www.stjohnsportsmouth.org
11 August 2016
Blessing of the Backpacks

St. John's annual Blessing of the Backpacks will be Sunday, August 28 @ the 9 and 11am worship services.  All students and teachers are invited to begin the school year with some divine inspiration!  Bring your neighbors and teacher co-workers!
 
Help St. John's Church Shine in the community with the light of Jesus by being part of our school supply collection.  We have been asked especially for pocket folders, dry erase markers, pencils, scissors, and crayons, though any supplies you bring will be most appreciated!
 
These school supplies will once again go to the teachers and students of Bethel Manor Elementary School at Langley Air Force Base, a Title I, 100% military school.  Its principal, David, Reitz, lives on London Street in Bon Square directly across from St. John's buildings.  Bethel Manor Elementary is a wonderful community serving the children of our enlisted men and women who do not have a lot of money to purchase many of the school items needed for school.  This is a wonderful opportunity to not only help our kids but our military, too.
 
Our donations last year made a huge difference and the school looks forward to our support once again this year.  In the words of Principal Reitz, "St. John's ROCKS!!!!"
 
Please bring your items and place them on the pews in the back of our worship space between now and August 28.  Thanks in advance for your generosity!
Picnic for our Homeless Neighbors is Friday

On Friday, August 12 @ 7pm we will Transfigure our Neighborhood by hosting a parking lot summer cookout for our homeless neighbors.  Thanks to all who donated to make a bus pass and new underwear possible for all our guests on Friday.

We need your help on Friday!  Setup in the parking lot for the meal and gifts of clothing begins at 5pm, with hospitality and clean-up opportunities following as well.  Come when you can, stay as long as you can, and be a part of the fun! 
A Gentle Reminder

As you have read in countless church bulletins as you've traveled around this summer, "Our costs do not decrease during the summer months.  There are still bills that must be paid."  To prevent cash-flow problems, we urge all those who have made financial pledges to the parish to do their best to stay current with their pledge payments and to everyone else to be as generous as they can with their giving.  We are grateful to all those who continue to support St. John's Church, especially in the summer!
Miscellany

Mary Colby was honored at a reception last Sunday for her decade of service as Chairperson of St. John's Altar Guild.  Mary was gifted with a small icon of the Virgin Mary (she is a collector of Mary icons) and the parish dedicated the Altar Tabernacle in her honor.  Well done, good and faithful servant!
 
Virginia is for Lovers not Racists  will meet in Chisholm Hall on Monday, 8/22 @ 7pm.  All are welcome.
 
Portsmouth's 46th Annual Seawall Art Show will be held at the High Street Landing on Saturday and Sunday, August 27 & 28.  See their website for more details.
 
An Omelet Breakfast will be hosted by the St. John's Men's Group (Calling All Men) on Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday, 8/28, from 8:30am-12:30pm.  The menu includes: Blueberry stuffed French Toast, made to order Omelets, Sausage, Fresh fruits, Juice, and Coffee.  Cost is $4 for the French Toast and $5 for made to order Omelets.  All proceeds go to the mission of St. John's Church.  Please bring a friend and enjoy some great food before or after worship!
 
The Bethlehem Christian Society will be selling handcrafted olive wood gifts from the Holy Land in Chisholm Hall on Sunday, 9/11, from 7am-1pm.
 
An adults-only (21+) cruise on the Carrie B!  On Friday, 9/16 from 6-9pm, join Episcopalians from St. John's and other Portsmouth parishes for a lovely evening cruise on the Elizabeth River.  Purchase your $20 adult tickets (cash bar additional) online today.  Join in the fun and get to know our sisters and brothers from neighboring parishes!
 
New Women's Bible Study begins 9/21.  Do you ever wonder what heaven will be like?  Join the AWE (Anglican Women Empowered) Women's Bible Study group as we explore the book of Revelation, St. John's eyewitness account of God's plan for our future.  "The Vision of his Glory" DVD Study, taught by Anne Graham Lotz, will begin on Wednesday, 9/21 @ 10am at St. John's Church and will meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month through December.  In order to insure that you have a study guide (cost of $10 due on 9/21), please contact Patti Devers.  We are looking forward to you being part of this informative and uplifting new study!

