News

Kamaiba News

Message from Head Boy

Kamaiba Primary School, Uganda

St. John's Sister School 

  

I, the Head Boy, congratulate all the pupils of Kamaiba Primary School for the trust and love you have for me. I thank all our friends and well wishers especially the friends of St. John's Church for all their loving care. We are better than other schools in the municipality because we have a good library because of St. John's, we have a solar light system because of St. John's, we have desks because of St. John's, we shall always say thank you.

 

We are proud of our active and committed teachers who are doing a great deal of work and are sacrificing their leisure time for the Kamaiba pupils to have a bright and happy future. Kamaiba is successful because of the friends, the government of Uganda, the parents and the pupils. Primary Seven students are taking exams and need the time for athletics. Your prayers will make us succeed.

 

Bwambale Kadolo Samuel, Head Boy

Events

Please join us for the Parish Picnic this Sunday, following the combined services at 10:00 a.m.  There will be food, activities for the children including fresh hot popcorn from the popper, a surprise bounce house and an extra-special obstacle course, and even the Kona Ice truck, premium shaved ice in seven delicious flavors!  (Nominal fee will be charged for Kona Ice.) 

The FATHERS ministry will be cooking the main dish and Chef Dave will provide dessert.  Please bring a side dish to share.  Dress at the service and the party is casual.

We will also prepare bag lunches for Sandwich Sunday for the patrons of Faith Cafe.  This Sunday's Sandwich Sunday hosts are the Cavo family.  Would you like to be a host?  Please see below for details ("Action Needed") or contact Meg Russell Bereday at scobeyrussell@yahoo.com.

Service of Remembrance 

Sunday, April 22, 4:00 p.m. 

Peterson Room, School Middle Division, 240 Plant Avenue  

St. John's Grief Support Ministry invites you to a Service of Remembrance with a reception to follow the service.  This is an opportunity to remember departed loved ones during the joyful season of Easter.  During the Eucharist, there will be an opportunity for each  participant to light a candle, remember loved ones by name, share a brief reflection and connect with other members of our church community who have experienced similar losses. Please contact the Parish offices at 259.1570 or dhuelsman@stjohnstampa.org to tell us you are planning to attend and if you need transportation.

Healing and Transformation:  A Three-Part Series with St. John's and Congregation Rodeph Shalom

April 25, May 9, and May 16, 6:30 p.m. 

This spring, St. John's Church and Congregation Rodeph Shalom will host a joint series about healing and transformation. Each evening in the series will begin with dinner at 6:30 p.m.  The events on April 25 and May 16 will take place at St. John's in Rudisill Parish Hall, and the May 9 event will take place at Rodeph Shalom at 2713 Bayshore Boulevard.  Please contact Leland Baldwin at lelandtbaldwin@aol.com for more details.   

Women's Retreat at DaySpring 

Friday, April 27, through Sunday, April 29  

DaySpring Conference Center 

 The Contemporary Women's Bible Study (CWBS) invites women of St. John's (and friends from any denomination) to join in a retreat at DaySpring Conference Center.  This year's theme is "The Friendship of Women."  The retreat starts Friday afternoon, April 27, and ends mid-day Sunday, April 29.  Cost for the entire weekend (lodging and meals) is $180.  Space is limited.  For additional information, contact Peggy Curlin at 287.0176 or  pcurlin@verizon.net by this Sunday, April 15.     

The 12th Annual Mother's Day Ingathering For the Mothers and Babies of Alpha House: We Need Your Contributions 
While Mom will get lots of "Luvs" and "Huggies" on her special day, remember that others need to be pampered too!  We can help the mothers and babies at Alpha House by bringing "Wish List" items on (or before) Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13.  Collection bags with wish lists will be distributed following all services on Sunday, May 6, and are also available in the Parish offices.  In-kind and cash donations are also appreciated.  All donations will be collected in the Garth prior to all three services on Mother's Day or drop off in the Parish offices before May 13.

Wish List items include: Diapers (all sizes including Pull Ups-type), wipes, baby food, bibs, clothing (infant-age 5), gift cards (both grocery and apparel stores), strollers (infant and toddler), car seats (infant and toddler), towels and washcloths, twin-bed sized bedding and pillows, new undergarments and socks (for mothers and children, all sizes), full size toiletry items (alcohol-free), sanitary items, plastic storage bins, baby wash and shampoo, diaper rash cream, crib sets, non-disposable plastic dishes and cups, flatware, bus passes, stationery and stamps, books, toys, disposable cameras.

Alpha House is an accredited, not-for-profit, local organization founded in 1981.  Its mission is "to empower pregnant and parenting women in crisis to realize their ability to break the cycles of poverty and abuse and create promising lives."  This mission is accomplished through the provision of safe housing, education, counseling, parenting and life skills training, vocational assistance, and spiritual support. The women live in the 20-bed maternity home or in the post-birth transitional apartments. The agency serves approximately 200 pregnant or parenting women and children each year.

Please contact Ruth Giordano at 254.4332 or tampagio@aol.com with any questions. 

Sandwich Sunday Hosts Needed 

Thanks to you, Sandwich Sunday, St. John's own meals ministry for South Tampa's local poor and homeless, has provided over 17,000 meals since inception!! We are now in great need of volunteer hosts for Sundays, May 20, June 17, July 15, and August 19.

 

Hosting is easy! Just buy supplies (reimbursed up to $300) from a list provided to you. The Congregation pitches in to help create bagged meals on Sunday morning. Next, you get the satisfaction of delivering boxes of food to the Faith Cafe on Monday. It takes only a few hours, but does so much good in our community. If you are interested in hosting, please contact Meg Russell (Bereday) at scobeyrussell@yahoo.com or 253.0061. 

Centennial Celebration: We Need Your Memories!
We are looking for pictures, documents and any other items from the 100 year history of St. John's Church to include in our Centennial Celebration. Please email Robin Gonzalez at gonzhome@msn.com or call her at 251.1649 if you have anything you would like to share. We can scan your treasures on the spot so they are not out of your possession, or you can drop them off at the Parish offices at your convenience. With your help, we can put together a historical presentation worthy of our hundred years!  

Are You an Alum?  

St. John's Parish Day School is looking to connect with its alumni.  If you, your child(ren), or someone you know was a St. John's student, please click here to give us your information.  We know that our alumni have gone on to great things in the Tampa Bay area and beyond, and we want to collect contact information so we can start sharing the good news!  Please contact the school's Director of Development, Pat Spears, at pspears@stjohnseagles.org or 600.4353 with questions, or if you would prefer to give your information directly to her.  

This Week at St. John's

Potluck/Bible Study (Rudisill Parish Hall)

The potluck supper will be followed by a DVD presentation featuring N.T. Wright, the former bishop of Durham, England.   Many Christians believe that our future in heaven is all that really matters. But that's not what the Bible teaches.  Premier Bible scholar N. T. Wright takes you inside the Scriptures to grasp the full, breathtaking hope Jesus offers the world, and its implications for how we live our lives today as believers.  Everyone is invited to join the group for dinner, view the DVD, and participate in the discussion that follows.  This will be the first of six sessions on this topic. 

Upcoming