Following the morning service on Sunday June 29, families and friends spilled out of the church and gathered together for a joyful picnic with food and fellowship — not even the threat of rain could dampen our spirits! We were especially blessed to welcome some of the families of children registered for this year’s Community Roots summer camp. What a joy it was to see new faces joining in the fun and feeling right at home.
 
The grill team was on fire (literally and figuratively), serving up hot dogs and burgers fresh off the flame. Kids (young and old!) played lawn games while others caught up over lemonade and laughter. And the dessert table—oh, the dessert table—was truly a sight to behold, groaning under the weight of homemade cookies and cupcakes.
 
More than just a picnic, the gathering was a beautiful reminder of what it means to be a church family — welcoming, generous, joyful. As plates emptied and hearts filled, we were reminded that moments like these are where community is built, where new connections form, and where God's love is shared in the most delicious and down-to-earth ways.
 
Thank you to every volunteer who brought a dish, set up tables, flipped burgers, or simply showed up with a smile. Your presence helped turn an ordinary Sunday into something truly special.
 
Here’s to many more gatherings like this—and to a summer full of faith, fun, and fresh opportunities to grow together.

​On Sunday, March 9, St. John’s had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Michelle Boyd’s Acadia Singers. Their voices augmented our worship and the upper voice ensemble joined ranks with our parish choir to bring our liturgy a different sound.

The Acadia Singers offered Sicut Cervus (Giovanni Palestrina) and Deep River (Shawn Okpebholo) during our Service of the Word. Both of these pieces have a history of proclaiming the faith of Christians in drastically different times.

The Acadia Singers added their voices with the parish choristers in the final piece, Benediction by Franz Schubert from his German Mass.
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We thank Dr. Boyd for this gift. Our parish is grateful for the connection with Acadia Music!

Students in our university town are often looking for quiet spaces to study, especially as they prepare for exams. For the third exam period in a row, St. John’s responded by hosting a Pop-up Study Café. During one week in December the café provided a much-needed respite for students by offering a warm and welcoming space to study, relax, and recharge.
 
The concept behind the Pop-Up Study Café is simple: create a comfortable, quiet environment for students to focus on their work while providing little touches that make their study sessions enjoyable. We transformed our sanctuary and meeting room into an inviting café complete with cozy seating, spaces to work individually or in groups, and free wifi. The congregation jumped in as volunteer hosts and by providing much appreciated snacks. The hot chocolate, especially on some chilly winter days, was a big hit.
 
The Pop-Up Study Café not only created a space for academic focus but also fostered a sense of community. Students were able to take a break and connect with others, exchanging tips on study habits and chatting over their warm drinks. Many words of encouragement and a conversation between volunteers and students took place over the kettle in the kitchen.
 
Students were clearly appreciative of the church's efforts as time and again, they told St. John’s volunteers staffing the café that the church really understood what they needed. It’s not just about a place to study—it’s about feeling cared for during this stressful time of the year.
 
The Pop-Up Study Café is proof that simple acts of kindness -- a little warm welcome, community, and hot chocolate -- can go a long way in creating a positive and supportive environment for university students. With the best attendance yet at this third café, it’s clear that this initiative is meeting a real need.

That’s a wrap! (and a pizza …)
 
On October 31st, the Front Street Community Oven hosted its last weekly cookout for the season. The Thursday cookouts were truly community events, where people from all walks of life cooked together at the outdoor oven and ate together at common tables in Robie Tufts Park. Menus varied from pita & salads, to fruit crumble & local cheeses, to the ever-popular pizza, with some food provided by The Oven and other offerings shared potluck-style.
 
The Oven is a dynamic community organization that relies on volunteers, donations, and sponsorships (plus two paid staff members) to nourish 60-100 people at each of the free weekly cookouts between June and October. This year, St. John’s partnered with The Oven to access $12,500 in funding from The Windsor Foundation, allowing us to sponsor four cookouts and grow our own community connections here in Wolfville.
 
It was a joy be amongst the seniors and singles, families and students, unhoused folks and newcomers all eating together! At The Oven, all are nourished in body and spirit, as together we build a neighbourhood where all may belong. 
 
For more about The Oven, check out the website & socials: frontstreetoven.ca @frontstreetoven on Instagram & Facebook

​For the second year in a row, Musique Royale hosted a concert at St. John’s. This year we were delighted to welcome Thomas Baeté, who played the viola da gamba and also sang, and Suren Barry, who played harpsichord.

Their generous programme consisted of pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries, by a variety of composers including the Englishman Matthew Locke (1622-1677), J.S. Bach (1685-1750) from Germany, and Frenchmen Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764) and Marin Marais (1656-1728). Themed around the title “Of Myth and Man”, these selections were from music written around themes of Greek myths, a popular focus for composers in this time period.

Thomas and Suren are first and foremost experts on their chosen instruments, displaying a creative energy individually and as a duet. They are also delightful and amusing gentlemen, generously sharing their knowledge with the audience between pieces.

St John’s offers an intimate setting for a concert of this nature, with good acoustics and a welcoming ambience. Attendees were richly rewarded by the very fine performances offered by these magnificent musicians.