Page 1 Advent 2016

Advent 2016

Newsletter

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

In just a few weeks we will enter the Season of Ad-

vent, time of prayer and joyful expectation for the coming

of the Lord. Before we know it, Christmas will be here

with all the joys as well as occasional pressures and stress-

es which it can bring.

Many people are rediscovering the power of meditation

and prayer to help them live happy and fulfilled lives.

The rising interest in Yoga and other forms of physical

and spiritual discipline all speak to our need as human

beings to centre ourselves and to look beyond ourselves

for deeper meaning.

Entering into the four weeks of Advent through

prayer and worship can be a great way for you to maintain

a sense of peace, tranquility and spiritual strength at this

time. Advent calls us to wait with joyful expectation for

the coming of the Lord in our lives, at Christmas and at

the final Coming. This requires a certain patience as well as keeping awake – watching for the signs of the

Lord’s presence among us.

This year at St. John’s there will be a special joint Anglican–Lutheran Bible Devotion on Wednesdays

at 11am, with time for fellowship and refreshment. These help to mark the start of 500 years of Reformation

under the Theme: Liberated by God’s Grace. The Bible devotions will be followed at noon by our popular

Wednesday Music and Meditation program. Check out the Advent – Christmas Sched-

ule of Services in the Newsletter. In addition, there are two

Advent booklets available for daily reading and meditation.

I wish you a very blessed Advent and a Holy and Happy

Christmas. Be assured that you and your family are in my

daily prayer and I would ask that you hold Holly and me in

your prayer, along with all the leaders in our parish family.

Merry Christmas

Michael+

Rector’s Message

Page 2 Advent 2016

Heritage, Faith and Vision, and now Comfortable pews!

We are delighted to announce that our Pledge campaign was a huge success; we have pledges to cover

the cost of putting cushions in all the pews downstairs in the church. Parish Council approved this at last

Thursday's meeting.

Please honour your pledges and drop your donation off to Mary at the office, or in the collection plate,

marked Pew Cushion campaign. Thank you to each of you who stepped forward to give everyone a " Comfort-

able Pew". Heather Eisenhauer, Warden

Pew Cushion Campaign

ACW Request

The ACW would like to thank all those parishioners who are filling up their LOONIE PLATES again this

year. Plates should be completed in the next few weeks and turned into the office before the end of the year.

Submitted by Sandra Jordan

Music At St. John’s

A note from Barbara…..

Music and Meditation for Advent begins on Wednesday, November 30 at noon and

we’re delighted to continue this program here at St. John’s. Many people in the commu-

nity look forward to this series each year and a warm invitation is extended to everyone

to attend. Each presentation is a half hour in length. Here is the program for this Advent,

2016.

Wednesday, November 30 at noon – Jade Ley, piano

Wednesday, December 7 at noon – Ifan Williams, cello; Sharon Gow Knickle, piano

Wednesday, December 14 at noon – Janelle Lucyk, soprano

Wednesday, December 21 at noon – Madrigal Singers

Our chancel choir is quite busy in preparation for the Advent and Christmas season and in particular our Ser-

vice of Lessons and Carols will be held on Sunday, December 18 at 10:30 am.

Warm regards,

Barbara

Joint Anglican and Lutheran Advent Bible Study and Devotion

Join us each Wednesday in Advent, starting November 30th at 11am for a special series of Anglican –

Lutheran Bible Study and Devotion.

We will begin at Zion Lutheran on November 20th, then on Wednesday December 7th at St. John’s, De-

cember 14th at Zion, concluding on December 21st at St. John’s. Each session will last approximately 1 hour

and will include refreshments. Although the Studies have been prepared by Anglicans and Lutherans, Every-

one is more than welcome to attend.

Page 3 Advent 2016

December 11th

Advent 3: Wait upon the Lord with

Joy

8:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP)

10:30am - Holy Eucharist (BAS)

Lighting of the Advent Wreath & Jesse Tree. Sun-

day School & Nursery

December 17th - 4pm A King’s Christmas with

Paul Halley and the King’s College Chapel Choir

December 18th

Advent 4: Wait upon the Lord with

Love

8:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP)

10:30am - Advent & Christmas Les-

sons & Carols.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Following the 10:30am service in the Parish Hall,

a Special Christmas Pageant put on by the Sun-

day School.

