​​This past year, St. John’s Ministry goals have been to

 

Connect with God,

as a church,

and in the community through

  1. music,
  2. food and
  3. children, youth and families.

 

In the lead-up to Vestry (St. John’s AGM) at the end of February, I will take some time to reflect on what these goals have looked like in supporting us to follow Jesus and love God and our Neighbour in the Sea to Sky over the past year.

 

“Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.” – Psalm 95: 1-2

Music is so important to our worship. We can pray without it, absolutely. However, music moves us, elevates our prayer and worship, and instructs and forms us as disciples.  

Over the past year, I have continued to be so grateful to our incredible bunch of musicians who are so faithful and generous with their talents, leading us and enriching our shared worship experience. We are a community that loves to sing together and make a ‘joyful noise!’

It has been a great excitement this year to lean into our goal of connecting as a church and with God through music, by transitioning to a more regular rhythm for the “St. John Singers” – offering special music for services about monthly.

St. John’s has long connected with the community through music as an incredible venue for the arts in Squamish. Our space is well used by a wide variety of local groups, like the Sea to Sky Singers, the Howe Sound Performing Arts Association, the Sea to Sky Performing Arts Festival, and many others. However, we are more than just a venue, but an important partner and supporter of the arts in our community. This good stewardship of our space for music has only been increasing. Many people might know that there are more and more young people coming to use our space to practice and complete piano exams.

Naming one of our goals as ‘music’ for the year has helped us to have a year of saying an enthusiastic “yes” to various partnerships and in taking a more active role in music. It was an easy ‘yes’ to partner once again with the talented Vancouver-area opera performers to put on a concert to raise money for the good work of the Sea to Sky Hospice Society. It was another easy ‘yes’ when Nikki Evans, the handbell soloist, reached out to bring her music back to Squamish. It was a ‘yes’ to bring Jason Wood (aka the Forest Archive) to Squamish to share his new album through an Advent Evening Prayer Service. With Melanie’s support, it was a ‘yes’ to gather a small children’s choir to sing at Carol’s Carols and on Christmas Eve.

Music has truly been a blessing to us this year, and a blessing through us. May we continue to make and encourage music at St. John’s, all to the glory of God!

Thanks be to God!



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