newsletter - st john's shaughnessy · our first meeting, held at 1pm in the choir room,...
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NEWSLETTER Week Commencing October 9
Harvest Thanksgiving
From the Rector
Happy Thanksgiving!
This is such a beautiful weekend as all across the nation people will pause
and offer thanks for all that they love and enjoy in life. Many will gather
around food-laden tables with family and friends to reconnect with one
another and the greater purposes of life. It is all about, of course, the
Harvest Thanksgiving which in rural communities is central and affirming
to the way of life. Most of us who live in cities or large communities can get
far removed from the land and agricultural production but this holiday
helps all of us come back to our connectedness to the land. And the
gathering of family and friends ties us closer to the gift of love.
When I lived in a farming town in Ontario, this holiday was really a great
celebration of all that it meant to be an agriculturally based community.
There were many celebrations at this time of year and many homecomings.
It was, and remains for me one of my favourite times of the year.
Observing the beauty of the changing colour of leaves driving down a back
country lane or seeing the hay bales in the fields or watching the harvest of
bright red tomatoes developed that link very strongly in me with the earth,
the land, the creation.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, take some time to name those
things for which you are thankful but too often overlook in the hurriedness
of life. The acorns underneath an oak tree. The spider’s web glistening
with the dew. The fluttering of a leaf as it falls to the ground. The last rose
of summer. The gorgeous blue of the Autumn sky. The call of geese
overhead. The call of children out on the school playing field. A crisp
apple fresh from harvesting. The range of fruit and vegetables at the
supermarket. Friends who surprise and encourage us. The list goes on and
on but being attentive opens our hearts and minds to offer thanks a little
more often.
Thanksgiving really should be a way of life. It should be our starting place
in our relationship with God. It should be our guide as we meander
through our journey of life for thanksgiving breaks us free of greed and
opens up possibilities of compassion.
So make that list of the things for which you are thankful and then take the
next step of thanking God for all that you have and all that you are. When
you do it changes you to see that life is an incredible gift, a gift from the
One who calls you beloved.
O God, we thank you for falling leaves and changing skies. We thank you for
family, friends and companions on our way. We thank you for straight paths,
twisting turns and the crossroads of life. We thank you for time to appreciate and
wonder. We thank you for beauty that stirs us and changes us. Most of all we
thank you for the gift of love that binds and holds us each and every day. In the
name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Stewardship
Come—Share—Respond is the theme of our Stewardship Campaign this
Fall. This Sunday, October 9, is the first Sunday as we mark the start of the
campaign. Stewardship packages will be available at church, please do
pick one up (and deliver one to others that you know!). We hope that
everyone will consider how they can get involved in the life of St. John’s
Shaughnessy by giving of their resources.
There will be a Stewardship Moment each Sunday. There will be social
gatherings on a few different dates (to which all parishioners will be
invited). There will be a wrap up lunch on November 13.
Please do take the time to Come—Share—Respond and fill out the pledge
card (intention card) and plan to get more involved in the life of your
parish by also giving of your time and talents.
BCYAYM
The British Columbia and Yukon Anglican Youth Movement will have its
annual Thanksgiving weekend Fall Gathering October 7-10 in Victoria at St.
George’s Church. The theme this year will be: BEING A CHRISTIAN IN
TODAY'S SOCIETY: Living in a Grey World with a variety of speakers
from the Vancouver Island, Anglican Diocese of British Columbia.
A number of youth from our Diocese will be attending (including Sarah
and Matthew Stephens) as well as youth from all across the province. They
will have a great weekend filled with fun, fellowship, learning and
worship.
Thanks for decorations for Thanksgiving!
Thanks to everyone who brought decorations for our church for this
coming Sunday. It is a great way to bring Harvest Thanksgiving from
being a holiday weekend to a holy time where we give thanks to God for all
that we have.
Through St. Faith’s Church, all of the food items that we use for decorations
will be picked up and given to people in need (part of the Sharing the
Harvest program). Again a great way to support others less fortunate than
ourselves.
The Lord’s Prayer
On the Mondays in November (November 7, 14, 21, 28) at 7:00pm (in the
Trendell Lounge) we will be examining the Lord’s Prayer. We will look at
the history of the prayer, a few different modern translations, the meaning
of prayer, what the words might mean to us as we put them into action and
how the words of this prayer still speak to us even two thousand years
later. Please plan on joining this great Christian Formation event led by the
clergy of St. John’s.
Dunbar Community Centre Programs – may be of interest?
October 6 A Sound Mind in a Sound Body: Using exercise to promote
cognition in older adults with Dr. John Best 7:00pm - 8:30pm
October 13 Cardiology for Non-Cardiologists: The Good, the Bad and the
Ugly with Dr. Graham Wong 7:00pm - 8:30pm
October 20 Responding to Life-Threatening Emergencies including Strokes
with Ron Straight, Med 1:00pm - 2:30pm
October 27 Depression in the Senior Years: How it Affects Seniors and
Different Treatment Approaches with Dr. Martha Donnelly
7:00pm - 8:30pm
November 3 Moving In and Getting Settled in Long-Term Care Facilities
with Jennifer Baumbusch, PhD, RN 1:00pm - 2:30pm
November 10 Preventing Falls and Optimizing Mobility with Dr. Janet
Kushner-Kow 7:00pm - 8:30pm
http://dunbarcentre.org/dunbar/
Upcoming at SJS
October 16 retired Archbishop Douglas Hambidge will be our guest
preacher.
