Mosquito netting to cover one's bed works by creating a protective barrier against deadly-malaria carrying mosquitoes that bite at night.  A family of four can sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net, safe from malaria, for three years.  The benefits of bed nets extend even further than protecting those sleeping underneath them.  The insecticide woven into each net makes entire communities safer-killing and repelling mosquitoes so that they can't go on to bite others who may not be protected by a net.  Bed nets can reduce malaria transmissions by 90 percent in areas with high coverage rates.

Although $10 for a bed net may not sound like much, the cost makes them out of reach for most people at risk of malaria who survive on less than $1 a day.  According to the 2011 World Malaria Report, 96% of people who are given a bed net would happily use it.  Nets are a simple, life-saving solution, but we need your help to provide them to those in need.

Join us now.  St. John's will take a special collection during our Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon James Chisholm celebrations.  In honor of James Chisholm, give a net and save a life!  

This Saturday and Sunday, 9/14 & 15, St. John's Church will host a community celebration for James Chisholm, first rector of this parish (1850-1855), who has been added to the Episcopal Church's calendar of saints for giving his life in service of others during the 1855 Yellow Fever Epidemic. 

Saturday, 9/14

1pm Free Yellow Fever Olde Towne Tour: Visit the sites and stories to go behind the scenes and experience the personal tragedy of the Yellow Fever epidemic in Norfolk and Portsmouth.  Sign up Sunday in the Parish Hall or online here.

3:30pm Free Olde Towne Tour with Colonel Crawford as he shares early history of Portsmouth through the lives and houses of some of St. John's founders.  Sign up Sunday in the Parish Hall or online here.

Sunday, 9/15

8, 9 and 11 am @ St. John's Church:  Celebrate James Chisholm's saint day in worship as Fr. Derek (our 16th and current rector) welcomes back Fr. Brian Hobden (14th Rector; 1988-1997) as guest preacher.

3 pm @ Cedar Grove Cemetery:   Join members of the wider Portsmouth community in Cedar Grove Cemetery as we dedicate a new bronze plaque at his grave and enjoy some light refreshments.  Want to help with refreshments?  Sign up in the Parish Hall or contact Katherine Gray or Stephanie Ryder.

Coast Guard Tall Ship Offering Free Tours this Weekend:  The Eagle will be moored at 100 High Street in downtown Portsmouth, behind Admirals Landing apartments and will be open for free public tours on Friday from 1-5pm, Saturday from 10am-7pm and Sunday from 11am-3:30pm.  The Eagle, a 295-foot square-rigged barque, is the largest tall ship flying the stars and stripes in U.S. military service.

Free Tours of the Hill House (221 North Street) on Saturday and Sunday from 1-4pm: Visit this historic house, circa 1820, home of three generations of Portsmouth residents and donated to the city with all original furnishings, including clothing!  This is part of www.historicalhomes.va.gov free tour weekend.  Donations appreciated.  

St. John's Prayer Ministry reforming:  Are you being called to pray for others?  Do you want to learn more about the power of prayer?  In Ezekiel we read that "God looked for people to stand before him in the gap, but he found none" (22:30).  St. John's prayer ministry is looking for intercessors to stand in the gap for those in need.  Please contact Suzanne Erickson (289-5455) or Margaret Perkins (757-390-7831).

Thursday Morning Ladies Bible Study begins 9/12.   Sponsored by AWE (Anglican Women Empowered), this Bible Study will begin meeting September 12 and continue the second and fourth Thursday of each month (September 12, 26; October 10,24; November 7,21.)  On September 12 we will meet at 10 am at St. John's Church.  This fall we will study "Faithful, Abundant, True:  Three Lives Going Deeper Still" DVD study series.  Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, and Beth Moore will each teach two lessons.  Please contact Patti Devers to order the series study guide.

Wednesday evening Ladies Bible Study begins 9/18.  Sponsored by AWE, and starting on 9/18, this Bible Study will  meet at the church on the first and third Wednesdays at 7 pm.  This fall we will study "Sacred Secrets" by Beth Moore.  There is a journal to be purchased for the series for $10. Please contact Barrie Harper to order the journal. 

Safe Church Training at Grace Church in Norfolk on 9/21.  The adult abuse prevention module is recommended for all vestry members, church employees and licensed Eucharistic Visitors.  Any parishioners, volunteers, clergy and staff who work with children are requested to complete the child abuse prevention module.  The adult module will be offered from 8:45am-noon and the child module will be offered from 12:30-2:30pm.  Lunch will be offered for those who register for both modules.  Click here to register.  

Would you like to serve God by helping in worship?  Are you baptized and have the desire and ability to accomplish this ministry, even if you are very young or very old?  Then you qualify to serve as an acolyte at St. John's!  Acolytes carry the cross, candles, and the gospel book in our processions and help Fr. Derek prepare the altar for Eucharist.  Contact Sr. Heather to be included in our next acolyte training on Sunday, October 6.

Detour to Church?  The westbound lanes of Interstate 264 through the Downtown Tunnel West (from Norfolk to Portsmouth) are closed on weekends, except holiday weekends, through the Spring of 2014.  

The Parishioner Corner of our Website has news you can use.  Here you can access the latest parish directory, parish handbook, access worship ministry schedules, and read approved minutes of vestry discussions and actions as well parish financial reports.  Need or don't remember the password?  Click here.  

For Evelyn & Eric Stallings and Sarah & Jon McCorkill who are expecting a child

For the return visit of Fr. Brian Hobden to our parish