St. John the Baptist Anglican Church
5009 51 St T0A 3A4 Saint Paul, AB, Canada

Anglican Church of Canada Episcopal Statement June 8, 2020... The Anglican Church of Canada has committed itself to confronting racism in its own life and to acknowledging the place of racism and colonialism in our own nation. That commitment needs to be renewed daily. We have been horrified by the public murder of George Floyd. We are deeply distressed and profoundly disturbed by the images, rhetoric, violence, division, and chaos that has followed. We offer our prayerful support and solidarity with our sister church, the Episcopal Church, as it prays and guides its people while it simultaneously repents of, and protests the sin of racism. Our own house is not in order. Systemic racism exists in every part of Canada. The words of the Anglican Church of Canadas 2004 Charter for Justice remind us: The assumption of racial difference and inequality was the basis of much of Canadas social legislation. For example, as a result of the Indian Act, First Nations people were confined to their reserves and their lands, and made susceptible to exploitation and take over. Immigration policies restricted Black, Asian and Jewish immigrants. Canadians of Japanese and Ukrainian descent were rounded up and interned during World War Two. Labour legislation dictated who could and couldnt work for whom, and who could do what kind of work. We repent of our complicity in the continuing structures of racism and oppression in our church and in our culture, for racism is not of Christ. It is sin. Every human being reflects the dignity of the very image of God. At baptism we commit to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being. It is the centre of the ministry and message of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Marks of Mission, to whichwe are committed as a Communion, remind us that we are called to seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation. The Anglican Church of Canada has been wrestling with racism and our complicity in systems of injustice for decades. It is a matter of public record that The Anglican Church of Canada has been committed to and learning about a new path to reconciliation with Indigenous Anglicans. We recommit ourselves today to that path. The legacy of racism, colonialism, and the residential schools they spawned as well as the open wound of the plight of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls continues to call out for healing. This season in particular is the anniversary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015) and the Report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) (2019). As teachers of the gospel, we remind the world that Christ himself was crucified in part because of the threat he represented in standing with those who were marginalized. (Luke 6:20-28). We re-commit ourselves and our Dioceses to confront the sin of racism in all its forms and the patterns of silence and self-congratulation, which have silenced the experiences of people of colour, First Nations, Mtis and Inuit peoples of this land. Sincerely, Archbishop Linda Nicholls Primate Archbishop Mark Macdonald National Anglican Indigenous Archbishop Archbishop Anne Germond Diocese of Algoma / Moosonee & Metropolitan of Ontario Bishop Joey Royal Diocese of the Arctic Bishop Lucy Netser Diocese of the Arctic Bishop David Greenwood Diocese of Athabasca Bishop William Cliff Diocese of Brandon The Ven. Ansley Tucker, Administrator Diocese of British Columbia Bishop David Lehmann Diocese of Caledonia Archbishop Greg Kerr-Wilson Diocese of Calgary & Metropolitan of Ruperts Land Bishop John Watton Diocese of C. Newfoundland Bishop Geoff Peddle Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador Bishop Jane Alexander Diocese of Edmonton Bishop David Edwards Diocese of Fredericton Bishop Todd Townsend Diocese of Huron Bishop Lynne McNaughton Diocese of Kootenay Bishop Lydia Mamakwa Diocese of Mishamikoweesh Bishop Larry Beardy Diocese of Mishamikoweesh Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson Diocese of Montreal Archbishop Melissa Skelton Diocese of New Westminster & Metropolitan of B.C. and Yukon Bishop Susan Bell Diocese of Niagara Archbishop Ron Cutler Diocese of Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island & Metropolitan of Canada Bishop Michael Oulton Diocese of Ontario Bishop Shane Parker Diocese of Ottawa Bishop Rob Hardwick Diocese of QuAppelle Bishop Bruce Myers Diocese of Quebec Bishop Geoff Woodcroft Diocese of Ruperts Land Bishop Michael Hawkins Diocese of Saskatchewan Bishop Adam Halkett Diocese of Saskatchewan Bishop Chris Harper Diocese of Saskatoon Bishop-elect Lincoln McKoen Diocese of the Territory of the People Bishop Andrew Asbil Diocese of Toronto Bishop Peter Fenty Diocese of Toronto Bishop Riscylla Shaw Diocese of Toronto Bishop Kevin Robertson Diocese of Toronto Bishop Jenny Andison Diocese of Toronto Bishop John Organ Diocese of Western Newfoundland Bishop Lesley Wheeler-Dame Diocese of Yukon Bishop Nigel Shaw Bishop Ordinary to the Canadian Forces Bishop Philip Poole Chaplain to the House of Bishops

While the doors of St. John must remained closed for safety, please remember that bills must still be paid or there will be longer be an Anglican presence in St. Paul. Donations can be mailed to PO box 1390, St. Paul. Thank you!

