St. John's Vancouver // October 14, 2018

SERMON NOTES

What ’s up at St. John’s PLEASE JOIN US ON MONDAY NIGHT TO PRAY

LEARNERS’ EXCHANGE

In Matthew 9, Jesus describes the crowds as being like sheep without a shepherd and he instructs his disciples to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest “

Every Sunday in the Café Room at 9:00 am, Learners’ Exchange offers stimulating speakers and engaging discussions.

This Monday, October 15 we’re gathering once again for our congregational quarterly prayer meeting. The theme of the evening will be praying for those who need to hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ.

After a short teaching session from David Short and hearing a testimony of God’s grace from one our parishioners, we will pray together in small groups of 5-10 people.

We will pray for the work of the church in spreading the Gospel, our various ministries, as well as praying for our city, and our friends and family.

Coffee and tea will be provided. Please bring a dessert if you can.

Hope to see you there!

SENIOR’S MINISTRY // TUESDAY, OCT 16 Join us for tea and coffee in the church chapel on Tuesday, October 16 at 1:30 pm. People of all ages are welcome to attend.

Dr. Packer will be speaking on “Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God.” Please RSVP to Margaret Wilson at margaret@sjvan.org or call 778-838-7400.

DONATE ITEMS YOU HAVE BEEN MEANING TO SELL The team who is heading to India is seeking donations of used household goods to be sold online on Craigslist, Facebook marketplace, or at the Vancouver Flea Market to raise funds for their upcoming trip. Suitable items include small appliances, electronics, sporting goods, and tools, as well as clothes and anything else we might be able to sell. Volunteers will clean, do minor repairs, and post the items. If you have any unwanted bicycles, we have a mechanic who will service and sell them for us. All proceeds will go toward the expenses of the India team.

If you have items to donate, please contact Claire to arrange a dropoff. You can reach her clairesenn@gmail.com or 778-836-2591.

Oct 14: Don Lewis “In Darkest London,” A Window on Urban Life and Mission in Victorian England Oct 21: Olav Slaymaker The History of the Cambridge Intercollegiate Christian Union JOIN THE CHOIR We are in need of new sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses in the choir. We practice weekly on Thursdays from 7:30-9:30 pm and perform at both the 9:00 and 11:00 am service (but you choose which service you’ll sing at).

If you are interested, contact Terry Fullerton, terry@sjvan. org or 604-329-9594, or David Poon, dporgan@gmail.com or 604-729-0836.

In our community VANCOUVER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE // OCT 18 Since 1949, VCS has been preparing students for a life of transformation and service through excellent, Christ-centered education. VCS will be holding their annual open house, and accepting applications, from 5:00 - 9:00 pm on October 18. This East Vancouver school has recently expanded, opening a new building with Kindergarten to Grade 12 Christian education for over 700 students. Several families in our congregation have been grateful for the education and community this school has provided. Check out their website www.vancs.org to learn more.

IN-DEPTH STUDY-TOUR OF REFORMATION GERMANY // APRIL 29 - MAY 8, 2019 The 1517 publication of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in Wittenberg is widely understood as the event that sparked the Reformation. On the tour you will learn more about that world-changing event with a guided tour of Reformation Germany. Join Professor Iain Provan as he leads from a central base in the lovely city of Erfurt to some of the most important sites of the Reformation, including Worms, Eisenach, and Wittenberg, giving a series of seven lectures along the way.

MONDAY 10:45 am Little Years 7:30 pm

Quarterly Prayer Meeting TUESDAY

7:00 pm

Women’s Bible Study

7:30 pm Men’s Bible Study WEDNESDAY 7:20 am

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study

6:30 pm

Ekklesia (18 to 20-somethings)

THURSDAY 7:30 am

Women’s Bible Study

10:00 am Women @ 10 10:00 am Kids @ 10 7:30 pm Choir Practice FRIDAY 5:45 pm Men’s Bible Study 6:00 pm Youth (grade 7-12) SUNDAY Matthew 9:35-38 7:30 am Holy Communion 9:00 am Morning Prayer 11:00 am Youth Service 11:00 am Morning Prayer 6:00 pm Evening Service Learn more at sjvan.org/calendar Get our weekly email with all events happening in our community by subscribing to the parish email list at sjvan.org

Baptism October 28 & November 4

“Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference… but a sign of regeneration or new birth.”

Article XXVII. Of Baptism.

In two weeks we will have a baptism at St. John’s for adult and children. These candidates will give consent to the Christian profession of faith which identifies them with Christ and declares their second birth. Baptism is a sign of our new life in Christ, reminding us of our need to be born again or regenerated.

You might think your first birth was hard enough, so why would these candidates want to go through that again? The answer is that natural birth is not enough. To become a member of the family of God, we must also have a spiritual birth, which is signified through baptism. Baptism is this sign of our new life in Jesus Christ.

Baptism proclaims that Jesus came to wash away our sin and the Holy Spirit came to fill us with himself. In that respect, baptism is like a divine birth announcement, letting our friends, family, and church community know that we have been born again into the family of God. Baptisms will take place on October 28, 2018 at 9:00 and 11:00 am services; and on November 4 at the 6:00 pm service. If you are interested in being baptised please fill out the application that can be found on our website at sjvan.org/ ceremonies. Preparation classes will happen on October 20 and 27.

St. John’s Vancouver Offices: 2325 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J2 | Phone: 604.558.4400 | stjohnsvancouver.org Stay informed: facebook.com/stjohnsvancouver | Engage with each other: facebook.com/groups/stjohnsvancouver