WE ARE ST. JOHNS!

St. Johns is such a large, diverse, active parish that it is hard to describe in just a few screens on the Web. I'm sure that if you asked ten members to describe who and what we are, you would get fifteen different answers! To help you to get to know us a little better we have extracted some statements from two parish publications that we all agree do describe us [partly!]

The first is from our St. Johns Welcomes You brochure.
Also we have extracts from The JOY of belonging to St Johns, a financial stewardship brochure distributed at the end of 1996.

WELCOME TO ST. JOHNS!

You may have noticed our signboards; caught the splash of summer colour in our gardens; or been drawn to the understated facade of a church that has been a fixture of this community since 1891.

But, have you met our people?

We are:

Christians, part of the Anglican communion;
representative of all ages and ail economic groups;
racially and ethnically diverse; of differing sexual orientations;
married and single; adults, youth and children;
and drawn from all areas of the city, as well as centretown.

But More, We are:

sympathetic to the struggles that many of us experience throughout life;
aware of and knowledgeable about the legacy of abuse and violence;
indignant about injustice and inequality;
humanly flawed and seeking enlightenment;

But Above All, We are:

committed to living in respectful community, in God's name.

St. Johns:

A Christian community committed to living in
respectful community, in God's name.

We seek To Serve:

anyone in need, the whole community;
those living with the impact of HIV and AIDS;
those who hear the rhythm of God's voice in music;
survivors of violence and abuse;
the faithful as well as the seekers.

We Do This Through:

worship and prayer;
Christian education programs for all ages;
a lyrical choir;
a service of prayer meditation for people concerned with HIV and AIDS;
small groups of bible study and discussion;
prayer groups;
youth and adult social opportunities;
services to the elderly; to the physically challenged; to those who are ill;
a community shop;
a drop in and resource centre for women in crisis;
various self help groups;
support of community programs for the hungry, the unemployed and the mentally handicapped;
and the response of our parishioners and staff to needs as they present themselves.

THE JOY OF BELONGING
TO ST. JOHNS!

FINDING THE JOY . . . IN WORSHIP

Come let us sing unto the Lord and with our hearts rejoice in our salvation.
(Psalm 95)

There are many opportunities for worship at St. John's

Sunday worship at 8:00 and 10:15
weekday services Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
bi-weekly meeting of the Prayer Group
monthly service of prayer for people concerned about HIV and AIDS, under lay leadership

There is active lay participation in worship: parishioners participate as communion administrators, leaders for prayers of the people, greeters and readers.

An integral part of our worship is music, which includes new music and original compositions, and is supported by:

choir
handbells
visiting musicians

The parish is presently supported in its worship by the Rector, an honorary assistant, and an organist/choirmaster.

FINDING THE JOY . . . IN FELLOWSHIP

They devoted themselves in the apostles' teaching and fellowship.
(Acts 2)

Opportunities for learning and fellowship include:

Church school and nursery program
adult education: study of the weekly readings, Logos, weekly fellowship, film study group
baptismal preparation
Terrific Tuesdays - a meal followed by one of: a healing service, intercessory prayer, or spiritual direction.
women's spirituality
Sunday coffee and newcomers' welcome table
youth groups
yoga and meditation
intergenerational events, retreats, conferences parish newsletter and weekly bulletin

Many of the above activities are organized and led by parishioners. This Ministry is supported by a part-time paid Christian education coordinator.

FINDING THE JOY . . . IN OUTREACH

In as much as you do this for least of these - you do it ,for me.
Matthew 25

St. John's ministers to its members, the larger community surrounding the church, ministry with and through the Diocese of Ottawa, and ministry elsewhere in Canada and the world.

This outreach includes:

pastoral outreach such as pastoral care, home and hospital visiting, counselling
social justice advocacy re: social service cuts, banning landmines
community outreach such as Kids' Day, Art Credo, The Well, gardening, sign, special concerts, summer lunch hour welcome table and prayers, opening the door to gays and lesbians
direct support to Centretown Churches Social Action Committee, Day Break, Centre 454, The Well, The Emergency Food Centre
support for parishes which are not self-supporting, diocesan administration, synod, committees, lay and clergy training, diocesan programs
support for diocesan social service ministries (The Well, Centre 454, Women in Crisis Project, Ottawa Pastoral Centre )
support for mission projects throughout the world and in Northern Canadian dioceses

As with the other areas of St. John's ministry, there is active lay participation in many outreach activities. The cost of this Ministry includes St. John's support to the Diocese of Ottawa, but does not include many areas of individual giving such as money to the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, food and clothing contributions, etc.

FINDING THE JOY. . . IN GIVING

Some Thoughts on Stewardship

Stewardship is about what we have - those many gifts which God has given us and entrusted us to manage, and how we can share them with others. It is not about fund-raising or making ends meet.

All of us participate in and benefit from the mission and ministries described in this pamphlet. Through them we express and deepen our faith. Through supporting them financially we exercise stewardship. Many in our parish are able to give financial gifts generously, others less able. But we are all challenged to think about the gifts we have been blessed with, and to consider what resources we are able to share with others at St. John's, in our community and in the wider world.

The rector has reminded us: "Do we see how we routinely spend more on clothing in one year than we give to charity; how we spend more for lunch in a restaurant than we give to the church weekly; how we spend twice as much time in front of the television as we do talking as a family or volunteering with some community organization?" (excerpt from the Rector's Letter, "The Value of 'Things", In Lumine, April 1996)