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We are always looking for church-related pictures to share with the congregation. Submit them to LLowry@stjohnstampa.org
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Evangelism: Evangelism is sharing the Good News of God in Christ by word and example, inviting others to become part of the Christian community, and welcoming all people into a loving Christian fellowship...
Thank God for all your blessings and pass some of them on in whatever way God leads you to.
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Scheduled Events
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Wed, May 2
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Thu, May 3
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Fri, May 4
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Sun, May 5
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Sun, May 6
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Mon, May 7
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Tue, May 8
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Sun, May 9
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Sun, May 13
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Thurs, May 17
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Sun, May 20
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Sun, Jun 2
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Three-Part Series on Healing and Transformation with
Rodeph Shalom Begins with Fellowship
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 first event took place on Wednesday, April 25 and was attended by more than 40 members of both congregations. The evening was led by Fr. Remer, Rabbi Marc Sack and Dr. Hal Wiley of St. John's. Fellowship, discussion of what healing means in the Christian and Jewish faiths, and a delightful dinner of homemade potato leek soup, lemon pepper fish, salad, and bread were enjoyed by all.
The next installment of the series will take place on May 9 at Rodeph Shalom, 2713 Bayshore Boulevard, and the event on May 16 will take place at St. John's in Rudisill Parish Hall. Contact Leland Baldwin at lelandtbaldwin@aol.com for more details.
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Ministry Moment: Faith Café
An Address Given by Nicholas Nitch, Sunday, April 22, 2012
On the last two Fridays of each month, at about 10:00 a.m., you will most often find me and a group of other volunteers gathering at the Faith Café on Kennedy Boulevard near Dale Mabry Highway. We are there representing St. John's who, along with a network of other churches in  the South Tampa area, has made a commitment to provide volunteers to help prepare and serve lunch to about 100 homeless and near homeless, six days a week. Much of the food is provided by Metropolitan Ministries, but we also count on the generous donations of churches, restaurants, and individuals.
When I first volunteered for this ministry, I wasn't sure that it would be my cup of tea. But after seeing the smiles on the faces of our guests and hearing their many thanks for helping out, I began to realize why our Lord was drawn to the less fortunate. This was an opportunity, I thought, to truly live out the meaning of the Gospels. To be the Good Samaritan and to assist in dispensing the loaves of bread and fishes that Jesus blessed and multiplied.
In last week's sermons, Fr. Hehr and Fr. Remer talked about the meaning of Easter. As I prepared my brief comments to share with you this morning, I pondered their words. In some ways, my ministry at Faith Café helps keep Easter in my heart all year round. And, perhaps, like the Resurrection, I can help turn the world on its head. If you are looking for a ministry, we can always use a few more volunteers at Faith Café.
The next Ministry Moment will focus on our ministry at Kairos and will take place on Sunday, May 20.
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"The Friendship of Women," the theme of St.  John's annual women's retreat, is evident in the faces of participants gathering on the steps of St. Thomas Chapel at DaySpring. This year's retreat was held April 27 through 29, and was full of love, laughter, lively conversation, deep thought, shared activities, prayer, and worship.  (Back) Kathleen Moore, Mary Jane Schenck, The Rev. Sandy Moyle (St. Mark's, Jacksonville), Maria Howey, Chris McAdams, Kate Graves, Nicki Weekes; (Middle) Viv Lees (Ashburn, VA), Peggy Curlin, Yvonne Santiago, Robin Johnson; (Front) Carol Ihrig, The Rev. Stefanie Taylor, Sharon Stoll, Pat Matthews
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Youth and Adult Confirmation
This Sunday, May 6, 9:00 a.m. Service
We are proud to welcome The Right Reverend Dabney T. Smith, V Bishop of Southwest Florida, to St. John's for the 2012 service of confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. A reception in Rudisill Parish Hall follows the service.
Youth, contact Leland Baldwin at lelandtbaldwin@aol.com with questions about confirmation, adults may contact Father Remer at dremer@stjohnstampa.org.
