www.stjohnsportsmouth.org3 March 2016
Tomorrow is the Lenten Fish Fry

The Community Lenten Fish Fry is coming this Friday, March 4 from 11am-1pm and 5pm-7pm.   Adults: $10 dine-in or $8 to go.  Children, ages 3-12: $5; under 3, free.  Even though you can pay on the day of the event, purchasing an advance ticket here will help St. John's Men's Group (Calling All Men) plan food purchases.  This is a great way for us to move into the neighborhood, meet our neighbors, and bring friends to St. John's for lunch or supper.  See you there!

Keep your Vow by feeding St. John's Pilgrims
 
During each Baptism at St. John's Church, we vow to "do all in our power to support these persons in their life in Christ."  One of the tangible ways you can do this is by preparing and serving a meal for the 20 participants in our Pilgrims in Christ process who are preparing for Baptism or to reaffirm their baptismal vows.  Bob McBride is our Meal Coordinator this year and he reports that we need meals for each of these Thursday evenings: March 17, April 7, & May 12.  If you have availability on any of those evenings to prepare a simple meal (like soup, salad, and bread) and bring it to Chisholm Hall to serve at 6pm, please call or email Bob (757.618.8885).

Bishop Hollerith to visit St. John's for Easter Vigil

Make your plans now to be present for the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday evening, March 26 beginning at sunset (7:22pm).  Our diocesan bishop, Herman "Holly" Hollerith, IV, will be present for his official visitation on this pinnacle celebration of the Christian year.  It will be a glorious night not to be missed! 
African Team Ministries sale on March 13
 
African Team Ministries is a Christian ministry working as an intermediary between African and American churches.  With help from Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Anglican denominations, they provide funding for orphan and refugee relief, mission, and evangelism in East Africa.
 
A display of hand-crafted items made in Africa will be for sale in Chisholm Hall on Sunday, March 13. 
 
The support from your purchases allows African Team Ministries to provide school fees, tuition, books, and uniforms to students in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.  This support ensures that the children receive an education and an opportunity to learn of and deepen their relationship with Jesus.  Through their partner churches, your purchases will give the gift of hope!

Miscellany
 
Sunday Christian Formation for adults and children continues this Sunday.  

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).
 
Sign-up Sheets for Maundy Thursday's Agape Meal, the Garden Watch, and the Easter Vigil Reception are posted on the "Feast" mission bulletin board found in the Parish House first floor hallway.  Please sign up so we can know how many people to anticipate for each of these special nights and also make sure that our Maundy Thursday Garden Watch is covered from 8:30pm to 8:30am outdoors in the Memorial Garden and 8:30am to 10:30am indoors in the Founders' Chapel.

Easter Vigil and Easter Day Flowers: St. John's is accepting donations for flowers to decorate our worship space for Eastertide.  These flowers may be given in memory of, or in thanksgiving for, a loved one or a special event.  Forms are available in our worship space.  Please either mail your donation and form to the Parish Office or place both in a sealed envelope in the offering plate.  Please be sure to note "Easter flowers" on the check memo line.  Your gift will be reflected on your contribution statement for the year.

March 13 Planning Meeting to be held for the St. Fiacre Flower Festival.  This annual event will occur on April 29 (Garden Party & Silent Auction) and April 30-May 1 (Plant & Flower Sale).  The St. John's AWE Women's Ministries would like to invite you to join the first planning meeting on Sunday, March 13 at 12:15pm in the 2nd floor Community Meeting Room.  This is a great opportunity for you to be a part of the fun of hosting this wonderful, annual event.  We can use your ideas as we: plan the Garden Party and obtain items for the Silent Auction, work on advertising and promotion, select plants and flowers and coordinate sales, and spearhead community outreach for our vendor tables.  Calling All Men will host the lunch tables this year.  For more information, please contact Patti Devers.

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 February 2016 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 those to be Baptized
Catechumens Stephanie Brown & Charles Burlingame; Chris Emery & Addie Brown (Great Vigil of Easter, 3/26)
 
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, Kevin Carrigan, Erin Elliott, Carolyn Higgins,  George Lang, Dakota Neel; Thomas Smetanka; Jessi Staley, Dariana Torres, and Shaun Tuttle 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; Steve Buell; Mary Colby; Virginia Cooke; Bill Edwards; Ron Fritz; Andy Gray; Al Gregg; Mavia Hudgins; Franklin Marzullo; Dody Mason; Cody Miller; Martha Ann Oast; Arlene Peterson; Carol Phipps; Anne Barbour Schwab; Barbara Stearns; Fran Taylor; Sue Taylor;  Peggy Tuthill; Patricia Viera; Ruth Waldo; Gary Wiggins; Bobby Wilkerson; Sonny Wilkinson; Joy Young   

Related to our Parish: Louise (aunt of Clifford King Harbin); Verlene (sister of Carolyn Colon); Kim (friend of Claudia Tomlin); James (friend of Steve & Sharon Buell);  Vern (friend of Emily Schultz); 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); Patients at the Naval Hospital & EDMARC hospice for children

Thanksgivings
For the completion of construction to the second floor of the Parish House and for all who worked so hard to restore the hallway and four Christian Formation rooms for use.

Departed
Naomi (grandmother of Rick Rose and great-grandmother of Theo, Calvin, and James); "Cowboy" (one of our homeless guests over the years); Bob (friend of Pat Pfeiffer)
Stewardship of God's Resources 
Week of 2/27 

Ministry/Worship Attendance: Sunday 8am (12), 9am (73), 11am (83); Wednesday 6:30pm (11)
Worship Offering:  $10,177
 
Income needed for ministry expenses each week: $6,778

This Sunday in Worship
 
Fourth Sunday in Lent, 3/6: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 & John 9:1-41

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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