Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
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Maundy Thursday
Potluck Meal & Foot Washing Evening Service
In Our Community
Decorating Gift Bags
Showing kindness and caring to those in need
Over the past several weeks, our Kids Club, led by
Muriel Vincent, put together gift bags of 'goodies' for
those people in our community who are 'shut-in' in
order to brighten their days and let them know St.
Johns was thinking of them.
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Stewardship Update
Paul Townshend
Last year the people of St. Johns Arva made great strides in renewing our parish. The efforts of many helped us achieve
a surplus financial position for 2014. I know we all want to see this financial health carry on into our future as we build
our Christian ministry. This will require the continued support of each and every
one of us to find ways of contributing time, talent and treasure for expanding
our service to each other and the broader community.
Renewing our spirit, compassion and enthusiasm will keep St. Johns Arva a
vitally important Christian influence for generations to come.
Our successes last year were enhanced by many individuals doing the things
they could to make a difference. Some things were smaller and some things
were larger. All of them however made a difference and required taking action.
All of the individuals who undertook such actions demonstrated leadership and/or a positive response to leadership,
which is necessary in successfully renewing our future.
Jerry Hoffman, Director of the Center for Stewardship Leaders at Luther Seminary
(St. Paul, Minn), established a list of leadership characteristics, attitudes and
practices that are valued among church leaders.
It would admittedly be difficult for anyone to possess all of these characteristics
consistently, but I am sure you will recognize many of these traits in yourself and
in your fellow parishioners.
We are fortunate to have many talented people in our midst who are able to use these skills for the benefit of all of us at
St. Johns Arva.
I urge you to think about what skills you may be able to foster and renew within yourself for the 2015 year.
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Parishioner Testimony
My name is Jon Dreyer. I am an Emergency Physician, and have been living
in St. Johns Estates, near the Mill, here in Arva for the past 24 years; and
during that time, have been coming to church, sometimes sporadically, and
sometimes more regularly, as in the last couple of years.
I want to thank Rev. Wendy for asking me to share my faith story and
why I come to church. And I say that because it really made me think
about these things.
For as long as I can remember I have been going to church. It was just part of what we
did as a family on Sundays. I dont think I really gave it much thought until I started going
to an all-boys boarding school at the age of 11. For there we went to chapel everyday of
the week except Saturdays, and twice on Sundays.
I figured, if we were going to be there that much, then I might as well do something
worthwhile, so I joined the choir. And soon I found my love of singing and of church
music in particular. There are so many rousing hymns and great harmonies. It still gives
me a lot of pleasure to be able to contribute to our choir here at St. Johns.
So music is probably the number one reason I come to church, but fellowship and being a part of such a
welcoming congregation and community is a strong second. Coming to church also gives me a chance to
reflect on what I have done, what I ought to have done, and what I ought not to have done during the
previous week. Its a time to consider what it means to be a Christian. I am not sure it makes me feel any
closer to God, as God is everywhere. But it gives me a chance to be thankful for everything we have and for
the miracle that is this earth and everything on it, and I guess that is the simple reason for my faith.
As a person of science, I like to be able to explain why things are the way they are. And
that works most of the timeat least until you start thinking about how everything is so
incredibly well-balanced in the natural world. And if you ask yourself how all this came to
be, and how unlikely a coincidence it is that the earth just happened in this vast universe,
thats when you have to believe that there really is a God.
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Dont get me wrong: I believe in evolution, and continental drift and the Big Bang.
Its just that the odds of everything coming together to create this incredible planet with its myriad of
natural wonders, and of all the different flora and fauna still seems to me to be something of an incredible
miracle. At least thats how I see it.
I believe that God put us all on this earth for a purpose. And it is up to each of us to do our best to use the
gifts we find within ourselves, to make it a better place for everyone. In the end, I guess my main reason for
going to church is a combination of all these things, but most of all to say thank you for all I have been given.
And with that I will end with a prayer I learned as a child and said every night at bedtime:
Announcements
EATING TOGETHER
COMING SOON: Saturday April 18th
Share a meal and share memories with friends and fellow parishioners of St. Johns Arva. All are
welcome. For participation and further information, please contact Isle Jones at 519-433-2542 or woerzle@myway.com
CULTURE FEST
COMING SOON: Friday April 24th at 6:00 pm
Tickets NOW Available!
Taste the flavours of the world! Celebrate your heritage and eat great food as we celebrate diversity
at St. John the Divine. If you are interested in volunteering by making food from a particular country please sign up on
the sheet in the hall. Tickets: $5/person or $10/family. Speak with Muriel Vincent for more details.
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Our Team
Rev. Wendy Mencel, Rector: 519-850-9174 revwmencel@gmail.com
Paul Townshend, Warden: 519-433-5406 petown@live.ca
Ian Nicholson, Warden: 519-641-3582 inichols@uwo.ca
Rev. Kate Hathaway, Honourary Assistant: kathaweir@yahoo.co.uk
Jean Davies, Lay Reader: ggdel@bellnet.ca
New to St. Johns? Interested in Getting Involved with our Liturgies? Have a Rental Inquiry?
Want Offering Envelopes or to Sign up for Pre-Authorized Givings?
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