Living in a pandemic for the long haul is challenging. We are still called to pray, care for one another, and be reminded of God's presence.
St. John's Elora is here to help keep you safe, keep you connected to one another, and keep you spiritually grounded in the Christian faith.
The clergy are available to support you and you can reach them by email here.
We trust that you will discover that St. John's Elora is a church known for an outstanding choral tradition, inspiring preaching and liturgy, generous outreach, and a community that cares for one another.
St. John's is a member of the Anglican Church of Canada in the Diocese of Niagara.
FOR SUNDAY November 28, 2021
Click HERE for the full text of the Curate's Sermon.
Click HERE for the Order of Service for 11:00am.
Click HERE for the Order of Service for Advent Lessons and Carols.
Click HERE for the video of Advent Lessons and Carols.
To REGISTER to attend this coming Sunday morning service CLICK HERE
See below for Christmas services.
The Advent season is a call to reflection, simplicity, and spiritual grounding to prepare our hearts to hear and receive the good news of the eternal Word made flesh, the incarnation of God in our midst through the birth of Jesus Christ.
Click HERE to read the Rector's Advent Parish Letter: "Be Steadfast in Faith."
Registration will be open on December 12 for the all of the following Christmas season services:
Please pre-register EARLY each week before Saturday at 6:00pm. REGISTRATION FOR CHRISTMAS SERVICES WILL BE OPEN ON DECEMBER 12
CLICK HERE to REGISTER to attend a SERVICE THIS SUNDAY MORNING.
SUNDAY
Once you have registered, you should receive a confirmation email (check your junk box). If you have any questions about your registration please contact Thomas at reservations.stjohnselora@gmai.com
GUIDELINES
According to diocesan guidelines (effective November 1) you are required to wear face masks inside, and keep a 2 meter physical distance from people in other households.
VACCINES
Effective September 9th, the Bishop requires that all clergy, musicians, singers, readers, greeters, altar guild, flower guild, wardens, and anyone participating in a mid-week event be full vaccinated. Click HERE for the Diocese of Niagara Vaccine Policy.
Thank you for your patience, co-operation, and your continued responsible behaviours.
After a long and thorough search process, the Wardens are pleased to announce that Patrick Murray has accepted their offer to join our team as the new Director of Music at St. John’s
Patrick Murray is a Canadian choral conductor and composer, presently working as director of the Laurier Singers at Wilfred Laurier University, director of the University of Toronto Scarborough Concert Choir, and Sessional Assistant Professor of Choral Music at Western University. Between 2018-2020, Patrick served as Interim Coordinator of Choral Activities at Western University, directing three choirs and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting and choral literature
He is a graduate of University of Illinois (DMA), Yale School of Music (MM), and University of Toronto Faculty of Music (BMus). Patrick’s academic research focuses on artistic practices of community collaboration in contemporary American choral music, and between 2018-2021 was supported by a SSHRC doctoral research fellowship
Patrick, originally a native of Kitchener-Waterloo, has experience in the United, Lutheran, and Episcopalian churches. He is a widely respected choral conductor and composer, whose works have won awards and recordings. We have experienced him as a person who brings gifts of thoughtfulness, humility, administration, and a deep commitment for creating an experience of choral excellence in the community.
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Patrick Murray to St. John’s starting on November 1st. I trust that you will join me in extending your warm welcome, your support and your prayers to Patrick as he establishes a new chapter in the St. John’s choral tradition.
Thank you to the members of the search committee: Christina Stelmacovich, Jurgen Petrenko, Michael Cressman, Janelle Santi, Peter Barr and Charlotte Logan for their hard work.
We marked the centenary of the POPPY in 2021 with an outdoor installation of over 7,000 poppies.
We are hoping to expand the project in 2022 throughout the village. So start knitting ... Patterns are available by clicking HERE.
Read the 2021 Poppy Project Brochure by clicking HERE.
Watch a short video about the production and installation of the Poppy Project in 2021 HERE.
This project has been approved by the Elora Legion and the National Poppy Campaign Coordinator. Please support the work of the Legion by making a donation to the Poppy Fund.
