An evening on the rooftop of the National Arts Centre | July 15
Wednesday, July 15 at 7:30 PM
The Subcommittee for the Preservation of Fun would like to invite you to an evening on the rooftop terrace of the National Arts Centre on Wednesday, July 15 at 7:30 for a free concert, to listen to a live performance by the group Rum Ragged https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/40948
We suggest you arrive early with a portable chair and a picnic supper. We'll meet up on the terrace.
For further info please contact the church office at admin@peterpaulottawa.com
Ephesians Course | September 17 to December 3
On Thursdays, starting September 17 at 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Pastor Ben will be leading an 11-week course focused on Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Unlike many of Paul’s letters, Ephesians does not focus on any obvious pastoral issues, rather Paul gives us a big-picture view of what God has done for us in Christ, and how to live into the fullness of this new reality. The letter is a masterful work of art, made up of praise, prayers, theological statements, and practical implications for daily life.
Our time together will be a mix of teaching, discussion, and prayer. There will be light refreshments. A study guide will be provided.
The curriculum will be:
Ephesians 1:1-14 - Grace and Peace Revealed (part I) - September 17
Ephesians 1:15-23 - Grace and Peace Revealed (part II) – September 24
Ephesians 2:1-10 - Saved by Grace – October 1
Ephesians 2:11-22 - The New Humanity of Grace and Peace – October 8
Ephesians 3:1-13 - Paul’s Mission of Grace and Peace – October 15
Pastor Ben will be away October 22 at our annual Synod
Ephesians 3:14-21 - Experiencing God’s Grace and Peace – October 29
Ephesians 4:1-16 - The Goal of Grace - November 5
Ephesians 4:17-32 - Walking by Grace (part I) – November 12
Ephesians 5:1-21 - Walking by Grace (part II) – November 19
Ephesians 5:21-6:9 - Manifesting Grace in Our Relationships – November 26
Ephesians 6:10-24 - Standing Firm in the Grace and Peace of God – December 3
Life @ St P&P Course | September 13 to October 25
We will be offering a 6-week class designed for those who are new to our parish and interested in learning more about what it means to follow Jesus in the Anglican way.
The course will begin on Sunday, September 13 at 9 AM in Stiller Hall. We will take a break on Thanksgiving Sunday, and finish up with a Luncheon on Sunday, October 25 at 12:45 PM.
This class will focus on our core values, our approach to interpreting and applying scripture, Anglican worship and discipleship and membership.
The Alpha Course
Wednesdays, 6 PM - 8:30 PM (September 16 - December 2)
ALPHA is designed to be a safe place to learn about the Christian faith in a relaxed, friendly environment. Over the span of 10 weeks, we explore a number of questions like: Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How and why should I pray? Does God heal today? Each evening we share a meal together, watch a video, and then spend time in discussion. ALPHA is also a great way to connect with new friends, build community, and grow in your relationship with God.
The course will run on Wednesdays, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM (September 16 - December 2) at St Peter & St Paul's Anglican Church.
VBS Kids Summer Camp | August 17 to 21
VBS Summer Camp will take place again this summer and will run August 17-21 from 9 AM to 2 PM.
Our theme this year: Jesus is the Light of the World. Camp is for children born 2015-2021. Registration is now open here. Please register early as space is limited.
Parish Update
THE COLLECT FOR THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Pitiful.”
That word is really only uttered as an insult these days, isn’t it? The word instantly conjures up the image of someone shaking their head in disappointment or disgust, and they condemn whoever stands before them. Pitiful.
And yet our Collect this Sunday tells us that God manifests His almighty power by showing us pity. I don’t think this is something we should move past too quickly. God has pity on us. To put a fine point on it, God finds us pitiful.
This may sting a bit, but this is the gracious threshold over which we must step if we are to partake of the heavenly treasure that our Collect also imagines. The fact of the matter is that we are pitiful. God has entrusted His great, beautiful, fragile world to us His image-bearers, and we have made an otherwise inescapable mess of it and of ourselves. There is freedom in admitting that we are, in fact, pitiful, because it’s true, and before we accept the truth, we can do nothing to address it.
We are pitiful, but God is gracious in His almighty power. We are hopelessly bound up in the mess we have made of God’s world, if not for His almighty power, which, in His infinite grace, He is well pleased to declare chiefly in showing us the mercy and pity we do not deserve but desperately need. We cannot receive that grace until we feel the sting to our ego that only comes by confessing our unqualified, undeniable, unadorned pitifulness. And it is always God’s delight, not only to show us the mercy and pity we need, but to give far more abundantly than we can ask or imagine, and to grant us the grace we need to attain His heavenly treasure.
