NEWSLETTER
Week Commencing May 1st
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Message from the Rector
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you very much to the entire parish of St. John’s Shaughnessy for the
incredible welcome that you have given me and my family. The Induction
Service last Monday was a beautiful liturgy filled with wonderful moments
of music, preaching, readings, prayers, organ pipe and balloons! It was so
great to have our Bishop Melissa here and the support of many clergy and
lay people from around the Diocese.
The reception was so beautiful and very much enjoyed by all who stayed.
The sense of community and connection was so wonderful throughout the
liturgy and the reception. I thank all those who were involved in planning
and leading any or all of the worship and festivities last Monday. Mostly I
thank you for your warmth and support as I begin my ministry here as
your Rector.
Father John
Coming up: Ascension and Jerusalem Sunday
This Sunday (May 1) is the Sixth Sunday of Easter and on Thursday (May 5)
we will be celebrating the Ascension of Christ. The Day of Ascension is, of
course, when we remember Jesus ascending up into heaven. This was seen
as the last time that Jesus’ disciples saw our Lord. From Luke’s gospel, we
are told that the last act that Jesus did was to raise his hands and bless his
disciples. This is significant. Words of blessing were to be their marching
orders and how they were to live out their faith in the resurrected Christ.
In the version of the story from the Book of Acts, as the followers of Jesus
were left gazing up into the sky, two people in white robes stood by them.
They said to the group of followers, “People of Galilee, why do you stand
looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you
into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” In
other words, our role as Christians is not to stand and stare into the
heavens but to seek out the presence of Christ in the world around us. As
Christ offered a blessing as his last act on this earth, so we are called be a
blessing in Christ’s name. We are called to live out our faith in the
resurrected Christ in the world of today. We are called to not only set aside
aspects of our lives for this Jesus but seek out his presence in all of life.
Jesus did not leave the world but continues to be known to us in others and
within ourselves.
The Day of Ascension is not simply remembering a day in the past but
looking to how we live out our faith and trust in the risen Christ in the
world of today. Our faith is not simply for our minds and souls but also our
hands and our hearts.
O God, as we bring to mind the Ascension of Jesus, help us to seek out his holy
presence in the world of today. Guide our eyes, our minds and our hands to a life of
service to others in His name. Direct our actions and our prayers to reflect his love
for all people. May we be part of God’s blessing in this world. In the name of the
Ascending and Ever-Present Jesus we pray. Amen.
On May 8, the last Sunday of the Season of Easter, we will also be
celebrating Jerusalem Sunday. Bishop Philip Poole from the Diocese of
Toronto will be our Preacher and Celebrant on this day.
At the General Synod in 2013, the Anglican Church of Canada declared that
the Seventh Sunday of Easter would be Jerusalem Sunday. A day to pray
for and respond to the needs of the Diocese of Jerusalem. We pray for
peace and reconciliation and a renewed desire for hope.
The basis of the Resolution that came to General Synod was this:
The Anglican Church of Canada and the Diocese of Jerusalem have been
companions in mission for many years – a relationship strengthened by
prayer and learning about the life and witness of the diocese in Jerusalem,
Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. This resolution is intended to celebrate
the ‘living stones’ of the Diocese of Jerusalem – Arab Christians and others
serving in ministries of hospitality, education, health care, and
reconciliation. This resolution is also intended to encourage local Canadian
parishes and individuals to consider a special gift to the ministries of the
Diocese of Jerusalem.
Bishop Philip Poole will also be speaking to us about the work of the
Compass Rose Society which supports the work of the Archbishop of
Canterbury and the Anglican Communion throughout the world.
A prayer written by our Primate, the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz for Jerusalem
Sunday:
O God, We give thanks that your dear Son has gathered us in the embrace
of his redeeming love and sent us to make that love known to the ends of
the earth. We pray your continued blessings on the steadfast witness of the
Church in Jerusalem and throughout the Middle East. Give your deep joy
to those who welcome the pilgrims seeking to know this land and its many
peoples. Grace those who proclaim the Gospel. Guide all who teach a new
generation of young people. Draw near to those who are sick and bless
those who tend them. Sustain the hope in all who long and labour for a just
and lasting peace in the land of The Holy One. And may the companions
of Jerusalem be many and faithful. We pray in the name of our merciful
Saviour, Friend, and Brother, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
New SJS member attending Justice Camp in Cuba
Sarah Stephens is off to Cuba for the eighth Justice Camp, beginning on
April 30 in Matanzas, Cuba—the first time the event has taken place
outside Canada—its participants will include 25 Canadians and 25 Cubans,
brought together by their common faith in Christ and a shared commitment
to social justice.
