www.stjohnsportsmouth.org24 December 2015
Christmastide at St. John's 

The Parish Office is currently closed through the end of the year.  Please note that all 2015 contributions must be received by Sunday, 12/27 to receive tax and pledge credit for the 2015 tax year.
 
The Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ: Candlelight Christmas Eve
The Christ Mass, Thursday, 12/24 @ 5pm:  Christmas carols are accompanied by vocalists, guitar, bass, & drums.  A cider and cookie reception follows worship.
The Christ Mass, Thursday, 12/24 @ 11pm:  Christmas carols are accompanied by the Exsúltet organ, violin, cello, flute, & choir.  Special music precedes worship and a cider and cookie reception follows worship.
 
The Third Day of Christmas (Concert for the Feast of St. John)
No morning worship on this Sunday
Sunday, 12/27 @ 3pm: Nativity setup in Chisholm Hall
Sunday, 12/27 @ 4pm :  On this 3rd Day of Christmas, which is also the Feast of St. John, you are invited to a festive celebration of Christmas carols and organ performance by Christopher J. Rusk as we give thanks for and ask God's blessing on the new Exsúltet Organ.  A festive reception follows.  Admission is free.  St. John's Concert Series in our historic worship space is one of the many ways we follow the example of Jesus by moving into our neighborhood to bless our community.
 
The Sixth Day of Christmas
Wednesday, 12/30 @ 6:30pm: Christmas is only half over--there are six more days to go in the wonderful feast!  On this 6th Day of Christmas we remember the day Jesus was presented In the Temple and received his name. Bring your calendar or agenda to be blessed as we continue our Christmas celebrations into the New Year with this simple healing Eucharist and carols.
 
The Seventh Day of Christmas
Thursday, 12/31 @ 3:30pm:  St. John's Church opens it doors once again from 3:30pm-4:30pm as a warm gathering space before the annual Olde Towne Scottish Walk begins.  The Scottish Walk is modeled after Scotland's Hogmanay 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.  The walk steps off at 4:30pm diagonally across from St. John's Church.
 
The Ninth Day of Christmas
Saturday, 1/2 @ 3-6pm:  The Harbin family invites children and adults to the annual Open House at their home in Olde Towne Portsmouth.  
 
The Tenth Day of Christmas
Sunday, 1/3 @ 8, 9, and 11am: Christmas worship continues!  Last chance for your favorite Christmas carols as we remember the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem and innocent victims of violence around the world today.
Sunday, 1/3 @ 10:10am: Epiphany Pageant rehearsal with sound checks
 
The Feast of the Epiphany
Wednesday, 1/6 @ 6:30pm: Eucharist and the Epiphany Pageant.
 
Bring a Nativity to display in Chisholm Hall 12/27 - 1/3
 
Whether you call it a nativity, crèche, or manger scene, we envision Chisholm Hall filled with all sorts and sizes of nativities from the United States and around the world for all to enjoy this Christmastide!
 
Please email the Parish Office to let us know details of your nativity and how much table space you will need for your display so that we can be prepared for your nativity's arrival.    Set up will occur at 3pm on 12/27 in advance of our afternoon celebration of music at 4pm.  Displays can be removed any time after noon on January 3.  

Giving to Christ at Christmas 

Christmas will be here in two weeks.  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.
 
This year's focus is relieving human suffering on an international level.  By an overwhelming parish vote, we will support the construction of a School for those orphaned by ISIS.  The school, located in northern Iraq, will provide housing, food, medical care, education and vocational training for these children whose families have been destroyed.  Voice of the Martyrs will use 100% of contributions given by us to establish the school.
 
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.  
 

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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