St. John’s Vancouver Things happening in the life of our church and in our community September 8, 2019
What’s up at St. John’s ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF A WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY IN THE FALL?
A NOTE OF THANKS FROM DAVID SHORT
This fall we will be offering morning and evening small groups for women! Our evening program will be meeting Wednesday nights at the church office beginning later in September.
I have been off work recovering from a concussion I received earlier in the summer. Thank you for your understanding and prayers. While some symptoms persist, I am feeling stronger and I plan to make a gradual return to work.
Our Thursday morning study will begin September 12 with a welcome brunch. Kids@10 will continue to run alongside this Thursday morning study for children from 18 months – 5 years old. If you are interested in being part of a group please register online soon (sjvan.org/women) as these groups fill up quickly. Any questions? Email women@sjvan.org. DIVORCECARE // STARTS SEPT 26 Most people feel that separation and divorce are the most painful and stressful experiences they’ve ever faced. It’s a confusing time when you feel isolated and have lots of questions about issues you’ve never faced before. To help, we run DivorceCare. It is a 13-week group that helps those who are feeling the pain of separation or divorce. The group is open to anyone, not just those who attend St. John’s. If you know someone who would benefit from it, please let them know. This fall DivorceCare will happen Thursday nights at 7:00 pm, starting on Sept 26. The cost is $20, which covers the cost of the book. To take part, please register online. If you have questions, contact Margaret, margaret,@sjvan.org, or 778-838-7400. MATTHEW BIBLE STUDIES Guides are now available for “The Great Wisdom of God,” our upcoming sermon series in the gospel according to Matthew. This term there will be two different guides offered: a shorter discussion guide, designed for a quick dip into the passage of the week; and a longer study guide, designed to encourage deeper reflection prior to the group meeting. The discussion guides will cost $3, and the study guides will cost $5. You can purchase them in the foyer this Sunday, from our community groups coordinator Joel Strecker. EVENSONG Evensong will recommence on Tuesday, September 8. If you would enjoy praying and singing together the Evening Service and listening to an encouraging homily, followed by a delightful meal and conversation around the supper table then you are welcomed to Evensong. We met in the lower level at 5:30 pm on the second Tuesday of each month.
LEARNERS’ EXCHANGE Every Sunday in the Café Room at 9:00 am, Learners’ Exchange offers stimulating speakers and engaging discussions. Sept 15 // Harvey Guest On Authority YOUTH PARENT INFO NIGHT // SEPT 13 Parents and youth in grade 7-12 are invited to join us on Friday. The night will include a time of worship, a chance to meet the leaders, and an opportunity to pray for the upcoming year of Student Ministries. We will start at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall, St. John’s Vancouver, 5350 Baillie St. Please bring a dessert to share. SUNDAY SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Do you love children? Are you passionate about sharing the Gospel? Our Children’s Ministry team is looking for volunteers to join our Sunday school team. No experience is necessary. If you’re interested email Jessica, jessica@sjvan.org for more information.
Calendar SENIORS TEA // SEPTEMBER 17 Join us on Tuesday, September 17 at 1:30 pm in the church chapel for tea and coffee. Jessica Fehr, the new Director of Children’s Ministry, will share her faith journey. Please RSVP to Margaret Wilson, margaret@sjvan.org or 778-8387400.
In our Community OPERATION BABY BOTTLE Thank you!!! We raised $31,499.22 through Operation Baby Bottle 2019! St. John’s Vancouver contributed $1,615.65 to our campaign! Thank you so much for partnering with us in our mission to love on the vulnerable families in our community. We could not do it without your support! Crisis Pregnancy Centre, Vancouver & Richmond BOOK LAUNCH // SEPT 21 Join Karl Petersen for the launch of his new book, Reformed: Confessions of a Preacher’s Kid, a childhood memoir. There will be a reading, Q&A, book signing, Dutch treats and drinks. Copies will be available at the door or by ordering on amazon. Saturday, September 21, 7:00 pm at Grace Vancouver Church (1696 West 7th Ave). Learn more at karlpetersen.com.
MON, SEPTEMBER 9 Little Years (Marpole-Oakridge 10:45 am Community Centre) TUES, SEPTEMBER 10 5:30 pm Evensong WED, SEPTEMBER 11 7:20 am Men’s Bible Study 6:30 pm
Ekklesia (18 to 20-somethings)
THURS, SEPTEMBER 12 10:00 am
W@10 Welcome Brunch
FRI, SEPTEMBER 13 6:30 pm
Youth Parent Info Night (grades 7-12)
SUN, SEPTEMBER 15 Matthew 16:21-28 7:30 am Holy Communion 9:00 am Holy Communion 11:00 am Holy Communion
Prayer Points
6:00 pm Baptism Service
1. Little Years. Please pray that the program would be a blessing both to the community as well as to the workers at the community center and that mission-minded Christian caregivers would attend the program and seek to befriend those who don’t know Christ.
LEARN MORE AT SJVAN.ORG/CALENDAR
2. Youth. We are short five female leaders and three male leaders. Ask God that He would draw committed servants. Pray for a sense of community and unity as new leadership (staff and volunteers) enter in. 3. Life Explored. Pray that God would soften our friend’s hearts and grow within them a desire to know God. Get our weekly email with all events happening in our community by subscribing to the parish email list at sjvan.org
NEW SERMON SERIES
Matthew 16-20 Shocking and impossible! This was Peter’s response to the news that Jesus, the Son of God, would suffer and die. Imagine how he felt when he learned that everyone who wanted to follow Christ must walk that same path. A life of true self-sacrifice and denial was as alien to Peter as it is to us today. Today’s messiahs tell us to “save our lives” through self-affirmation, self-acceptance, and self-improvement. This upside-down life of discipleship – of gaining our life by losing it – is a prominent theme in this section of Matthew. Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure. Even as opposition to his ministry grows, he invests more time shepherding his disciples. There is less emphasis on public healing and more on teaching. He wants them to understand who he is, why he came, and what this means for them. He wants them to trust that their identity is grounded in his identity. Above all, the church is founded on the person of Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man. As ‘God with us’, Jesus suffers and dies, and only then is raised in glory. The order if critical. Suffering then glory. As Jesus builds us into his church, we learn that the first will be last, that the great will be those who serve, that it is only by losing our lives for Christ’s sake can we save them. The glory is heavy; the suffering we must deliberately choose, is light.
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