The 2013 Credentials Committee, consisting of retiring vestry members Bill Oast, Arlene Dragseth, Millie Wilkerson & Willy Wolter, has completed its work.  We are blessed that three members of our congregation have agreed to allow their names to appear on the ballot; their names and personal statements appear below.  

Nominations may also be received from the floor at the Annual Meeting on Sunday. Each nominee must be certified as to eligibility, be willing to serve, and have answered the same questions in writing that appear in print below.  Parish by-laws direct that three persons are to be selected for a three-year term.  

Dick Devers

1) How does your faith in Jesus Christ impact your everyday life?  Starting each day with Christ in his word and prayer sets the tone for the day.  If you look and listen there are opportunities everywhere to praise and thank him, to represent him wherever he has guided me.

2) At which service do you regularly worship and how long have you been a part of St. John's?   Worship at 9 am.  I have been at St. John's for 13 years come January 1.

3) In what specific ways have you worked toward the growth and nurture of the Body of Christ in this parish and/or elsewhere?  I have been involved in small group formation and work in most of the churches I have attended.  This work has been especially rewarding while at St. John's.  Small groups help with growth in the Body of Christ through Bible study, prayer and fellowship. 

4) What gifts would you bring to the leadership team of the vestry?  Gifts I would bring to the leadership team of the vestry would be motivation and team building skills needed to achieve prioritized vestry goals.  My career was also my personal ministry.  Over 30 years in long-term care management helping people care for people has prepared me to be of service at this time in my life.

5) What are your hopes for the future of St. John's Church?  My hopes for the future of St. John's are to see small groups continue to grow.  I hope to see an active and vital men's ministry, adult Bible education, expanded opportunities for every age person to grow in Christ and to recognize the importance of each person's neighborhood as a mission field.  Christ first in everything.

Allison Foytik

1) How does your faith in Jesus Christ impact your everyday life?  Psalm 18 comes to mind, specifically verses 1-3.  My faith in Christ has been allowed to grow because of his affection for me; which, in turn, allows me to pay his love forward every day in patience, kindness, steadfastness, and forgiveness.

2) At which service do you regularly worship and how long have you been a part of St. John's?   My husband and I attend the 9:00 service.  We were welcomed into our St. John's family a little over 12 years ago.  We were married in St. John's in 2002.

3) In what specific ways have you worked toward the growth and nurture of the Body of Christ in this parish and/or elsewhere?  I have transitioned in my thinking from "volunteering" in a former church to realizing what time, talent, and treasure really meant when I came to St. John's.  From pre-school to confirmation, from creating the Atrium Story Tent gathering room to the children's garden, from Kidz Kamp to AWE retreats, from St. Fiacre to helping on all sorts of projects, artistic endeavors and work days, I have seen the Holy Spirit work through the people of St. John's and witnessed how this work helps to grow and nurture the Body of Christ in this parish.  Outside of St. John's I attend Women's Bible Studies through Aldersgate (Campus of New Creation) United Methodist Church.

4) What gifts would you bring to the leadership team of the vestry?  Gifts that I will bring to the vestry include open ears and an open mind, because I will have a lot to learn.  I hope these two gifts will create an additional gift of "fresh perspective".  Lastly, with God's help, I will bring the gift for creating visual art.

5) What are your hopes for the future of St. John's Church?  My hopes for the future of St. John's Church are that God continue to pour his generous blessings on its parish; that he continue to strengthen the parish members in their journeys of faith; that he provide strength and inspiration for its parish to venture further into the neighborhood and dwell with those living there; and for its members to shine in the Glory of his name so that others, especially those who are spiritually bereft or in need, can see their way to St. John's and join its members in the Feast that is Jesus Christ.

Debbie Jones

1) How does your faith in Jesus Christ impact your everyday life?  I learned of Jesus Christ as a baby when I was baptized and continued to grow within the church thanks to my parents, grandparents and other family/friends.  As a fire fighter/paramedic and a social worker, I see people struggling with medical and emotional problems as well as struggling to meet their basic needs such as food, safety and shelter.  I may not have the answers or ability to cure someone's medical or emotional problems, but I can use compassion and respect for another one of God's children in everything I do - from helping a homeless person off of the street to comforting someone whose spouse has just died in the home.   As a woman who has struggled with infertility, and loss of a child, I have had plenty of time to ask God "why me?"  Even in my darkest hours, I felt the love of Jesus surrounding me - even while I was very angry and distraught.  This experience has reminded me that bad things happen to everyone and while God may not be the catalyst for bad things happening, he is there to move us through the pain and healing - all we have to do is let him into our hearts.

2) At which service do you regularly worship and how long have you been a part of St. John's?   I most generally attend the 9 am service, but because of my fire schedule, I often attend the 11 am service, too. I work every third Sunday at the fire department.  My husband and I started coming to St. John's in approximately 2001.

3) In what specific ways have you worked toward the growth and nurture of the Body of Christ in this parish and/or elsewhere?  As a young adult, I was a church youth group advisor for the church I attended.  We provided monthly meetings and participated in community projects and yearly retreats.  I have assisted with yearly projects here at St John's.  Indirectly, I support St. John's Church by greeting new people and treating everyone fairly.  I also believe that being in an interracial marriage with a biracial child has changed some belief systems and has possibly helped provide a feeling of acceptance for others who are from a non-traditional marriage/relationship.

4) What gifts would you bring to the leadership team of the vestry?  I believe I will bring compassionate and caring to the already well functioning vestry of St. John's.  I believe my abilities to prioritize and have an open mind will provide a nonjudgmental attitude and help with making most appropriate decisions concerning St. John's Church.  I also would be interested in assisting those already involved with providing hope and basic needs to those who are homeless/less fortunate/the aging via referrals to community and church resources.

5) What are your hopes for the future of St. John's Church?  It would be my hope that St. John's continues to have open arms to everyone in the community. The reason my husband and I stayed at St. John's was because those people sincerely greeted us. I also hope that St. John's can continue its mission to serve its neighbors of Portsmouth including those outside of the church's immediate geographical area.  

St. John's is part of the Vintage Homes of Olde Towne Holiday Tour on December 7.  We need folks to greet and provide hospitality to the anticipated 500 guests who will visit our church home as well as folks who will bake some of the 75 dozen cookies needed.  Please sign up in Chisholm Hall or contact the Parish Office.

Mark your calendar for the annual Flute and Harp Concert at St. John's at 5pm on Saturday, December 14.

Now is the time to register for St. John's Women's Retreat February 21 & 22.  Meet an AWE (Anglican Women Empowered) representative after each worship service in Chisholm Hall.  The conference fee for meals and speaker is $80.  You may pay with check or credit card.  If plan to make your reservations on line, visit our website.

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." 

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.  

For Evelyn & Eric Stallings who are expecting a daughter

Departed

Violet Cato ((homebound member of St. John's & member of the Bishop household)