A caring presence in the heart of the city.

Ministries

Ministries

Home > Ministries

St. John’s offers and supports a variety of ministries. Here are some of the ways people can get involved in the life of our community.

Sunday School

Our Sunday School gathering takes place during the 10 a.m. liturgy, where children of all ages, starting at 4 years old, come together in a one-room setting. Older youth take on leadership roles, and together we explore the lessons, encourage the asking of questions, and engaging with the material in a way that fosters a personal connection to God. We strive to create a supportive environment that encourages curiosity and spiritual growth, ensuring that the children return in time to join the congregation for Communion. 

Adjacent our Sunday School is a nursery equipped with cribs/bassinets, nursing pillows, seating, change table, Diaper Genie, and play space. The service is livestreamed so that parents and caregivers can follow along.

For further information contact Su McLeod.

Seniors’ Fellowship

The Seniors Fellowship group provides time for fellowship together with activities such as speakers, videos, and outings. Some of the speakers have covered topics that have been helpful in terms of making us aware of the support and assistance that is available to us in the community, as well as entertaining. Afterwards there is always time for refreshments and a chat providing the opportunity to get to know each other better.

The group meets on the second Wednesday afternoon of each month from September through June. Because daytime parking at St. John’s is difficult, the group meets at Holy Trinity Anglican church which is accessible and has parking. An added benefit of meeting at Holy Trinity is that some of their seniors have joined our. Everyone enjoys the meetings and appears to go away in good spirits.

New members are always welcome to join us. For further information, get in touch with Jennifer Uttley via the church office.

Prayer Shawl Ministry (Knit n’ Chat)

With many dedicated knitters the Prayer Shawl Ministry prepares shawls, lap blankets, baby blankets with bonnets to be given to members of the congregation as the need arises. Times of sorrow, grieving and joy are all recognized. As a group we meet monthly (Knit n’ Chat) to share tips, patterns, learn new stitches and socialize.

If interested, we can also teach you how to knit! For further information, get in touch with Anne Hopewell via the church office.

Parish Visitors

Parish Visitors are members of St. John’s who offer a caring presence to parishioners for whom coming to church is particularly challenging. Usually once a month, team members connect by phone, email, in-person or text as appropriate. The visit supports parishioners on their faith journey as the visitor listens, shares and prays with them. At Easter and Christmas, the visitor takes a card that has been created by our children and signed by many members of the parish, connecting them with fellow parishioners at St. John’s. 

For further information, get in touch with Jennifer Uttley via the church office.

Pudding Factory

Pudding Factory has been the principal fundraising activity at St. John’s since its start under the ACW back in 1949. For seventy-five years (and counting), volunteers have been working the production line to make the most exquisitely rich and delicious plum puddings available.

Over the course of about ten days, volunteers move supplies and equipment, prepare ingredients for the factory, then measure, mix, fill, weigh, and pound ingredients into puddings for steaming before wrapping, sorting, and selling. The experience of camaraderie and fellowship is rewarding. That, and the knowledge that we are manufacturing a quality commodity to celebrate a major event in the church calendar (Christmas) and raising funds for church coffers (70 per cent of revenue) and outside charities/outreach (30 per cent).

We always welcome volunteers. Simply contact Charles Stuart.

Bereavement Support Group

The Bereavement Support Group meets monthly to help support people going through the loss of a loved one. The members have all lost loved ones and understand the challenges this brings. The group is offered in a warm, supportive setting where you can feel comfortable sharing personal experiences.

For further information, get in touch with Anne Hopewell via the church office.

Memorial Garden

Our Memorial Garden is a sacred space used for quiet meditation and prayer. Located at the Water Street entrance, the garden is a licenced cemetery. The names of all whose ashes are scattered there are listed on plaques in the garden.

For further information contact Memorial Garden trustee Laura Doric via the church office.  

Community Kitchen Co-op

Incubated and lodged at St. John’s, the Community Kitchen Cooperative Kitchener Waterloo (CKCKW) facilitates community relationships to enable St John’s to serve as a food hub for partners which include the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, A Better Tent City, Food Not Bombs and others. CKCKW also partners with the Civic Hub Waterloo Region to host community suppers.

Contact Al Coughlin for more information or to get involved.

St. John’s Kitchen

Incubated at St. John’s, St John’s Kitchen is a drop-in hub for services for people who are experiencing homelessness or are living in vulnerable circumstances. Over 40 years, St. John’s Kitchen has been a gathering place that has ensured a free meal is served each weekday. It is a program of the Working Centre and is supported by community volunteers.

The program is temporarily located – Relocated! – in the Upper Parish Hall while new facilities are being built which should be completed in September 2025.

Alongside Hope

Working towards a truly just, healthy and peaceful world, Alongside Hope is the Anglican Church of Canada’s agency for sustainable development and relief. Alongside Hope is improving health, food security and livelihoods where needs are greatest. Alongside Hope works with a vast network of volunteers who share in the work of supporting vulnerable people. Alongside Hope has indigenous partners and provides emergency response, when needed, in Canada.

