www.stjohnsportsmouth.org4 November 2015
Six days left to buy Oyster Roast Tickets!
 
Celebrate fall as St. John's hosts an Oyster Roast for our wider community on Saturday, November 21 beginning at 2pm.  Oysters, Brunswick Stew, Hot Dogs, Beer, and more!  Live music (60s, 70s, & 80s) will be provided by the The H.M. Johnson Band.  
 
Tickets must be purchased in advance here.  Deadline for those at St. John's to purchase tickets is Wednesday, 11/18.
 
$5 for children (12 and under)
$25 adults (oysters & Brunswick Stew)
$30 adults (hot dogs, oysters, & Brunswick Stew)
$10 carry-out pint of Brunswick Stew
Organ Concert Reception on 11/20
Cookies, Cookies, Cookies!

St. John's is hosting an inaugural Organ Concert on Friday, November 20, 2015, at 7pm to celebrate with the wider civic community the gift of the newly installed Exsúltet Organ made possible by members of our parish community, Whitesel Church Organs of Harrisonburg, VA, and Viscount Organs of Mondaino, Italy.
 
Following the concert by Jeremy Filsell (internationally acclaimed organist and artist-in-residence at Washington National Cathedral), St. John's will host a punch, sparkling wine, and cookie reception in Chisholm Hall.  Your homemade goodies would be most appreciated.  A sign up sheet is in Chisholm Hall.
 
Cookies can be dropped off at the church kitchen before the concert begins.  If you have questions, please contact Carla Davis, 757-288-3001.

Another Great Turkey Trot
 
Thanks to everyone who gathered Thanksgiving basket food during our annual Turkey Trot.  Bragging rights go to parishioners from Chesapeake who are this year's Turkey Trot champions!

Miscellany
 
This Sunday, 11/15 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.)  If you have not made your reservation, please email or call the parish office (399.4967). 
 
Christian Formation is on break this Sunday for our Consecration Sunday brunches.  Formation for adults and children will resume next Sunday, 11/22.
 
No Healing Eucharist on 11/25.  The Parish Office will be closed 11/25-29 and there will be no Healing Eucharist on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving.  Have a safe and blessed holiday!
 
A big round of applause to everyone who contributed to make the Feast of All Saints so memorable at St. John's this year: the Altar Guild; the Flower Guild; the 9am Band; the 11am Choir; Philip Goodrich; Christopher Rusk; Taraleigh Casteen; Megan Timm who made the Baptism cake; Fr. Derek who made the Baptism banner; Mary Colby who made the All Saints banners; and all those who brought in photos of loved ones (a few still need to return home) or carried an All Saints banner.  Surely we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses!  Clifford King Harbin

It's not too late to join Pilgrims in Christ!  Pilgrims in Christ is a seven-month process that prepares adults (16 and older) to deepen their faith through baptism, confirmation, or reaffirmation of their baptismal vows.  Every Tuesday meeting begins at 5:30pm with a small evening prayer service, followed by a short teaching, a free hot meal prepared by Pilgrims alumni and other members of the congregation, in-depth teaching and conversation about Christianity, and small-group Bible study.   Each session ends at 8pm.  In the words of a past participant, "Pilgrims in Christ is amazing because it's learning and relearning aspects of our faith and church, but it is also an opportunity to forge bonds and friendships within the parish and community."   Contact Clifford King Harbin if you have any questions!

Pilgrims in Christ Meal Sign-up is now posted in Chisholm Hall.  Please consider providing a simple soup and bread meal for those strengthening their spiritual journey with Christ.  This can be part of your pledge to "support these persons in their life in Christ" as we vowed in our baptismal liturgy.  Team up with a friend, submit your receipts, if necessary, contact Bob McBride, this year's Meal Coordinator if you have any questions.

Annual Women's Retreat is February 20.  St. John's Women's Ministries (AWE) is excited to announce we are returning to the relaxing and welcoming Founders Inn.  The AWE Annual Retreat is scheduled to begin Saturday morning, February 20, 2016.  Two programs are set for Saturday and one on Sunday morning, with free time Saturday evening to enjoy the spa and local dining. Save the weekend and plan to spend both Friday and Saturday nights; or just one, if you prefer. 

Centennial and Bicentennial Celebration  From October 2015 to September 2016, St. John's Church is celebrating the bicentennial of our first rector's birth, the centennial of the construction of Chisholm Hall, and the enduring legacy of this saint's life and witness as a hero of the 1855 Yellow Fever epidemic. 

Fall is the time for visitors to worship. Traditionally, the fall months are when St. John's has the largest number of visitors in worship seeking a new faith community.  Please be especially aware and greet those you do not recognize both during worship and in Chisholm Hall before you greet your friends!
 
St. John's has a blog!  Think of a blog as an online magazine where we will share church events, personal stories, and highlight wonderful things happening behind the scenes  at St. Johns.  Visit the site here and sign up to follow St. John's new blog!  Thanks to Fallon and Matt Graham for their work in bringing this vision to reality!  

