NEWSLETTER Week Commencing June 10, 2018

Third Sunday after Pentecost

From the Rector

On June 9 in the

Church’s calendar, we

remember St. Columba.

St. Columba is remembered

as one of the great saints of

Britain and Ireland. Columba

was born in Ireland and

became an abbot in a monastery. He became very well respected in Ireland

and considered very much a prophet, teacher and saint.

But he left Ireland at the age of 42 and travelling with 12 followers he

came to Iona, off the coast of Scotland and formed an abbey there. He was

known as a “pilgrim for Christ,” and spread the good news of Christ in

Scotland while based at Iona. He lived a life of deep prayer, holy encounter

and offering compassion to others.

He died in 597 and many consider him to be the Apostle of Scotland, as

he had enormous influence on the Church and the faith of the country.

When he died, he was buried on Iona and pilgrims have flocked to this

pilgrimage site ever since.

I have visited Iona and it is indeed a very moving and holy place. The

influence of Columba continues to be experienced. It is a place that continues

to encourage Christians to examine carefully what it is that their faith is

calling them to do. What is God urging them to consider?

In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus encounters huge crowds,

massive crowds that have come out to hear him and ask for healing. The

gathering is so large people can hardly move or shift. What is it that they are

really looking for? A spectacle? Entertainment? Or was Jesus really

speaking to their hearts and asking them to seriously consider how God was

transforming their lives? Was Jesus trying to get the people to focus on their

faith in God and see it not as an intellectual exercise but one of growing

deeper into the grace and gift of God?

I think St. Columba was speaking the kind of words that were inspired

by Jesus, in what has become known as the Prayer of St. Columba:

Be a bright flame before me, O God

a guiding star above me.

Be a smooth path below me,

a kindly shepherd behind me

today, tonight, and for ever.

Alone with none but you, my God

I journey on my way;

what need I fear when you are near,

O Lord of night and day?

More secure am I within your hand

than if a multitude did round me stand.

Amen.

Father John on Extended Study Leave

Father John will being on Extended Study Leave (many describe it as a

sabbatical time!) from June 18 to September 16. Many of you already know

this, but he will be exploring pilgrimage routes and pilgrimage sites in

Europe. He will be visiting a number of different countries and walking a

variety of pilgrimage routes.

Please keep him in your prayers for this time of spiritual renewal and

growth. He is very grateful to the parish of St. John’s for allowing him,

encouraging him and supporting him for this sabbatical time. Mother Liz

will be the clergy person in charge while Father John is away.

PWRDF responds to Gaza Crisis

The Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City has sent an urgent call for help

as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise. On May 14 alone, 2,700 citizens

were injured and 58 killed. The situation is critical at all area hospitals. The

AAH is implementing an emergency response that includes a wing with

additional beds and staff to treat the injured. The immediate needs include

medical supplies, medicines, fuel for generators and support for those

working non-stop to treat the wounded and traumatized.

AAH is a humanitarian institution in the Episcopal Diocese of

Jerusalem. Its mandate embraces a rights-based approach to treatment and

provides health care without discrimination on the basis of faith, gender,

social class or political affiliation.

Please support PWRDF’s response to the Gaza Crisis!

Donations can be made in the following ways:

Online: http://pwrdf.org/donate

Under “Emergency Response” specify “Gaza”

By Phone: credit card donations, 1-866-308-7973

By Mail: Please make cheques payable to PWRDF, Gaza Crisis Response

and send to: The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, The

Anglican Church of Canada, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2

A nurse tends to a young patient at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza. Photo: ACT Alliance

Calling all Gardeners! Mondays at 10am

Please join a small group of us who work on tidying up the gardens at

St John’s. Weeding, pruning, raking, cleaning/filling the birdbaths, watering

planters and transplanting. No experience necessary! No heavy lifting

necessary! Stay for 30 minutes or 2 hours, it’s up to you. Please contact the

office for more information. You may also volunteer other days/times, or

maybe just come once a week for ten minutes to water the planters.

Volunteers Wanted for Hospitality: snack donations accepted!

More people have recently offered to help with hospitality, but we

could still use several more helpers. Hospitality hosts work in pairs or

groups of three or four or five so nobody is overwhelmed with work. Many

hands make light work!

Volunteers may also offer to just do one of the following:

1. bring a small plate of snacks to share, or

2. bring cream, milk & juice boxes, or

3. help serve tea/coffee, or

4. help clean up

You may also volunteer last-minute during coffee hour. Just ask an on-

duty host what they would like you to do. Perhaps pour tea for people? And

we can always use help with clean-up after hospitality, even if you only have

five minutes to spare. Please contact the office for more information.

Legacy Gifts to St John’s Shaughnessy

If you are interested in having more information about how to leave a

legacy gift to St. John’s (in your will, a bequest, life insurance, etc) please

speak to the Wardens, Robin Preston or Father John. There is a lot of

information available if you would like to consider this.

Upcoming SJS Events

please call the office for more details, times may vary

June 10 Parish Picnic after the 10am service

11 Knitting Group 10am

11 Gardening Group 10am

13 Scrabble Group 2pm

Organ Concert: Recommended by Michael Dirk! June 8th 8pm

I’m writing on behalf of the Canadian International Organ

Competition, based in Montréal. Our latest uber-talented winner and organ

virtuoso Alcée Chriss will be giving a concert this Friday June 8th on

Vancouver’s largest pipe organ at Pacific Spirit United Church (formerly

Dunbar Ryerson United Church). 2195 West 45th Ave.

Chriss will be performing works by Bach and Art Tatum as well as

masterpieces by Sergei Rachmaninov and Florence Price. Tickets are $20.

http://www.ciocm.org/events2?language=en_CA&&event_id=149

St. Faith’s Annual Boulevard Sale June 9th 10am to 1pm

There will be delicious baked goods, hotdogs, ice-cream, preserves,

bedding plants, high quality gently used household items and books, quilts,

books, and more books for sale. 7284 Cypress St (at W57th near W. Blvd)

Strawberry Tea & Summer Fashions June 23rd 2pm to 4pm

Spend a fabulous afternoon enjoying the renowned hospitality of St.

Augustine’s community. Enjoy traditional strawberry tea, a showing of the

summer fashions available from 2nd Hand Rows, live music, purchase fresh

summer accessories and take your chances in a basket raffle.

Tickets are $10.00. Reserve Your Ticket Now: Tel: (604) 325 9652

st_augustine@shawbiz.ca St. Augustine’s Anglican Church

8680 Hudson St. (at W 71st Ave.)

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 8:00am to 3:00pm

CCLI License # 143069. Copyright © 2004 by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of

Canada. All rights reserved. Reproduced under license from ABC Publishing, Anglican Book

Centre, a ministry of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, from Anglican

Liturgical Library.

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

Pastoral Care Team Coordinator Helen Kline

Rector’s Warden Judith Downes

People’s Warden Maggie Sanders

Treasurer Donald Wood

Property Trustee Peter Kidd

Vestry Clerk The Reverend Karin Fulcher

Music Director Michael Dirk organist@sjs.net

Choir Director Ann Chen

Children’s Ministry The Reverend Kathryn Ransdell

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

Please contact the office if you would like to receive our

newsletter by email each week.