Contact Henriëtte Thompson to get involved.

Deanery Refugee Committee

St. John’s has a long history of refugee sponsorship and is presently active in the Deanery Refugee Committee which nurtures supportive relationships with newcomers to Canada. The Committee has sponsored 5 families and supported 2 others since 2015.  We are currently raising funds to apply for another family.

Contact Ann Coughlin for more information or to get involved.

Community Groups

In addition to those ministries mentioned above, A number of independent community groups rent facilities at St. John’s. These include the Spiritus Ensemble, Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, Civic Hub Waterloo Region and the Kitchener Musical Society Band.

Questions? Require Assistance? Want to Learn More?
Reach out -- We would love to hear from you!

contact
Donate
  • Monday – Wednesday,
    9:30 am – 1:30 pm
    Thursday, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Wheelchair Assistive-listening-systems
Facebook Youtube
stencil.wordpress-icon
diohuron

Baptismal Service

Creed

Celebrant
Do you believe in God the Father?

People
I believe in God,
The Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Celebrant
 Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

People
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.

Celebrant
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

People
I believe in God the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Covenant

Celebrant
 Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

People 
I will, with God’ s help.

Celebrant
Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

People
I will, with God’ s help.

Celebrant
Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?

People
I will, with God’ s help.

Celebrant
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?

People 
I will, with God’ s help.

Celebrant
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

People
I will, with God’ s help.

Celebrant
Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?

People
I will, with God’s help.

Angus Sinclair

Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.

At St. John’s, Angus is able to indulge his love for Anglican liturgy and the Anglican choral tradition by directing our dedicated choir in preparing service music and masterworks from St. John’s extensive choral library. Angus’s own repertoire of organ music allows him to enrich worship at St. John’s with countless voluntaries spanning centuries of the church music tradition. Angus has also composed music in several different genres, and is an accomplished improviser.

 As our parish musician, he provides both support and leadership so that a variety of parish programs can find musical expression and attract participation. When our handbell choir is in season, he is one of our ringers. At parish dinners, he provides popular piano music for the guests to dine by. For both worship services and concerts, he will rehearse and accompany vocal and instrumental soloists from our congregation on piano, organ, or even accordion.

Audiences throughout Canada recognize Angus as the accompanist for The Three Cantors whose concerts and CDs raised over $1 million between 1997 to 2016 for the Huron Hunger Fund/Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, now named Alongside Hope. For their outstanding service to the Church, Angus and The Three Cantors (William Cliff, David Pickett, and Peter Wall) each received Honorary Senior Fellowships from Renison College (UW) and Honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD) degrees from Huron University College (Western University).

Beyond St. John’s, Angus frequently accompanies mezzo-soprano Autumn Debassige in concert, and on the fourth Sunday of each month (September through June), he serves as the duty organist at Evensong for the Choir of St. George’s Anglican Church, London, Andrew Keegan Mackriell, Conductor. Two or three times a year, Angus is the assisting organist for concerts given by the Parry Sound Choral Collective, William McArton, Conductor.

In collaboration with our rector, Angus is responsible for the design of worship at St. John’s. His duties include programming music, service playing for regular liturgies and occasional services, and directing our choir, in addition to working with a variety of soloists, instrumentalists and ensembles.)

The Rev. André Lavergne CWA, Assistant Priest

As an Honorary Assistant, André preaches occasionally at worship and assists in various ministries as opportunities arise. André maintains a Rota of lay people to read and pray at worship, together with a schedule of people to write the Prayers of the People for Sundays and occasional services.

Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) in 1980, André has served Lutheran parishes in Baden, Mannheim and New Hamburg. He has served as national Worship officer for the ELCIC and, for the last decade of his working career, served as Ecumenical and Interfaith officer while also staffing the ELCIC’s Faith Order and Doctrine Committee.

In 2006, André received the Eastern Synod’s Leadership Award for Exemplary Service and in 2016 he was named a Companion of the Worship Arts (CWA).

Since 2014, André and his wife, Barbara, have resided in Waterloo where they tend a garden and welcome friends and family.

The Rev. Dr. Eileen Scully, Assistant Priest

Eileen Scully was baptized at St. John the Evangelist, confirmed, sang in the choir as an adolescent, and was married here. She then went off into some ecumenical wanderings and theological studies before returning to the parish recently as an honorary assistant. She has a PhD in Systematic Theology from St. Michael’s College, Toronto and taught for a time. 

Eileen works for the General Synod, the national body of The Anglican Church of Canada, as Director of Faith, Worship, and Ministry, keeping office space at St John’s for that work during the week. She works principally in liturgical development, helping to create resources for worship, including new liturgical texts, and connects with Anglicans across the country in networks to support ministry and Christian formation. 

Eileen was ordained deacon in 2009 and priested in 2010.

