www.stjohnsportsmouth.org31  October 2013
Welcome to Chisholm Hall 
 

Almost a hundred years ago, St. John's Church expanded its physical plant at Washington and London Streets by constructing a new Parish House (that included a Parish Hall, offices and kitchen) just west of our historic worship space.  Designed by Mary Channel, the first licensed female architect in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Parish House and its Parish Hall became a social center for the community. 

 

During its October meeting, the Vestry of St. John's Church approved the renaming of the Parish Hall to Chisholm Hall as the final act of this year's celebration to honor the first rector of our parish who is now remembered on the Episcopal Church's Calendar of Saints.  A special prayer of dedication for Chisholm Hall will be offered in our former Parish Hall on All Saints' Sunday at 10:05am before the start of Christian Formation.  Hope to see you there!  

 

All Saints' Celebrations this Weekend

 

Daylight Savings Time Ends this Weekend.  Remember to turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night or you will be super early to church on Sunday!

 

A Diocesan Service of Repentance, Reconciliation & Healing for the sin of racism will be held on All Souls Day (Saturday, 11/2) at 11am at Christ & St. Luke's Episcopal Church (560 W Olney Rd) in Norfolk.  Bishop Hollerith will preside with Canon Stephanie Spellers (a priest from the Diocese of Long Island and chaplain to the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops) as preacher.

 

Bring pictures of your saints past to worship on 11/3.  Scripture tells us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us.  Bring the photographs of the past saints who have made a difference in your life (framed or unframed) and help us surround our worship space the earthly images of those who are now in the presence of Jesus. 

 

 

About 130 adults and children, at least half from outside our parish, had a fantastic time at the Community Shrimp & Oyster Feast hosted by St. John's Church last Saturday.   Thanks to EVERYONE who helped make it a roaring success! 

 

Claim your Garden Task on 11/9

 

St. John's Fall Parish Garden Work Session Is Coming on Saturday, 11/9, from 9am to Noon.  You can sign up in the parish hall or review the list of jobs below and sign up with an email to Linda Buchanan.  There are jobs for all skill levels. If everyone works together we can have things ready for winter in no time!   As an added bonus we will be digging and replanting the lovely Iris in the perennial bed.  There will be extra bearded Iris and Dutch Iris bulbs that can be claimed for your yard!

 

Garden Clean Up Tasks:

  • Install Benches and Stone Paths - about 4 people (how should we anchor the teak benches to the ground?)
  • Clean Up, Plant, Mulch Front Flower Bed - about 4 people
  • Clean Up, Plant, Mulch London St. Flower Bed - about 4 people
  • Clean Up, Plant Perennial Bed - 6-8 people
  • Rake/Bag Leaves, Refresh Mulch in Memorial and Perennial Garden - 6-8 people

 

Bring the kids! This is a great service project for school requirements and scout troops. We'll have hot cider and pumpkin donuts to keep you going. Come enjoy the beautiful fall weather!

 

Make your Brunch Reservation for Consecration Sunday, 11/10

 

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.)  To plan for food preparation, we will be soliciting reservations during worship on Sunday.  Alternatively, you can email your reservation to the parish office.  Please indicate the number attending and the worship service you will attend on 11/10.    

 

Miscellany

 

Christian Formation for all ages continues this Sunday.

 

AWE (Anglican Women Empowered) gathering on Saturday, 11/2 @ 9am.  (Please note earlier time than announced last week). All women in the parish are invited to gather at the church to complete a few organizational tasks that need to be completed for upcoming AWE projects.  We need help assembling our new Cookbooks and addressing some Save the Date Cards for the Women's Retreat.  Hope to see you this Saturday at 9am!

 

Prepare at home for this season's winter sheltering.  As you switch out your warm weather clothes for the cold weather clothes, please set aside some clothing that could be used in the clothing give away during Shelter week.

 

Sign up to prepare a meal for this year's Pilgrims in Christ group using the sheet posted in the Parish Hall.  Use your gifts of hospitality while you fulfill your baptismal promise to "do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ." 

 

Join the fight against lung cancer on 11/02 by honoring the memory of Saint John's member, Suzanne Noles, in the Race for Breath.  Join her family's team, "Suzanne's Sea Stars", by clicking on this link.  You can sign up to participate by walking or running November 2nd in Virginia Beach, or you can make an online charitable donation. Lung cancer is the least funded and most poorly understood disease, claiming more lives than breast, colon and prostate combined.  Join the team and help Suzanne's family and others in the fight against this disease. 

 

Contribute by PayPal.  Our website now offers a PayPal option to receive contributions.  Click here or at the bottom of our website homepage.  

 

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.  

 
Parish Calendar

Click here to access our Parish Calendar


In our Prayers this Week

If you would like to add a name to the prayer list, please contact the prayer chain.

 

Prayers for the Church

Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; Katherine, the Presiding Bishop; Holly, our bishop

Derek, our priest; our parish staff, wardens and vestry

 

For Justice and Peace  

For Barack, our president, Bob, our governor; Ken, our mayor; Erin Elliott-Carrico; Roberto Gonzalez; Nate Kingsbury; Dariana Torres and Bill Wolter who are serving our country overseas or away from home; for the Coast Guard Personnel on watch and on patrol from Coast Guard Base Portsmouth

 

For those in any Need or Trouble  

In our Parish: George Booth; Donald Bowles; Janice Cuneo; Bill & Loni Edwards; Mavia Hudgins; Dody Johnson; Linda Mathews; Arlene Peterson; Carol Phipps; Alice Robbins; Paul Sarandria; Mark Stearns; Jennie Todd; Mills Tomlin; Greg Wellstead; Lauren Weaver; Peggie Wiggins

Related to our Parish: Carolyn & Kevin (sister and brother-in-law of Brenda Wolter); 
Barbara (mother of Dody Johnson); Andy (father of Ray Symmes); Christine (mother of Jen Morrison); Mary (friend of Alice Taylor-Smith); James (father of Bonnie Scott); Patients of the Naval Hospital & EDMARC hospice for children.  

 

Thanksgivings  

For Evelyn & Eric Stallings who are expecting a daughter 

 

Stewardship of God's Resources for the week of 10/27:
 
Worship Attendance: Sunday 8am (11), 9am (41), 11am (100); Wednesday 6:30pm (11)
Worship Offering: $5,093
Income needed for ministry expense each week: $5,874
 

Pledges of active parishioners in arrears as of September 30: ($20,488)


 
The Rev'd Dr. J. Derek Harbin, rector

Rick Bishop, kirchen manager
Keith Byers, bookkeeper
Philip Goodrich, sexton
Ellison Gregg, staff photographer & twitter
Clifford King Harbin, associate to the rector
Rebecca Mina, creation atrium coordinator
Sr. Heather Rollins, technology & facebook  
Scott Rollins, organist and choir director
Stephanie Ryder, publications

Welcome to our Sunday Worship Services
 Contemplative Eucharist, Rite I at 8:00am
 Contemporary Eucharist at 9:00am
 Traditional Eucharist, Rite II at 11:00am

Wednesday Healing Eucharist, 6:30pm

Holy Days as Announced

You'll find us at 424 Washington Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704 or by phone at 757-399-4967

Our office hours are 10:00am - 1:00pm M-F. We look forward to seeing you!
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