December 22nd - 7pm Capella Regalis Men &

Boys Choir - To Bethlehem with King’s. A fund-

raiser in support of the Lunenburg & Area Inter

Church Food Bank.

December 24th - Christmas Eve (Tuesday)

4:00pm - Christmas Family Eucharist with

a special ‘Nova Scotia Christmas’

Our Family Eucharist begins outside in our ‘Manger

Square’ for a ‘living manger’ with a variety of local

animals, joined by our children and families. Fol-

lowing the 20 minute outdoor living manger we

move into the church to continue the celebration of

Christmas Eve. All are welcome.

10:00pm - Christmas Eve Candlelight Sung Eucha-

rist (BAS) with Organ, Choir, Brass Ensemble and

St John’s Ringers.

December 25th - Christmas Day (Wednesday)

10:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP) with music

Sunday January 1st - New Year’s Day

8:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP)

10:30am - Holy Eucharist (BAS) with Carols

Every Wednesday at 10:00am

Holy Eucharist (BCP)

Every Wednesday in Advent at 11am -

November 30, December 7, 14, 21

Special Joint Anglican - Lutheran Bible Study,

Devotion with Fellowship (see Page 2)

MUSICAL MEDITATIONS

Every Wednesday in Advent at Noon

(November 30, December 7, 14, & 21st) Musical

Meditations with Barbara Butler and guests

Saturday November 26th

Town Santa Claus Parade - 3pm Join our Sunday

School Children around the float.

6:30pm. Blessing & Lighting of outdoor Christ-

mas Tree in front of the Church followed by Pro-

cession to Town Bandstand for lighting of the trees

and retelling of the Christmas Story

November 27th

Advent 1: Wait upon the Lord with

Hope 8:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP)

10:30am - Holy Eucharist (BAS)

Lighting of the Advent Wreath & Jesse Tree. Sun-

day School & Nursery .

Saturday December 3rd - 7pm

Special Concert in Support of the Lunenburg

Inter Church Food Bank featuring John Barr

and friends

December 4th Advent 2: Wait upon the Lord in

Peace

White Gift Sunday - Gifts to be

shared through the Salvation Army

and Mission To Seafarers boxes today

8:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP)

10:30am - Holy Eucharist in Traditional Wording &

Lighting of the Advent Wreath.

Sunday School & Nursery.

Page 4 Advent 2016

EMBODY Vital Church Maritime Conference September 29th-October 1st 2016

Mary Wagner, Robert MacMillan, Rena Demone, and Archdeacon Michael Mitchell, attended a Vital

Church conference entitled “Embody” at Oak Island Inn. There is a new vocabulary, Vital Church, Fresh Ex-

pressions, Economy Church and Congregational Clusters, to sort out. Each one has its own specific meaning

but, at the same time, echoes a similar message….all of these forms of church are necessary, in addition to tra-

ditional church, to serve our communities.

The conference was lead by Rev’d. Dr. Cameron Harder, professor of systematic theology at the Luther-

an Theological Seminary in Saskatoon. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Rural

Community Leadership and Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program. His life work has been developing

programs arising out of the needs of his community; helping people make connections with each other, with

their faith, connections between theology and work in rural areas and examining what brings them happiness

and a deep sense of fulfillment in being connected to each other. These programs evolved because of the need

to help focus groups of insolvent farmers, to help workers and executives in the oil fields bridge theology and

their work, and to build friendships between aboriginal and neighboring communities. His four keynote

speeches, delivered at the conference, are also part of his work as he reaches out and teaches others to live and

EMBODY the life of Jesus.

