November 13, 2013 Issue 

Quick Links



Visit Our Website

Visit the St. John's School Website

Visit the Diocese of Southwest Florida's Website
Join Our Mailing List
 __________________________

We are always looking for church-related pictures to share with the congregation.  Submit them to [email protected]
 

__________________

We want to provide support in your time of need!
Current health regulations prohibit the members of our clergy from being informed when our parishioners are in the hospital, and unfortunately, one of the gifts of ordination is not mind-reading...  However, we want to provide support for you and your loved ones in any time of need or crisis.  Please call the parish offices at 259.1570 or email 
[email protected] to let us know when you need us!

Join Our Mailing List
 



This Week, We Celebrate the Birthdays of the Following Parishioners:

 

November 14

Catherine Cassedy, Carson Flowers, Curtis Foulsham, Susan Haire, Zena Hoskins, David Malizia, Katherine Morales, Marion Ridley 

 

November 15

Charles Hobby, Benjamin Osborne

 

November 16

Bradford Spring, William Swanson

 

November 17

Charles Greacen, Riley Kayton, Megan Nolan, Joan Sargent

 

November 18

Austin Bliss, William Brown, Joan Lochridge, Hayes Young

 

November 19

Norman Shenk

 

November 20

Caroline Cox, Emily Picone, David Webster

 
From Last Sunday's Readings 
 
Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.


Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.

And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive."

 

- Luke 20









News

Pledge Sunday, November 24

rosewindow Pledge Sunday is the day that we ask anyone who has not mailed their 2014 pledge to the parish offices or made a pledge online to bring their pledge card to church. You should have received the card in the mail with our Vestry's stewardship letter.  Cards will also be available at the doors to the church.

 

On Sunday the 24th, the cards will be collected, presented at the altar, and blessed. The Stewardship Committee will only call or send follow up letters to those whose pledges are outstanding after Pledge Sunday. 

Thanksgiving Food Drive Ends 

This Sunday, November 17

Click here to download a list of the suggested food items for this year's Metropolitan Ministries Food Drive and help needy Tampa families have a happy Thanksgiving!  All items are due back to the church by Sunday, November 17.

Advent Mini-Retreat

Women of St. John's (and friends of any denomination) 

are invited to attend

"Joyful Anticipation" (an Advent mini-retreat)

Saturday, December 7, 2013

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

St. John's Parish Hall

Continental Breakfast and Lunch provided by Contemporary Women's Bible Study

 

The retreat is free, but please contact the parish offices so we know how many to expect at

259-1570 or email [email protected]

Children's Christmas Eve Pageant Actors Needed!

Children ages 4 to grade 5 are needed to perform in the 2014 Christmas Eve Pageant during the 4:00 p.m. service on December 24. Join us to bring the story of the birth of our Savior to life!

 

The rehearsal schedule is as follows:

Sunday, November 24, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 1, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 8, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 15, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

ALL REHEARSALS to take place in the Parish Hall.

 

Please email [email protected] if your child would like to participate.

Confirmation Dates Set

The dates for St. John's classes leading to confirmation in the Episcopal church have been set.  Click here for a full schedule of classes. Classes will be led by Fr. Connelly, Fr. Zimmerman, Chaplain Harrison-Quillin, and Leland Baldwin and will take place in Discovery House from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. on designated Sundays.  Confirmation by the Right Reverend Dabney T. Smith, Bishop of Southwest Florida, will be at 9:00 a.m. on April 6, 2014, and will be followed by a reception in the parish hall.

 

If you are interested in being confirmed, please call the parish offices at 259.1570 or email [email protected]

New Opportunities with Cornerstone Kids

The Outreach Committee would like to thank everyone who so
 enthusiastically embraced our new Christmas initiative with Cornerstone Kids last Sunday! The names of 37 children were handed out in recordtime, so now the fun gift-buying begins. Please bring your wrapped gifts either to St. John's or to St. James House of Prayer by Wednesday, December 18. The Christmas party and gift distribution will take place at St. James HOP the following afternoon, December 19. Contact MC Jenkins with questions at [email protected] or 503.4605.

 
For those who were not able to get the name of a Cornerstone Kid, St. John's will also be collecting unwrapped gifts for Metropolitan Ministries and diapers for Alpha House. This way everyone who wants to help others during the holiday season will have an opportunity to do so.  Please bring your gifts or diapers to services on Sunday or to the parish offices during the week.

