Parish Update
THE COLLECT FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
In a few weeks, we will be hosting an all-ages parish retreat at Camp IAWAH (Godfrey, ON) from 6 PM Friday, May 31 to 1 PM Sunday, June 2.
In Mark’s Gospel, we read how the disciples returned from a busy time of ministry, they gathered around Jesus to report to him all that they had done and taught, “then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat” Jesus invited them to “come away to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). Are you in need of a quiet place and some rest? Perhaps you can relate to the experience Emilie Griffin describes as “times come when we yearn for more of God than our schedules will allow. We are tired, we are crushed, we are crowded by friends and acquaintances, commitments, and obligations. The life of grace is abounding, but we are too busy for it. Even good obligations begin to hem us in.”
The purpose of this retreat will be to withdraw from the familiar and spend some quality resting in God’s loving presence, and getting to know each other a bit better. There will be plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors, socialize, and play. The teaching time will focus on what it means to be human through the lens of Genesis 1-3.
Even those who do not plan on spending the night at Camp IAWAH are invited to either stay at nearby accommodations or to simply join us during the day on Saturday, June 1. The registration deadline is May 26. Use this link to register: https://peterpaulottawa.churchcenter.com/people/forms/732266
There is also an opportunity to donate to a scholarship fund to offset the costs of those who are unable to afford the retreat registration fees. To contribute to the retreat scholarship fund, You can e-transfer funds (offering@peterpaulottawa.com) and indicate “Retreat Scholarship Fund” or you can donate cash or a cheque made out to St Peter & St Paul’s Anglican with “Retreat Scholarship Fund” written on the envelope and on the memo line of the cheque.
We hope you will be able to join us!
UPCOMING EVENTS – Mark Your Calendars
April 27: Parish Night Out
April 28: Knit and Natter meets in the library lounge from 6 PM to 8 PM.
Early May: Weekly Small Groups are launching! Details and registration here.
May 4: Pat Coulombe Art Exhibit Opening
May 4: A Rocha Creation Care Wildflower Walk, Potluck Supper, and Presentation
May 5: Christian Leaders Summit Worship Night
May 9: Practicing the Way Course begins on Thursday evenings.
May 31-June 1: Parish Retreat (Camp IAWAH)
PRACTICING THE WAY COURSE
At St Peter & St Paul’s, our mission is to share the transformative love of God from the heart of Ottawa, so that more people would come to know Jesus. To help us live out our mission, we are going to be running a new course called PRACTICING THE WAY, created by pastor John Mark Comer. This is an 8-week course designed to help us start on the journey of spiritual formation, help us get unstuck if we’ve stalled out, or guide us into taking the next step with Jesus. Ultimately, the goal of the course is to train us to live as apprentices of Jesus: to be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did.
Check out the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8udRqjbmN2w&t=1s
If you are interested in signing up, we have two options for you:
Pastor Ben is running the course at the church on Thursdays, starting May 9th from 6-8pm. To register click here.
Kris and Alison Nanda will be running the course in their home on Thursdays, starting May 9th from 6:30-8:30pm. To register click here.
SMALL GROUPS
Small Groups are a great way to connect with other believers and grow in fellowship with God. If you are interested in joining a Small Group, here is the registration form: https://peterpaulottawa.churchcenter.com/people/forms/723716
Space is limited, but we will do our best to accommodate your selection. It would be great to see everyone at St Peter and St Paul’s plugged into a Small Group, but in order for this to happen we will need more hosts and leaders. If you are interested in hosting and/or leading a Small Group, please contact Pastor Ben - revbenspp@gmail.com
PARISH NIGHT OUT: Saturday, April 27
Parish Night Out is a great opportunity for people in the church to get to know one another as they share a meal together in a home setting. People sign up to either host a dinner or attend a dinner with fellow parishioners. The HOST provides the home and beverages and the GUESTS provide the meal (main course/casserole, salad or veggie dish, bread, and dessert). Thank you to everyone who registered to participate.
NEEDED: ALPHA TECH VOLUNTEER: We could use some help each Wednesday, setting up the laptop to the projector, running the Powerpoint slides for worship, and starting the video. It would require coming in at 5:30 PM and staying until the start of the video. We will feed you! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the office at admin@peterpaulottawa.com
KNIT and NATTER: Do you like to knit or crochet? Would you like to meet a new friend? Join us Sunday, April 28 in the library lounge from 6 PM to 8 PM for Knit and Natter. Everyone is welcome.
ART & SOUL - NEW ART EXHIBIT starting Saturday, May 4 at 2pm
Pat Coulombe is a retired ANiC priest and a local artist who will be displaying her art work in the Lobby Gallery at St Peter & St Paul’s. If asked why she’s spending her time painting and sketching, Pat would tell you that besides being totally enjoyable, it’s also a way of looking at the world through a different lens - a lens that brings us just a little closer to God’s creation. All are welcome to the Grand Opening on May 4 @ 2-4pm. Light refreshments will be served.
A Rocha Creation Care Wildflower Walk, Potluck Supper, and Presentation
Saturday May 4. More details are at the link below or you can email paul.heintzman@arocha.ca to learn more. You can also talk to Kris Nanda about A Rocha and if you are interested in being part of the Creation Care group at St Peter & St Paul’s.
CHRISTIAN LEADERS SUMMIT WORSHIP NIGHT: May 5 at 6pm
On Sunday, May 5 at 6pm, Christian leaders from across the country will be gathering at St Peter & St Paul’s for a night of prayer and worship, as the kickstarter event for the Young Leader’s Summit portion of the National Prayer Breakfast.
Christian singer Natalie Grant will be leading the worship and sharing her testimony. All are welcome to attend.
