www.stjohnsportsmouth.org18 December 2014


 

Hanging of the Greens is this Sunday

 

We all are experts on decorating our homes; now it is time to decorate God's house!  The Flower Guild has a plan for decorating St. John's worship space and a strategy to help us quickly complete the work.  But we need more than plans to prepare our worship space for Christmas - we need YOU!

 

Everyone (young and old) is needed and welcome to help decorate inside and out after the 11am Eucharist this Sunday, 12/21.

 

We have a number of tasks to accomplish.  Each group of tasks will be headed by one or more Flower Guild members; instructions and all materials will be provided - all that's needed is your willing hands.  If you have them, bring tools according to the task you have chosen.

 

It is a tradition at St. John's that members of the congregation bring greens from their home gardens to be used for decorating the church for Christmas. Even if you only have a few branches to share, your contributions are greatly appreciated.

 

Here are the greens that are needed - pine, fir, cedar, holly (green and variegated), nandina (with or without berries and the Fire Power variety if you have it), magnolia, pyracantha with berries, or any other evergreen you have that you think is wonderful.

 

Bring the greens to the church's garden gate entrance on Washington Street between 10:00 and 1:00 this Saturday 12/20.  We will have people that can help you.  Questions?  Contact Linda Buchanan.

 

The Epiphany Pageant is Coming


This Sunday is the last day to sign up in Chisholm Hall or email Clifford King Harbin to be a member of the cast.  Please note if you would like a speaking role.  We especially need two more adult men willing to have a speaking role as Magi.  Adults and Children are encouraged to participate.  The Pageant will be presented at the Feast of the Epiphany on Tuesday night, January 6 at 6:30pm.  Come be part of the fun!

 

Little ones in Worship

"Babies cry, make noise, go here and there.  But it annoys me when a baby cries in church and there are those who say he needs to go out.  The cry of a baby is God's voice: never drive them away from the church!"  Pope Francis during his 12/16/2014 visit to the parish of St. Joseph in Rome.

 
Christmastide at St. John's

The Parish Office will be closed from Christmas Eve (12/24) through January 4.  The office will be open again on Monday, January 5, 2015.  
Please note that all 2014 contributions must be received in the Parish Office by Sunday, December 28 to receive tax and pledge credit for the 2014 tax year.  

 

The next eNews will be published on Thursday, January 8.


 

The Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ

  • Wednesday, 12/24 @ 5pm:  The Christ Mass (contemporary) followed by a cider and cookie reception.
  • Wednesday, 12/24 @ 10:45pm:  Festival of Christmas music presented by parish musicians.
  • Wednesday, 12/24 @ 11pm:  The Christ Mass (traditional) followed by a cider and cookie reception. 

 

The Fourth Day of Christmas (The Feast of the Holy Innocents)

  • Sunday, 12/28 @ 8, 9, and 11am:  Join as we remember the Innocents of Bethlehem, slaughtered by King Herod, and the power of God's love that will overcome all evil.
  • Sunday, 12/28 @ 10am: Adult forum continues and Catechesis atria are open


The Seventh Day of Christmas

  • Wednesday, 12/31 @ 3pm: The Olde Towne Scottish Walk is modeled after Scotland's Hogmany Festival, a day when townspeople honor their community and merchants, wishing God's blessing and prosperity in the coming year.  A procession of local family, friends, and visitors will be led by bagpipe and drum.  St. John's worship space will be open from 3-4:30pm as a warm gathering spot.  Folks can purchase coffee, enjoy Celtic music, visit with friends, have tartan fabric or clothing blessed.  The procession will leave at 4:30pm through Olde Towne and end at the High Street Landing.  No healing Eucharist tonight.


The Tenth Day of Christmas

  • Saturday, 1/3 @ 4-7pm:  The Harbin family invites children and adults to their annual Open House at their home in Olde Towne Portsmouth.  

 

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

  • Sunday, 1/4 @ 8, 9, and 11am: Christmas worship continues!
  • Sunday, 1/4 @ 10:10am: Epiphany Pageant rehearsal and Costume selection

The Feast of the Epiphany (Old Christmas)

  • Tuesday, 1/6 @ 6:30pm: Eucharist and the Epiphany Pageant.
Giving to Christ at Christmas


 Christmas will be here in a week.  As we prepare for the upcoming Christmas season, our parish is offering each of us the opportunity to do the single-most important act of the holidays: give a gift to Jesus Christ.  Giving to Christ at Christmas is based on a simple idea.  It's Jesus' birthday.  That's why we give gifts to each other.  Let's have our gift giving begin with a gift to him.