So as we prepare for Sunday, let us take a moment to confess our pitiable state, without shame, because there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Let us confess that we are pitiful and then anticipate with great expectation that God will show up in His almighty power to show us mercy and pity, and give us all that we need to live the abundant, joyful, eternal life that He has for us.
UPCOMING EVENTS – Mark Your Calendars
July 19: Sunday service at 10:30 AM with Jr Church. (Streamed online)
August 17 to 21: VBS Kids Summer Camp for Children. Register here.
September 13: Life @ St P&P’s Course begins. Register here.
September 16: ALPHA course begins. Register here.
September 17: Ephesians Course begins. Register here.
ALPHA course - Wednesdays, September 16 to December 2, at 6 PM
We are excited to announce that we will be running the ALPHA course this fall, starting Wednesdays, September 16 (6 PM – 8:30 PM). ALPHA is designed to be a safe place to learn about the Christian faith in a relaxed, friendly environment over a meal.
Over the span of 11 weeks, we explore a number of questions like: Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How and why should I pray? Does God heal today?
Each evening we share a meal together, watch a video, and then spend time in discussion. ALPHA is also a great way to connect with new friends, build community, and grow in your relationship with God.
Please pray about how you might take part in ALPHA and who you could invite to come with you. We have postcards at the back of the church you can use to invite friends. If you’ve taken the course before, consider how you can support this outreach ministry through prayer, serving as a table helper, making and serving food, or perhaps taking the course with a friend. If you have any questions, contact the church office at admin@peterpaulottawa.com or 613-235-1636. Please register here.
Life @ St P & P’s Course –Sundays, from September 13 to October 25, at 9 AM
We will be offering a 6-week class designed for those who are new to our parish and interested in learning more about what it means to follow Jesus in the Anglican way. The course will begin on Sunday, September 13 at 9 AM in Stiller Hall. We will take a break on Thanksgiving Sunday, and finish up with a Luncheon on Sunday, October 25 at 12:45 PM. This class will focus on our core values, our approach to interpreting and applying scripture, Anglican worship and discipleship and membership. Register here.
Ephesians Course - Thursdays, from September 17 to December 3, at 6 PM
Pastor Ben will be leading an 11-week course focused on Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Unlike many of Paul’s letters, Ephesians does not focus on any obvious pastoral issues, rather Paul gives us a big-picture view of what God has done for us in Christ, and how to live into the fullness of this new reality. The letter is a masterful work of art, made up of praise, prayers, theological statements, and practical implications for daily life. Our time together will be a mix of teaching, discussion, and prayer. There will be light refreshments. A study guide will be provided. Please register here.
Outreach Partner Update — Hannah Willmann, InterVarsity Canada
We are delighted to introduce Hannah Willmann, one of St P&P’s newest outreach partners. Hannah serves with InterVarsity Canada, at the University of Ottawa, walking alongside graduate students and faculty as they follow Christ together and seek to be a redeeming influence among the people, ideas, and structures of the university. Her work includes campus prayer, one-on-one meetings, weekly fellowship dinners, and creative connection points that help build trust and friendship.
It has been a busy year of campus ministry for Hannah, interspersed with a study week in Vancouver and a staff conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Through it all, she has continued to give thanks for steady signs of growth on campus, with students speaking of finding community, rest, and a deeper awareness of God's presence in their lives.
With campus quieter over the summer, she is now turning her attention to the new academic year, setting aside Friday, June 26, as a dedicated day of prayer for God's vision and provision.
This Sunday, June 28, Hannah will share a presentation about her ministry following the service. Please stay to learn more and to encourage her.
Please pray:
that God would raise up two students to form the core leadership of the fellowship,
for wisdom and fresh connections as Hannah prepares for September, and
that students and faculty would encounter the goodness of Jesus.
Looking for Sandwich Makers, Soup Makers, and Friday Night Volunteers
Our church runs a weekly drop-in on Friday evenings from 7 PM to 9 PM called A Place To Go. This ministry gives us the opportunity to provide Christian hospitality to our neighbours in Centretown and it provides a place for food, fellowship, community, and prayer for those who may not have anywhere else to go.
