Christmas in Vancouver is a chaotic mix of school concerts, family reunions, last-minute shopping, large-scale cooking and the same twelve Christmas songs in every place you go. Yet, somehow there remains a lingering longing in our culture for the “traditional Christmas” which opens a unique opportunity for us to share the beauty and joy we have in Jesus Christ. As a community, let’s pray that
Advent is an opportunity to. .
To celebrate thishatown God went to astonishing lengths to demonstrate his love for us in sending Son as the light in our darkness! This message of hope is good news of great joy for all people.
To invite friends, family, neighbours and co-workers to celebrate Christmas in a warm and friendly setting. For many non-Christians, attending a traditional Christian event during the Christmas season is a very natural and attractive way to celebrate the season.
To serve together as the body of Christ, bringing together our many gifts and talents to bless the people of our city. In the foyer after the service, we will have sign-up sheets for serving throughout Advent. We hope you will consider signing up after the service, asking us more about what would be involved, or thinking this week about how you’d like to be involved (see the list below of where we need your help). We will have sign-up tables in the foyer this week and next, or you can sign up on our website – sjvan.org/events. Baking Delivery
Set up crew
Transition
Kitchen crew
Greeters
Craft helpers
Clean-up crew
What ’s up at St. John’s MISSION DESSERT NIGHT // NOV 18
LEARNERS’ EXCHANGE
Come hear from one of our missionaries share about what God is doing among the least reached around the world. He will share about his summer short-term trips overseas and give an update about work among refugees in Vancouver. Downstairs in the Fellowship Hall after Evening Service.
Every Sunday in the Café Room at 9:00 am, Learners’ Exchange offers stimulating speakers and engaging discussions.
LEST WE FORGET: A SERVICE OF MUSIC AND REFLECTION NOV 10 Join us on November 10 at 7:30 pm for a Remembrance Day service where we remember those who have served and protected our country. The choir will perform The Requiem by Maurice Duruflé. They will be led by Terence Fullerton and accompanied by David Poon on the organ. There is no cost to the concert, but a freewill offering will be taken. The concert will take place at Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church, 2733 West 41st Avenue. TASTE AND SEE IF THE RECIPE IS GOOD // NOV 25 A call for all chili enthusiasts – chefs and consumers. We will once again have a chili contest on November 25. We need seven volunteers to make a pot of chili to serve 20 people. Please register online sjvan.org/events or contact james@sjvan.org. The competition will take place in the fellowship hall after the 11:00 am service. Bring your appetites!
Nov 4: Zoltan Horvath Our Gender Confused Generation: Implications for Medicine and Education Nov 11: Cindy Aalders John Bunyan and Early Children’s Literature WE NEED YOUR HELP St. John’s runs a children’s class alongside the Women@10 bible study every Thursday. We are looking for six people who can commit to helping in the class once every six weeks. The helper would be responsible for assisting the lead teachers in the class and provide support for individual children during play, story, and craft time. If you are interested please email jessica@sjvan.org.
In our community WHAT DOES JAM HAVE TO DO WITH JOURNEY CANADA? NOV 17 Several members of St. John’s have been busy making all sorts of preserves through the fall. On November 17 they will be selling homemade jams, pickles, chutneys and so much more to support Journey Canada (one of the organizations that St. John’s supports). Everyone is invited to the sale, which will be held at the home of Manya and George Egerton (2071 Kitchener St, Vancouver) from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. For a list of preserves being sold email Manya at megerton@telus.net.
MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE // NOV 18 Journey Canada is hosting free seminar called “Made in God’s Image” where they will be talking about sexuality and relationships in our shifting culture. They will be addressing questions of:
• What is God’s intention for relationships? • What does it mean to be a sexual being? • What does God say I am?
The event will take place at Reality Church, 808 East 19th Ave, Vancouver from 7:00 to 9:30 pm on Sunday, November 18. For more information email info@realityvancouver.com.
MONDAY, NOV 5 10:45 am Little Years TUESDAY, NOV 6 7:00 pm
Women’s Bible Study
7:30 pm Men’s Bible Study WEDNESDAY, NOV 7 7:20 am
Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
6:30 pm
Ekklesia (18 to 20-somethings)
THURSDAY, NOV 8 10:00 am Women @ 10 10:00 am Kids @ 10 7:30 pm Choir Practice FRIDAY, NOV 9 5:45 pm Men’s Bible Study 6:00 pm Youth (grade 7-12)
LIGHTHOUSE ADVENT BREAKFAST // DEC 1 Lighthouse Harbour Ministries is an organization that St. John’s supports as they work with seafarers in Vancouver. Each year they host a breakfast to share and celebrate how God is working through their ministry. All are welcome to attend the breakfast which will happen on Saturday, December 1 at 8:30 am. To reserve a place contact Paul Ratsoy 604-988-5084 or info@sealight.org. The breakfast will take place at Bethany Baptist Church, 22680 Westminster Highway, Richmond.
SATURDAY, NOV 10 7:30 pm
Remembrance Day Concert
SUNDAY, NOV 11 Matthew 11:1-15 7:30 am Holy Communion 9:00 am Morning Prayer 11:00 am Youth Service 11:00 am Morning Prayer 6:00 pm Evening Service Learn more at sjvan.org/calendar
Get our weekly email with all events happening in our community by subscribing to the parish email list at sjvan.org
ARTIZO: PASSION FOR THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL Artizo began when there were very few Anglican evangelicals. Now, we are in a new moment: since the creation of ANiC, we have good bishops with good priorities. We have 74 ANiC churches across the country with an average Sunday attendance approaching 5,000. We have much to be thankful for, though many parishes are small and many churches still need to be planted. To continue in growth and faithful Gospel proclamation, churches must adopt a culture of training: entrusting the Gospel to faithful, qualified future leaders (2 Timothy 2:2). Yet few churches have strategies to train future leaders. Artizo aims to renew a culture of training among churches in Canada to effect the New Testament imperative of proclaiming the Gospel and entrusting it to future generations. To that end, Artizo provides an intensive hands-on 2-year apprenticeship program. The comprehensive curriculum focuses on mentoring and equipping future ministers and leaders to faithfully proclaim the Gospel and entrust it to others.
Artizo is redoubling its efforts by renewing its training curriculum to deepen and intensify ‘learning by doing’, reorganizing its structure, and refreshing its engagement with St. John’s Vancouver and other churches and church organizations. To mirror the 2 Timothy 2:2 approach, reinforce its adoption, and invest in the future work of God, St. John’s Vancouver and the Artizo Institute have committed to support the renewal of Artizo, to elevate the importance of training and mentoring within our church, and to promote and commend it to other churches. We call this refocusing Renew+Repeat, and you can hear more about it at a special event on November 19. If you’d like to reserve a seat, email me at info@artizo.org or sign up online at Artizo.org/nov19. Ben Roberts
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