11 February 2016

Lent

Those of us who walk along this road
do so reluctantly.
Lent is not our favorite time of year.
We'd rather be more active-
planning and scurrying around.
All this is too contemplative to suit us.
Besides we don't know what to do
with piousness and prayer.
Perhaps we're afraid to have time to think,
for thoughts come unbidden.
Perhaps we're afraid to face our future
knowing our past.
Give us the courage, O God,
to hear your word
and to read our living into it.
Give us the trust to know we're forgiven,
and give us the faith
to take up our lives and walk.

Ann Weems

A picture is worth a thousand words

With the early arrival of Lent this year, St. John's has been a flurry of activity since the Epiphany Pageant on January 6. Whether it is housing and serving the homeless (1/24-31) or hosting a Mardi Gras party for the wider Hampton Roads community (2/6), St. John's Church is so thankful for the servant leaders in our midst who work so hard and empower us to "move into the neighborhood" with excellence! We hope images in this eNews provide you a glimpse into life here at St. John's in January and early February of this year.

Come for one day to the Women's Retreat, 2/20

St. John's AWE Women's Ministries would like to invite you to attend the Retreat on Saturday February 20. Be part of the praise music with Taraleigh Casteen (Sunday 9am Eucharist Band Leader), spiritual journey with our leader Kirsten McGrath, and enjoy the Founders Inn hospitality plus lunch in the Swan Terrace-all for just $25! You do not need an overnight reservation to be part of this special Saturday event.

Please mail your $25 check (made payable to St. John's Church for the retreat) to Patti Devers, 1505 Mathews Terrace, Portsmouth, VA 23704. Retreat representatives will also be available after worship on Sundays to accept payment.

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!

Miscellany

Sunday Christian Formation takes a break this week for the Washington's Birthday national holiday. We are excited that the Good Shepherd Atrium will be able to return to its home on the second floor as Christian Formation resumes on Sunday, 2/21!

The Parish Office will be closed on Monday for the Washington's Birthday national holiday.

Calling all Men! This active men's group of St. John's will meet this Monday evening, 2/15, at 6:30pm in Chisholm Hall. Contact Jeff Fremeau for more information.

The Rite of Reconciliation is especially appropriate in the Season of Lent. It is available by contacting Fr. Derek for an appointment by email or phone (757.759.7371).

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; Francis, the Bishop of Rome; Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople; 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, 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; Andy Gray; Al Gregg; Clifford King Harbin; Barrie Harper; Richard Hill; Mavia Hudgins; Franklin Marzullo; Dody Mason; Cody Miller; Martha Ann Oast; Arlene Peterson; Carol Phipps; Anne Barbour Schwab; Walter Short; Lena Simmons; Barbara Stearns; Fran Taylor; Sue Taylor; Peggy Tuthill; Patricia Viera; Ruth Waldo; Dave Walker; Mike Wall; Bobby Wilkerson; 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: Nancy (mother of Andy Gray); Marie (mother of Joshua Brown); Tom, Patti & Kelly (family of Dody Johnson); Mary Jane (friend of JoAnn Rose); Tim (friend of Andy Graham); Lynn (Cindy Carlson's sister-in-law); 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 spiritual opportunities of Lent and for God's gift of love on this Valentine's Day weekend

Stewardship of God's Resources

Week of 2/7

Ministry/Worship Attendance: Sunday 8am (8), 9am (64), 11am (74);

Ash Wednesday 11:30am (28); Drop-in ashes (13); Ash Wednesday 6:30pm (67)

Worship Offering: $9,393

Income needed for ministry expenses each week: $6,778

This Sunday in Worship

First Sunday in Lent, 2/14: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13

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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