PARISH CHOIR "UNPLUGGED"
Choral Evensong. (July 8, 2021)
VISIT FROM THE PRIMATE, Archbishop Linda Nicholls, July 11, 2021
Click HERE for a video of the service.
To receive a copy of the weekly Pastoral Letter send an email to the Rector by clicking HERE.
What are we learning in the pandemic and what do we need to engage with as we look towards ministry in the 2030's? After consulting widely across the parish a team prepared a Vision Paper that summarizes the process, and identifies four areas of ministry that St. John's is looking to invest in.
On June 15 a Special Vestry approved the four areas of ministry and a "Statement of Intent and Purpose" to provide a compass direction for us to move in over the coming years.
We have already started to fill this vision, and this fall we look forward to fleshing out some of these areas of ministry with more activity.
You can help reduce the rates of transmission and the impact of the Coronavirus on our health care system by:
According to diocesan guidelines we continue to offer resources online to support you. You can find services live-streamed at St. John' Elora YouTube Channel.
Here is a typical weekly schedule of things for you to access online:
Contact us for the Zoom links or follow St. John's Elora on YouTube or Facebook or Instagram.
Even during a pandemic our PARISH CHOIR, one of Canada's only fully professional church choirs, continues to seek ways to provide you with the rich choral experience that you have always been inspired by at St. John's. We know it's not the same, but we do our best to create music to the glory of God and the strengthening of our faith.
Subscribe to the St. John's Elora YouTube Channel to hear the Parish Choir participate in live-stream services on Sunday mornings, or special seasonal services of the year
YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT of the Parish Choir is a concrete way to express your thanks and to ensure that our singers are supported during this challenging time. You can give through E-TRANSFER to treasurer.stjohnselora@gmail.com. Identify "Parish Choir" and your address in the comment box and we can issue you a donation receipt. Thank you for your generous commitment to this ministry.
For more information on the music program at St. John's CLICK HERE.
To receive the WEEKLY PASTORAL LETTER from the Rector through Email, please contact Linda Coultes (look for "PARISH OFFICE").
Follow ST JOHN'S ELORA on Facebook and Instagram for the most up to date posts, photos, messages and events.
St John’s Elora YouTube Channel - Sunday's live-stream service and a Wednesday mid week liturgy.
Diocese of Niagara YouTube Channel - Sunday service with Bishop Susan Bell
Pray at home - resources from the Anglican Church of Canada.
Daily Home Prayer - resources from the Church of England
Please contact one of the clergy if you have a loved one who is in need of our prayers this week.
(send them an Email by clicking on the name)
Rector: Reverend Canon Paul J. Walker
Assistant Curate: Reverend Judy Steers
Rector Emeritus: Reverend Canon Robert Hulse
Honorary Assistant: Reverend John Lockyer
There are several ways for you to give financially to St. John's:
1. HAND DELIVER - Through the MAIL SLOT of the door on the Geddes Street side (east side) of the Parish Centre.
2. CANADA POST - 36 Henderson Street, Elora, N0B 1S0.
3. E-TRANSFER - to treasurer.stjohnselora@gmail.com.
4 PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING. Email our Givings Secretary - Steve Hornett, for more information. You can also complete and mail this form to St John's Church, 36 Henderson Street, Elora, ON, NOB 1S0.
5. CREDIT CARD at the following link through the Diocese of Niagara (identify "Elora-St John's" as the parish)
Thank you for your financial support. Your generosity makes a difference in peoples lives.
All of our worship services are offered online through our Facebook Page, and on our YouTube Channel. Our live-streamed services are created within diocesan guidelines and public health guidelines
St John's works with St. James' in Fergus to deliver hot meals to people on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. If you want to access these meals or you want to participate in helping pack or deliver the meals to people, please send an email to cwmealstogo@gmail.com or call 519-843-2141. This ministry is carried out in strict compliance with public health guidelines and protocols.
You are invited to support those most vulnerable in our diocese and around the world with a donation to the Diocesan Pandemic Fund, or PWRDF Covid-19 Fund.