Justice Camp 2016 is organized by the Episcopal Church of Cuba, the
Anglican diocese of Niagara, the Primate’s World Relief and Development
Fund, and the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, along
with a $10,000 grant from the Anglican Foundation of Canada. Focusing on
economic justice, food security and social engagement, the camp is the
latest example of a close partnership between the Canadian and Cuban
churches that has flourished for more than half a century.
For more information, visit the Anglican Church of Canada website:
http://www.anglican.ca/news/justice-camp-furthers-bond-canadian-cubanchurches/30015554/
Induction Service April 25th
The Celebration of New Ministry for Fr John
was such a joyous, uplifting event. Beautiful
music, lots of laughter, and lots of fun!
Thank you to everyone who participated. It
was a team effort, and we really appreciate
your willingness, and attendance at the
practice.
We were honoured to have such a large crowd
of visiting clergy to support Fr John. Lots of
great singers in the clergy section up front!
The music was lovely. Dean Peter Elliot's sermon was just brilliant,
and all the presentations went so smoothly. And then THE
RECEPTION - Maggie and Robyn particularly are to be
congratulated and thanked. I know a lot of people were involved, but
the amount of work they did was just unbelievable. The food was
great and lots of it, and everyone looked like they were having a
grand time. I think Fr. John feels welcomed and celebrated and I am
looking forward to the days, months, years ahead, as we work
together to fill the church like that each Sunday!!
Rev’d Karin Fulcher
What a great night it was - I felt so proud of our
Church and of our parish, it was a truly wonderful
night and St John’s Shaughnessy shined.
Maggie Sanders
A joyous and loving celebration to honour and
welcome our new spiritual leader. The best St John's
Shaughnessy party ever! We are on our way forward
together.
Louise Hadley, People’s Warden at SJS
Music this Week
Sir Charles wrote many anthems for the Church. One of these, “Oh! For a
closer walk with God,” is set to the hymn tune Caithness, which appears
in the 1635 Scottish Psalter. Stanford’s contemporary and fellow
musician, Richard Runciman Terry, published the first modern edition of
John Calvin’s 1539 Psalter, as well as that of the Scottish Psalter of
1635, from which the hymn tune Caithness is taken.
Sopranos introduce the single line of melody, then are joined by the
lower three parts who take up the principal motif as the trebles sing
the descant line. It is a miniature musical gem, which perfectly
complements the tender yet intense prayer-poem of the English poet and
hymnodist William Cowper.
Pentecost Sunday is May 15
Wear red! Wear red socks, trousers, ties, shirts, shoes, whatever you have!
We will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in style!
We will be hosting a Service of Evensong for Pentecost at 4:00pm. Bishop
Melissa will be our guest preacher. This will be an Archdeaconry Evensong
and will be led by the Regional Deans and the Archdeacon of our
Archdeaconry.
SJS @ VSO's Last Night of the Proms
The SJS choir would like to invite members to join them at this fine 120 year
tradition at the Orpheum. The VSO, Maestro Tovey and the Vancouver
Bach Choir present traditional Proms favourites like Jerusalem, Rule
Britannia and Pomp and Circumstance will be featured along with Blue
Bells of Scotland and the Karl Jenkins Euphonium Concerto. Wednesday
May 25th, 7pm. Limited $10 tickets available - see our Music Director
Michael Dirk or email [email protected] to reserve.
Road closures during Vancouver Marathon – Sunday May 1st
Please leave early for church this Sunday. More details are on the
marathon’s website: http://bmovanmarathon.ca/community/road-closures
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
Rector’s Warden
People’s Warden
Treasurer
Vestry Clerk
Music Director
Children’s Ministry
Parish Administrator
PWRDF Rep
Sacristan and MC
Venerable John Stephens
Robyn Woodward
Louise Hadley
Donald Wood
Karin Fulcher
Michael Dirk
Michael Dirk
Janet Hamilton
Doug Symons
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, chalice administrants, coffee hour hosts, gardeners, and
others. Please contact the office if you are interested in participating.
All photos by Christine Hatfull