NEWSLETTER Week Commencing December 4

Second Sunday of Advent

From the Rector

This Sunday is the Second Sunday of Advent and we light the candle of

peace on our Advent Wreath.

Peace in our heart and soul can be elusive if we try to define it and control

it and predict it. I am convinced that peace is what all human beings crave

for their innermost being and there are different paths to achieve it. Our

journey to a closer relationship with God through Jesus Christ is our path

that feeds our deepest longings of being known and loved. Inner peace, a

right relationship with God is what the coming of Christ is all about.

Harry Emerson Fosdick once wrote: “No one can get inner peace by

pouncing on it, by vigorously willing to have it ... Peace is a consciousness

of springs too deep for earthly droughts to dry up. Peace is the gift not of

volitional struggle but of spiritual hospitality.” This seems to capture the

elusiveness but also the desperation to draw nearer the peace of Christ and

our own inner journey toward wholeness.

The season of Advent, the time of preparation for the coming of Christ, is

our journey toward peace and right relationship with God. In and amidst

all of the chaos and busyness of this season, under all the glitter and

flashing lights, buried under wrapping paper and tinsel is the true heart of

life: the birth of God into time. Christmas is about the story of how heaven

and earth are connected and related.

I encourage you to take some time to consider how you grow toward peace,

inner peace, in your soul. Think about how your relationship with Jesus

Christ transforms all your relationships. Examine what it means to

welcome the Prince of Peace once again into this weary and stumbling

world.

Desmond Carroll writes this: “Getting inside Advent, is to reach out for

those periods and moments of quiet that allow us to see into the heart of

things, and to experience in those times of quiet knowing, a recognition of

the Sacred Presence that is alive in the world. To be still and know that

God is present is a profound experience…”

Anti-Racism Training

On Saturday December 3 Diocesan Anti-Racism Training will be offered to

all in leadership positions in our Archdeaconry. It will be held at St. Mary’s

Kerrisdale starting at 9:00am. Please bring a bag lunch.

Advent Quiet Day

An Advent Quiet Day will be hosted by St. Mary’s Kerrisdale on Saturday

December 10 from 10:00am to 4:00pm (please note that you can attend for

part or all of the day). The day will include prayer, poetry and a variety

of creative contemplative practices, including making Christ candles or

Anglican prayer beads. The Reverend Melanie Calabrigo (of St.

Hildegard’s) will facilitate the day along with Artist in Residence Sandra

Vander Schaaf, The Reverend Trudi Shaw and others. Tea and goodies will

be provided. Bring a bag lunch. Suggestion donation of $10.00

St. Mary's Anglican Church 2490 W. 37th Avenue (at Larch St). To register

your intention to join us email sthildegards@icloud.com.

Christmas Carol Service with York House School

On Thursday, December 8 at 7:00pm we will be holding a special Christmas

Carol Service featuring beautiful Christmas music, readings and prayers.

The choirs of York House School and our own church choir will lead the

singing. There will be participants from both York House and St. John’s to

create a lovely service focused upon the true purpose of this Christmas

time. Please join us… there will be refreshments afterwards.

Live Nativity at St. John’s: More volunteers needed

On Saturday, December 17 we will be hosting a live nativity event. This is

program supported by the Salal and Cedar Ministry and will involve a

petting zoo (sheep, donkey, bunnies, amongst others), music of our choir,

refreshments (hot chocolate!) and lots of fun. Performances will take place

at 1:15 and 2:15 but the event will take place between 1:00 and 3:00pm. Tell

your friends and neighbours, it will be great!

We will need a few more volunteers on the day to help with refreshments

and helping everything run smoothly. Please speak to Robyn Woodward,

Father John, or the office for more information.

Blue Christmas Service

A special service for those who find Christmas a difficult time will be held

at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale on December 21 at 7:00pm. It is designed for those

who are experiencing grief or loss or sadness at this dark time of year.

Please help get the word out to those who would appreciate this service.

Please Help!

We have created a small post-card size poster for our Christmas Services

(they are available in the Narthex). We would really like people to take

these and deliver them to homes in your neighbourhood. Or give them to

friends. Or give them to people you know who once attended St. John’s.

Let’s get the word out about our Christmas Services and events! Thanks.

Christmas Eve Services

A special Children’s Carol Service will be held at 4:00pm. It will be filled

with Christmas Carols, music, readings and will involve the children. It will

be very special. Encourage families to attend! If you know a young person

who might be interested in being a reader at this event, please let us know.

There is lots of time to practice!

Our beautiful sung Midnight Mass will start at 11:00pm. There will be a

time of carol singing at 10:30. Join us for this beautiful candle-lit mass as

we celebrate the arrival of the Christ child.

Christmas Day Service

A quieter and more contemplative sung Eucharist will be held at 10:00am.

Please note that there will not be an 8:00am mass on Christmas Day.

The Interior of our Church

We have struck a Task Force to look at and plan for the future in regards to

the interior of our church. Do we want to look at a different design that is

more fitting with the church as it functions now? Do we want look at

different models of liturgical design? Could we rearrange the interior so

that it better suits us as the growing community we are in 2016 and toward

the future? The first meeting of this group will be on December 13. If there

is some consensus on some new designs then these will be presented to the

parish as a whole.

Care Packets for the homeless

This Christmas season, St. John’s Shaughnessy is collecting a variety of

goods that will be packed up and distributed to our homeless and needy

neighbours in the new year. Please join in this outreach initiative by

bringing some items from the list below to church

this month, and watch our offering pile in the

Narthex grow! The goods will be distributed

through the Neighbourhood Ministry program, a

Westside street outreach ministry led by Deacon

Pitman and offered through parishes in our

Archdeaconry.

If you prefer to donate money, please make a note on your cheque “for

Christmas Care Packets” and we will spend the money buying in bulk.

Care Packet Wish List

winter-weight socks toothbrush/toothpaste kits

Boost or Ensure nutrition drink hand lotion

juice boxes small shampoo/conditioner

fruit cups & plastic spoons lip balm

soft nutrition bars small bar soap

stretch gloves Q-tips & disposable razors

Did you know that an Outreach interest group has formed at St Johns? We

are discerning how our passions for helping those in need can best be used.

Supporting refugee initiatives, joining Neighbourhood Ministry efforts, and

several other great ideas are under exploration. If you are interested in

being part of Outreach, please see Father John or Deacon Pitman.

2017 Canadian Church Calendars for Sale

We ordered some extra church calendars. They are $6 each in the office.

Getting new towels for Christmas?

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue has put the word out that they are

collecting old towels to use in their rescue work. If you have any that you

would like to donate, please drop them off at the church anytime.

Filming at St John’s Shaughnessy Dec 5, 6 and 7

Filming will continue this week, with set-up on Monday, filming on

Tuesday, and clean up on Wednesday.

St John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church

1490 Nanton Ave. Vancouver, B.C. V6H 2E2

Telephone (604) 731-4966 (ex 11 for office)

email: church@sjs.net web: www.sjs.net

Office Hours: Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 4:00pm

Rector The Venerable John Stephens

john.stephens@sjs.net

Curate The Reverend Liz Hamel

liz.hamel@sjs.net

Deacon The Reverend Dr Pitman Potter

pbpotter@live.ca

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

Verger/caretaker Amy Thorogood

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.

Please contact the office if you are interested in participating. Cover: Artwork by

John Stuart www.stushieart.com