www.stjohnsportsmouth.org28 April 2016
St. Fiacre Festival begins tomorrow night!

Let's celebrate Spring together on Friday, April 29 at the annual St. Fiacre Garden Party and Silent Auction!  Named for the patron saint of gardeners, the evening begins at 7pm with our finest cuisine and spirits.  The Silent Auction includes an OBX beach house weekend, sailboat dinner cruises, catered dinners, small furniture, paintings, decorator items, plus much more!  Purchase tickets here for $30.  Tell your friends, neighbors, and co-workers.  Remember, your generosity benefits the mission of St. John's.  Sponsored by St. John's Women's Group (AWE). 

On Saturday and/or Sunday, fill your garden with flowing baskets, herbs, annuals, and perennials.  Bring your pet for a blessing on Saturday from 10-11am.   Shop vendors for gifts and garden ornaments.  Enjoy pastries, omelets, sandwiches, and soft drinks. Sponsored by St. John's Women's Group (AWE) with assistance from the Calling all Men group; profits benefit the mission of St. John's Church.  

Don't miss chocolate on Ascension Day, 5/5

Ascension Day is Jesus' triumphal entry, not into Jerusalem to die, but into the Heavenly Jerusalem as King: palms are waved in exaltation, the vault of heaven resounds, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive honor and glory and blessing" (Revelation 5:12).  Ascension Day Worship will be Thursday, May 5 at 6:30pm followed by our now famous  "Death by Chocolate" reception.  

Sign up to bring a chocolate dessert on the "Feast" Mission Bulletin Board in the Parish House first floor hallway.  Who can you invite?

Steeple to Steeple is Mother's Day weekend, 5/7

The Steeple to Steeple event is a walking tour of the seven historic churches and one synagogue in Olde Towne Portsmouth.  It will be held on Saturday, May 7 (Mother's Day weekend) from 9am to 3pm.  The tour is led by costumed guides and each place of worship has a docent to point out its specific treasures.  Proceeds from the tour will benefit the HER Center, the domestic violence shelter in Portsmouth.  Join us for history, stunning stained glass, architecture and sculpture.  Lunch is included in the price.  Tickets are $21 per person and may be purchased here.  This tour is limited to 100 participants; please purchase your tickets early so you're not disappointed.  

Spring cleaning Yard Sale, 5/21

Need to clear out some clutter at home?  St. John's men's group, Calling all Men, has a yard sale solution for you!  Limited spaces will be available for $20 and the men will be selling hot dogs, hamburgers, and refreshments to help draw customers.  This event will run from 8am to 3pm on Saturday, May 21.  To reserve your space or for more information, contact Jeff Fremeau.
 
Virginia Arts Festival at St. John's
 
Once again the Virginia Arts Festival has selected historic St. John's Church in Olde Towne as the location for its Portsmouth concerts!  Tickets may be purchased via the links on each date below.
 
Miami String Quartet will offer two concerts at St. John's: May 17 at 7:30pm (Tickets $35, $20) and a Coffee Concert on May 19 at 10:30am (Tickets $20).
 
New York Polyphony will be in concert at St. John's on May 26 at 7:30pm (Tickets $35, $20).
 
Seating is limited and ticket sales will end when the concert is full.  Don't miss out on these great events!

Miscellany
 
Christian Formation for adults and children will not meet this Sunday due to the St. Fiacre Flower Festival but will resume the following Sunday.

The Feast of Pentecost is May 15.  Our Easter feast concludes with a festive celebration of God's Holy Spirit at all three Sunday Eucharists with a baptism at the 11am Classic Eucharist.
 
Are you a teen in grades 6-12?  St John's next youth event, We Are All God's Children, is a May 20-22 weekend retreat at our diocesan camp, Chanco on the James, sponsored by the Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) Board of our Diocese.  Check-in is 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday and departure is 11 a.m. on Sunday.  Throughout the weekend, teens will participate in large group program blocks, where they will hear talks by EYC Board members, and small groups, where they will have opportunities for discussion and lots of fun activities. The weekend also features the full cycle of daily prayer and worship with fantastic music.  Want more information?  Contact Clare Harbin.  Click here to register online.

Save the Date!  St. John's annual summer Pig Pickin' will be on Saturday, June 4.  Begin thinking about who you can invite.
 
Congratulations to Brooks Gillerlain who received the Rookie of the Year Award for her volleyball team at Randolph College.

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).  Thanks to Charlie Burlingame, Lee Moore, and Taylor Pules, we now have a metal board on which to store your name badge if you desire.  Look for it in the first floor hallway of the Parish House.
 
The Parishioner Corner of our Website has news you can use.  Here you can access the May 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 Baptized and to be Baptized
Stephanie Brown, Charles Burlingame, Chris Emery, & Addie Brown, baptized at the Easter Vigil, and for Stirling Krogh who will be baptized on the Feast of Pentecost
 
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; Christopher O'Meara; 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: Mary Colby; Virginia Cooke; Bill Edwards; Suzanne Erickson; Ron Fritz; Al Gregg; Mavia Hudgins; Franklin Marzullo; Dody Mason;  Arlene Peterson; Carol Phipps; Barbara Stearns; Peggy Tuthill; Bobby Wilkerson; Sonny Wilkinson; Joy Young 
 
Related to our Parish: Ruth (Carla Davis' aunt); Tim (cousin of Andrea Graham); Betty (grandmother of Matt Graham); Jay & Amber (Lena Simmon's nephew); Jennifer & Kelsey (daughters of Darryl & Allison Foytik); Timothy (friend of Heather Gonzalez); Jonelle & Robert(grandmother & father of Laura Jackson); John (friend of Sherry Clem); Deacon Wiggins (friend of Larry & Lena Simmons);  Verlene (sister of Carolyn Colon); Patients at the Naval Hospital & EDMARC hospice for children

Thanksgivings
For the birth of Emerson Rose (daughter of Bob & Christine Dwyer, friends of the parish); for Mark & Amy Gilligan and Joshua & Stephanie Brown who are each expecting a child; and for those who are working so hard behind the scenes to make this weekend's St. Fiacre Flower Festival such a success.
Stewardship of God's Resources 
Week of April 24 

Ministry/Worship Attendance: Sunday 8am (12), 9am (56), 11am (87)
Wednesday 6:30pm (6)

Worship Offering:  $5,795
 
Income needed for ministry expenses each week: $6,778

This Sunday in Worship
 
Sixth Sunday of Easter, 5/01: Revelation 21:10,22-22:5 & John 14:23-29

The flowers at the Altar, Founders' Chapel, and Paschal Candle are given to the glory of God and in remembrance of Al Lassiter (father of Andrea Graham) who died in 1988.

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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

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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