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Blessing of the VergeThis Sunday, May 6 This Sunday, the Right Reverend Dabney T. Smith, V Bishop of Southwest Florida, will bless St, John's new verge. This verge is a true  work of art, the wood staff and brass casings having been hand-turned by Mike Murray, the grandson of parishioners Jack and Sandy Murray. The beautiful lily cross that tops the staff was crafted by a silversmith in the western U.S. The other verge that St. John's uses was given to the church by Eric and Jan Williams. The seal of St. John's church atop it is sterling silver overlaid with enamel, and was cast by a silversmith in St. Petersburg, Florida. The wood staff was created by Hans Backman, the same artist who carved the eagle that marks the school building, as well as some of the chancel furniture in the church.
What is a verge? At St. John's, and other Episcopal churches like it, the verge is carried by the verger . The ministry of verger is ancient and means he or she who carries the Verge before the procession. The 'verge' is the staff and in olden days was used to ensure that processions were not impeded during worship. This was an important duty in the Middle Ages and, on important festivals, two vergers were on duty. Their duties have developed over the centuries, and now combine tasks which were often carried out by other individuals.
Vergers at St. John's have a ceremonial role as well as a variety of duties that include behind-the-scenes coordination of worship, which frees the clergy and laity to focus on their duties in worship leadership. While this ministry may seem just ceremonial, it derived like many traditions from necessity. Vergers, in a word, make the ceremony of the worship service flow smoothly.
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Senior SundaySunday, May 13, at the 9:00 a.m. Service Seniors, this is our chance to celebrate you, and your chance to tell us what St. John's has meant to you over the years. Parents, please pick up your mortarboard cutouts from the parish offices (sign them out, please) and decorate them with photos and memories of your child's journey to this important moment. Mortarboards are due back to the parish offices by Sunday, May 6. A reception follows the service. Contact Leland Baldwin with questions at lelandtbaldwin@aol.com.
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Newcomers Wine and Cheese ReceptionSunday, May 20, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Newcomers to St. John's Church, please join us for an informal wine and cheese reception at the home of our rector, Fr. Doug Remer, and his wife Sterling, on Sunday, May 20. Enjoy fellowship with other newcomers to the church and get to know our clergy in a relaxed setting. We welcome you! Please call the parish offices at 259.1570 or email Debbi Huelsman at dhuelsman@stjohnstampa.org with questions or to RSVP.
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Choir Concert Rescheduled
Due to a change in date of the Parish Centennial Celebration, together with a conflict with a youth group function, of which some of our boys and girls are members, the Annual Benefit Concert has been postponed from Sunday, May 6 to Saturday, September 29, 2012. Please mark your calendars for the September date and note that it is a Saturday.
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New Date for Centennial Celebration!
September 29 and 30, 2012
Parishioners, it is with regret that we (the Centennial Planning Group) must announce the postponement of our Centennial Celebration until the fall. After trying very hard to accommodate the schedule of our busy parish, it seems that there are too many insurmountable obstacles to holding the Celebration this spring. However, believing that sometimes good things can come from challenges, we hope this allows us to answer the requests for involvement from so many and to broaden our scope for the Celebration itself, which will now take place during the weekend of September 29 and 30. Look for more information as we work hard over the summer to make this a memorable tribute to the history of St. John's.
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Dishes and Platters Wish to Come Home
After transporting the tasty treats that parishioners brought for the Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday receptions, as well as the Parish Picnic, several dishes and platters have been mistakenly left behind by their owners. Please visit the kitchen pantry, or see sexton Ken Johnston, to find out if any of the lost crockery belongs to you.
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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 now. 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, wipes, baby food, bibs, clothing, gift cards, strollers, car seats, towels and washcloths, twin-bed sized bedding and pillows, new undergarments and socks, 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." 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 about this St. John's outreach.
