Opportunities to Serve
St. John's is an active parish. We have opportunities for service in a broad number of areas, both within the church and in the community. Below you can find some general information about service. Please have a look and see if there are any that interest you.
Current Ministry Opportunities
Below are the ministry opportunities that St John's is currently looking to fill. If you are interested in any of them, please speak with the person listed at the end of the ministry description or contact the church office to be directed to the appropriate person.
Chancel Guild
Members of the Chancel Guild assist in preparations for the liturgy: setting out the vessels used for Communion; cleaning and polishing metalware and candlesticks; changing the altar frontals, pulpit fall, and bookmarks according to the season or holy day; keeping the chancel and sanctuary clean; filling the candles with oil; laundering and ironing altar linens; and other duties that facilitate our worship. It is a "behind-the-scenes" but essential liturgical ministry. If you feel called to this ministry, please speak with Gerri Currier, Convenor of the Chancel Guild.
Servers' Guild
Members of the Servers' Guild minister in the liturgy as servers, torch-bearers, crucifers, and sacrists. These are the people you see vested in a white alb assisting the clergy at the altar during worship. Anyone 9 years or older may serve at the altar, which is a meaningful and vital ministry. If you feel called to this ministry of leadership in worship, please speak with the Head Sacrist, Ian Storey, or Rev. Brad.
LIVE-STREAM A/V TECH
We are looking for people comfortable with the operation of a computer to manage the live-stream that allows us to connect with our fellow worshippers online. A detailed manual is provided and the step-by-step setting up of the live-stream is relatively easy. We are also looking for people to just push the 3 buttons on the camera switcher to move between the nave, lectern, and pulpit cameras at the appropriate times (with someone else running the live-stream part). Please speak to Walter Howell or Rev. Brad for more info or for a "tour".
Fellowship Hour Hosts
On Sunday mornings, after the 10:00 services of worship, the parish gathers for a time of fellowship and refreshment ("coffee hour"). We serve coffee, tea, and juice, and hosts are welcome (but not expected) to bring baked goods, cheese and crackers, or other treats. Fellowship is an important part of our parish life and people who have the gift of hospitality help to gather us around refreshments to form and nurture relationships with one another. Tea, coffee, milk, and juice are all provided: hosts prepare the refreshments and put the cups in the dish sanitiser after coffee hour.
Refugee Sponsorship
New Refugee Coordinating Group Sought!
May 2023: The Anglican-United Refugee Alliance (AURA) has been in touch with St John's to ask if we would be willing to sponsor two new refugee agreements, one for an individual and one for a family of four. There are people in the community who are doing most of the work but they require a sponsor in order to continue the application. The first step is for us to find out if there is anyone in the parish who is willing to be the liaison between St John's and the refugee support groups. If this appeals to you, please speak to Rev. Brad for more details.
In 2015, an interfaith group, working in partnership with the Anglican United Refugee Alliance (AURA), brought to Peterborough an Iranian refugee family of four – mother, father, and two children. St. John’s was one of the partners in this project. In 2020, St. John’s became the lead church in a new sponsorship, this time to bring to Peterborough a family of three – mother, father and one child. The mothers of these two families are sisters. Hence the name of the new project – Sisters Reunited. Its goal was to bring a small family suffering religious and political persecution to a place of stability and safety, and to make whole these two families fractured by political forces over which they had no control. We were delighted to welcome the family to Canada, and Peterborough, in June 2022. Volunteers are in regular contact with the family to support them in a variety of ways as they adapt to their new home in our community.
2023 Parish Lenten Outreach Project
The 2023 Lenten Outreach Project supports Homeward Bound Peterborough, an organization with which St John's has established a supportive relationship since 2019. During Lent we collect items needed by the families in Homeward Bound and representatives of the parish attend the annual graduation ceremony to present a gift on behalf of the parish to the graduating families.
Many women who are raising children on their own are trapped, living in poverty, often with no means to ever change the situation. Peterborough Housing Corporation had a dream that life could be transformed for these families. Homeward Bound is a program that gives Moms and their children a second chance to change the circumstances of their lives. Homeward Bound Peterborough is a licensed replication of Homeward Bound Toronto, through WoodGreen Community Services.
It is a four-year wrap-around program with supports that include housing, daycare, before and after school programs, counselling, case management, upgrading to college level and then a two year Diploma at Fleming College in a career path that will lead them to a sustainable living wage job, thus breaking the cycle of poverty. This allows the families opportunities for a better life.
