www.stjohnsportsmouth.org13 November 2014

Who will Win this year's Turkey Trot?

  


 

 

Collecting food items for Thanksgiving Baskets for those in need in the Portsmouth area is underway!  Bring the items you and your friends & neighbors have collected to Chisholm Hall this Sunday (absolute deadline is 11/18).  Place the items under your household zip code.  Bragging rights from 2013 belong to "Greater Hampton Roads"....let's see who will win this year!

 

Reception to honor Scott Rollins


This Sunday, following the 11am Eucharist, we will honor our organist & choir director, Scott Rollins, with a festive reception. 

 

Over the past several years Scott has developed the awareness that he is a transgendered woman and now is ready to begin his transition to a new identity.  In Scott's words:  "Though I have come to the point where I need to be more open about who I am, I also believe that continuing in a staff position during this transition would lead to controversy and division within the parish, and be a distraction from (and detriment to) the real mission of St. John's, as well as adding to how difficult it would be for me to handle my responsibilities as choir director."

 

We give thanks to God for the over four years of gifted musical leadership that Scott has provided.  Please help us thank him for his service to the Lord and this parish on Sunday!

 

Miscellany

 

Christian Formation for all ages  resumes this Sunday.

 

Interested in supporting the ministries of St. John's in 2015?  Contact the parish office to make you written Estimate of Giving.

 

Pilgrims in Christ, Journey #5 has begun, but it is not too late for you to be a part!  Interested in strengthening your spiritual journey?  Want to learn more about God and the History of Salvation?  Always wondered what "xyz" means?  Need to update your credentials to serve at St. John's (Diocesan Council, Vestry, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Lay Eucharistic Visitor, etc.)?  Enjoy meeting new people?  Want to learn more about how we worship in the Episcopal Church?  Just want a great free meal and fellowship on Thursday evenings?  Then Pilgrims in Christ is the process for you to experience.  Click here for easy, online registration!


An Introductory Centering Prayer Workshop will be held on Saturday, November 15 at Church of the Holy Family (1279 N Great Neck Road) in Virginia Beach from 9:30am-3pm.  This is a great way to prepare for Advent.  Come and learn this ancient prayer form of the desert Fathers and Mothers, the contemplative tradition of our Catholic heritage.  Participants will learn the essential conceptual framework to begin Centering Prayer as an individual practice.  The workshop includes four presentations, experiential practice, a delicious lunch, and ample time for questions.  The cost is $30 and includes lunch.  Tuition assistance is available.  Contact Nancy Hess (757.468.9256) for a registration form.  Recommended by Mother Julia Dorsey Loomis.


Take a Pilgrimage to Scotland and England.  Pilgrimage is truly praying with your eyes open.  Spirits are renewed, friendships are formed, and lives can be changed forever.  Just ask those who participated in the transformative Advent 2012 Holy Land pilgrimage sponsored by our parish!  St. John's Church is pleased to announce that our next pilgrimage opportunity will be September 12-25, 2015 as we explore the spread of Christianity from its roots in the Holy Land to England and Scotland.  In Exploring our Anglican Spirituality, pilgrims will walk in the footsteps of many early Celtic and Catholic saints who were central to forming the unique Anglican heritage we cherish in the Episcopal Church today.  Though sponsored by St. John's Church, this pilgrimage is open to anyone who desires to journey with us.  The pilgrimage is limited to a total group size of 30.  Brochures are available in Chisholm Hall or via this link.  Is God calling you to be a part?

 

Content deadline for St. John's eNews is Tuesday before publication.

 

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.

 

For the Church

Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; Katherine, the Presiding Bishop; Holly, our bishop; Derek, our priest; Heidi & Russ, our missionaries in Chile; our parish staff, wardens and vestry

 

For Justice and Peace  

For Peace in the Middle East & Ukraine; for those African nations suffering with Ebola; for Barack, our president;  Terry, our governor, Ken, our mayor; for the city of Portsmouth; for Erin Elliott; Carolyn Higgins; Trevor Jackson; Nate Kingsbury; George Lang; Nicholas Reyes; Dariana Torres; 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: Bobby Barclay; Sophie Belouet; Donald Bowles; Kevin Carrigan; Mary Colby; Jake Devers; Bill Edwards; Darryl Foytik; Ron Fritz; Vivian Hillman; Mavia Hudgins; Dody Johnson; Bob McBride; Arlene Peterson; Carol Phipps; Alice Robbins; Betty Jo Ross; Martha Rush; Al Taylor; Sue Taylor; Jennie Todd; Dave Walker; Millie Wilkerson; Sonny Wilkinson; Andre Williams; Mark Woodland; Joy Young

Related to our Parish: Barbara (mother of Dody Johnson); Sue (wife of Tom Hanrahan); Dick (brother of Arlene Dragseth); Kaleb (grandson of Lena & Larry Simmons); The Downes Family (daughter of Jeff & Doreen Sheler); Joseph (friend of Franklin Marzullo); Kathy (friend of Andy Graham); Betty (mother of Linda Mathews); Hope (premature granddaughter of Dave Jacobsen [Mardi Gras & Oyster Roast band leader]); Skip (brother of Anne Davis); Lowry (friend of Anne Davis); Wally (boyfriend of Heather Gonzalez); Linda (aunt of Al Gregg); Patients at the Naval Hospital & EDMARC hospice for children. 
 

Thanksgivings  

For those who serve on the vestry of this parish.


Departed

For Marlene (cousin of Bobby Wilkerson) 

 

Stewardship of God's Resources for the week of 11/9
 

Ministry/Worship Attendance: Sunday 8am (22), 9am (67), 11am (92); Wednesday (9)

 

Worship Offering:  $6,813

Income needed for ministry expenses each week: $6,678


 Pledges in arrears as of October 15: ($22,035) 

 

This Sunday in Worship
 

23rd Sunday after Pentecost, 11/16: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 & Matthew 25:14-30

Want to give the gift of altar flowers?  Sign up in Chisholm Hall.


The Rt. Rev'd Herman Hollerith, IV, bishop
The Rev'd Dr. J. Derek Harbin, rector

Rick Bishop, kitchen manager
Keith Byers, bookkeeper
Philip Goodrich, sexton
Ellison Gregg, staff photographer & twitter
Clifford King Harbin, associate to the rector
Linda Mathews, receptionist & coordinator of office volunteers
Rebecca Mina, creation atrium coordinator
Sr. Heather Rollins, technology & facebook  
Scott Rollins, organist and choir director

Position open, 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

Monday Contemplative Prayer, 6:30pm
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!
Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter  Find us on Google+