www.stjohnsportsmouth.orgAscension Day, 5 May 2016
Steeple to Steeple is Saturday!










The Steeple to Steeple event is a walking tour of the seven historic churches (including St. John's) and one synagogue in Olde Towne Portsmouth.  It will be held this 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 being served at St. John's Church this year and 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.  



Don't miss Ascension Day chocolate tonight
 
Today is Ascension Day, one of the seven principal feasts of the Church.  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). 
 
Won't you join us for tonight's 6:30pm Ascension Worship followed by our now famous  "Death by Chocolate" reception?  Who can you invite to come with you?

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 resumes this 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.

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, Charles Jackson; 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; Jack Goodwin; Al Gregg; Mavia Hudgins; Franklin Marzullo; Dody Mason;  Arlene Peterson; Carol Phipps; Barbara Stearns; Peggy Tuthill; Bobby Wilkerson; Sonny Wilkinson; Janet Willey; Joy Young  
 
Related to our Parish: Ken & Cynthia (friends of Cassie McBride); 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); 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; all those for whom Mother's Day brings painful memories

Thanksgivings
The gift of mothers on this Mother's Day weekend; the birth of Miriam Anne (daughter of Fr. Esau & Mandy McCauley, friends of the parish); for Mark & Amy Gilligan and Joshua & Stephanie Brown who are each expecting a child; and all those who are working so hard behind the scenes to make this Saturday's Steeple to Steeple tour a success.
Stewardship of God's Resources 
Week of May 1 

Ministry/Worship Attendance: Sunday 8am (23), 9am (75), 11am (126)
Wednesday 6:30pm (11)

Worship Offering:  $11,124
 
Income needed for ministry expenses each week: $6,778

This Sunday in Worship
 
Seventh Sunday of Easter, 5/08: Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21 & John 17:20-26

The flowers at the Altar, Founders' Chapel, and Paschal Candle are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Jimmy Spencer by Bev Knight & C.B. Spencer.

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. 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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