Dr. Harder reminded us that before 300 AD, there were no church buildings as we know them today. Im-

ages of the church in the New Testament were of small groups who came together and built a strong relation-

ship out of a common interest or need in the area where they lived. Can we learn from this? Churches need not

only to be within the confines of four walls, but need to look outwards beyond these boundaries to include

clusters of different interest groups as part of its whole. Thereby, all parts are brought together, not necessarily

under one roof but, as a whole in spirit, as a larger community. ‘Embodied-To bring together as a whole.’ Act

2:41

A Vital Church begins with effective leadership from both clergy and lay leaders. LISTENING is the

key. We all have to open our ears and listen to how God is working around us and thereby uncover the bond,

through our conversations and our questions asked in those conversations of what is life-giving in our commu-

nity and what is unique about our congregation. From this will develop the glue to join people gathered togeth-

er and new clusters-ministries will be created. Dr. Harder says, ”Community is built out of honest conversation

with a deep understanding so that when we talk to each other, not through church words but through contextual

words which speak to that person.” A community is a web of relationships...you tend to its health by tending

to those relationships and along the way we make bonds by working together. It is during times of struggles

that these bonds are made greater, as it is then that we expose our weaknesses and, as we work towards a re-

solve, this is where we experience the power of God. Finally, we let those affected have a role in the decision

making. Only then can everyone feel a part of the community and become empowered to work together.

Another name for these gatherings, or cluster communities, is Fresh Expressions. This church form does

not compete with but complements the traditional church, as it serves those members who exist on the fringe

and beyond. Fresh Expressions together with the traditional church constitute what is referred to as “The

Mixed Economy Church”. These cluster groups are better able to go out and give support to people, where

they are in their community. Dr. Harder impressed upon us that God is everywhere….a music group, a coffee

group, a sewing group, a cooking group. He argued that it is a myth that people are not interested in religion

anymore but, in fact, that 29% of people are deeply religious and 53% engage in some religious activity, alt-

hough may not be within a traditional church setting.

However, by listening and engaging in conversation within such gatherings, people who come together

through a common interest find a true sense of honesty and trust and, as a consequence, connect deeply on

more levels. EMBODY-to enable a person to have qualities of trust and honesty. Continued on Page 5

Page 5 Advent 2016

Vinegar Bibles Update

Further to the article about the Vinegar Bible owned by Corpus Christi Church, Termeirchion, North

Wales, which appeared in the Lent and Easter 2016 edition of St. John’s newsletter, the Heritage committee

continues to search for additional owners. So far the following have been identified:

St. John’s Anglican Church, Lunenburg , NS. Canada; St. John’s Episcopalian Church, Portsmouth,

New Hampshire, USA; Corpus Christi Church, Tremeirchion, Denbighshire, North Wales , UK; British

Museum ( Possibly two copies. We are in contact with the Museum to confirm); Bodelian Library, Ox-

ford, UK; Rochester Cathedral, UK; St, Andrew’s ( Garrison) Church, Farnham, Hampshire, UK

Library of Virginia, USA; State Library of New South Wales, Australia; and The Bible Society, UK.

(Housed in Cambridge University Library)

Total. 10 or possible 11 Bibles

Additional Vinegar Bibles: The Heritage Society is in touch with a person in Australia, who believes that he

owns a Vinegar Bible that has come to him through his family. We have recommended that he get in touch

with the State Library of New South Wales to authenticate if the bible is genuine. There are no doubt other

Vinegar Bibles held privately. Two Vinegar Bibles are currently advertised for sale, one in USA and the other

in Ireland. The search continues.

2017 is the 300th anniversary of the publication of the complete Vinegar Bible by John Baskett. Plans

are beginning to be made by our church to celebrate this milestone in a meaningful way.

Submitted by Peter Matthews, St. John’s Anglican Heritage Committee.

Next, we must not get hung up on numbers in the pews, or how many are participating in our ministries

or how long it may take for a ministry to develop, to measure success. We have to think of the impact we are

making on the people being served and follow up with discussions on what works, so that we can let go of

what doesn’t - that is how we stay VITAL. Dr. Harding said our objective is not “to Thrive and Survive” but

“to Serve.” He also said that, “Congregations have a lifespan; which is why we need clusters of Christians with

new expressions, and they may add a specific form of faith at a later time in their own way. When appropriate,

they will begin to share stories of their faith, as Jesus did with his disciples.”

An example given at one of the workshops, was of a Fresh Expressions group which evolved through an

interest of one of the clergy in hiking. Through conversation, it was discovered that there were a number of

people in the community who enjoyed the challenge of a bit more than a walk. So a hike was organized and to

make sure that folks of all abilities could be included, effort was put into the planning to provide multiple

routes to a common destination. Once on trek, they never hurried but lingered to enjoy each other and their

surroundings. A sense of bonding occurred when helping one another with challenges and taking the time for

deep conversations. Hiking excursions are now part of what makes them a community and occur multiple

times a year, regardless of the weather. Eventually, when requested, this led to a very low structured worship

with a psalm and a song. Busy families may not always have the time to participate in such outings and Dr.

