed in 2018
$1,007,787
Please pray that as a church we would steward our gifts wisely and that individually we would use our money towards the proclamation of the Gospel and the growth of his kingdom.
God’s refreshing and renewing work in our lives will be the theme of the first “Keeping Coming with God: rest, reflection and restoration at the end of the day” worship service this fall. We will meet on Monday, September 24th at 7:30pm in the Chapel. Everyone is welcome. DIVORCECARE | STARTING SEPTEMBER 27 DivorceCare begins this week and will run Thursday nights between 7:00 and 9:00 pm. All sessions will take place at St. John’s Vancouver, 5350 Baillie Street. DivorceCare helps people recover from the pain of separation and divorce and is a support group that meets weekly for 13 weeks. If you have questions or would like to register please contact Margaret Wilson margaret@ sjvan.org or call 778-838-7400.
IN OUR COMMUNITY RIDE FOR REFUGE | SEPTEMBER 29 St. John’s partners with Kinbrace Refugee Housing and Support and the Journey Home Community, to welcome and assist refugee claimants. We also partner with Ratanak, who support women exiting the sex trade in Cambodia. Members of St. John’s are leading teams in the Ride for Refuge, raising awareness and funds for our partners. Please consider making a donation to support the St. John’s teams or joining one of the teams. Team leader Kallen Fong Jonathan Baylis James May
Supporting Kinbrace Journey Home Ratanak
Link ride.w-ith.us/NoTrainingWheels ride.w-ith.me/JonathanB
FAITH, FOOD, FARMING & BUSINESS What’s the connection between faith, food, farming and business? ReFrame @ Regent College is teaming up with A Rocha and Little Qualicum Cheeseworks Sept 28 to 29 for a weekend of exploring the connections between faith, food, and farming. Join us at the Qualicum Beach farm for a time of learning, feasting, and first hand exposure to a business seeking to connect faith and food production. Wine and cheese tasting included. This event is for anyone who is interested in seeking to live faithfully with food, not just foodies and farmers! Registration and details: foodfaithfarming.eventbrite.ca WHALE DREAMS | COLLEEN MCLAUGHLIN BARLOW Dive into the underwater world of whales with the extraordinary crystal sculptures of whale bones by Colleen McLaughlin Barlow. The exhibit is showing in the Lookout Gallery at Regent College from September 12 to November 16.
NEXT WEEK SUNDAY SERVICES SEPT 30 | Matthew 9:9-17 7:30 am 9:00 am 11:00 am 6:00 pm
Holy Communion Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Evening Service Get our weekly email with all events happening in our community by subscribing to the parish email list at sjvan.org
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. Romans 1:12-13 The St. John’s-Malawi partnership exists to 1) mutually encourage one another in the gospel and 2) help spread and strengthen the gospel in the Diocese of Upper Shire and Vancouver. Malawi considers itself to be “The Warm Heart of Africa.” The St John’s-Malawi relationship has not been warm or cold but hot for over fifteen years, and for those involved, the relationship is described as life-changing. Every two years we send a team of St. John’s members to the Diocese of Upper Shire. In 2017 we sent a team of ten members for two weeks, focusing on a number of things including leading biblical studies, medical ministry, pastoral care, Sunday school training. The Malawi committee is preparing to gather and build a team to send in 2019. The mission of the team will depend on its makeup and the spiritual gifts that each member brings. On Sunday, September 30 at 12:30 pm the Malawi Committee will hold an informational meeting for anyone interested in becoming a member of the 2019 team. Committee members and past team members will share from their experience and hopes for this growing relationship. The committee will also lay out the process for becoming a team member. If you would like to join us, please RSVP to james@sjvan.org
St. John’s Vancouver Offices: 2325 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J2 | Phone: 604.558.4400 | stjohnsvancouver.org Stay informed: facebook.com/stjohnsvancouver | Engage with each other: facebook.com/groups/stjohnsvancouver