Thank
you, St John’s for your faithfulness in helping these families in their time of
need and most of all, for showing them that others care and support them in
their journey.
Click here to download the flyer with the list of items to be collected for each week.
Thank you for your generosity!
Outreach Ministries
"Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the last of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40
St. Margaret’s Guild: Members meet the second Tuesday of each month, from September to June, in the St. Nicholas Hall, for friendship, fellowship, a devotional, and a speaker. They organize a number of fundraisers throughout the year to benefit local and national ministries and social projects.
One Roof Community Centre: One Roof is a ministry of St. John's that is open 365 days a year, providing a drop-in centre for those experiencing homelessness, loneliness, food insecurity and more. One Roof is open from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. every day and from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on extreme cold or hot days. Lunch is served every day at 1:00 p.m. Since 2019, almost 90,000 meals are served each year. The Centre offers community building, harm reduction, access to primary health care, and a safe space to be. Friendships are made, achievements are celebrated, and hardships are overcome. One Roof Community Centre is operated out of the lower level of the church, at 99 Brock St. All are welcome. For more information, visit www.oneroofptbo.ca.
Worship & Music
"Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs."
Psalm 100:2
Bellringers’ Guild: Every Sunday and on special occasions, the bellringers provide a public announcement of worship. Volunteers with an ability to read music and climb the ladder to the bell tower are always welcome. Contact John Earnshaw (295-4501) for more information.
Chalice Administrators: Lay volunteers administer the wine during Communion. Contact the Rector for more information.
Chancel Guild: Members of the Chancel Guild ensure that everything necessary for worship, including candles, bread and wine, sacred vessels, and other items are prepared and set out for every service. Members work in teams about 6 times per year and are appointed by the Rector.
Choir: The choir provides choral music at all sung services between September and May. Practices are held weekly on Thursday evenings. Anyone with a good singing voice is always welcome. Contact the Director of Music (705-745-7624) for more information.
Intercessors: Volunteers lead the Prayers of the People at most of the services using a litany format where the intercessor offers a petition for a particular need (prayers for the church, the world, the sick and dying, ourselves, etc), then calls the congregation to respond with a refrain. Contact the Rector for more information.
Lectors: Lay volunteers proclaim the Bible readings during worship. Lectors should be able to read and project their voice well. Contact the office for more information.
Servers’ Guild: The Guild provides servers, crucifers, candle bearers and sacrists for the Sunday and major weekday services. At St. John’s, servers are usually younger people who attend regularly. The normal starting age is about 9. Contact Ian Storey, Head Server (748-9827), for more information.
Pastoral Care
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be." 1 Peter 5:2
Pastoral Care Visitors
Trained lay pastoral care visitors make monthly visits and bring Holy Communion to the sick, bereaved, and housebound in hospital, retirement homes, or at home. To become a pastoral care visitor please contact the Rector. To receive a visit, please contact the church office.
Care in Difficult Times
If you or someone you care for require prayer or pastoral care in a difficult time, including being admitted to hospital, please contact the church office to make arrangements for a call or visit from a pastoral visitor or the clergy.
Prayer Chain
Prayer Chain members pray for the needs and concerns of the parish and parishioners: the prayers of the Prayer Chain are not included in the public prayers of the church in order to maintain confidentiality. Requests may be made through the clergy.
Prayers of the People
In our tradition, we pray each Sunday for the world, the church, those who are sick or suffering as well as those what have died and those who mourn. The following is a list of resources available to those who lead these prayers.
Screening in Faith
It is the work of many individuals and groups that makes possible the diverse ministries you will find here at St. John's.
The Parish Volunteer Coordinator works from the church office. Among other duties, she helps the leadership of St. John's ensure that the risk assessment and screening guidelines for volunteers that have been established by the Diocese of Toronto are adhered to.
All volunteers in positions assessed as having high risk are required to attend a Sexual Misconduct Policy training session at the beginning of that ministry and every three (3) years thereafter. Resources to prepare for the training session, including a video presentation, information on the policy, and a quiz, are below.
A police records check is also required at the beginning of a high risk ministry and every three (3) years thereafter. This must be obtained through the Diocese-approved background checking service, Xpresschek. The required forms can be found below. For further information regarding support documentation and completing the required forms please contact the church office at 705-745-7624 or email.
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