Our various outreach activities at St. John's
ACW (Anglican Church Workers)
All 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 workers is to provide the opportunity for all 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
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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. On October 16th at noon we will welcome two speakers from
the L'Arche community to give a talk about this wonderful institution in our community. Open to all! |
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
PWRDF launches In-Canada Emergency Response Grant
(left to right) PWRDF has worked with dioceses to respond to wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alta., and Lytton, B.C., as well as hurricanes in the Atlantic provinces.
In this year of unprecedented wildfires from coast to coast, PWRDF is establishing a fund specifically for in-Canada emergency response.
This is true to our roots. PWRDF was born in 1958 out of a compelling desire from Anglicans to offer assistance to families in the wake of a mine disaster in Springhill, Nova Scotia.
In recent years, Canada has experienced an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes and floods, affecting thousands of families and individuals. Some communities have been particularly devastated. Time and time again, Anglicans have generously offered their financial support through PWRDF.
Currently, PWRDF accepts donations when a disaster happens, then works with the dioceses affected by the emergency to disburse the funds. This new fund will allow us to respond quickly when a diocese asks us for support, rather than wait to raise funds for individual disasters. Read about our recent response to Hurricane Fiona with the Diocese of Nova Scotia/PEI.
Parishes have expertise in outreach, information sharing and dissemination, volunteer engagement as well as real-time awareness of their communities. Churches know where and how to reach the most vulnerable, those overlooked by others. Clergy and parishioners may be some of the first responders in an emergency, and they are often among those who will still be there during mid- to longer-term recovery activities.
While we cannot respond to every emergency in Canada, we consider the severity and impact of the situation, response of other agencies including the government, availability of insurance coverage, and the extent to which additional support is needed. We look to fill gaps not covered by others, avoiding duplication of services.
Dioceses can access the new In-Canada Emergency Fund by requesting short-, medium- and longer-term support. This could include emergency accommodations, gift cards to purchase food, water and essentials, counselling and post-trauma supports, or locally identified long-term recovery activities to help rebuild community assets and increase community resilience.
Together, we can make a significant impact in the lives of people in Canada affected by disasters, offering solidarity and hope for those who have lost so much. For more information about how PWRDF responds to emergencies in Canada, visit pwrdf.org/in-canada-response.
Find out more information and how you can help here. If you wish to donate through St. John's, make your cheque payable to St. John's Anglican Church. Mark the envelope and the cheque's memo line "PWRDF In-Canada Emergency Fund".
This is true to our roots. PWRDF was born in 1958 out of a compelling desire from Anglicans to offer assistance to families in the wake of a mine disaster in Springhill, Nova Scotia.
In recent years, Canada has experienced an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes and floods, affecting thousands of families and individuals. Some communities have been particularly devastated. Time and time again, Anglicans have generously offered their financial support through PWRDF.
Currently, PWRDF accepts donations when a disaster happens, then works with the dioceses affected by the emergency to disburse the funds. This new fund will allow us to respond quickly when a diocese asks us for support, rather than wait to raise funds for individual disasters. Read about our recent response to Hurricane Fiona with the Diocese of Nova Scotia/PEI.
Parishes have expertise in outreach, information sharing and dissemination, volunteer engagement as well as real-time awareness of their communities. Churches know where and how to reach the most vulnerable, those overlooked by others. Clergy and parishioners may be some of the first responders in an emergency, and they are often among those who will still be there during mid- to longer-term recovery activities.
While we cannot respond to every emergency in Canada, we consider the severity and impact of the situation, response of other agencies including the government, availability of insurance coverage, and the extent to which additional support is needed. We look to fill gaps not covered by others, avoiding duplication of services.
Dioceses can access the new In-Canada Emergency Fund by requesting short-, medium- and longer-term support. This could include emergency accommodations, gift cards to purchase food, water and essentials, counselling and post-trauma supports, or locally identified long-term recovery activities to help rebuild community assets and increase community resilience.
Together, we can make a significant impact in the lives of people in Canada affected by disasters, offering solidarity and hope for those who have lost so much. For more information about how PWRDF responds to emergencies in Canada, visit pwrdf.org/in-canada-response.
Find out more information and how you can help here. If you wish to donate through St. John's, make your cheque payable to St. John's Anglican Church. Mark the envelope and the cheque's memo line "PWRDF In-Canada Emergency Fund".
