Christmas Outreach ~ Advent is especially busy as the parish organizes gifts for seniors and children via St. Matthew's House, as well as sponsoring families in need with gift and food hampers for Christmas and winter.
Christmas Outreach - Youth ~ The Youth Group takes on their own branch of the Christmas initiative by raising funds and purchasing gifts for equivalent aged kids in their own sponsorships. With everything from spaghetti suppers to selling their own craft-work, the youth earn their own resources to fulfill this work.
Environmental Justice ~ Niagara's commitment to good environmental stewardship is known as "Greening Niagara". St. John's is a good steward of the property, resources and energy use wherever possible and is now accredited at a Diocesan level as a green church.
Scouting ~ St John’s has supported Ancaster Scouting for decades, and both Scouts and Brownies currently meet weekly in the Parish Hall. Scouting and Girl Guide/Brownies activities offer a fun and interactive way for young people to meet new friends, develop important life skills and learn more about their world and service to the community.
Ancaster Community Food Drive ~ As an active part of the local Ministerial Association, St. John's is one of the founding churches of what has now become a community-run, ecumenical initiative and one of the largest food drives in Ontario. Each year in February, St. John's volunteers, including St. John's youth, assist in flyer distribution and the gathering, sorting, packing and distribution of food. In March 2020, 102,000 pounds of food was gathered for the food bank agencies. St. John's salutes the many ecumenical partners that work together to make this annual event a success, but also urge everyone to give all year round to those in need... even better, to help create a world where food drives are no longer needed!
St. Matthew's House formed as an outreach program of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara. It has now grown into a charitable, non-profit multi-service agency located on Barton Street between Victoria and Wentworth. St. John's offers year-round support to St. Matthew's House's ministry through gifts of time, food, money and hard work. Several of our parishioners have offered volunteer commitments to participate in the work of St. Matthew's.
Good food changes lives and communities. Mission Services Hamilton's Good Food Centre provides emergency access to food in a community-basedsetting while working to improve skills related to healthy eating.
Food Security ~ St. John's offers hunger relief through weekly collection of non-perishable food for local food banks at Mission Services. St. John's also ensures that any surplus food safely prepared on site for events is never wasted but will set aside extra food to support the programs of St. Matthew's House, The Senior's Centre and others.
Canterbury Hills Camp ~ St. John's parish and membership supports kids camp programs and sponsors kids to attend camp at Canterbury Hills, giving young people a chance to experience more of their world!
Seniors' Residences and Nursing Homes ~ St. John's makes visits and leads worship for all denominations in five area seniors' residences or nursing homes, providing prayer and sacramental care to those unable to attend worship in their home church, or who now live outside of their previous communities.
Volunteer Hours for Youth ~ Ever since the Ontario Government mandated volunteerism in students, St. John's has been providing opportunities for local high school aged youth to find a place to volunteer in a variety of capacities, in keeping with their talents.