Activities
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
- Every Sunday at 10:30am worship service in the sanctuary.
- Every Sunday during the 10:30am worship service the children and youth go to G.O.D. Headquarters.
- Every Tuesday 10:00a join Joyce Stephenson in Terry Chapel for a time of prayer
- Every Wednesday at noon The Men’s Lunch Bucket Club meets for a brown bag lunch and hearty discussions
- Every Wednesday 7:00pm Henderson Memorial Bell Choir practices
- Every Wednesday 7:30pm Senior Youth Group
- Every Thursday 6:15pm Junior Choir and Teen Music Group practices
- Every Thursday 7:30pm Chancel Choir practices
- Every other Friday morning Breakfast with Don at 7:00am. We invite you to join us at our lively discussion group.*
- Monthly Wednesday afternoon meeting of the Women’s Fellowship Group*
Please come and join in. You are always welcome. *See below for dates
Ministry Team Meetings
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Mon Feb 20th
The office will be closed for Family Day.
Tues Feb 21th
10:00am – Prayer Group
6:00pm – Pancake supper
Wed Feb 22nd
11:00am – Ash Wednesday Service
12:00am – Lunch Bucket Club
7:00pm – Henderson Memorial Bell Choir Preactice
7:30pm – Youth Groups
Thurs Feb 23rd
6:00pm – Junior Choir Practice
6:00pm – City of God Practice
7:30pm – Chancel Choir Practice
Fri Feb 24th
6:00pm – Kerr Street – “Coldest Night of the Year” walk warming station
COMING EVENTS
Sunday Feb 12th
Annual Meeting following the morning service.
Sat Feb 25th
Kerr Street Ministries is hosting the ”The Coldest Night of the Year” (or the WALK for short) a 2, 5 and 10 km winter-walk in support of KSM’s work with the hungry, homeless and hurting in Oakville. February is a challenging month for the people they serve, and it’s also one of the quietest month’s for financial support. So they are looking for some toque-wearing, cold-loving friends to join them on February 25th. Their goal is to raise $25,000. Further details are on the bulletin board in Lusk Hall.
9:00am -12:30pm - Restoring the Circle -Educating ourselves about First Nations Education
Maple Grove United Church -Friendship Room
Kairos in conjunction with St. Jude’s and St. John’s will hold their second information workshop regarding the First Nations Communities. Three members of St. John’s attended the first workshop and we would love to have many more present. Come and find out more about this controversial subject. Education is power!
Speakers will speak on Residential Schools and The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Education Today (North/South Children’s Project) and Pressure on the Government. There will be Drummers and Smudgers and a short worship service as part of the morning. There is no cost for the presentation.
Sunday Feb. 26th
Come Unity Italian Dinner at St. John’s United Church.
Our first event this year is our annual Italian Dinner in conjunction with Maple Grove U.C.
This has come to be an event full of Food, Fun and Fellowship, enjoyed by both congregations.
There will be two sittings 4:30 and 7:30
There will be entertainment and a silent auction. All profit will be split between the two churches and go to The Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
Tickets are $15 and $12 for children under 12 and will be for sale after church in February.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
United Church Calendars
2012 calendars from United Church are now available for sale at the church office. Cost is $5.00 each. It would be appreciated if you could please bring the correct change. Thanks.
Prayer Time
Join Joyce Stephenson every Tuesday morning at 10:00 in Terry Chapel for a time of prayer. It will enrich your mind, soothe your soul and draw you closer to God as we pray for our families, friends and our church staff and members, whatever the needs may be. This is for anyone who longs to have a closer walk with the Lord.
Adult Faith Development
We invite you to join us at our lively discussion group. “Breakfast with Don” on alternate Fridays. Next one is on Mar 2nd at 7:00am. Topic: “Living Simply?” Breakfast cost: $3.00
Baptisms
Our next Baptisms will be on Feb 12th held during the 10:30 Worship Service. Please contact Beth Wilson, in the office, if you wish to register for Baptism.
Bulletin Notices
Notices should be received in the office by Wednesday morning for inclusion in the following Sunday’s Bulletin. Thank you for your co-operation.
Flower Schedule
The 2011 schedule is posted on the board at the Randall Street entrance. A reminder that payment and notice information should be received two week prior to the date reserve.
Sunday Drivers
We need Sunday drivers who can pick up and take home those who are unable to come to church on their own. If you can help please contact info@stjohns.ca or call the office at 905-845-0551.
Wondering how you can help? Donation of Silent Auction items, 9 x 12 pans of squares and, helpers!! Setting tables, kitchen prep, serving, washing dishes, clearing tables. Contact info@stjohns.ca or call the office at 905-845-0551.
Food Banks
We will now be alternating weekly donations to two food banks at there is a greater need. Along with Kerr Street Ministries we will be donating to the Fare Share Food Bank. The food banks are in need of canned fruit, tomatoes and meat, rice (brown and white), healthy cereal, juice. We appreciate your continued support.
Milk for Kids—We are pleased to announce St. John’s will kick-start a new program at Kerr Street Ministries – Milk for Kids. The 30 children of low income families who attend school programs will receive glasses of milk along with their nutritious snack. If any milk is left over it will go home with a child’s family on a rotating basis. Please make cheques payable to St. John’s United Church and mark your envelope Kerr Street-Milk for Kids. Thanks – John Raynor.
Recycling
Don’t forget our recycling program. Blue boxes are available in the Narthex for the following used items: ink jet cartridges, cell phones, Campbell soup labels, pop can tabs, and used stamps.
Habitat for Humanity have re-opened their Restore. Drop by and have a look at their expanded facilities and browse at the items they have for sale. There is always a wide variety of items.
Mission and Service
Come to the Table
Mental illness and homelessness are serious problems that the United Church addresses through Mission and Service. Here is one example from Manitoba.
Ed had been homeless for about seven years. His life as a husband, father, and truck driver fell apart because of depression, alcohol, childhood trauma, and a marriage breakup.
In the midst of this turmoil, Ed discovered Oak Table Community Ministry in Augustine United Church, Winnipeg, and started to visit regularly. He became a “street dad” to the kids who showed up homeless, looking out for them, and pointing them toward supports like Oak Table.
Oak Table referred Ed to a research project focused on mental health issues and homelessness. After completing the program, Ed moved into his own furnished apartment and is looking into becoming an Oak Table volunteer. Ed is absolutely thrilled, transformed, and grateful.
Oak Table serves between 40 and 60 people daily, many of whom are homeless. Some struggle with mental illness; some are kids with addictions fleeing abusive or unhealthy homes. Oak Table offers food, pastoral care, telephone and internet access, and special activities and events. With a local health unit, the ministry also offers workshops on nutrition and healthy living.
The need is great. Oak Table is the only community ministry in its part of Winnipeg. Oak Table counts on Mission and Service to sustain its ministry of hospitality. Your gifts helped Ed regain control of his life, and your continuing gifts to Mission and Service will help many others.
Power of One and Outreach
The “Buy a Row” campaign is still active and growing. Help us to plant more rows of corn on the farm of Arthur Schickedanze, who is a member of our rural partner, Bethesda Lutheran Church. Please consider buying part of a row, a whole row or several rows at $100 per row. Cheques should be payable to St. John’s United Church and marked as “Foodgrains”. Watch for the growth of the field as we add stickers for every $100 collected!
Library Jottings
We would like to add to our Library Collection. The Library group would like to hear from the congregation. What would you like to see in your library – new children’s books; more Devotionals; DVD’s or CD’s or other items? Please speak to the Library Convener Sunday mornings. Thank you. - Your Library Convenor