www.stjohnsportsmouth.org21 January 2016

Ministry Opportunities still available 
for next week's Winter Shelter

Everyone pitches in to help during Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless Shelter Week @ St. John's because it takes a congregation to house the homeless!  Seven registrations; seven dinners; seven overnights; chairs and tables set up; tables set; meals prepared and served; bathrooms cleaned each morning; floors mopped; and a myriad of other duties.   There are still opportunities available; check out our needs and sign up on one of the new St. John's Mission bulletin boards in the Parish House first floor hallway off the parking lot lobby.
 
The Calling All Men Group at St. John's is coordinating care packages for each of our guests.  Bus tickets, garbage bags, large Zip Lock storage bags, new or gently used bath/hand towels, foot powder, ponchos, socks, handkerchiefs, wool hats, hand warmers, travel size toiletries of all kinds, combs & brushes.   Please place donations in the collection bin across from the Mission bulletin boards.
 
We also will be providing hoodies (sweat shirts with hoods) to be used by our guests as a layer against the cold and wet.  The greatest need will be men's and women's sizes large and extra large (2x and 3x have been donated).  This collection box can also be found across from the Mission bulletin boards.

One Sunday left to make your Women's Retreat reservation!
 
The Founders Inn has graciously extended our reservation deadline to January 25 to allow more women to register for this year's Women's Retreat.  Sign up using this link or with an AWE Women's Ministry representative after each Eucharist this Sunday.
 
Our speaker for the retreat is Kirstin Logsdon McGrath.  Kirstin is a beach-loving, book-toting Hampton Roads native currently living in Auburn, AL.  She enjoys exploring culture, nature and language to find new revelations of God's handprints in his world.  She is a mother of four children-toddler, teenager and two in between.  She especially relishes finding time to write and speak to women regarding their sometimes-forgotten identity as the beloved beauty of God's warm and relational heart.  Don't miss out on this special opportunity!


Mardi Gras tickets are selling fast!

St. John's Episcopal Church is inviting you to join in the festivities at the 5th annual Community Mardi Gras Celebration! Mark your calendar for February 6th at 7pm.
 
We will once again have a live band so come prepared to have a great time! We will have New Orleans style food as well as beer and wine!  Put on your best costumes & masks or evening attire as we will have a costume contest again as well as the crowning of the King & Queen! 
 
Tickets are $25 and are available for purchase online.  Start planning your costumes, arranging for your babysitter and inviting your friends.  This has become a very popular event so we urge you to get your tickets quickly so as not to miss out on the fun!  Lassez les bon temps roulez!!
Miscellany
 
Vestry Officers Elected: Congratulations to Dick Devers who has been elected as Senior Warden and Allison Foytik who has been re-elected as Register.  Other Vestry Officers will be selected at the Vestry's retreat in February.
 
Missing a coat, or hat, or gloves?  We have a number of items in the Parish Office left at St. John's over the last several weeks and have no room to store them.  Unclaimed items will be given to our shelter guests next week.
 
Christian Formation for adults and children continues this Sunday. 
 
Chisholm Hall is a Sunday quiet zone.  Construction was completed before Christmas on the Parish House roof and HVAC ductwork to eliminate the second floor water intrusion in our Christian Formation rooms.  Interior plastering of the ceilings began yesterday.  

In the meantime, the Good Shepherd Atrium (ages 3-6) will be meeting in their relocated atrium in Chisholm Hall.  Chisholm Hall will be closed to adults from 10:10-11:30am each Sunday.  We ask that those arriving for 11am worship walk around the building from the parking lot and enter the worship space through the Washington Street doors.  Disabled adults are asked to pass quickly and quietly through Chisholm Hall during this time.  Thanks so much in advance for your cooperation and assistance!
 
The Feast of the Presentation will be observed at St. John's on Wednesday, 2/3.  This is the final feast day of the Nativity celebration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  
 
The Diocese of Southern Virginia Annual Council will meet in Williamsburg on February 5 & 6.  Joining Fr. Derek and Clifford King Harbin will be Dick Devers and Jeff Fremeau (delegates) and Allison Foytik and Nancy Johnson (alternates).

Mark your calendar:  Ash Wednesday is February 10.  Worship opportunities will be at 11:30am & 6:30pm.
 
Join a Small Group in the new year.  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!
 
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 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 January 2015 Parish Directory, parish handbook, worship ministry schedules, and read approved minutes of vestry discussions and actions as well as 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; for an end to mass violence and 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, Christopher O'Meara, 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: Elaine Baker; Mary Colby; Bill Edwards; Ron Fritz; Al Gregg; Barrie Harper; Richard Hill;  Mavia Hudgins; Dody Johnson; Reese Johnson; Dody Mason; Cody Miller; Martha Ann Oast; Arlene Peterson; Carol Phipps; Ann Barbour Schwab; Barbara Stearns; Fran Taylor; Sue Taylor;  Peggy Tuthill; Patricia Viera; Ruth Waldo; Dave Walker; Mike Wall; Bobby Wilkerson; Sonny Wilkinson;  Janet Willey; 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: Mary (friend of Claudia Tomlin); Michael & Kelsey (children of Allison Foytik); Jacob (friend of Scott & Nancy Johnson); Tyrone (friend of Mick & Linda Kauffman); Eddie (Martha Rush's stepfather); Patients at the Naval Hospital & EDMARC hospice for children
                                                        
Thanksgivings
For the opportunity to serve our shelter guests in this upcoming week

Departed
Albert "Al" JosephTaylor, Jr.
Stewardship of God's Resources 
Week of 1/17 

Ministry/Worship Attendance: Sunday 8am (13), 9am (57), 11am (88); 
Wednesday 6:30pm (14)
Worship Offering:  $8,981
 
Income needed for ministry expenses each week: $6,778

This Sunday in Worship
 
Third Sunday after the Epiphany, 1/17: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 & Luke 4:14-21
The flowers at the Altar are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Albert Joseph Taylor, Jr. by his family. 

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

Clifford King Harbin, associate to the rector

Rebecca Mina, creation atrium coordinator

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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