www.stjohnsportsmouth.org12 February 2015

Palm Burning is Sunday 

 

This Sunday, February 15th, bring your palms from last year's Palm Sunday celebration to be burned following each Eucharist in preparation for this year's Ash Wednesday celebration.  Our liturgy will be filled with lots of Alleluias as we will fast this word of praise in Lent until we shout and sing it again at the Easter Vigil.  Make sure to fatten up at hospitality time, since our Lenten fare will be much simpler as well


 

Shrove Tuesday, or Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), is the day before Ash Wednesday when people rid the pantry of all the fattening foods that they will not consume during the 40-day Lenten season.  On Tuesday, February 17th, St. John's Acolytes will host a Pancake Supper from 5:30-7pm.  Adults $5, Ages 3-10: $3, Under 3 free.  Proceeds will go to the Acolyte Fund.    


 

On Ash Wednesday, February 18th, we will begin our forty-day preparation for Easter (called Lent) with a day of fasting.  Those who are physically able are encouraged to eat no food and drink only water or clear juice; when our stomach reminds us of hunger, we then turn to God in prayer.  (Even children or adults with special medical needs can find ways to observe a modified fast with simple foods like soup.)


The St. John's community will provide three distinct worship opportunities to observe this day.  Invite your friends, neighbors and co-workers to join you!
 

Noon, Liturgy of the Day and Eucharist (lunch hour friendly!)

4-6pm, drop-in imposition of ashes
6:30pm, Principal Liturgy of the Day with Eucharist

 


 

It was a full house from the neighborhood for the 4th Annual St. John's Community Mardi Gras Celebration!  One person who attends another church commented, "Whenever anyone asks for a church recommendation, I always send them to St. John's.  This place is full of life and light!"


 

Welcome Taraleigh


We are pleased to announce that our 9am vocalist, Taraleigh Casteen, has accepted the call to become St. John's Bandleader for the 9am Contemporary Eucharist.  A soloist since the age of three, Taraleigh began playing the piano at six, wrote her first song at fourteen, and began touring professionally at seventeen.  She has been privileged to create opening act bands for large tours as well as sing all over the world and with some of the world's most talented musicians.

 

Though she has been a professional singer and bandleader for many years, she considers being a private vocal coach her greatest accomplishment. Since 2007, she has professionally instructed students in the art of entertaining by coaching them on how to properly sing, develop their breath control, outline and write original music, interact with the audience, play and read the basics of the piano, and the art of music arrangement. Some of her students have opened for such acts as Darius Rucker, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Sara Evans, Gary Allen, and the Beach Boys-just to name a few!  Taraleigh brings all this experience to our 9am band of volunteer and paid musicians to help us offer praise to God. 

 

Taraleigh is married to Blue and has a daughter, Bailey.  Welcome Taraleigh!

 

Foldenauer to lead Women's Retreat

 

The St. John's Women's Retreat (3/6-7/2015) is pleased to welcome our guest speaker, Christy Foldenauer.  As a Bible teacher, story teller and lover of all things about spiritual growth, Christy enjoys engaging the scripture and encouraging others to dive deeper into the elements of practical Christian life.

 

Christy serves as Discipleship Pastor at Gayton Baptist Church in Richmond, VA.  In May of 2014 she graduated with her Masters Degree of Arts in Theological Studies at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.  Christy and her husband, Adam, have three awesome kids (Ashton, Lauren, and Nate.)  She enjoys hanging out with friends and family, plus doing anything creative (from writing, to singing, crafting, and cooking.)

 

If you have not registered for the retreat, there is still time.  Please contact Patti Devers at 757.615.3227.

 

Miscellany

 

There is no Christian Formation this Sunday for the Presidents' Day weekend.

 

The Parish Kitchen off Chisholm Hall is not a hallway or a social gathering spot.  Please stay out of the kitchen and do not distract our Sexton, Philip Goodrich, from accomplishing his Sunday duties.

  

Parish Office volunteers needed: St. John's is in need of volunteer assistance to answer the phones and door from 10am-1pm on Monday-Thursday each week.  If you have a day to spare each week and are willing to assist, please contact Fr. Derek.

 

Don't miss out on the Pilgrimage to Scotland and England. If you have any interest in participating in this September 12-25, 2015 pilgrimage, you are urged to make your deposit today.   Hotels are filling fast at some of our destinations.  Once they are full, we can take no more participants!  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; and our parish staff, wardens and vestry

 

For Justice and Peace  
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; Marcus Hyde; Trevor Jackson; Nate Kingsbury; George Lang; Will Oast; 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; Ron Fritz; Crystal Gower; Vivian Hillman; Mavia Hudgins; Dody Johnson; Mick Kauffman; Franklin Marzullo; Dody Mason; Bob McBride; Arlene Peterson; Carol Phipps; Betty Jo Ross; Martha Rush; Mark Stearns; Al Taylor; Sue Taylor; Ruth Waldo; Dave Walker; Sonny Wilkinson; Andre Williams


Related to our Parish: Richael (website request); David & Deb (friends of Amy Rose); Benjamin (father of Lena Simmons); Laura (friend of Laura Jackson); Isabelle & Jackson (grandchildren of Nancy Greskowiak); Linda (aunt of Al Gregg); Patients at the Naval Hospital & EDMARC hospice for children

Thanksgivings

For Taraleigh as she begins her ministry as Bandleader; for Julie & Justin Young who are expecting a child 

 

Departed

Kayla Mueller

 

Stewardship of God's Resources for the week of 2/8
 

Ministry/Worship Attendance: Sunday 8am (19), 9am (71), 11am (148), Wednesday 6:30pm (11) 

Worship Offering:  $9,274

Income needed for ministry expenses each week: $6,977

 

This Sunday in Worship
 

Last Sunday after the Epiphany, 2/15: 2 Kings 2:1-12 & Mark 9:2-9  

 

The flowers at the Altar and Founders' Chapel are given to the Glory of God and in Thanksgiving for the new ministry of Taraleigh Casteen as Bandleader and for the faithful ministry of the 9am musicians. 

 

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

Keith Byers, bookkeeper
Taraleigh Casteen, bandleader
Philip Goodrich, sexton
Ellison Gregg, staff photographer 
Clifford King Harbin, associate to the rector
Rebecca Mina, creation atrium coordinator
Heather Rollins, technology 
Christopher Rusk, organist/choirmaster
Justin Young, publications
Claudia Tomlin, organist emerita

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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