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. If you are interested in serving at one of our events in Advent there will be a couple people in the foyer after each service today. There will be sign-up sheets for the different serving opportunities throughout Advent and we will be able to answer any questions you have. You can also sign up for serving on our website – sjvan.org/events.
What ’s up at St. John’s HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO... GIVE THE BOWL A THUMBS UP NOV 25
EVENSONG // TUESDAY, NOV 13
A call for all chili enthusiasts, chefs and consumers. We are hosting another chili contest on November 25. We need seven volunteers to make a pot of chili to serve 20 people. We need both chefs and eaters to register online sjvan.org/events or contact james@sjvan.org.
Evensong will take place at 5:30 pm this Tuesday. We will be meeting in the main floor chapel due to the kitchen renovation. All are welcome.
The competition will take place in the fellowship hall after the 11:00 am service. Come with an appetite! GREAT NEWS FROM THE REFUGEE COMMITTEE Two weeks ago, the Refugee Committee reported on the status of our Community Refugee Sponsorship application for a Christian Afghan family living in New Delhi. We are pleased to let you know that our prayers were answered swiftly. The same day the notice was printed in the bulletin, our sponsored family was contacted by Canadian immigration for medical appointments, which took place this past Monday. They are expecting further information in the next month. Please continue to pray that the sponsorship successfully moves through the final stages and that the family will be approved to come to Vancouver soon. The Refugee Committee will continue to provide information as it becomes available and will let us know when there are ways we can help. If you have questions, feel free to contact the Chair of the Refugee Committee, Owen Underhill at underhil@sfu.ca FINANCIAL UPDATE
SENIORS TEA // NOV 20 Join us on Nov 20 at 1:30 pm in the church chapel for a Q & A with Bruce Milne about his book “Know the Truth.” We’ll learn about how it came into publication, its global impact, and its importance for every day Christian discipleship in the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Bruce Milne is the former pastor of First Baptist Church, Vancouver. Please RSVP to Margaret Wilson, margaret@sjvan.org or 778-838-7400.
How close are we to meeting our commitments? Last March at our annual general meeting we committed, as a congregation, to an offering budget of $2,192,000. As of October 31, we have received $1,512,038 in offerings to the General Fund (excluding bequest donations). We are grateful to God for your generosity and commitment to St. John’s ministries. However, in order to meet our budget to cover all our church expenses we still need to receive $ 679,962 by December 31. Please keep our church finances in your prayers. If you are a regular donor to St. John’s you will have received a donation update in your email this week. If you have any questions please contact our Treasurer, Christine Klukas through the church office, or Krista Friebel at krista@sjvan.org. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A TEAM TRIP TO MALAWI? St. John’s is now accepting applications to join a short-term mission team trip to Malawi for the summer of 2019. Contact Krista Friebel at krista@sjvan.org for an application form. Application deadline is December 2.
LEARNERS’ EXCHANGE Every Sunday in the Café Room at 9:00 am, Learners’ Exchange offers stimulating speakers and engaging discussions. Nov 11: Cindy Aalders John Bunyan and Early Children’s Literature November 18: Bev Greenwood Two Wills, Thomas Cranmer and the Musicality of Words in the Sixteenth Century
In our community CONDOLENCE We give thanks for the life of Janet Street who died on November 6, 2018 at VGH. Janet served over many years and in a variety ways at St. John’s most notably as our librarian, with the gift of encouragement. The funeral day and time is yet to be determined. Please pray for Janet’s family who live in England.
MONDAY, NOV 12 10:45 am Little Years TUESDAY, NOV 13 5:30 pm Evensong 7:00 pm
JAM & 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.
Women’s Bible Study
7:30 pm Men’s Bible Study WEDNESDAY, NOV 14 7:20 am
Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
6:30 pm
Ekklesia (18 to 20-somethings)
THURSDAY, NOV 15 10:00 am Women @ 10
MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE // NOV 18 Journey Canada is hosting free seminar called “Made in God’s Image” where they will be discussing sexuality and relationships in our shifting culture. 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.
10:00 am Kids @ 10 7:30 pm Choir Practice FRIDAY, NOV 16 10:30 am
ESL Discussion Group
5:45 pm Men’s Bible Study OPERATION BABY BOTTLE The Crisis Pregnancy Centre of Vancouver would like to express their gratitude to us for participating in the baby bottle campaign earlie this year. This year they were able to raise a total of $29,252 and St. John’s contributed $1,158. These funds help support the centre as they provide free peer counselling services and practical help to families facing unintended precnancies.
6:00 pm Youth (grade 7-12) SUNDAY, NOV 18 Matthew 11:16-19 7:30 am Holy Communion 9:00 am Holy Communion 11:00 am Jr Youth Service 11:00 am Holy Communion 6:00 pm Evening Service Learn more at sjvan.org/calendar
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MISSIONS DESSERT NIGHT
God is doing great things among the least reached around the world! This summer, one of our missionaries got a first-hand look at what God has been up to. In Acts 17, Paul says that God has determined the exact times and places that all mankind will live. “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.” In His goodness, God can turn the tragedy of forced migration into the triumph of future salvation. Please pray for the those who heard the Gospel this summer, for the church among refugees, and for our missionary as he ministers to refugees here in Vancouver. JOIN ONE OF OUR MISSIONARIES NEXT SUNDAY FOR A MISSIONS DESSERT NIGHT He will be sharing more about his work and the places God is calling him into. NOVEMBER 18 // AFTER THE EVENING SERVICE
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