Harder recognized that they may be involved in various organized sports and other activities and that we

should not underestimate the learning and bonding and other qualities that develop from team playing that will

inevitably benefit a ministry or cluster group within the community.

Clergy and lay leaders must work together to develop their own discipleship, be better listeners, conver-

sationalists and improve their ability to connect worship to everyday life. We will then discover that we are

rich in people resource. These discoveries will give us the direction for our ministries and will reflect the life,

values and the uniqueness of where we live. We then encourage and empower others to use their gifts within

that ministry of a like-minded community. This is worship in its simplest form... Ephesians 4:11-13.

Submitted by Rena Demone

EMBODY (Continued)

Page 6 Advent 2016

Sunday School

We welcomed back our Sunday School leaders, students and parishioners on September 18th to a lovely

congregational BBQ, to celebrate the new fall term at Sunday School and Congregational Welcome Back Sun-

day. Thanks to the joint efforts and contributions of Sunday School leaders, parents and grandparents and the

Congregational Development Committee, this day was a big success. After exhausting many avenues to ac-

quire a bouncy castle for our youngsters; cost was a hindering factor, The Open Bible Church in Bridgewater

graciously allowed us to borrow theirs for the day; at the right price...free! We are very grateful.

Our dedicated leaders continue to prepare weekly lesson plans for the Nursery and three Sunday School

classes following the Revised Common Lectionary. We are pleased with the addition of a new class level this

year resulting in a more inclusive learning experience for all our students. In the continued spirit of giving

back; for Thanksgiving, the Sunday School families filled our baby dory with the “Forgotten Food Bank

Items”....diapers, lightbulbs, garbage bags etc.

Eight students attended the first group singing session with Sharon Hill and she tells me that they will

continue to meet on a weekly basis as they practise selections for our Christmas skit on December 18th. This is

greatly appreciated as it provides an opportunity for these young people to participate in faith based music.

They meet each Sunday morning at 10:15 in the parish hall, if any other young people would like to join them.

Our youth continue to perform duties during the family services this year and we are grateful to the dedicated

families who bring and encourage their children to participate. It was also a pleasure to see Sebastian

Haumering and Noah Romkey; members of both the Junior Fire Department and St. John’s Anglican Church,

in attendance during the Fire Prevention/Thanksgiving Service with their senior counterparts.

On Friday No-

vember 11th several

families gathered to

decorate our float for

the Santa Clause Pa-

rade; scheduled for No-

vember 26th at

3:00PM. Howard Keep-

ing and Jim Green once

again gave us special

attention; they made

sure that we had our

dory and trailer safely

placed in the garage at

the rectory. With a

combination of decora-

tions from previous

years and some new additions from our families; we had a fun time preparing the float for the big day. Later

that same night, everyone enjoyed hot chocolate, Roxie’s and others homemade cookies, and popcorn to eat;

board games and music to entertain.

We will continue to enjoy time together over the next month as we decorate the Bandstand Christmas

Tree, decorate the Jesse Tree, organize a Christmas Skit for December 18th after the 10:30 service followed by

refreshments, and participate in the Christmas By the Sea Nativity on Christmas Eve. Please come out to sup-

port your Sunday School in all their efforts.

Happy Holidays to all our families! Submitted on behalf of St. John’s SS..Rena Demone

Page 7 Advent 2016

All this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has giving us the ministry

of reconciliation. – II Corinthians 5:18

An excerpt from a letter written by the leaders of the Anglican/Episcopal and Lutheran Churches in Can-

ada and the United States of America.

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ:

On October 31, in Lund, Sweden, the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church inaugurat-

ed the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. After five hundred years of division, and 50 years of dialogue,

Lutherans and Catholics will publicly remember their history, and look to the future—together. For the first

time, a centennial anniversary of the Reformation will take place in a spirit of reconciliation, for the whole

world to see. In our broken world, this ministry of reconciliation is a faithful response to the love of God in

Jesus Christ.