If anyone is interested in attending the National Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday May 7 (7:30am-9:30am) there are a few tickets available - https://www.nationalprayerbreakfast.ca/
ONLINE MORNING PRAYER: Monday - Saturday at 8 AM
Morning Prayer is a great way to start your day with prayer, Scripture, and Christian fellowship. We meet Monday through Saturday at 8 AM on Zoom. To get connected, please contact the church office.
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 10:45 AM
The Thursday morning Bible study gathers at 10:45 AM and ends at noon. We meet on Zoom and all are welcome! To get connected, please contact the church office
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
The season of Easter celebration continues for the next few weeks. We will be working on our Easter Capes and Easter Shields projects again this week.
Our Nursery program will include songs and stories in addition to some time for free play in our space.
Our JK-Grade 2 Easter series is entitled Easter Surprises! This group will look at stories from the Gospel of Luke over the next few weeks. Lori leads our lesson this week - Jesus gives his disciples a job! The group meets in the Chapel area located off the Parish Hall. Our time together includes the bible lesson, crafts and interactive games. A nut-free snack is provided.
Our Grade 3/4 Easter series is entitled We Have Seen Jesus! This week’s lesson is entitled Breakfast on the Beach. They meet in the Parish Hall.
Our Grades 5/6 Easter series is entitled He is Risen! This group will look at a number of Gospel passages over the coming weeks.
In addition to the Bible lesson, our program for the older groups includes discussion, crafts and activities and cooperative games. A nut-free snack is provided.
VISITOR AND REGISTRATION FORMS FOR NURSERY AND JR CHURCH
We continue to regularly welcome new children into our Nursery and Jr Church. These include visiting families, new families making SPP their home church, and children bringing friends to church. We do not require visitors to fully register for our program immediately but do want to ensure we have appropriate information to keep everyone safe. In response, we have created a Visitor Form which will be available at the back of the church and in the lobby.
A reminder that for children enrolling in our program a one-time registration form is required to be filled-out by parents for children of all ages each school year.
Click here to fill out the Nursery Registration & Consent form.
Click here to fill out the Junior Church Registration & Consent form.
PLAYGROUP on WEDNESDAY MORNINGS
Our weekly Playgroup is held from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM on Wednesdays in our nursery space. Tea and coffee is served. Parents and caregivers are welcome to bring a snack for their little ones. We are asking that parents register for Playgroup here this year.
YOUTH GROUP: SUNDAYS at 6 PM.
There will be no youth group Sunday, April 26 or Sunday, May 5.
The Youth Group is a great place to make friends in an environment that is both fun and focused on developing a relationship with the Triune God.
We spend time getting to know each other, sharing what is happening in our lives, playing games, studying God’s Word and responding in worship and prayer. If your child is in grades 6-12, they are welcome to join us. The Junior (Grades 6-8) and Senior Youth Groups (Grades 9-12) meet Sunday nights, 6 PM - 8 PM.
New families will need to fill out a registration form (Click Here). We are excited to connect and continue to grow together. If you have any questions contact Pastor Ben - revbenspp@gmail.com or call the church office 613-235-1636.
A PLACE TO GO: Fridays from 7 - 9 PM
Our Friday night drop-in program (A Place To Go) is Friday evenings with new hours from 7 PM to 9 PM. If you would like to learn more about A Place To Go, you are invited to come on a Friday night through the front doors of the church and grab a coffee or tea and enjoy a meal with some new friends. We are always looking for new volunteers from our congregation! If you would like to learn about becoming a volunteer, please contact the church office.
SHORT-TERM MISSION FUND
At St Peter & St Paul’s there is an Outreach Partners Committee that administers funds for various outreach initiatives. Part of the funding available has been designated for short-term missions and special requests’ Money is available to help pay the costs for someone engaged in a relevant event or mission activity. Some examples might be: Attending a missions conference, participating in a short term mission trip, or even initiating something in your neighbourhood. Imagine hosting a community BBQ or delivering baked goods to neighbours with an eye to how that might spark conversations about Jesus. If you are interested in finding out more about this, please contact the office via email (admin@peterpaulottawa.com) or phone (613-235-1636).
BRING NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS for the Centretown Community Food Centre
Our parish is collecting non-perishable food items for the Centretown Community Food Centre. As you have probably heard on the news, the use of food banks is soaring at this time. Our church has been a long-time supporter of this venture. You may drop off items in the large baskets at the back of the church. Ideas for food items or details to make a financial donation are at https://ccfcottawa.ca/donate.
PARISH PODCAST and SERMONS
Did you know our parish has a Podcast? You can get to know some of our clergy and ministry leaders better and learn more about life at and beyond St Peter & St Paul’s.
You can listen to our sermons, too!
To hear our podcasts, visit our website: peterpaulottawa.com/podcast
To listen to our sermons, visit our website: peterpaulottawa.com/sermons
To listen to our podcast and sermons on your phone, you can go to your favourite podcast app and search for “peterpaulottawa” and subscribe. Or you can click to add a new podcast via RSS feed and then add “http://peterpaulottawa.com/sermons/?format=rss”
Church Office Hours
The church office is open from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Tuesday through Thursday. You can reach the office by phone at 613-235-1636 or by email at admin@peterpaulottawa.com.
WORSHIP: 10:30 AM Sundays
We gather together for worship at 10:30 AM on Sundays, both in-person at the church and online on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/StPandPOttawa/)
Please use the Worship Guide to follow along with the service. You can join us in person at 152 Metcalfe Street.
PARKING NOTE: If you choose to park on the street, please make sure to check the parking signs for regulations. Parking on Gloucester Street is no longer free on Sundays. Some parishioners have received parking tickets. There is a paid lot directly behind the church on Gloucester Street that offers all-day parking at a flat rate on Sundays.