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Water Drive for Meals on Wheels
For the past seven years, Meals on Wheels and The Junior League of Tampa have developed a plan for the shut-ins served by Meals of Wheels in the event a hurricane hits Tampa. Once again Meals on Wheels is asking for your help in donating 650 gallon jugs of water. For every gallon jug of water donated, the St. John's Church name will be placed in a drawing for a tray of 3 dozen cookies from the MOW Kitchen (if St. John's name is drawn, the cookies will be available in the Garth after the 9:00 a.m. service on Sunday, May 20). Please bring jugs of water to the parish offices no later than 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15. If it is more convenient for you to take the water directly to the MOW office at 550 W. Hillsborough, it is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - just be sure to note that the jugs are from St. John's Episcopal Church.
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 Nets for Life Matching Gift OfferLast year Bishop Dabney Smith challenged the Diocese of Southwest Florida to provide 10,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets to malarial areas. Episcopal Relief & Development reports that a group of generous donors will match every gift received for the NetsforLife® Inspiration Fund, dollar-for-dollar, through May 25. Each net costs $12, so your gift of $12 will purchase TWO nets instead of one.
St. John's Outreach Committee suggests that making donations in memory of Mary Ellen Smith, Bishop Dabney Smith's wife, would be a meaningful way to honor our Bishop. Please send donations for mosquito nets to the Diocesan Office clearly marked "NETS" on the memo line along with "St. John's (Tampa)" so the Bishop knows our parish is thinking of him. Episcopal Charities (our Diocesan charitable fund) is keeping track of nets donations as we move toward our diocesan goal of providing 10,000 nets. In order for the diocese to get a check to the Nets Inspiration Fund before May 25, please send donations to 7313 Merchant Court, Sarasota, FL 34240 by May 15.
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Sandwich Sunday Hosts Needed
Sandwich Sunday, St. John's ministry that has provided over 17,000 meals to South Tampa's local homeless at Faith Cafe, is in great need of summer hosts. Hosting is easy! Merely purchase supplies from a list provided to you (reimbursable up to $300) and deliver meals on Monday morning! Our parishioner-volunteers make the bagged lunches and the fun. Contact Meg Russell Bereday at 253.0061 or scobeyrussell@yahoo.com if you are interested in hosting in June, July or August.
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Please Turn in Your Pledge Card So That We May Accurately Budget for 2012
 Please prayerfully consider your pledge to St. John's Church for 2012. Your promise to support our Parish financially will help St. John's continue to provide a strong and vibrant spiritual home for our community of believers and to pursue our mission of ministering to those in spiritual and physical need. Please contact Parish Administrator, Debbie Huelsman, by phone at 813.259.1570 or by e-mail at dhuelsman@stjohnstampa.org to give your 2012 Every Member pledge to St. John's Parish. Our goal is to receive all pledges now, in order to ensure that the Finance Committee can include them in the 2012 yearly budget.
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If you would like your information to be included in next week's Scroll, please email all content by Monday at 9:00 a.m.
to Lee Lowry at LLowry@stjohnstampa.org.
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| Wednesday, May 2
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12:15 p.m.-
12:45 p.m.
| The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (The Chapel)
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6:00 p.m.
| EFM (St. Mary's) |
6:30 p.m.
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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. 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 bring a dish to share and join the group for dinner, view the DVD, and participate in the discussion that follows. This will be the second of six sessions on this topic.
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| Thursday, May 3
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10:00 a.m. -
10:30 a.m.
| The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) and Healing
(The Chapel) |
12:15 p.m. -
12:30 p.m.
| Noonday Prayer (The Chapel)
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| Friday, May 4
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8:15 a.m. -
9:00 a.m.
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Moms in Prayer
(Peterson Room, St. John's School Middle Division)
All are welcome to come and pray for your children and their school. We also pray for our sister school, Kamaiba Primary School in Uganda. Our remaining dates in May are the 11th and 18th.
Questions? Contact Anne Baldy at annetrey@verizon.net. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (I Peter 1:3)
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12:15 p.m.
| Noonday Prayer (The Chapel)
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| Saturday, May 5
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5:00 p.m. -
7:00 p.m.