In addition, parishioner and Vestry member Sharon Stoll reports the following about Cornerstone Kids:

"A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to organize the Southeastern Harp Conference here in Tampa.  There were 36 harpists and other musicians present for a weekend of continuing education as Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioners and Therapeutic Musicians.  The weekend was followed by a week-long module on Resonance under the direction of the International Harp Therapy Program in San Diego.  Among the things Tina Tourin, the director, asked me to do was to find several locations where students could observe her as she demonstrated what we do.  Two days I took the group to the Horizon Bay Memory Care facility on S. Howard; and then on Thursday, October 31, we went to St. James House of Prayer to visit with Cornerstone Kids.  It was so much fun for us as well as the kids.   

 

We took harps and bells for the kids to play and Tina demonstrated her Rainbow of Sound program and orchestrated a couple of pieces for the group.  Everyone got a chance to participate and they made beautiful sounds as you can only imagine.  The children were quite engaged."

  

Events

A Celebration 

of The Rev. Douglas Remer's Ministry In St. John's

On Sunday, December 22, Fr. Remer will return to celebrate and preach at the 7:45 a.m. service and will preach and officiate at the combined Service of Lessons and Carols at 10:00 a.m.  A reception will follow the 10:00 a.m. service.  Please join us to celebrate Fr. Remer's ministry in St. John's!

Dominican Benefit for Tampa Deanery/DR Mission
You are invited to a dessert event featuring Flamenco dancing
Friday November 15, 2013, 6:00 p.m.
St. John the Divine Episcopal Church (new campus) 
1015 Del Webb Blvd. East, Sun City Center, FL 33573


Enjoy desserts 
and Flamenco by students from the Esther Suarez Dance Academy 



Proceeds will help finish the new Santa Cruz Church 
in the Dominican Republic


Come and enjoy! A freewill offering will be taken. 

Spaghetti Dinner

Friday, November 22, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Parish Hall

 

On Friday, November 22nd,  from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., we will have a Spaghetti Dinner in the Parish Hall on the Orleans campus.  This is a joint effort of our church and school to celebrate our inaugural Soaring Eagle 5K and 1M Fun Run, to take place in Gadsden Park on the following morning (see below).    Spaghetti will be served both to sit down and eat in the Parish Hall, or to take away.  Meals are $5 per person and $20 per family of 4 or more.  Reservations are not required.  We hope you will join us!

First Annual Soaring Eagle 5K and 1M Fun Run!

Saturday, November 23, 8:00 a.m., Gadsden Park, South Tampa

 

The First Annual Soaring Eagle Run at Gadsden Park, 6901 South MacDill Avenue in South Tampa, is a family-friendly race intended to help encourage community members and SJE families to exercise and maintain healthy lifestyles, while supporting St. John's School.  The event will be chip-timed by Florida Road Race Management and is open to the public.  Awards will be given to every child who participates in the 5K or 1M Fun Run.

 

We hope all runners in the parish will join us for this great race and support our School!  Go to www.active.com to register, or pick up a registration card at any of the church entrances.  Contact us at [email protected] with questions.

Your Action Needed

Relief Needed in the Philippines 

Our bishop, the Right Rev. Dabney Smith, seeks our help in supporting the people of the Philippines following the devastating typhoon of earlier this week.  He asks that people of the diocese make donations directly to Episcopal Relief and Development, which can be reached by clicking here.  ER-D is in contact with local partners in the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, determining how best to respond in this time of crisis.  Your donation will be used to support necessary and immediate emergency work for the children and adults most affected by the storm.

Sandwich Sunday Hosts Needed

Hosts are needed for Sandwich Sunday on February 16, 2014 and March 16, 2014.  Hosts purchase supplies for Sandwich Sundays (costs fully reimbursed by St. John's), help coordinate assembly on the day of, and deliver the lunches to Faith Cafe.  Want to help?  Contact Amanda Sansone at [email protected].