We depend on a large number of volunteers to make this ministry happen. A team of about seven volunteers (different ones each week), including a team leader, prepares Stiller Hall, the drinks, and the food for serving. We pray together before opening the doors at 7 PM and then serve our guests. We have a lot of fun and get plenty of exercise! We also spend time in the kitchen washing dishes, running them through the sanitizer, and putting them away.
In addition to our in-person volunteers, we rely on a team of soup makers and sandwich makers. Our sandwich makers make four loaves of sandwiches at home and then drop them off at the church once a month. Sometimes, sandwich makers who live close to the other will bring one another’s sandwiches. Those making sandwiches can submit grocery receipts to the church for reimbursement.
A Place To Go is in need of people who are willing to make sandwiches once a month, make a batch of soup once a month, and who are willing to volunteer at the church from 6 PM to 9:30 PM once a month.
We also welcome those who can make a batch of soup in advance, freeze it, and drop it off to be used for a future Friday. Please mark soup containers with “PTG,” the date it was made, name and primary ingredients in the soup, your name, and if it is vegetarian.
If you would like to learn more about A Place To Go or volunteering, please click hereor contact the church office.
Meals Ministry
Do you like to cook or buy and deliver meals? Our Meal Train Ministry is looking for people to cook and deliver meals. Providing meals is a practical way of supporting others during a challenging time. It is a real blessing to receive a meal following surgery or recovering from an illness. It is also a wonderful gift to young families after the birth of a new baby. If you are interested in joining the team or learning more about this ministry, please email church office at admin@peterpaulottawa.com.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
Summer is here!
A reminder that our Nursery space is open but not staffed during July and August. Parents are welcome to bring their children into the nursery, but must remain with their child at all times. Nursery is for children up to age 5 only. Should older children need to leave the Sanctuary but do not want to join Jr Church, they are invited to use the library.
Begining this Sunday, Jr Church children will gather altogether. Over the month of July, we will look at the metanarrative of the Bible to see God’s overarching plan for humanity - Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. This will be a highly interactive and fun series with lots of crafts and games!
Our full Children’s Ministry program will resume on September 6th. We continue to pray our families will have a safe and relaxing summer!
VBS Summer Camp - August 17 to 21
VBS Summer Camp will take place again this summer and will run August 17-21 from 9 AM to 2 PM. You are invited to prayerfully consider who the Lord may be calling you to invite. VBS was designed to reach children who may not otherwise come to church and hear about Jesus. Perhaps you have grandchildren, your own children’s friends or neighbours who may be interested in a week of fun! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Carolyn Vanderheide. Our theme this year: Jesus is the Light of the World. Camp is for children born 2015-2021. Registration is now open here.
Playgroup on Summer Break
Playgroup is taking a pause over the summer months. We will resume gathering in September. Praying for a safe and fun-filled summer break for all our children and parents.
Online Thursday morning Bible Study on Summer Break
The Thursday morning Bible Study is taking a break for the summer. We will resume in September to study the book of Daniel.
Online Morning Prayer on Summer Break
We are taking a break for the summer. We will resume on September 8.
Hospitality Team
Thinking you would like to volunteer somewhere, but are afraid of making a regular commitment? The Hospitality Team may be for you!
The Hospitality Team hosts Hospitality Hours after church, receptions, potlucks, and other parish events in Stiller Hall. You are welcome to join us once a year, once in a blue moon, or every time we host an event. You are welcome even if baking is not your thing. You can set out dishes, plate cookies, put jugs of water in the fridge, bring dirty dishes into the kitchen, help load or unload the dishwasher –there are lots of different things to do. You will receive an email when there is an upcoming event, and you can respond or ignore, depending on your availability. Join the team by signing up here.
CHURCH RESOURCES
Church Office: The church office is open from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM Tuesdays through Thursdays. You can reach the office by phone at 613-235-1636 or by email at admin@peterpaulottawa.com.
Worship: 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: There is a paid lot directly behind the church on Gloucester Street that offers all-day parking at a flat rate on Sundays. For street parking, please check posted signs and pay stations.
Online: Check out our Facebook page for livestreams of our services, audio recordings of our sermons, and other news and posts. You can listen to our Parish podcast and sermons on your favourite podcast app by searching for “peterpaulottawa” and subscribing. And there is also our Website where you can listen to our sermons and podcasts, sign up for events, and read an extended cut of the weekly parish update.