Sunday, April 13^th, 2025

The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

Readings
ISAIAH 50:4-9A;  PS 31:9-16;
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11;  LUKE 23:1-49

Image:  Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

“Jesus reveals that the true Messiah is the one who enters the city of suffering not with weapons, but with love and solidarity.”  
- Jon Sobrino (El Salvadorian Theologian)

The Parish spring cleaning day will be on Saturday April 12 - 9am-noon. Focus will be on the church, hall and some outside work.

Attention all gardeners! Spring is finally here and it is time to get out in the garden. 

DONATIONS NEEDED. 
Any perenials, annuals, seedlings, vegitable starts, hanging baskets, indoor plants, etc. all greatly appreciated. Check with your friends, neighbours and family to see if they have any divisions they want to donate.
Also, any garden related items, such as tools, birdhouses, how-to books, stepping stones, etc. will also be welcome.
Donataions will be accepted on Friday May 9, after 12pm. Please do not drop any plants any earlier as there is no room and no one to care for the plants.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Anyone who would like to help with the plant sale please contact Joan James  Need people to help set up and price day before sale and people to work the sale.

The Safe Church Training Program is designed to ensure our parish is a place of safety and wholeness.   This training consists of a short video and written acknowledge of the part each of us plays in the wellness of fellow parishioners.  As a minimum, it is provided for the following groups of people. 

Clergy, wardens, postulants and all employees;
Treasurers, envelope secretaries and folks handling money;
Anyone supervising or working with children or vulnerable people; 
Anyone who has a key to the church; and
Anyone in a named position

Anyone and everyone, however, is welcome to join in.  The video is about 20 minutes long and full of thoughtful advice from the diocese.

HELP US STOCK UP ON BABY ESSENTIALS!

YOU’RE INVITED! Please join us for our Wildlife Baby Shower, running from Thursday, April 10th to Wednesday, April 30th, in honour of our 30/10 Anniversary. Please see our “registry” of the gifts we need, below. Every item, from cleaning supplies and medications to nutritious meals and gloves, makes a difference for the little ones who depend on us.  List of items on the website  

These items are available locally. If you live near us and wish to drop off personally, our hospital is open 9 to 5 daily. Please come up to the admissions door of our hospital at the end of our parking lot. For those who live farther away, please check out our Amazon wish list here. 

Join us for a Pot Luck Supper before the Maundy Thursday Service on April 17th at 5pm.  Bring your favourite dish to share and enjoy fellowship before Worship.

spread the word and join us on Sunday April 27^th for an afternoon of learning and sharing. See our website for registration information, details on the panel members and more.  https://comoxhospice.com/cultural-conversations    A poster is attached.

For more information see their  website

In this issue

Bishop's Column: Salvation in an interconnected world
Making transgender history visible 
2025 primatial election to be more transparent and inclusive
Christ Church, Alert Bay awarded AFC grant
Anglican teen organizes environmental expo
AFC grants to strengthen collaboration between Anglican churchesand community partners 
Diocesan Theologian: Softening the heart and mind
Lent, gender and revelation
Where are we on our exodus journey?
Decolonizing Christian art
Letter to the editor

To read the March/April issue online or download a PDF version, visit the Faith Tides website.

Please join us 3:30pm on Tuesday's (via Zoom) for our weekly parish bible study "The G.I.G." (The Group Investigating God). We use the Lectio Divina method to prayerfully and thoughtfully engage with scripture. 

The link is: https://bc-anglican-ca.zoom.us/j/96137290644?pwd=UFhJY2NyQ0VIcnBtNHAwcTRkSEtRdz09

BLESSING  BOUTIQUE:   Mondays, 9am-noon (closed on Stat Holidays)
BIBLE STUDY: The G.I.G. - Tuesdays, 3:30pm (via ZOOM)
CHAIR YOGA:   Wednesdays, 11:30am - 12:15pm
CHOIR PRACTICE:  Thursdays, 12:30pm

Attention all paraishioners. We encourage everyone who has a cell phone to take the time to take pictures of events, get-togethers, outreach...any life at St. John's moments.  Please send any pictures you have and are willing to share to the office admin@sjtdcourtenay.ca.

Thank you so much. 

“Donations of gently used mens and ladies clothing are needed for our Blessings Boutique. Donations can be dropped off at St John the Divine between 9am and noon Monday through Friday.”

ITEMS NEEDED:
-CANNED MEAT, CANNED SOUPS, BAKED BEANS
-PEANUT BUTTER, JAM, HONEY, SYRUP
-FRUIT JUICE / CRYSTALS
-GRAINS (RICE, NUTS, CEREAL, GRANOLA, ETC)
-CANNED VEGETABLES & FRUIT
-LUNCHBOX ITEMS: DRINK BOXES, GRANOLA BARS, PUDDING, FRUIT CUPS
-PASTA, KRAFT DINNER, MR. NOODLES
-SNACK ITEMS: POPCORN COOKIES, CRACKERS, CHIPS
-FLOUR, CANNED MILK

PLEASE ONLY NON-PERISABLE FOOD ITEMS.

We have a list of eager drivers who are willing to pickup and drive parishioners to church. If you need a lift, just call or email the office  and we will arrange a ride for you.  
If you would like to volunteer to be a driver or you need a ride, please contact the office between 9am-noon, Tuesday - Friday.

Office contact:  250-334-4331 or admin@sjtdcourtenay.ca.

Remember that the office is only open till noon on Friday, so if you call on a Saturday or Sunday, we will not be able to accommodate you for that Sunday's service.  

The church now has the ability to accept Interac e-transfers!  E-transfers can be sent to the email address:  givings@sjtdcourtenay.ca

For donations, please include your envelope number if you have one.  

If you do not have an envelope number, please include your name and full mailing address, if you would like to receive a receipt at the end of the year for your donation.

If your donation is to be designated, please include this information also.  If there is no designation, the donation will go into general income.

If you have any questions, please send an email to admin@sjtdcourtenay.ca and someone will get back to you.

Rector:  Rev. Alastair Hunting; ahunting@bc.anglican.ca
Deacon: Rev. Marion Edmondson;  medmondson@bc.anglican.ca
Rector's Warden: Cary Davis; wardens@sjtdcourtenay.ca
People's Warden: Marj Aitken; wardens@sjtdcourtenay.ca
Treasurer: Marcia Haley;  treasurer@sjtdcourtenay.ca
Parish Counsil Secretary; Kathy Coulthart-Dewey; pcsecretary@sjtdcourtenay.ca

https://www.facebook.com/sjtdcourtenay

The link for our facebook page is also found at the bottom of our website page and at the very bottom of our weekly newsletter. 

We acknowledge with thanksgiving that we have gathered on the Unceded traditional territory of the K’òmoks First Nation. As a part of the Anglican Church of Canada, a church of Settlers and First Nations, we commit ourselves to a journey of truth and reconciliation between the Indigenous peoples of this land and the non-native peoples of Canada.