Faith Cafe News

faith cafe

Faith Caf� has been blessed with lots of St. John's volunteers and people from other congregations who have come to help on our Fridays.  We love their spirit and  dedication. Here's a list of those who served in October (hope we haven't missed anyone): Nicholas Nitch, Mary Jane Schenck, Jim Voss as Daily Coordinators; Mary Beth Carastro as driver; and, as servers, Lesley Hanlon, David Wheaton, Maria Howey, Sally Wiley, Sally Olsson, Ginger Price, Elizabeth Strong,  Madeleine Tellekamp, Tammy Pines, Helen Maseda, Rick Barrs, Marian Older, Miriam Faircloth, Anna Ashworth, Jo Ann Flagg, and Carol McCammon. 

 

Please sign up, especially if you are available for the Friday after Thanksgiving.

 

Faith Caf� is always in need of men's t-shirts, shorts, shoes, underwear, and small toiletries.  Please bring to the parish offices and donations will be taken to FC.

 

Contact Mary Jane Schenck at [email protected] or 837-9428, or Hugh Cruse at [email protected] or 839-6789 if you can help!

Flowers Available

On Sunday, December 29, the flowers at the church altar are available.  If you would like to take this opportunity to support St. John's and honor a loved one, please call the parish offices at 259.1570.
Stewardship Corner

Did you know that you can make your 2014 St. John's pledge online? Save time and hassle by pledging today from the "Stewardship" tab on the St John's home page or by clicking here.

"There are many spiritual practices that make it more possible to choose life: prayer, service, study, worship. The spiritual practice of giving was a hard one for me to adopt. Early in my adulthood I was a latter-day Sadducee, working through all my financial obligations, lamenting what I didn't have and worrying about what I needed to save for. I gave only what I thought I could afford. I was a walking case study for the mindset of scarcity - tied up into a financial and spiritual pretzel."

 

During this time of stewardship, we will provide you with writings from other Christians weekly, as we all ponder the responsibility and blessing of providing financial support to our church.  To download the entire inspirational flyer for this week's stewardship narrative, click here.

This Week at St. John's
Wednesday, November 13
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Nights at St. John's (Rudisill Parish Hall) 

Join us as we continue a new series entitled Twisting the Truth.  Our postmodern society is expert at distorting the truth. How can we learn to discern in a culture of deception? In this curriculum, Andy Stanley exposes four destructive lies about authority, pain, sex, and sin. His straightforward insights will help you exchange the falsehoods of our day for the life-changing truths of Scripture.  Sessions include: The Source of Deception, All Is Not as It Seems, Says Who?, Facing Forward, It's Only Physical, It's No Mistake.

 

Bring a Bible, a covered dish to share, and all those questions you have been waiting to ask!  Contact Paul and Winkie Game at [email protected] for more details.
Thursday, November 14
10:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) and Healing (Chapel)
11:45 a.m.
Men's Interactive Bible Study and Lunch (Peterson Room)
On Thursday, November 14, at 11:45 a.m. in the Peterson Room, the Rev. Denise Giunta, rector of St. Mark's, will facilitate the discussion on Reconciliation using Psalm 34.  Lunch is sandwiches at $5 per person, RSVP to [email protected] if you would like to partake.
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Friday, November 15
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
Sunday, November 17
7:45 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
9:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Church)
Ministry Moment: Cursillo, given by Ray Stoll
Sunday School for Children (Various)
Youth, Chaplain Harrison-Quillin invites you to sit with her in the north transept during the service.
10:15 a.m.
Parish Breakfast (Rudisill Parish Hall) 
Sandwich Sunday (Rudisill Parish Hall)
Youth Confirmation Classes Begin  (Discovery House)
11:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) and Holy Baptism  (Church)
4:00 p.m.
Middle School Youth Group (Youth House)
6:30 p.m.
High School Bible Study (Youth House)
Monday, November 18
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
5:30 p.m.
Outreach Committee and Friends of Uganda Meeting (Youth House)
Outreach and Friends of Uganda will meet on Monday the 18th this month at 5:30 p.m. in the Lowry Room. Please contact Sally Thompson with questions.
Tuesday, November 19
6:45 a.m.
Contemporary Women's Bible Study (Peterson Room)

The Contemporary Women's Bible Study will meet on at 6:45 a.m. in the Peterson Room on the School's Middle Division Campus for a study of Paul's Letter to the Romans. 

