St. John’s Vancouver Things happening in the life of our church and in our community March 24, 2019
What’s up at St. John’s KEEPING COMPANY WITH GOD // MAR 25 @ 7:30 PM
LEARNERS’ EXCHANGE
Lenten self-examination can be very challenging. Feelings of shame and discouragement can make us want to hide from God. Come to Keeping Company with God at 7:30 pm on Monday, March 25 for encouragement! During this worship service, we will remember together the promise our Saviour gives us in Psalm 73. “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel.” In music, Scripture and prayers we will look to Jesus, who came to bring us life abundant. If you have questions email Manya Egerton, megerton@telus.net
Every Sunday in the Café Room at 9:00 am, Learners’ Exchange offers stimulating speakers and engaging discussions. March 24 // David Lewis Christ as Reconciler: What Jesus Looks Like in the Shadow of Apartheid in South Africa March 31 // Bill Reimer Murdoch’s Toronto: Toronto the Good
UPDATE FROM THE REFUGEE COMMITTEE Last week we had the great news that the family we are sponsoring – Farhad, Homa, Marve, and Arsham – have a confirmed date of arrival in Canada. We look forward to welcoming them to Vancouver at the end of April. As we prepare for their arrival, we will let you know more about them through the bulletin and weekly email. If you would like to help financially you can: (1) give through the website by clicking on the Refugee Fund button on the giving page, or (2) put a cheque in the offering plate with “Refugee Fund” marked on the cheque or envelope.
FLOWERS The flowers given today are in thanksgiving to God for the St. John’s church family by Dan and Irene Canton.
GAFCON QUARTERLY Gafcon has started to publish a quarterly newsletter which highlights what is happening within Gafcon and the Anglican Communion worldwide. The first edition includes reports, including one about the new General Secretary, and another on the work of the nine strategic networks that were launched at the conference in Jerusalem last year. Copies of Gafcon Quarterly can be picked up in the foyer.
GET OUR WEEKLY EMAIL WITH ALL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY BY SUBSCRIBING TO THE PARISH EMAIL LIST AT SJVAN.ORG
In our Community SPRING LUNCHEON // MAY 11 Lighthouse Harbour Ministries, one of the ministries we support as a church, is hosting their 2019 Spring Luncheon on May 11 at noon. All are welcome to attend to hear about the ministry to seafarers in North Vancouver and the Fraser Surrey Docks.
Calendar MONDAY, MAR 25 10:45 am Little Years 7:30 pm
Keeping Company with God
The event will take place at Bethany Baptist Church, 22680 Westminster Hwy, Richmond. Please RSVP to Paul at 604-988-5084 or info@sealight.org. A freewill offering will be taken.
7:20 am
Men’s Breakfast Bible Study
MARTYRS, MONKS, AND MYSTICS
6:30 pm
Ekklesia (18 to 20-somethings)
Join fellow St. John’s members and Regent College professors Bruce and Carolyn Hindmarsh on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Italy from Rome to Florence that is at the same time a journey through the centuries from the persecuted early church to the high civilization of the Renaissance with its synthesis of Christian and classical ideals. See the major sites (the Colosseum, the Forum, the Vatican, the Duomo in Florence, the Uffizi, the Academia, and much more) and selected art, architecture, and monuments that help to tell the story of Christianity and culture through the centuries. This will be an exercise of devotion and the “communion of the saints” as Christian pilgrims. The trip includes a walk along part of the old Via Francigena pilgrimage route in Tuscany, and a two-night retreat for prayer and a cooking course in a castle, along with time to explore the medieval hilltop towns of Assisi (associated with St Francis) and Siena (associated with St. Catherine). Each day begins with a brief meditation on Scripture and an appropriate text for the day related to what we are seeing. In addition to three informative lectures, there will be “mini-lectures” on the bus and on location to help you get the most out of the experience. We will also take advantage of local guides and their unique expertise all the way along. There is an accompanying syllabus for the trip for those wishing to take this as a course for credit. For more details, the itinerary, and to register, visit regent-college.edu/summer/courses/enroute.
WEDNESDAY, MAR 27
THURSDAY, MAR 28 7:30 pm Choir Practice SUNDAY, MAR 31 Matthew 15:21-39 7:30 am Holy Communion 9:00 am Morning Prayer 11:00 am Morning Prayer 6:00 pm Holy Communion LEARN MORE AT SJVAN.ORG/CALENDAR
Life Explored is an exposé of the little gods that promise us so much happiness, yet deliver so little. The series tells six original stories that articulate and explore our inherent longing for more and offers an invitation to discover what it means to trust in Jesus. As it explores the biblical story (creation, fall, redemption, new creation), Life Explored shows how our deepest desires for happiness can only be satisfied in one person: Jesus Christ. The best gift God can give us is himself! Life Explored has been designed to engage those who don’t consider themselves “religious” and have never read the Bible, but it is also intended to provoke good discussion among followers of Christ as well because the message of the Gospel is never old news. The program is built around the table-discussion format, and each session concludes with scriptural exposition and exploration. As a congregation, we will be working through the Life Explored series after Easter Sunday for seven weeks. We encourage all community groups to participate by going through the program themselves. This will provide not only a fresh opportunity to engage with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but will also give us strategies to engage better with our contemporary culture. If your group is interested, and you would like training on how to run the program well, please sign up for our training event on the morning of April 13 at www.stjohnsvancouver.org/events. Lunch and training manuals will be provided.
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