Our various outreach activities at St. John's
ACW (Anglican Church Women)
All women in the parish are invited to be part of the ACW. We meet on the third Monday of every month (except July & August) at noon in the church. Our purpose as Anglican women is to provide the opportunity for all women in the diocese to be united in fellowship of worship, learning and offering with a view to deepen and strengthen their devotional life.
We support our church through fundraising and then put these funds to work for our parish and diocese. Our ACW supports the Sanctuary Guild (more information below) and also looks after the kitchen in the church. Over the past few years we have provided a new stove, dishwasher, refrigerator and coffee urns.
We support our church through fundraising and then put these funds to work for our parish and diocese. Our ACW supports the Sanctuary Guild (more information below) and also looks after the kitchen in the church. Over the past few years we have provided a new stove, dishwasher, refrigerator and coffee urns.
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Some of our yearly activities and projects include:
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Our Outreach program includes:
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Friendly Visitors Group
The friendly church visitors’ program at St. John’s is an outreach program led by the Rector encouraging congregational members to visit people who are no longer able to attend our church but have the desire to stay connected with us. Typically, two-person teams or individuals visit nursing homes or private homes, once or twice a month.
These visits are very rewarding to the visitor, mainly because the people visited are so very pleased to see people from the church and eager to explain to them what has been, or is, going on in their lives. Most visits consist of offering opportunities to ask questions about the church, listening to their stories, offering them a current bulletin, or any other information of interest to them and, if wanted, having a brief prayer.
The group generally meets together 2-3 times a year to report the status of the visitees, to exchange visitation experiences any new ideas for the future.
We are always looking for new members and anyone interested in this rewarding work is asked to contact either Patsy Clothier or Chris Maltby for information.
These visits are very rewarding to the visitor, mainly because the people visited are so very pleased to see people from the church and eager to explain to them what has been, or is, going on in their lives. Most visits consist of offering opportunities to ask questions about the church, listening to their stories, offering them a current bulletin, or any other information of interest to them and, if wanted, having a brief prayer.
The group generally meets together 2-3 times a year to report the status of the visitees, to exchange visitation experiences any new ideas for the future.
We are always looking for new members and anyone interested in this rewarding work is asked to contact either Patsy Clothier or Chris Maltby for information.
L'Arche Homefires larchehomefires.org
L’Arche Homefires was founded in Wolfville in 1981 with the support of friends and local churches. They are a community of people with and without developmental disabilities working and living together in five homes, two supported apartments and three day programs.
In 2012, L’Arche purchased St. John’s former Church Hall planning to renovate and expand it. With the support of St. John’s congregation and the generosity of many donors, they now have a resplendent building in which to consolidate day programs, create accessible workplaces, and enhance our community gatherings and welcome friends.
Their links with St. John’s continue to be close, sharing spiritual needs and community activities.
They seek to offer not a solution, but a sign - a sign that society, to be truly human, must be founded on welcome and respect for all people whatever their abilities.
In 2012, L’Arche purchased St. John’s former Church Hall planning to renovate and expand it. With the support of St. John’s congregation and the generosity of many donors, they now have a resplendent building in which to consolidate day programs, create accessible workplaces, and enhance our community gatherings and welcome friends.
Their links with St. John’s continue to be close, sharing spiritual needs and community activities.
They seek to offer not a solution, but a sign - a sign that society, to be truly human, must be founded on welcome and respect for all people whatever their abilities.
WAICC (Wolfville Area Inter-Church Council) waicc.org
St. John’s Anglican Church was instrumental in the founding of the Wolfville Area Inter-Church Council. This was founded in 1970 as a form of ecumenical Christian commitment to address perceived spiritual and social needs. Some of the projects undertaken include Senior Citizen Housing which developed into Blomidon View Manor, the existing Meals-on-Wheels program, and most ambitious of all, the Interchurch Housing Society which created decent affordable housing for poverty-stricken families. The Wolfville Area Inter-Church Council in conjunction with various community organizations, such as the Wolfville Rotary Club and the Wolfville Lions Club, has operated a Christmas Food Program. A year round Emergency Food Relief program has been added. These two food programs currently represent the major on-going social commitment of the Council and cover the area in which the supporting congregations are located.
The spiritual needs of the community have been attended to by a continuing program of public seminars, lectures, workshops, and religious services organized by the Council and financed out of annual dues paid by the member churches. These churches also contribute financially to the food programs in addition to monies donated by individual members of their congregations and various church organizations. This council fosters ongoing collaboration between the various denominations in the area.
The spiritual needs of the community have been attended to by a continuing program of public seminars, lectures, workshops, and religious services organized by the Council and financed out of annual dues paid by the member churches. These churches also contribute financially to the food programs in addition to monies donated by individual members of their congregations and various church organizations. This council fosters ongoing collaboration between the various denominations in the area.
PWRDF (Primate's World Relief and Development Fund) pwrdf.org
Lent Without Borders
When the pandemic forced churches to close to public worship, PWRDF began gathering its volunteers and supporters from across Canada on Zoom. Praying with PWRDF was a way to stay connected to our partners and their work, as well as to each other. “Praying with PWRDF sustained me,” wrote one online parishioner.
This Lent, we present a collection of our favourite reflections from partners and volunteers, with music, videos, PWRDF stories and more.
Our reflectors are:
Each day you will receive an email in your inbox to guide you through Lent, starting with Ash Wednesday on February 22. We hope you will take this opportunity to pray with us during Lent and learn more about our partners and volunteers. Subscribe to receive a daily message in your inbox.
Subscribe here.
This Lent, we present a collection of our favourite reflections from partners and volunteers, with music, videos, PWRDF stories and more.
Our reflectors are:
- Ash Wednesday to Saturday – The Venerable Charlene Taylor, Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador
- Lent 1 – Dr. Evrard Nahimana, Partners In Health Rwanda
- Lent 2 – The Rt. Rev. Bishop Riscylla Shaw, Bishop, Diocese of Toronto
- Lent 3- The Rev. Canon Rachel Carnegie, Anglican Alliance
- Lent 4 – Heather Smith, Executive Director of Rayjon Share Care, Haiti
- Lent 5 – Sophia Gebreyes, Lutheran World Federation, Ethiopia
- Palm Sunday and Holy Week – The Rev. Patrick Stephens, PWRDF Representative for the Diocese of Ottawa
Each day you will receive an email in your inbox to guide you through Lent, starting with Ash Wednesday on February 22. We hope you will take this opportunity to pray with us during Lent and learn more about our partners and volunteers. Subscribe to receive a daily message in your inbox.
Subscribe here.
