Fellowship

Why are music and fellowship linked together on our website? Because the largest and most active ‘special groups’ at St. John’s are our choirs, and while they come together mainly to join musical talents, joining a choir is also a great way to socialize and come to know your fellow members! 

 

Throughout the year there are special events to bring people of all ages together for fellowship, including our congregational dinners, special youth fund-raising lunches, and our church picnic each June (yes, we like to get together over meals!).  Even decorating the church for Advent/Christmas is an event – the ‘hanging of the greens’! Please join us for any of our social gatherings!

 

Sunday Fellowship Time in the Assembly Hall

 

Our St. John’s church family loves to get together and fellowship together, starting with Sunday mornings greeting each other (with Covid-era safety precautions) before and after worship in the sanctuary, and then during our Fellowship Time after the 10:15 am service in the Assembly Hall, with fairly-traded beverages, snacks and good conversation. Our Board of Deacons plan & prepare the snacks every week.  Please join us Sundays after 10:15 am worship!  (We did not hold Fellowship Time during COVID, but resumed monthly gatherings in October, 2022 & resumed weekly gatherings in February, 2023.)

 

 

Dining And Fellowship Gatherings

 

We have resumed church dinners after an unplanned break during COVID. Our first congregational dinner since January, 2020 was held on January 29, 2023 following the 10:15 am worship service.

 

St. John’s has 3 planned dinners a year (in addition to our church picnic, held at Plains Mennonite Picnic Park in June – see the Church Picnic page)!  We have two Congregational Dinners, in January and October, which follow the 10:15 am service – watch for details in our publications.  We also have a pizza & salads dinner each winter on Ash Wednesday at 6:30 pm, before our Ash Wednesday evening worship service. 

 

 

Our Men’s Breakfast meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at a local diner. This is open to all men for a time of good food and informal discussions.  For information, see the Enlightener or Herald or speak with our pastors for contact information, times and locations of these gatherings!  There are no ‘members’ for these groups – if you wish to attend, show up!

 

 

 

Historical Note:  St. John’s Rummage Sale was a social gathering as well as a fundraiser for many years, first held in May and October then October only in more recent times.  In 2019 it was renamed to a more contemporary name (St. John’s Indoor Yard Sale) to use a name more familiar and descriptive for current generations When COVID-19 hit, the 2020 sale was cancelled, and after that our Council decided the era of the Rumage Sale had ended.

 

One of our longest fellowship traditions was our annual Rummage Sale, held each Fall in our Assembly Hall. Besides coming together to sell our ‘treasures’, it was a great week of fellowship among the volunteers who helped out every year.  Volunteers worked on a Sunday, Monday & Tuesday to unpack and set up the items for display, then helped sell the items and keep the displays organized during the sale days Wednesday & Thursday (9 am to 6 pm) & Friday (9 am to 1 pm), then assist with packing up any remaining items as donations on Friday afternoon.  

 

This event was known as the Rummage Sale for generations, and for many years was held twice a year in Spring and Autumn. The name was changed to the Indoor Yard Sale in 2019 to use a name more familiar and descriptive for current generations.

 

 

“But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”  1 John 1.7: (NRSV)