NEWSLETTER. Week Commencing December 25. Christmas

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1 NEWSLETTER Week Commencing December 25 Christmas

2 From the Rector Merry Christmas! As this Fourth Week of Advent comes to a close, on behalf of all the staff and lay leadership of St. John s, I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas! This is such a beautiful time of year as we honour the light of God appearing once again in this, the darkest time of our year. With all of the incredible festivity of this season, with bows, bells, tinsel, lights and holiday baking it can be hard to keep a clear vision of all that Christmas is genuinely celebrating which is honouring the coming of God to us in Jesus Christ. Within all the beauty and wonder of this season, do not lose sight of the Christ child whose birth in a humble stable continues to inspire us to recognize his presence still in the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the lame, the sick, the imprisoned, the forgotten, the ignored. As we celebrate his birth with gift-giving, kindness and beautiful music, we remember that Jesus spoke to us not only as a child but one who grew to reveal God s grace and love. His teachings reminding us to love God and love our neighbours as ourselves, which were not words to simply memorize but words that affected how we viewed the world and God s presence in it. Christmas is not just about marking Jesus birth long ago in Bethlehem but acknowledging his presence in our lives, in our hearts and minds, in our prayers and our soul. It is a spiritual holiday for Christmas is about naming that we believe that God is with us and loves and blesses us each day of our lives and even beyond that. I encourage you, therefore, during the season of Christmas to find ways of marking God in your life. As you receive the bread and wine of the Eucharist at Christmas Mass, recognize that this is honouring one of the central tenants of the Christian faith: God is known amongst us, even in the elements of the Eucharist.

3 I hope and pray that you have wonderful Christmas celebrations with friends and family but also with strangers and those not well known to you. May the beauty of this season carry with you to stir your faith to new action, new joy, new light and new love. May you see and know that the birth of Jesus reveals the depth of God s hope and prayer in you. Every blessing for Christmas and the new year of 2017! Fr John Coming up for Communion If you find the use of stairs difficult but still want to come up to the Communion Rail to receive Communion, we have a suggestion for you! Please use the side aisles at the chancel steps as they have handrails. Or please know that one of the priests is very happy to bring Communion to you in your pew. Thank you. Evensong for Candlemas January 29 at 4:00 We will celebrate the presentation of Jesus in the temple where he is recognized by Simeon and Anna as a light for revelation. As part of this liturgy we bless candles (light) as a sign of the light of salvation coming to us in Jesus Christ (hence the name Candlemas). It was traditional to bless all the candles of a household on this day, marking a recognition of the light of Christ in our midst. It recognizes that "in Baptism, in meditating upon Scripture, and in the Eucharist Christians cradle the same Light that Simeon cradles long ago and now takes responsibility for the life of Christ in our world. And yet the paradox continues. Even as they hold Christ in their hands, they may discover that they may discover that they are really in the crook of Christ's arms, being presented by him in the sanctuary of God's joy and glory." (Stephen Reynolds). Join us for this beautiful celebration of Christ's light! A reception will follow.

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5 Live Nativity Another Great Success! Thank you to everyone for helping with this year s Live Nativity. It was a lot of fun with a good turnout, and a really friendly donkey! Photos by Robyn Woodward and Fr John Stephens.

6 The Legend of the Donkey s Cross Have you heard the legend of the Christian donkeys? This is the story that has been told about the little donkey who was Jesus mount on Palm Sunday. It is said that a donkey carried Mary to Bethlehem and is also referred to as a Nativity Donkey. The Nubian burro has a cross on its back because it is believed that these donkeys carried Jesus to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. To ride on a donkey signified coming in peace, this symbolic event served to reinforce what Jesus had told the people of Israel: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey. (Zachariah 9:9 KJV) Many Christians believe that the donkey had known what Jesus was about to go through with his trial and suffering. They say that seeing the tragic event of Jesus crucifixion, the donkey wished he had been able to carry the cross for Jesus, as he was the one who should carry such burdens. The donkey turned his back on the sight but he could not leave Jesus whom he had carried. He wished to stay until all was over because of his love and loyalty. In reward for the loyal and humble love of the donkey, the Lord caused the shadow of the cross to fall across his back and the donkey has carried the cross ever since as a sign that the love of God carries a reward for all to see. Each Christian Donkey carries a cross on its back that is unlike all the others. There are no two alike; each is defined by the cross they bear on their back. Many of these donkeys are called Jerusalem Donkeys, Christian Donkeys, and Mediterranean Donkeys because in the Middle East these burros are used in everyday life such as farming or traveling purposes. The Cross on their back is how the Christian Donkeys are kept for record in their registration papers. The cross on their back is in honour Jesus.

7 Monthly Pre-Authorized Donations - Thank you! We are thrilled that so many parishioners are switching over to the preauthorized donation program. It makes things a lot easier for the church with this program - much easier than envelopes. If your monthly donation comes off your credit card, please keep us posted if you get a new expiry date on your card. Many thanks! Care Packets for the Homeless This Christmas season, St. John s Shaughnessy is collecting a variety of goods that will be packed up and distributed to our homeless and needy neighbours in the new year. Please join in this outreach initiative by bringing some items from the list below to church this month, and watch our offering pile in the Narthex grow! The goods will be distributed through the Neighbourhood Ministry program, a Westside street outreach ministry led by Deacon Pitman and offered through parishes in our Archdeaconry. If you prefer to donate money, please make a note on your cheque for Christmas Care Packets and we will spend the money buying in bulk. Care Packet Wish List winter-weight socks Boost or Ensure nutrition drink juice boxes fruit cups & plastic spoons soft nutrition bars stretch gloves toothbrush/toothpaste kits hand lotion small shampoo/conditioner lip balm small bar soap Q-tips & disposable razors Did you know that an Outreach interest group has formed at St Johns? We are discerning how our passions for helping those in need can best be used. Supporting refugee initiatives, joining Neighbourhood Ministry efforts, and several other great ideas are under exploration. If you are interested in being part of Outreach, please see Father John or Deacon Pitman.

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11 St John s Shaughnessy Anglican Church 1490 Nanton Ave. Vancouver, B.C. V6H 2E2 Telephone (604) (ex 11 for office) church@sjs.net web: Office Hours: Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 4:00pm Sunday services Wednesday service 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 Rector s Warden Robyn Woodward People s Warden Louise Hadley Treasurer Donald Wood Vestry Clerk Karin Fulcher Music Director Michael Dirk Assistant Choirmaster Ann Chen Children s Ministry Spencer Britten Parish Administrator Janet Hamilton PWRDF Rep Doug Symons Sacristan and MC Paul Bunnell Verger/caretaker Amy Thorogood 8:00am Holy Communion (BCP) 10:00am Sung Eucharist 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 ed to you. Cover: The Newborn Christ, by Georges de La Tour c