St. John's Vancouver // Nov 3, 2019 News & Events

St. John’s Vancouver Things happening in the life of our church and in our community November 3, 2019

What’s up at St. John’s MISSIONS LUNCH // NOV 10

LEARNERS’ EXCHANGE

Join us after the 11:00 am service for our missions lunch as Sharyn Thompson shares about her work in Burkina Faso.

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

Lunch will cost $5/person or $10/family.

Today // David Lewis My Trip to Kenya: Examining African Theology November 10 // Shelagh Westberg (Panel Discussion) Bad Religion REMEMBRANCE DAY CONCERT // NOV 9 Join the St. John’s Vancouver choir as they perform John Rutter’s Requiem. They will be joined by Sophia Underhill (soprano), Erin Marks (oboe), Sarah Tippett Poon (cello), David Poon (organ), and conductor Terence Fullerton. The concert will take place at Kerrisdale Presbyterian at 7:30 pm. A freewill offering will be taken.

PARENT NIGHT // NOV 22 This fall we are hosting a couple of parent nights during youth group.

These evenings provide space to talk about different topics that are are forming our teens, led by Jeremy Graham.

The next evening will be myTunes: Why What We Listen to Matters.

What was your favourite musician or song when you were a teen? Can you still sing along when the song comes on the radio? Few things are more formational than melody and lyrics! Do you know what your teen listens to and have you listened to it with them? Do those earbuds ever leave their ears?

Come learn how to understand your teens favourite artist (Is rap music just loud angry noise or is there more going on?). We’ll learn from one another how to use music as a launching point for important family dialogue about our emotions, our affections, and recognizing why what we listen to matters.

We will meet at the church on Friday, November 22 at 6:00 pm.

SENIORS TEA // NOV 19 Join us as Thena Ayers shares with us on Tuesday, November 19 at 1:30 pm in the church chapel for tea and coffee.

Please RSVP to Margaret Wilson, margaret@sjvan.org or 778-838-7400.

EVENSONG // NOV 12 Evensong will be on Tuesday, November 12 at 5:30 pm.

Evensong is a time to gather over a meal, followed by prayer, singing, and hearing from God’s word. Everyone is welcome.

PARKING Just a reminder that we cannot park in the alley beside the church – it prevents our neighbours from getting out of their garages. Instead, please find a spot on the street.

Cars left in the alley may be towed.

In our Community HOMEMADE JAMS, PICKLES, CHUTNEYS & SO MUCH MORE Several members of St. John’s have been busy making all sorts of preserves this fall, both savoury and sweet, which will be sold to support Journey Canada.

We invite everyone to the sale, held at the home of Manya and George Egerton (2071 Kitchener St, Vancouver) from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, on Saturday, November 23. For a list of preserves being sold email Manya, megerton@telus.net.

LIGHTHOUSE ADVENT BREAKFAST // DEC 7 Lighthouse Harbour Ministries is hosting their annual Advent Breakfast on Saturday, December 7. You are invited to join them as they celebrate the Lord’s wonderful work among seafarers.

Breakfast will be at 8:30 am at Bethany Baptist Church, 22680 Westminster Highway, Richmond. A freewill offering will be taken.

To RSVP, contact Paul, 604-988-5084 or info@sealight.org.

A CHRISTMAS FEAST FUNDRAISER // DEC 1 Mission Central (formerly Missions Fest) is hosting a Christmas feast fundraiser – Theo’s Christmas Feast. Inspired by our culture’s most beloved Christmas music, movies, flavours, and stories, we are excited to take you on an exceptional culinary journey.

Please join us for a truly memorable and inspirational evening where we recall what God has done, and look forward to what He will do!

For more information and tickets visit missioncentral.ca/events.

Calendar MONDAY, NOV 4 Little Years @ 10:45 am Marpole-Oakridge Community Centre TUESDAY, NOV 5 6:00 pm Life Explored WEDNESDAY, NOV 6 7:20 am Men’s Bible Study Ekklesia (18 6:30 pm to late 30s) @ UChapel THURSDAY, NOV 7 7:00 pm DivorceCare FRIDAY, NOV 8 10:30 am

ESL Discussion Group

6:00 pm Youth (grades 7-12) SATURDAY, NOV 9 7:30 pm

Remembrance Day Concert

SUNDAY, NOV 10 Ephesians 6:10-20

Prayer Points

7:30 am Holy Communion 9:00 am Morning Prayer

Learners’ Exchange: That God would continue to provide speakers and volunteers to support the ministry.

11:00 am Morning Prayer

Artizo: That apprentices would be equipped for the work of ministry, growing in Gospel conviction, Godly character, and pastoral competence.

6:00 pm Evening Prayer

That the trainers and all who mentor and teach our apprentices, would encourage, challenge, and instruct them effectively.

Get our weekly email with all events happening in our community by subscribing to the parish email list at sjvan.org

5:00 pm Catechism Learn more at sjvan.org/calendar

Stories of Invitation Over the last two years, we’ve been encouraging you in different ways to think about how to share your faith. Last year we had a four-week course - CCQ - where we learned how to have conversations about God with our friends and neighbours. This year we’ve been encouraging you to invite friends to learn more about Christianity through the video-series Life Explored. So as we approach Christmas, we’ve been thinking again about reaching out. For many non-Christians, attending a traditional Christian event during the Christmas season is a very natural and attractive way to celebrate the season. So, throughout November and December, we will share a few stories of people who have extended invitation through this season.

We’ll also provide suggestions on ways you can extend invitations. We realize this will be done differently for each of us, so we’ll try to offer a wide array of suggestions. If you have ideas from your own life or that you have seen (or heard of) feel free to let us know (email brie@sjvan.org). We’ll try to include as many of these as possible.

In the last few years, Emma and Leo Song Carrillo have started inviting people to join their Christmas dinner. Leo chuckles as he remembers their first dinner, “It was a bit awkward. There was the one friend who we haven’t seen again, but it’s gotten better.”

When I asked what changed (thinking they perhaps changed their invitation strategy), he said it was their hosting - over time they’ve become better hosts. When asked what

better hosting looks like, Leo said it’s several things: re-inviting people, making sure people don’t feel like they are a burden or a project, having plenty of food (enough for leftovers), thinking through how guests will interact with each other so you can help facilitate good conversations, and hugging people as they arrive and leave.

So our first idea is to invite people to join you for Christmas dinner. It may feel a bit awkward to extend the invitation (particularly if it’s someone you don’t know well), but that’s okay.

Lean into the awkward. Building relationships is often uncomfortable at some point.

Practical Suggestions:

• Invite people to join your Christmas or Christmas Eve dinner, and think through how to make them feel welcome at dinner.

• As you are in conversation in the next few weeks think about if they have somewhere to go – perhaps they’re not going home for Christmas, or they’re an international student.

• Invite people over for an afternoon of advent crafts, baking, or gingerbread house decorating.

Who should I invite?

• People you sit near at church • Neighbours • Co-workers • Family

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