Parish Update
THE COLLECT FOR ASCENSION SUNDAY
Almighty God, whose only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven: May our hearts and minds also there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
This Thursday was Ascension Day. Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended into heaven in the sight of His disciples and took His seat at the right hand of His Father. Heaven is the place where God lives and reigns as King. God the Father is King. The one who sits at the right hand of a king is the one appointed to exercise the king’s authority. Before Jesus ascended, He said: “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). God the Father has given all authority to His Son to reign and rule heaven and earth as our high priest. It was the role of the high priest to represent God before humanity and humanity before God. Once a year, on the day of atonement, the high priest would enter the holiest of holies to offer sacrifices to God for the forgiveness of sins. The problem is that this had to be done every year, but Jesus died once for all, and now, as the author of Hebrews tells us, “Jesus lives forever; he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:24-25).
The cross is a finished work, but intercession is Jesus’ ongoing work. The cross was the first state of Jesus’ priesthood, now that His work on the cross is finished, He continues to work by interceding for us. To intercede is to assist someone who needs help. Jesus has been exalted to the highest place, and given Him the name above every other name, He is Lord and King, and the way he exercises His authority, the way He rules and reigns heaven and earth, is by helping those in need.
We are invited to “come with confidence before the throne of grace” and ask our Lord Jesus for help. He loves us and enjoys helping us! For when we ask in His name and receive from Him, Our Heavenly Father is glorified (John 14:13-14). In teaching His disciples to pray, Jesus says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10).
Friends, whatever you are going through, whatever your situation, our crucified-resurrected-ascended Lord and King sees you, He knows you, He’s waiting for you to ask Him help, for He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within you!
Let’s call upon the name of Jesus this week, bringing to Him our needs and the needs of others, and may the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors!
UPCOMING EVENTS – Mark Your Calendars
May 16: Practicing the Way Course continues on Thursday evenings at 6 PM.
May 29: Alpha Celebration Dinner
May 31-June 1: Parish Retreat (Camp IAWAH)
May and June: Pat Coulombe Art Exhibit Ongoing in the church lobby.
June 15: Women’s Potluck Breakfast in St Albert
Thank you from Adonis and his family!
There was an overwhelming response from the congregation to help Adonis and his family (from Burundi) settle into their new home with household goods and furniture. They have nearly everything they need! At this point, they could use an additional dresser, lamp, and end table. Adonis has secured employment, but is in need of reliable transportation. If you have any leads on a low-cost vehicle for a family of five, please let Rev. Desiree Stedman know. For more information or to volunteer to help, please contact Desiree+ via the church office.
ALPHA: CELEBRATION DINNER - Wednesday, May 29 at 6pm
The Alpha Course is coming to an end on Wednesday, May 29, and we are going to celebrate with a special catered meal. We would like to invite anyone who might be interested in taking the Alpha course in the fall, or if you know someone who might be interested, you can attend with them. Please register for the dinner here: https://peterpaulottawa.churchcenter.com/people/forms/745669
PARISH RETREAT May 31 - June 2
An all-ages retreat for the congregation of St Peter & St Paul’s will take place at Camp IAWAH (Godfrey, ON) from 6 PM Friday, May 31 to 1 PM Sunday, June 2. 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. We look forward to being together to relax, play, and explore what it means to be human through the lens of Genesis chapters 1-3. The registration deadline is May 26.
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 to 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. Please register here.
WOMEN’S POTLUCK BREAKFAST in St. Albert on Saturday, June 15 at 10 AM
One of our most popular annual events – Potluck Breakfast and Pool party at Laurie’s – will be taking place on Saturday, June 15. We will organize carpooling for the drive out to Laurie’s home in St. Albert – please register online and let us know if you can drive others or if you need a ride.
Laurie’s home has indoor and outdoor seating, an outdoor pool, and access to a river with kayaks. The women of the parish are invited to attend and are asked to bring a dish to share.
FAITH MATTERS WORKSHOP on Saturday, June 8 at 9 AM
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is hosting a workshop series on current issues facing the Canadian church. Join them at Kanata Baptist Church for free workshops on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) and Parenting and Grandparenting Faith, which will be followed by a light lunch: Workshop Registration.
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, Pastor Ben is running the course at the church on Thursdays from 6 PM to 8 PM. To register click here.
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. Please contact the church office to get connected.
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! Please contact the church office to get connected.
ART AND SOUL EXHIBIT AND SALE - Ongoing from May - June
Pat Coulombe is a retired ANiC priest and a local artist whose artwork is on display in the Lobby Gallery at St Peter & St Paul’s. Please contact the church office to purchase Pat’s artwork.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
Our Nursery program will include songs and stories in addition to some time for free play in our space.
Our JK-Grade 2 meets in the Chapel area located off the Parish Hall. Our time together includes a bible lesson, crafts and interactive games. A nut-free snack is provided.
Our Grade 3/4 group will meet in the Parish Hall along with our Grade 5/6 group.
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 on Sunday, May 12
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.