 

All women of St John's and their friends are welcome. Contact Kathleen Moore at 221.6253 or [email protected] for more information.
10:15 a.m.
Mid Morning Women's Bible Study (Lowry Room)

On Tuesday, November 19, the Women's Mid Morning Bible Study will continue its study of "The Acts of the Apostles,"  an engaging narrative of the origins of the Christian church and the power of the Holy Spirit made manifest in and through its early members.  Mrs. Terri Weibley, a member of South Tampa Fellowship with a ministry in the area of bible study leadership, will facilitate their study of Acts 9:1-31, "God Calls Saul."

 

The group welcomes all women in our church community and their friends and neighbors to join them this fall on alternate Tuesdays in the Lowry Room for fellowship, prayer and study, 10:15 - 11:30 a.m.  Contact Sally Wiley at [email protected] or 253.3906 or Pat Wilsonat [email protected] or 644.4640 with questions.

12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
4:00 p.m.
St. John's Book Club (Lowry Room)

Mark your calendar for the next Book Club meeting, Tuesday, November 19 at 4:00 p.m., when we will discuss the book The Mirrored World, by Debra Dean. 

 

From Amazon: "The critically acclaimed author of The Madonnas of Leningrad, Debra Dean returns with The Mirrored World, a "breathtaking novel of love and madness set in 18th century Russia."  Contact Helen Gilbart at 837-4421 or [email protected] with questions. 


More Upcoming Events
Sunday, November 24 - Pledge Sunday

Advent Wreath Making

Between the 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services on Sunday, November 24, our traditional Advent wreath making event will occur.  St. John's will provide all the items you need for a cost of $7 per wreath.

Festal Eucharist

In honor of Christ the King Sunday, a special Festal Eucharist will be celebrated on Sunday, November 24, at the 11:15 a.m. service.  Incense, special hymns and prayers, and a sense of solemn celebration will highlight this service.  Music will include works by Herbert Howells, William Mathias, and Simon Preston.

Thursday, November 28 - Thanksgiving Day

Choral Eucharist

Join us to show gratitude to our Maker on the American day of thanksgiving.  Our choral Eucharist will take place at 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, December 8

Fifty-Year Celebration of Fr. John Peterson

This year marks the 50th year of ordained ministry for Fr. John Peterson, our Rector Emeritus.  Please join us in the parish hall between the 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services on Sunday, December 8, for a celebration of this milestone event.  Please email [email protected] for more information.

Advent Lessons and Carols 

The Choir of St. John's Church will sing a service of Advent Lessons and Carols, with carols for audience and choir, at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 8. A reception will follow in the parish hall.  Music will include works by Boris Ord, Sir William McKie, Ralph Vaughan-Williams, and Orlando Gibbons.

Sunday, December 15

Middle School Youth Study Break

On Sunday, December 15 during the usual youth time (4:00 to 6:00 p.m.), middle school youth are invited to the Youth House for a fun study break!  Drop in for a snack and some fellowship and take a break from studying for exams!

Choir Christmas Concert 

The Choir of St. John's Church, together with Concordia Vocal Ensemble, will give a Christmas concert on Sunday, December 15 at 5:00 p.m. that will include traditional carols of the season.  Program to include works by Harold Darke, William Mathias, Philip Marshall, and Sir David Willcocks. A reception will follow in the parish hall.
Sunday, December 22

A Celebration of the Ministry of the Rev. Douglas Remer

The Rev. Douglas Remer will return for a final Sunday in St. John's on December 22.  He will preach at and celebrate the 7:45 a.m. service and preach at and officiate at the 10:00 a.m. combined Lessons and Carols service.  A reception will follow, please join us to celebrate Fr. Remer's time with us!

College Christmas Breakfast

All our college-aged parishioners and their parents are invited to join us on the morning of Sunday, December 22 as well, as we celebrate their homecoming!  The breakfast will take place after the combined 10:00 service of Lessons and Carols.

Middle School Youth Christmas Party and Caroling

Middle school youth are invited to come for a festive Christmas party, followed by caroling for our older friends who are residents of Canterbury Tower on Bayshore.  Contact Miranda Harrison-Quillin with questions.
Thursday, December 26 through Friday, December 27

High School Girls' Retreat

Join Chaplain Harrison-Quillin and St. John's girlfriends for a retreat at the Franciscan Center.  Contact Chaplain HQ for details.   More info, including costs, will be available soon.