Calling all men.  You are invited!  The men will gather again on Tuesday, 11/24 @ 6:30pm in Chisholm Hall.  We hope you can join us!
 
The Magnificent Obsession is the title of the 10am Thursday morning women's Bible study.  With video messages by Anne Graham Lotz, this study explores the life of Abraham as a model for embracing a God-filled life.   Remining dates for the study will be 11/19 & 12/5.  For more information contact Patti Devers.   

Join a Small Group.  Small groups at St. John's are called "Scott's Creek," in honor of the first such group that met in a home on the banks of Portsmouth's Scott's Creek.  Small groups are a great way to deepen your faith, build friendships, and become more connected to the St. John's community.  Multiple groups with diverse interests and age groupings are available and we invite you to be a part!  Email the Parish Office to get connected!
 
Wednesday Eucharist is not just for summer!  This worship was especially created for those who were traveling during the weekend so that all could still receive Christ's Body and Blood as strength for the journey.  This 30-minute Eucharist begins at 6:30pm and includes hymns, a brief homily, and healing prayers. Miss on Sunday?  Come on Wednesday.

Want a St. John's name badge?  Are you ready to look outward and be welcoming, greeting those you do not know before you greet your friends and offering hospitality to those you meet?  If your answer is "yes," then complete a name badge request form found in the worship space and Chisholm Hall.  These badges have a magnetic back. (which should be kept away from medical devices and credit/debit cards).
 
The Parishioner Corner of our Website has news you can use.  Here you can access the November 2015 Parish Directory, parish handbook, worship ministry schedules, and read approved minutes of vestry discussions and actions as well parish financial reports.  Need or don't remember the password?  Contact the parish office. 

Content deadline for St. John's eNews is Wednesday at noon before publication.
 
In our Prayers this Week

For the Church
Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; Michael, the Presiding Bishop; for Holly, our bishop; Derek, our rector; Heidi, Russ, & Amanda, our missionaries; and our parish staff, wardens and vestry
 
For Justice and Peace    
Peace in the Middle East; healing of racial divides in this nation; for Barack, our president; Terry, our governor; Ken, our mayor; for the city of Portsmouth; for Clint Carlson, Erin Elliott, Carolyn Higgins, George Lang, Will Oast, Jessi Staley, Dariana Torres, Shaun Tuttle, 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: Barbara Bowles; Donald Bowles; Mary Colby; Bill Edwards; Ron Fritz; Al Gregg; Mavia Hudgins; Dody Johnson; Reese Johnson; Dody Mason; Arlene Peterson; Carol Phipps; Emily Schultz; Anne Barbour Schwab; Barbara Stearns; Al Taylor; Sue Taylor;  Peggy Tuthill; Ruth Waldo; Dave Walker; Sonny Wilkinson;  Joy Young.  

We ask God's Holy Spirit to surround, protect, and move to successful completion the renovation of the second floor Christian Formation rooms.
 
Related to our Parish: Thomas (father of Dody Johnson);Chris (brother-in-law of Marti Austin); Mrs. Dr. Kersey (friend of Ava Park); Chad, Thea, Rusty, & Mandy (friends of Erin Burke); Mike & Betty (friends of Niki Park); David (Janice Cuneo's husband); Cameron (Nancy Johnson's granddaughter); Nancy (Andy Gray's mother); Cameron (Taraleigh Casteen's godson); Linda (Al Gregg's aunt); Steven (friend of the Gregg Family); Scott (Franklin Marzullo's son); Maddie (friend of Doreen Sheler);  Patsy (friend of Andrea Graham); Robbie (friend of the congregation); Patients at the Naval Hospital & EDMARC hospice for children
                                                        
Thanksgivings
For the parish house roof and ductwork repairs which will begin in the next couple of weeks

For a Holy Death
Alice (friend of Beth Meighan)
Stewardship of God's Resources for the week of 11/08  

Ministry/Worship Attendance: Sunday 8am (14), 9am (62), 11am (108); 
Wednesday 6:30pm (23)

Worship Offering:  $5,538
 
Income needed for ministry expenses each week: $6,977

This Sunday in Worship
 
Consecration Sunday, 11/15: Hebrews 10:11-25 & Mark 13:1-8
No flower memorial has yet been given for this Sunday.

Herman Hollerith, IV, bishop 

J. Derek Harbin, rector

Keith Byers, bookkeeper

Taraleigh Casteen, bandleader

Courtney Devers, staff chef

Bob Gilman, assisting priest

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

Claudia Tomlin, organist emerita

Justin Young, publications

 

Welcome to our Sunday Worship Services

 Contemplative Eucharist, Rite I at 8:00am
 Contemporary Eucharist at 9:00am
 Classic 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 10am - 1pm M-F. We look forward to seeing you!
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