News & Events - 2020-0315

p u s ’ t a wh

AT ST. JOHN’S

March 15, 2020

p u s ’ t a wh AT ST. JOHN’S

JOB OPENING // MISSIONS/ EVANGELISM ADVOCATE Last year we began a search for a Director of Evangelism but were unsuccessful in finding the right candidate for our needs. Early this year the search committee set to work reassessing our needs and redefining the position. We now have a newly revised job opening for a Mission/Evangelist Advocate. This person will responsible for helping us at St. John’s move mission and outreach forward in Vancouver.

HOLY WEEK DATES & SERVICES

During Holy Week, Christians around the world will recall Jesus coming to Jerusalem with the purpose to suffer and die on a cross for the sins of the world.

PALM SUNDAY - APRIL 5TH AT 7:30 AM // 9:00 AM // 11:00 AM // 6:00 PM MAUNDY THURSDAY - APRIL 9TH AT 7:30 PM GOOD FRIDAY - APRIL 10TH AT 10:00 AM (with children’s programs offered) EASTER SUNDAY - APRIL 12TH AT 7:30 AM // 9:00 AM // 11:00 AM // 6:00 PM

You are warmly invited to take part in all our Holy Week services and to invite friends and family to come with you. Each service builds part of the narrative arc of the week, culminating in our Easter Sunday celebration.

A NOTE FROM JEFF GREENMAN

Please have a look at our website for a detailed job description and application instructions. stjohnsvancouver.org/jobs

PRESIDENT OF REGENT COLLEGE

SUNDAY SCHOOL PARENTING SERIES

As we mark our 50th anniversary, we at Regent celebrate our very special and long standing relationship with St John’s which has been and continues to be a great blessing to Regent.”

SUNDAY, MARCH 29 // 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM SPEAKER: REV. JEREMY GRAHAM

Drawing on Andy Crouch’s book The Tech-Wise Family and other helpful resources, Rev. Jeremy Graham will lead a three-part workshop which invites participation and dialogue around the biblical perspective on technology and how it can inform your family.

NEXT UPCOMING DATE: Sunday, March 29 at 12:30pm-2pm WHERE: St John’s Vancouver COST: $20 per family for childcare and course materials REGISTER: register at sjvan.org/events. It’s not too late!

If you have any questions contact Jeremy, jeremy@sjvan.org.

“I am deeply grateful to the people of St John’s for the unanimous motion of congratulations and encouragement passed at the Annual General Meeting.

SENIORS MINISTRY CANCELLED Due to COVID-19, the Seniors Tea on March 17th will be cancelled. For more information on COVID-19 please refer to the back page of the bulletin.

If you have any questions in regards to St. John’s Seniors Ministry please contact Margaret Wilson, margaret@sjvan.org or 778 838- 7400

SUBSCRIBE.

Visit sjvan.org to get our weekly email and stay connected with your parish!

MISSIONS NON-LUNCH SUNDAY, MAR 22 // 12:30 PM

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to the Prabhakar’s! Anna Joy was born last week. Everyone is home and doing well.

Andrew Buchanan is preparing to serve with TEAM International in Japan, beginning in June, 2020. Come and hear how God has uniquely positioned Andrew to proclaim the gospel in Japan and hear about his heart for this nation.

GRIEF GROUP // FEB 6 - APRIL 16

The (non) lunch will take place immediately after the 11:00 AM service in the Fellowship Hall.

Please bring your own food or keep fasting!

What can we say? Grief is complex and complicated but a time to experience God’s comfort and hope. Sometimes it is difficult to recognize the comfort of the gospel but other times you find Jesus’ hope in time of loss is like a renewal of your conversion.

EVENING CATECHISM SESSIONS SUNDAY, MARCH 15 // 7:15 PM

This week’s topic: What does it look like to be faithful and chaste in a hyper-sexualized culture?

At SJV we want to walk along side you in your grief with the Psalmists. Beginning February 6 we will begin a 9 session grief group/bible study meeting weekly.

The seventh commandment prohibits any kind of sexual immorality. But, how do we do this in a culture where sexual identity, hook up culture, and pornography have become the norm? Come join us for a conversation as we explore these topics and what Jesus has to say about them.

Please contact james@sjvan.org for more information or visit the website for registration.

@STJOHNSVANCOUVER

LEARNER’S EXCHANGE CANCELLED

@SJVAN.EVENING

Due to COVID-19, Learner’s Exchange will be cancelled starting March 15 untill further notice.

For more information on COVID-19 please refer to the back page of the bulletin.

STJOHNSVANCOUVER.ORG

WHAT’S UP NEXT SUNDAY

SUN, MARCH 22

SCRIPTURE READINGS

7:30 AM morning prayer

11:00 AM morning prayer

9:00 AM morning prayer

6:00 PM evening prayer

SERMON TEXT Matthew 27:1-26

OTHER READINGS Galatians 4:26-31 Psalm 76

UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) On Thursday March 12, Dr Bonnie Henry the BC Provincial Health Officer directed all event organizers in BC not to have gatherings of over 250 people. This is part of the ‘Social Distancing’ strategy the government is pursuing. Dr Henry said this is not a scientific number, but hopes that it will help confine the spread of the virus.

As Christians we want to be good citizens and we want to obey the biblical injunction to “not neglect gathering together” with other believers. Our 11AM gatherings on Sundays are averaging 244 this year whereas our 9AM has around 147. We are going to have our 4 Sunday gatherings this Sunday as usual, 7:30am, 9am, 11am and 6pm, but I want to invite some who usually attend the 11AM to attend the 9AM Service. As things are changing on an almost daily basis we will keep you updated about decisions for next Sunday March 22nd and any further steps needed.

When we gather on Sunday there are measures we will take to care for each other including: •

hand sanitizer will be available in the foyer for all of us to use over the next months.

•

when we greet each other we avoid physical contact. Someone saluted me this week and I thought it was a nice warm way to greet others.

•

we will not be serving food at any of our gatherings over the next month, but we will be serving tea and coffee for the next month.

•

there will be no Holy Communion Services at St. Johns. Instead we will rejoice together in Morning and Evening Prayer.

•

we have suspended groups that may have more vulnerable members (the Wednesday morning men’s bible study, Learner’s Exhange, Senior’s Tea etc.).

It is amazing how our Sovereign Lord can so swiftly and powerfully use all means for his glory. For some the Coronavirus ends in tragic death, at the same time, for Christians in prison in Iran, it means release. We are to shine as lights in our world and bring all our concerns to our Father in heaven. Here are 2 wonderful resources to read: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/ article/christians-anxious-coronavirus/ and https://www. anglicannetwork.ca/news/2020/3/7/responding-to-coronavirus-covid-19.

Finally, it is good for us to be thinking of ways to serve each other and our community in this time of uncertainty. Christians throughout history have often stood out by helping the sick and the isolated even in times of pandemics. One helpful way that we can reach out to one another is for small group bible studies and individuals in our church to deliver groceries, and other needed items to those in our congregation or community who in the future may need to self- isolate themselves because of illness. If you are willing to be part of this ministry or have a need for it, please contact James Wagner (james@svjan.org) or Margaret Wilson (margaret@ sjvan.org).

Blessings, David Short

St. John’s Vancouver Offices: 2325 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J2 // Phone: 604-558-4400 stjohnsvancouver.org