The Rev. Scott McLeod

Scott is the Chaplain at Renison College at the University of Waterloo. He was ordained and started working in parish ministry in the Anglican Church in 2005 on the West Coast of Canada in Victoria, BC, in the Diocese of BC. After completing a curacy and serving in a few parishes as rector, part of a team ministry and as associate at the Cathedral, Scott and his family moved to Niagara. He continued in parish ministry and served as associate priest for seven years at St. George’s in St. Catharines, before moving to Kitchener and starting at Renison in February 2022.

Scott studied Theology at the Vancouver School of Theology in Vancouver, BC, and before that did his undergraduate studies in Toronto at UofT completing a Bachelor of Music, Performance degree specializing in Jazz music.

The Ven. Ken Cardwell, Assistant Priest

As an Honorary Assistant Ken assists with worship services and preaches on occasion.

Ken is a graduate of Hamilton Teachers’ College, McMaster University, and Huron College. Ken retired in 2003 after 34 years as a parish priest in the Dioceses of Niagara, Keewatin and Moosonee. He also served as Archdeacon of Brock. For ten years after retirement Ken served in a number of Interim Ministry positions for parishes in transition. Ken and his wife Sarah moved to Kitchener in 2013.

The Reverend James Brown, Assistant Priest

As an Honorary Assistant, James preaches and presides occasionally at worship, and chairs the Stewardship Working Group. During the six months of Preston’s sabbatical in 2024, he served as Deputy Rector.

Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada in 1991, James served Lutheran parishes in Stratford and Waterloo until his retirement in 2015. As part of a summer exchange with the Rev. Glenn Chestnutt, he was licensed by the West Paisley Presbytery and the Church of Scotland to serve the congregation of St. John’s, Gourock, UK from 2010-2016. In 2019-2020, he served as Interim Priest-in-Charge of St. Columba Anglican Church, Waterloo.

A lifelong, self-confessed ecumaniac, James is Chair of the Steering Committee of Christians Together Waterloo Region (successor organization to the Kitchener-Waterloo Council of Churches). For 27 years, he served as an on-call chaplain at Grand River Hospital, now named Waterloo Regional Health Network @ Midtown.

James’ first career was also in the Church. For 25 years he was organist or director of music for churches in London, St. Thomas, Brantford, and Kitchener.

James and his wife, Paula, live in Baden, Ontario.

Autumn Debassige, Parish Administrator

Autumn Debassige has served as St. John’s Parish Administrator since 2023, bringing years of service-oriented and management experience to this important role. Aside from her administrative duties for us, Autumn is a professional mezzo-soprano soloist and alto chorister. Visit her website to learn more!)

Angus Sinclair, Director of Music

Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.

At St. John’s, Angus is able to indulge his love for Anglican liturgy and the Anglican choral tradition by directing our dedicated choir in preparing service music and masterworks from St. John’s extensive choral library. Angus’s own repertoire of organ music allows him to enrich worship at St. John’s with countless voluntaries spanning centuries of the church music tradition. Angus has also composed music in several different genres, and is an accomplished improviser.

As our parish musician, he provides both support and leadership so that a variety of parish programs can find musical expression and attract participation. When our handbell choir is in season, he is one of our ringers. At parish dinners, he provides popular piano music for the guests to dine by. For both worship services and concerts, he will rehearse and accompany vocal and instrumental soloists from our congregation on piano, organ, or even accordion.

Audiences throughout Canada recognize Angus as the accompanist for The Three Cantors whose concerts and CDs raised over $1 million between 1997 to 2016 for the Huron Hunger Fund/Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, now named Alongside Hope. For their outstanding service to the Church, Angus and The Three Cantors (William Cliff, David Pickett, and Peter Wall) each received Honorary Senior Fellowships from Renison College (UW) and Honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD) degrees from Huron University College (Western University).

Beyond St. John’s, Angus frequently accompanies mezzo-soprano Autumn Debassige in concert, and on the fourth Sunday of each month (September through June), he serves as the duty organist at Evensong for the Choir of St. George’s Anglican Church, London, Andrew Keegan Mackriell, Conductor. Two or three times a year, Angus is the assisting organist for concerts given by the Parry Sound Choral Collective, William McArton, Conductor.

In collaboration with our rector, Angus is responsible for the design of worship at St. John’s. His duties include programming music, service playing for regular liturgies and occasional services, and directing our choir, in addition to working with a variety of soloists, instrumentalists and ensembles.

The Rev. Canon Preston Parsons, PhD, Rector

After working in youth and camping ministry in Winnipeg and Northwestern Ontario, Preston began his training for the priesthood in Berkeley California in 2001. Following his ordinations in 2004 and 2005, Preston served as a hospital chaplain in Sacramento, California; not long after, he was appointed to St. Mary Magdalene, a multi-cultural parish in the south end of Winnipeg.

In 2012, Preston moved to England, where he pursued a PhD in Christian Theology at the University of Cambridge, while serving as Priest Vicar at St. John’s College, and Director of Studies at Westminster College.

Preston moved to Waterloo in 2017 with his wife, Karen Sunabacka, who took a position as Associate Professor of Music at Conrad Grebel University College.