Want to give the gift of flowers at the altar and chapel on an upcoming Sunday?   Sign up on the "Feast" Mission Bulletin Board in the first floor Parish House hallway.
 
Want to serve as an Acolyte, Reader, Lay Eucharistic Minister/Visitor, or on the Altar Guild
Sacristan team?  Every person at St. John's has a ministry -- no matter how old, no matter how young.  All baptized persons at St. John's are invited and welcomed to explore ministry as an acolyte, reader, and altar guild sacristan team member.  All confirmed persons at St. John's are invited and welcomed to explore ministry as a lay eucharistic minister in worship or to the homebound.  Training for each of these ministries will begin in the next two months.  Contact Fr. Derek if you would like to be included in this upcoming training!
 
St. John's eNews will publish on a twice a month schedule during the summer months.  The last summer publication date will be 8/25, with weekly publication resuming on 9/1.  Content deadline is Wednesday at noon.
 
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).  There is a metal board on which to store your name badge if you desire 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 July 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.
 
Access our Parish Calendar with this link.
In our Prayers this Week

For the Church
Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; Michael, the Presiding Bishop; Holly, our Bishop; Derek, our rector; Heidi, Russ, & Amanda, our missionaries; and our parish staff, wardens and vestry
 
For Justice and Peace    
Peace and Justice in the Middle East and in Turkey; that gospel love may conquer the growing worldwide fear, prejudice, and violence against those who are different; for Barack, our president; Terry, our governor; Ken, our mayor; for the city of Portsmouth; for wisdom as citizens of this nation prepare to vote in November;  for Clint Carlson; Kevin Carrigan; Erin Elliott, Greg Hicks; Carolyn Higgins, Charles Jackson; George Lang, Dakota Neel; Will Oast; Christopher O'Meara; Thomas Smetanka; Jessi Staley, Dariana Torres, Shaun Tuttle and Rasheem 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: Lorraine Barclay; Annie Bremer; Sharon Buell; Mary Colby; Virginia Cooke; Bill Edwards; Al Gregg; Mavia Hudgins; Dody Mason; Martha Ann Oast; Carol Phipps; Barbara Stearns; Sue Taylor; Peggy Tuthill; Bobby Wilkerson; Sonny Wilkinson; Joy Young  
 
Related to our Parish: Peter (brother of Franklin Marzullo); Katie (friend of Hannah Austin); Kenny (friend of Sherry Clem); Susan (community friend from Ogg Stone Works); Marylee & Amy (friends of Gina Fremeau); Victoria (granddaughter of Sherry Clem); Bill (brother of Arlene Dragseth); Wilbur (friend of Donna Vick); Helenor (mother of Pete Ross, grandmother of Megan Timm, and great-grandmother of Cailey & Maddison Timm); Karen (cousin of Cassie McBride); Mary (sister of Dody Mason); the Hobden family (as they grieve the death of Jonathan);  Verlene (sister of Carolyn Colon); Patients at the Naval Hospital & EDMARC hospice for children
 
Thanksgivings
Mark & Amy Gilligan who are expecting a child
 
Departed
Forice "Trey" Robinson, III (5th grade classmate of Shelby Austin, killed in a car accident)
Stewardship of God's Resources 
for the week of 7/31

Ministry/Worship Attendance:  Sunday 8am (8), 9am (53), 11am (56); Wednesday 6:30pm (11)
Worship Offering:  $6,508

for the week of 8/07

Ministry/Worship Attendance:  Sunday 8am (11), 9am (68), 11am (78); Wednesday 6:30pm (7)
Worship Offering:  $9,130
 
Income needed for ministry expenses each week: $6,778
Upcoming Sundays in Worship

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (8/14): Isaiah 5:1-7 & Luke 12:49-56
 
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.
 
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (8/21): Isaiah 58:9b-14 & Luke 13:10-17
 
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; 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
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 8am
Contemporary Eucharist (Rite II) at 9am
Classic Eucharist (Rite II) at 11am

Wednesday Healing Eucharist (Rite II) at 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, Monday - Friday.  We look forward to seeing you!