10 March 2016

African Team Ministries sale on Sunday

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 this 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!

Egg Stuffers needed

Parents on Board at Scott's Creek (the small group for parents with young children) will be coordinating this year's event for the wider Portsmouth community on Easter Sunday morning at 10:15am.

They need your assistance in stuffing eggs! We have plenty of plastic eggs that can be picked up from the church this Sunday. Small toys, coins, and individually wrapped candies make excellent stuffers. Please do not use chocolate candy as the day may be warm and chocolate will melt. Questions? Contact Evelyn Stallings or Barrie Harper.

"Maundy" is an English derivative of the Latin word mandatum (commandment), referring to Jesus' words on this night recorded in John 13:34: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. As young and old sit in our Chisholm Hall "Upper Room," we reflect on this commandment of Jesus while we taste 1st century-era food, follow his servant example by washing one another's feet and then move to the nave of the church to share in the Eucharist, the sacred meal our Lord instituted on this holy night. (Want to help with this event? Contact Della Stearns.)

Following the Eucharist, we strip the altar and all decorations from the worship space. The altar is cleaned with a mixture of vinegar and water, reminding us of the gall given to Jesus as he hung on the cross. In our tradition, the altar is the place where Christ makes his presence available to us each week through his Body and Blood. By stripping it bare, we remember the eventual abandonment of Jesus by his disciples.

Opportunity is then given to follow Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane where he asked his disciples, "Can you not watch with me for one hour?" From 8:30pm on Thursday until 8:30am the next morning, the Blessed Sacrament will be present in our Memorial Garden. (A security guard will be on duty until daylight.) From 8:30am to 10:30am on Good Friday morning, the Blessed Sacrament will be present in the Founders' Chapel. These opportunities provide an opportunity to pray with Jesus during this time of waiting and trial before his crucifixion. Those who don't drive at night are encouraged to watch during daylight hours on Friday morning.

Sign up for both these opportunities on the "Feast" mission bulletin board (Parish House first floor hallway) to aid in our preparations.

Good Friday, 3/25 @ noon & 6:30pm

The Good Friday Celebration is the second part of the Liturgy for the Holy Triduum (Three Days). Using scripture, ancient prayers and song, we walk the journey with Jesus to the cross. A large wooden cross is brought into the worship space with opportunity for any or all to come forward to touch and experience the awesome love of our God through a sacrifice that truly makes this day "good." Finally, the Blessed Sacrament is brought into the worship space from the Watch, and Jesus' Body and Blood is offered as strength for our journey to Easter. The worship space will remain open for silent prayer following the noon liturgy until 3pm.

A special offering will be collected on this day to support the mission work of Christians who live in the Holy Land.

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!

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 (757.618.8885) or email Bob.

Miscellany

Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday. Don't forget to move your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night.

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.

Silver Polishing! Altar guild members will meet Saturday, March 19th at 9am for a polishing party to prepare for the upcoming Easter services! You don't have to be an altar guild member to come join the fun!

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; Clifford King Harbin; Mavia Hudgins; Franklin Marzullo; Dody Mason; Cody Miller; Martha Ann Oast; Arlene Peterson; Carol Phipps; Anne Barbour Schwab; Barbara Stearns; Fran Taylor; Sue Taylor; Claudia Tomlin; Peggy Tuthill; Patricia Viera; Ruth Waldo; 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 beautiful spring weather and the opportunity to walk with Jesus through his death and resurrection during the upcoming Holy Week.

Stewardship of God's Resources

Week of 3/06

Ministry/Worship Attendance: Sunday 8am (14), 9am (61), 11am (70); Wednesday 6:30pm (4)

Worship Offering: $7,804

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

This Sunday in Worship

Fifth Sunday in Lent, 3/6: Philippians 3:4b-13 & John 11:1-45

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!

Quick Links:
www.diosova.org
www.episcopalchurch.org
www.anglicancommunion.org