 

Each year we invite followers of Jesus associated with St. John's Church to give the most generous, one-time cash gift we can-above and beyond our normal giving, as we would any Christmas gift-to fund the twin heartbeats of our Lord: evangelistic witness and relief of human suffering, locally, nationally and internationally.

 

Last Sunday St. John's parishioners overwhelmingly voted to fund the creation of an online app, "Who are you, Jesus?"  Envisioned by catechists with decades of experience with children in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and using the guidance of Nouma, a beautiful, yet playful and mysterious animated dove, the app will enable the child to engage directly with Jesus' words.  The child can use the functions of the app to listen to or read the scripture and wondering questions, then type on the keyboard, speak into the microphone, or draw a response on the iPad.  The responses will be saved by the app, resulting in a unique book created by the child.  

 

For a $500 gift, our parish would be listed as a sponsor on the app itself with a link to our website and would receive 10 free app downloads.  For $5,000 we would be listed as a principal sponsor with 100 free app downloads.

 

So what's involved?  It's simple.  On December 24, bring your offering marked Giving to Christ at Christmas to services on Christmas Eve and give it as part of our parish Christmas festivities.  If you can't be with us that night, simply place your gift in the offering basket at any Christmas worship event through Epiphany (January 6) or mail it to the Parish Office (424 Washington St., Portsmouth, VA 23704).  Please note on the memo line: Giving to Christ at Christmas.  


Miscellany

 

Christian Formation for all ages  continues this Sunday.

 

Want to donate flowers and greens for Christmas in memory or thanksgiving?  Completed forms and money are due this Sunday.

 

The Hanging of the Greens is Sunday, 12/21 @ noon.  Everyone (young and old) is needed and welcome to help decorate inside and out after the 11am Eucharist.  Don't miss this fun event!

 

The Parish Office will be closed for the Christmas Holidays from December 23 at Noon through the end of the year.  Please make sure that your mailed pledge payments are in the office before the 23rd.  If you are making a stock transfer, please contact the Parish Office for specific instructions for donations and advise your financial manager this transaction must be completed by December 23rd.  Sunday, December 28 is the last day to receive credit for a 2014 contribution.  Any monies received after that date will be posted to 2015.

 

2015 Vestry Officers: Congratulations to Margaret Perkins (Senior Warden); Dick Devers (Junior Warden); Allison Foytik (Register); Della Stearns (Minutes Secretary); Millie Wilkerson (Treasurer); Jack Goodwin (Assistant Treasurer).  Vestry Members elected last Sunday are Jeff Fremeau, Nancy Johnson, and Jason Lowe.


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

 

Mark your calendars now for the March Women's Retreat which will be held at the Founders' Inn on the campus of Regent University, March 6 & 7, 2015.  Online registration is available on our website here.  


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?

 

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, & Amanda, our missionaries; our parish staff, wardens and vestry

 

For Justice and Peace  

For Peace in the Middle East and healing of racial divides in this nation; 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; 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; Pete Colon; Bill Edwards; Darryl Foytik; Ron Fritz; Joey Guerra; Vivian Hillman; Mavia Hudgins; Dody Johnson; Mick Kauffman; Franklin Marzullo; Dody Mason; 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; Joy Young

Related to our Parish: Olivia (mother-in-law of St. John's bookkeeper Keith Byers); Amy (daughter-in-law of Sue Fritz); Mike (brother of Cassie McBride); Hal (friend of Greg Wellstead); Anne (friend of Marie Marzullo); Clay (friend of Andre Williams); Audry (friend of Gina Fremeau); 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); 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 Willy Wolter's new job in Washington, D.C; for the appointment of the first female bishop in the Church of England;  for Hope (premature granddaughter of Dave Jacobsen [Mardi Gras & Oyster Roast band leader]) who was released from hospital to her home this week


Departed

Norman Bridwell  (creator of Clifford, the Big Red Dog)


Stewardship of God's Resources for the week of 12/14
 

Ministry/Worship Attendance: Sunday 8am (16), 9am (67), 11am (95), Wednesday 6:30pm (8) 

Worship Offering:  $7,137

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


 Pledges in arrears as of December 11: ($28,263) 

 

The Parish Office will be closed beginning at noon on December 23 through the end of the year.  For those who use online banking, please advise your bank to mail early so the parish office will receive before 12/23.  If you are making a stock transfer, please contact the Parish Office for specific donation instructions.  Sunday, December 28 is the last day to receive credit for a 2014 contribution.  Any monies received after that date will be posted to 2015.

 

This Sunday in Worship
 

Fourth Sunday of Advent, 12/21: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 & Luke 1:26-38    

 

Christmas flower forms are now available.  The deadline for having your memorial or thanksgiving in the bulletin is this Sunday at noon.

 

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  
Justin Young, publications

Position open, organist/choirmaster

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!
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