October 22 Diocesan Day on Vocations. More information on the Diocese
of New Westminster website.
November 5 The Order of the Diocese of New Westminster will invested
upon our own Robyn Woodward. The service of Morning Prayer will be
held at the Massey Theatre (758 8th Avenue, New Westminster) at 10:30am.
A reception will follow.
Archbishop Douglas Hambidge Preaching October 16
Retired Archbishop Douglas Hambidge will preach at both of our Sunday
Services on Oct 16. Archbishop Hambidge is a great preacher and it will be
a great delight to have him here with us.
Blessing of Pets
What fun we all had at our annual Blessing of the Animals service on
Sunday afternoon. Rebecca Blissett from the Vancouver Courier got some
terrific photos, and we even made Global news! Special thanks to
Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue for bringing their lovely kittens.
http://www.vancourier.com/community/photos-annual-pet-blessing-
attracts-all-creatures-great-and-small-1.2358985
photos by Michael Dirk
Photograph by: Rebecca Blissett, Vancouver Courier
Sip 'N Bid Fundraiser for Arbutus Shaughnessy Kerrisdale Centre
Wine & Cheese and Silent Auction
Admission $20 includes a glass of wine
Date: Thursday October 20, 2016
Time: 7-9pm
Location: St. Mary's Church, 2490 West 37th Ave.
For more information visit www.askcentre.ca or call 604 263 7333.
PWRDF
Our thanks to Janet Hamilton as our St John’s rider in last week’s Ride for
Refuge on Oct. 1. Although she had to back out last minute due to a back
injury, she was with her team members in spirit. The latest figures up
to October 4, showed $500 donated by St John’s members, plus an
additional $100 sent directly to PWRDF. Donations are still being received
on the Ride for Refuge Website.
Janet had a goal of $750. I will report later when the final tally is in. For the
greater Vancouver area, PWRDF raised $ 4,325 with a goal of $5,000. Thank
you all who supported this project of PWRDF for refuge support.
Doug Symons, PWRDF rep. for St. John’s
House Sitter Available for all or part of this Winter
One of our regular parish members is looking for an opportunity to house
sit for a time while the owners are away on holidays. If you or anyone you
know will be going away for the winter and would like someone to house
sit and look after your dog and plants please let us know. She is quiet,
reliable and honest, and you already know her well. Please call Janet at the
parish office, or speak with Fr John or Mtr Liz if you are able to assist this
parish member.
ACW Fellowship Group at SJS
Not a knitting group - a fellowship group connected to ACW - focus on
sharing knowledge, experiences and skill as well as enhancing
our spirituality. Meetings are held once a month with refreshments.
Our first meeting, held at 1pm in the choir room, September 28, 2016,
included opening with the ACW prayer, information about the activities of
various branches as well as the history of ACW in the Diocese of New
Westminster.
The next meeting will be held October 26, 2016 at 1pm (last Wednesday of
each month), choir room SJS. All are welcome to attend.
Alberta Rudolf
Weekly Knitting Club at SJS
Mondays (except holidays) at 10am in the Choir Room
The first meeting last week was lots of fun, and we encourage more people
to join us. Everyone is welcome, and men are particularly encouraged to
join the group. Please contact the office for more information. If you have
some old yarn or knitting needles that you don’t need and would like to
donate, please bring them in anytime.
Volunteers Needed: coffee hour hosts
We still need a few more coffee hour hosts this winter. Everyone works in
pairs to lighten the load and make it more fun, and new volunteers are
teamed with experienced ones for their first day. Please talk to Janet in the
office for more information.
The photo above shows Fr John reading prayers in the Memorial Garden during the September 25th afternoon service. The service was very well received by families who have loved ones’ ashes in our beautiful Memorial Garden. – photo by Robyn Woodward
St John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church
1490 Nanton Ave. Vancouver, B.C. V6H 2E2
Telephone (604) 731-4966 (ex 11 for office)
email: [email protected] web: www.sjs.net
Office Hours: Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 4:00pm
Rector The Venerable John Stephens
Curate The Reverend Liz Hamel
Deacon The Reverend Dr Pitman Potter
Rector’s Warden Robyn Woodward
People’s Warden Louise Hadley
Treasurer Donald Wood
Vestry Clerk Karin Fulcher
Music Director Michael Dirk
Assistant Choirmaster Ann Chen
Children’s Ministry Spencer Britten
Parish Administrator Janet Hamilton
PWRDF Rep Doug Symons
Sacristan and MC Paul Bunnell
Sunday services
8:00am Holy Communion (BCP)
10:00am Sung Eucharist
Wednesday service
9:30am Holy Communion
Baptisms, Funerals, Weddings and Confessions are by appointment
with the Rector. Please contact us if you would like to have
our weekly newsletter emailed to you.
St John’s has a large group of dedicated volunteers in all areas of church life:
readers, greeters, sanctuary guild, chalice administrants,
coffee hour hosts, gardeners, and others.
Please contact the office if you are interested in participating.
We are in need of more volunteers in all areas.