Just a reminder that while our doors must still remain closed, we are welcome to join online services with St. Xaviers. Please respond here or call Rev. Elizabeth Metcalfe in Vermilion.

Please remember to stop whatever you are doing at 3:00 today and pray for the victims and their families in Nova Scotia. A prayer shared by Rev Elizabeth: O God the maker and redeemer of all grant us, with those whose lives were taken in Nova Scotia and all your faithful departed, the sure benefits of your Sons saving passion and glorious resurrection;... that in the last day, when you gather up all things in Christ, we may with them enjoy the fullness of your promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unnity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, Amen. Facebook page Nova Scotia Remembers

Lettuce pray...

St. Saviours Vermilion is hosting "Virtual Church" using the Zoom Web program. You are all invited to attend. If you would like the meeting number, password, and instructions on how to use Zoom, please contact St. John the Baptist on messenger. Just a reminder that Rev. Elizabeth has been asked by our Bishop to help care for our church until we have another minister. I attended the service last week online and greatly enjoyed the opportunity to worship with others.

Thank you for the words @PoemsandPeonies.

Prayer for a Pandemic (from St. Pauls Church, Lexington, Ken., shared by the Primate, Archbishop Linda Nicholls) May we who are merely inconvenienced Remember... those whose lives are at stake. May we who have no risk factors Remember those most vulnerable. May we who have the luxury of working from home Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent. May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close, Remember those who have no options. May we who have to cancel our trips Remember those that have no safe place to go. May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market Remember those who have no margin at all. May we who settle in for a quarantine at home Remember those who have no home. As fear grips our country, Let us choose love. During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbour. Amen. See more

March 14, 2020 Dear Brothers and Sisters, It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter. As from March 15th to March 31st regular public worship in the Diocese of Edmonton is suspended. I do not take this step lightly. All the dioceses of the ecclesiastical province of Ontario have cancelled worship as has the Diocese of Rupertsland and the Indigenous Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh. I anticipate more will follow very soon. We are living in an extraordinary time a...nd we need to put the needs of the most vulnerable members of our churches before all else. As you may know, the Government of Alberta has asked all organizers of events with over 50 people which include seniors to cancel those events. I ask you all to think about how you might be able to live stream a service or a message each week through social media. We will share through the diocesan website resources that will help. Now is the time to divide the parish lists into phone groups so you and vestry can make sure everyone gets a weekly call to see how they are doing. Your pastoral care will be appreciated now more than ever. Churches can have prayer stations open each day at which clergy or lay readers are present, but I am asking that the numbers gathering are kept to 10-15 and that people socially distance themselves from one another. Please adhere to the guidelines around washing hands and using hand sanitizers. Please do not have face to face meetings such as vestry or corporation or even Bible studies for the next two weeks. Skype or other platforms can be used if you would like to continue to meet in that way. Bible study reflections could be posted on Facebook or other such media for people to keep going. If you serve meals to vulnerable people or are food bank depots you may keep those ministries going, but please be extra vigilant around hand washing and hand sanitizing. To cancel those ministries would cause more difficulty for those in greatest need. Be mindful of your volunteers and their own health and well being. Consider using to go packaging for meals and where possible spread tables and seating out over a greater area. Please use the utmost care. My brother and sister clergy please take good care of yourselves and your folk. I know this is a very hard thing to be doing. Please bear in mind that more details will follow next week but I wanted to get this to you today. I am available on 780 9889105 to answer any immediate questions you might have. with my love and prayers +Jane God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Psalm 46 See more

The first sign of spring!

The weather hasnt been helpful lately, but church is still on for tomorrow at 10:30.The weather hasnt been helpful lately, but church is still on for tomorrow at 10:30.

Church is cancelled due to bad roads.Church is cancelled due to bad roads.

Holy Eucharist this Sunday, March 1st at 10:30 a.m. The Reverend Elizabeth Metcalfe from Vermilion will be presiding.

There is no service this morning, February 23rd because the person with the keys is stuck in their driveway. Sorry for the short notice!

For several years now, my family along with St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in St. Paul, has donated turkey boxes to families who are in need for Thanksgiv...ing. These boxes contain a frozen turkey, boxes of stuffing, a bag of frozen vegetables, bag of potatoes, packs of gravy mix, a can of cranberries, a bag of cabbage salad, a bag of buns and a pie. We have passed these out at the church after accepting names through my Facebook page. Last year we were able to offer 20 boxes to families in need. Last time, we had people who wanted to donate food or money to help in helping others. If anyone would like to donate, please reach out to The Reverend Christopher Cook at 587-779-6591 by text/voice or email [email protected]. We are looking forward increasing the number of boxes we are able to hand out and are grateful for any donations. God Bless you. See more