Pilgrims in Christ is designed to deepen your faith, no matter where you are on your spiritual journey.  Are you new to the parish?  Have you been part of St. John's all your life?  Are you seeking baptism?  Or are you simply seeking a spiritual "recharge"?  Pilgrims is perfect for you! 

Pilgrims will gather weekly in 2013-14 on Thursday evenings from 5:30-8pm and includes supper provided by St. John's parishioners as a way to "do all in their power" to support you as you deepen your spiritual journey.  (Sign-up list for meals is on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall). 

If you're interested in participating as a Pilgrim this year, please complete a registration form found on the chest in the main entry to the church or on the table at the parking lot entry to the church and return it to the Parish Office.  Pilgrims in Christ, Journey #4 begins very soon!

Celebrate fall as St. John's hosts an Oyster and Shrimp Feast for our community on October 26 from 4-7pm!

Shuck your own steamed oysters; boiled shrimp, hot dogs, baked beans, cole slaw, hush puppies, lemonade and beer served with the Happy Dutchmen Octoberfest band providing entertainment.   Bring your own chair.  Food will be served from 4:15-5:30pm.  Rain date is Sunday, October 27.

Cost is $15 for adults; $3 for children if registered by noon on Sunday, October 20. 

Prices increase for late registration (October 20-23) to $18 for adults and $5 for children.  No registrations will be accepted for persons associated with St. John's Church after October 23.

Register online 24/7 here.  You may also register on Sundays (10/6, 13 & 20) in the Parish Hall from 10-10:50am with a debit card, credit card or check.  No cash payments, please. 

Invite your friends!  Invite your neighbors!  Don't miss out on another great St. John's party!

2014 Women's Retreat Planning Meeting, 10/13.  AWE (Anglican Women Empowered) is very excited to announce that the Annual St. John's Women's Retreat will be held February 21 & 22 at the Hilton Virginia Beach Ocean Front Hotel.  If you would like to help with planning this special event, please join us for a meeting Sunday, October 13 at 12:15 pm in the Parish Hall.

Study on Prayer begins 10/20.  Beginning October 20th at 12:00 there will be a DVD series by Steve Sampson entitled, "Hearing the Voice of God" as we focus on prayer. This is a 4-session series meeting every other Sunday beginning at noon.  Anyone interested may attend.  Each session will last 45 minutes to an hour.  Suzanne Erickson will be facilitating these sessions.

Oasis Social Ministry's Soup Cook-Off and Auction, 10/20 @ 5pm.  Oasis Social Ministry's Soup Cook-Off and Auction is a celebration of food and community, featuring a soup tasting competition, entertainment, and auction.  It will be held in the Moroccan Room above Brutti's (467 Court Street in Portsmouth).   Soup chefs from across the community compete to win the coveted Golden Ladle Award. Guests are invited to "put your money where your mouth is" by voting for favorite soups with dollars, while at the same time celebrity judges select their favorites. We also have beautiful items and baskets to bid on generously donated from the local community. Tickets are available at Oasis. Please call 397-6060 for more details.

Portsmouth's Great Pumpkin Lighting begins soon!   Bring a carved pumpkin to display on the steps and in the courtyard of the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center -PACC (400 High Street in Olde Towne Portsmouth).  Pumpkins will be lit at dusk on 10/25 & 26 for the Olde Towne Ghost Walk and Safe Trick-or-Treat Pumpkin drop off: Thursday, 10/24 (4-7 pm) and Friday, 10/25 (10-3 pm).  Call 393-8543 for more information.

Introduction to Centering Prayer, 10/26.  Have you heard about centering prayer and wondered if it was for you?  Here is an opportunity to learn about this form of contemplative prayer.  Hosted by St. Therese Roman Catholic Church in Chesapeake from 10am - 3pm including lunch.  Cost is $40.  To register contact Nancy Hess  (email or 468-9256).  Register by October 21.

Flower Guild Meeting, 10/27.  St. John's Flower Guild will have a team meeting after the 11am Eucharist on Sunday, 10/27, in the conference room on the second floor over the parish hall. We will review how we've done after our first two months of arranging and begin planning for Advent/Christmas. Anyone - women AND men, who would like to join the Flower Guild are welcome to attend.  If you're not sure - come anyway to see what it's all about!  Contact Linda Buchanan (443-852-1782) if you have any questions.

The unveiling of an historical highway marker to honor Archdeacon James Solomon Russell  (1837-1935), a priest who was born into slavery and later founded St. Paul's College, will be held the afternoon of October 26.  If you plan to attend, please be present at Trinity Episcopal Church in South Hill by 1pm.  Need more information?  Contact by email or 434.594.4437.

Parish Garden Work Session, 11/09 from 9am-noon. More specifics will be published as we get closer to the date but we'll have jobs for everyone - young and old, gardeners and non-gardeners, earn that badge for your service organization, just get out in the fresh autumn air! Watch for sign-up sheets in the parish hall in the next few weeks - be the first to sign up to grab the job that you want! Hot cider and pumpkin donuts - what more could you want! Contact Linda Buchanan (443-852-1782) if you have any questions.

Sunday, 11/10 is our congregation's Consecration Sunday.  Please plan now to attend two important events on that day: morning worship at 8, 9 or 11 and a brunch following each worship celebration (a catered meal, not a potluck.) 

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 who are expecting a child