Blog

We are excited about Paige’s ordination to the priesthood!  Everyone is invited.  It will take place at 4:00 on Sunday November 26th at Church of the Redeemer (162 Bloor St. W) in Toronto, where Paige is a curate.  
Paige notes that the Toronto Santa Claus parade is scheduled for Nov 26 and the parade route is very close to Redeemer, so driving and parking downtown that day will be challenging. The GO Train is a good idea. People are invited to take the subway from Union Station to Museum station. Redeemer is a three minute walk north from the Museum subway station.

We are offering a series to learn about and explore a different form of prayer each week.  Based on the responses we received, the series will be on zoom on Thursday evenings at 7:00 for an hour, beginning with an introductory session on October 12.  The series may include

lectio divina, 

Anglican rosary beads, 

contemplative and meditative prayer, 

gospel meditation and imagination prayer

praying with pictures of Bible passages

gratitude prayers

prayer journaling.

We may have different leaders for different sessions.  Please email Lucia for the zoom link if you are interested.

We are grateful to Canon Susan for leading this year’s Blessing of the Pets, which will be inside the church this year, and held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4th, which is the Feast of St. Francis.

We invite you to join us for our Pet Blessing service as we celebrate and recognize the role our pets, therapy dogs, and service dogs play in our lives.

This is a short family and pet-friendly service.  All animals must be kept on a leash or in a secure carrying case. A freewill offering will be taken: proceeds to the Clarington Animal Shelter.

We will host a pumpkin carving event for kids and adults this Friday October 27th. You are welcome to come anytime between 3:45 and 5:45.  Halloween is the celebration of “All Hallows’ Eve”, the Eve of All Saints’ Day, and has a long history in the Church.  

The church will  provide pumpkins, paints for the pumpkins, and some knives and carving kits.  Donations to help with the cost of the pumpkins and supplies are welcome.   You can either take your pumpkins home afterward, or leave them for the weekend as a display by the church.  

Please email the church to tell us whether you would like to attend and whether you’d like us to provide a pumpkin for you or whether you would prefer to BYOPumpkin. 

As we get ready for the season in which we focus on thanking God for all our blessings, and we decorate our church with symbols of the beauty and bounty God grants us, we have opportunities to do so with flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

Anyone wishing to place an In Memoriam or Thankoffering plant in the church for Harvest Sunday, October 1, please contact Mary Tillcock at 905-623-4326 
 prior to September 25.

If anyone would like to contribute fruits or vegetables that could be used to decorate our Sanctuary for Harvest Sunday, please leave them in the church by Saturday morning, September 30.

Grace and peace,

Lucia

 Please save the date, August 22nd, 2023.

We at St. John’s will be preparing our annual Dinner for the Migrant Farm workers to be held at St.Saviour’s Orono. 

Last year,  St.John’s provided meals for over 100 workers and we would like to do the same this year. 

We are requesting Salads (potato or Pasta), chicken, and any other dishes you would like to prepare. 

We will also need volunteers to help with serving the meals. 

An update will be provided as the date approaches, however I  am available to answer any questions. 

Thank you very much. 

Williette 

Our summer schedule will begin Sunday, July 2nd.  This involves a few changes

The 8:00 service will take a summer vacation and everyone is invited to attend the 10:30 service.

The 10:30 service will move to the parish hall which has air conditioning.  

The children’s program will take a summer vacation.  We will have a place in the parish hall with some colouring and other quiet activities for children during the worship service.  

We will follow the summer schedule from Canada Day weekend to Labour Day weekend.  

We will then return on September 10 to our regular schedule, regular worship space, and regular children’s program.

There is value to experiencing worship in a variety of places and in a variety of ways. 

We encourage you to keep worshipping at St. John’s throughout the summer when you are in the Bowmanville area, and if you are travelling during the summer to worship at a church in whatever place you go.

Grace and peace,

Lucia

Sunday April 16th after the 10:30 worship service, Paige and I will offer an informal education session on ordination: What exactly happens when someone is ordained? What vows do clergy make?  What is the transitional diaconate, and why is there an ordination for that and then an ordination to the priesthood six months later?  Feel free to add whatever other questions you’re interested in discussing.  

After the 10:30 service, you can take a few minutes to get a cup of coffee or go to the washroom, then come back to the pews and we’ll have the education program in the church.  No need to RSVP in advance; you can simply attend.  Looking forward to seeing you there.

Maundy Thursday in the church 7:00 p.m. April  6th

Good Friday in the church 12:00 noon April 7th

Easter Sunday on April 9th is our regular Sunday schedule

8:00 in the church using the Book of Common Prayer (older language)

9:00 on zoom

10:30 in the church using the Book of Alternative Services, with music

We will also have the Easter breakfast potluck at 9:00 in the parish hall

Grace and peace,

Lucia