As churches shaped by the 16th century reformations—the Anglican Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lu-

theran Church in Canada, the Episcopal Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—we also

participate in this ministry of reconciliation. Over fifteen years ago, our churches’ respective full communion

agreements inaugurated new relationships in which we fully recognized each other “as churches in which the

gospel is truly preached and the holy sacraments duly administered” (Called to Common Mission), an

achievement that “marks but one step toward the eventual visible unity of the whole Church catho-

lic” (Waterloo Declaration). We are committed to working together toward reconciliation—of the church, and

of the deepest social ills that plague our world. It is our hope, together with you, to be signs of anticipation—

of the “already, but not yet” of God’s realm of reconciliation, justice, and peace.

In this spirit we have prepared a series of devotions for the season of Advent. The devotions can be download-

ed from each of our churches’ websites, and shared broadly. May our prayers united be a modest but hopeful

sign of what our churches can do together as we bear witness to the One who first reconciled himself to us.

2017 – 500th Anniversary of the Reformation

L-R: Presiding Bishop Mi-

chael Curry of the Episco-

pal Church, National Bish-

op Susan Johnson of the

Evangelical Lutheran

Church in Canada, Presid-

ing Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

of the Evangelical Lutheran

Church in America

(ELCA), and Primate Fred

Hiltz of the Anglican

Church of Canada meet at

the ELCA Churchwide Of-

fice in Chicago Ill.

Page 8 Advent 2016

Phone: 902 634 4994

Email: stjohnslunenburg@bellalliant.com

St. John’s Anglican Church

81 Cumberland Street

PO Box 238

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Canada B0J 2C0

we’re on the web

www.stjohnslunenburg.org

Proposal From Our ACW

The following proposal was submitted to Parish Council at their October meeting. It has been distributed

to all ministries, and to the Parish email list, asking for feedback and suggestions before our December 13

meeting.

Your Parish Council would appreciate your feedback and suggestions as well, if you have not been con-

tacted through one of the previous groups. Please send a note to Heather before December 13...

heather@abco.ca or call 902-634-4713, or speak to me at the 10:30 service, or drop a note off to the Parish Of-

fice.

To the Rector, Wardens and Parish Council, St. John’s Anglican Church:

The Service of Confirmation held at St. John’s on Wednesday, October 19 was a wonderful, uplifting time for

all those present. Following the Service the ACW were to have a small reception and had prepared a light

lunch. Family members also brought food and to our amazement there were about 180 people in attendance.

As we sat at the back, we spoke among ourselves that there was no room for all these people to be able to get

to the refreshment tables which were abundant with food. We were blessed that it was a beautiful, warm even-

ing and we were able to move half of the tables out on the plaza. Once again the discussion came up, wouldn’t

it be great if it were possible to have more room at the back of the church for receptions, without being de-

pendent on the weather. We have found that if you invite people to come to the Parish Hall for a reception, you

“lose” so many people who don’t want to take the trouble to walk up the hill. On Wednesday evening, we

think everyone stayed and it was such support to the young people who had just been confirmed. As we talked

about it, we could see many instances where having more space at the back of the church would be helpful:

Each year the Ladies’ Guild has a reception for the Anglican residents of Harbour View Haven, following a

service of Holy Eucharist at St. John’s. Many of these residents are brought in, in their wheelchairs or with

walkers. The Guild ladies set up individual tables and chairs at the back for the residents, staff and family

members to sit down to enjoy their lunch after the service and it is such a tight squeeze to be able to do this. It

would be very difficult to take these people to the Parish Hall to serve refreshments.

A reception for the World Day of Prayer Service in March also has a reception at the back of the church.

Families gathering at the font for Baptism Services and Funerals.

The popular summer receptions after the 10:30 Services could be held at other times of the year as well.

The Summer Tour Program would have more room for picture displays and people to congregate to view

these.

We decided to write this concern down and bring it to you, wondering what the feasibility would be of remov-

ing two back rows of pews in the center section of the church. We note that the church is normally only fully

occupied for large funerals, the Family Service at Christmas, and some concerts and we thought perhaps at

those times two rows of chairs could be moved to the back to seat people.

We thank you for the opportunity to present this to you and ask for your consideration of this proposal.

Respectfully submitted,

St. John’s ACW

October 25, 2016

A Proposal from the ACW