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High School Youth Year-End Party
(The Lutton Home)
This will be the next and LAST High School Youth Group meeting of the year and will take place at the home of Katie and Alex Lutton. Please RSVP by the end of the day today, May 2, to Mother Taylor at staylor@stjohnstampa.org so we can get an idea about numbers. Please bring a swimsuit and a towel. Note: This will be in place of the April 29 dinner at Koto's.
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| Sunday, May 6
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7:45 a.m.
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The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (The Church)
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9:00 a.m.
| The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (The Church)
Youth and Adult Confirmation This Sunday, May 6, we are honored to be joined by the Right Reverend Dabney T. Smith, V Bishop of Southwest Florida, as he presides over a service of confirmation and the Holy Eucharist at the 9:00 a.m. service, as well as blessing our new verge. A reception in Rudisill Parish Hall will follow the service. There will be no Sunday School this morning. Youth being confirmed, contact Leland Baldwin at lelandtbaldwin@aol.com with questions, adults may contact Father Remer at dremer@stjohnstampa.org. |
11:15 a.m.
| The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (The Church)
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5:00 p.m. -
7:00 p.m.
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Middle School Youth Year-End Party
(The Malizia Home)
Middle School Youth, join Mother Stefanie Taylor and all your friends for a year-end party at the home of Kent Malizia. Food, swimming and celebration are on the menu, please bring a swim suit and a towel. Email Mother Taylor at staylor@stjohnstampa.org by the end of the day today, May 2, to RSVP. This will be the next and last Middle School Youth event of this year.
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| Monday, May 7
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12:15 p.m. -
12:45 p.m.
| Noonday Prayer (The Chapel)
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| Tuesday, May 8
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6:45 a.m.-
8:00 a.m.
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Contemporary Women's Bible Study
(Peterson Room, St. John's School Middle Division)
Today the group continues a study of Isaiah. All women of St. John's (and their friends of any denomination) are invited to join this dynamic group for prayer, lively discussion, faith and fellowship. After a light breakfast, scripture and selected topics of interest are explored in new and creative ways. Members take turns serving as discussion facilitator. Contact Kathleen Moore at 221.6253 or kathleenmarymoore@gmail.com with questions.
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12:15 p.m. -
12:45 p.m.
| Noonday Prayer (The Chapel)
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6:00 p.m.
| Entrepreneurs' Group (Rudisill Parish Hall)
The Entrepreneur's Group, which meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, is looking for 1 or 2 new members. If you are currently an entrepreneur and are interested in joining, please contact Walt Hardenstine at whardenstine@executiveforums.com. |
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| Wednesday, May 9
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6:30 p.m.
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Healing and Transformation: A Series with Rodeph Shalom (Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 2713 Bayshore Boulevard)
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. Please contact Leland Baldwin at lelandtbaldwin@aol.com with questions.
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| Sunday, May 13
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9:00 a.m.
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Senior Sunday (The Church)
The annual service at which we celebrate our graduating high school seniors and they, in turn, express their appreciation to the parish, will take place on Sunday, May 13 at the 9:00 a.m. service. The service will include addresses by many of our seniors, as well as involving other youth in the service as lectors and ushers. A reception will follow the service. Please contact Leland Baldwin at lelandtbaldwin@aol.com with questions.
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| Thursday, May 17
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12:30 p.m.
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Organ Concert (St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 509 North Marion Street)
Kevin Page, our Assistant Organist, will be giving a lunchtime organ recital at St. Andrew's Episopal Church, downtown Tampa, on Thursday, May 17, at 12:30 p.m. as part of the St. Andrew's Concert Series.
Do please support Kevin by dropping by St. Andrew's that day, if you are able. The program will last approximately thirty minutes. Please contact Simon Morley at smorley@stjohnstampa.org with questions.
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| Sunday, May 20
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9:00 a.m.
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Sunday School Teachers and Leaders to be Honored
All Sunday School teachers from the 2011-2012 year are welcome to join us at the altar during the 9:00 a.m. service to be honored for their work in enriching the spiritual lives of our children and fellow adult parishioners. If you have taught a class, assisted or even been a substitute, please join us to be honored when the teachers are called.
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4:00 p.m. -
6:00 p.m.
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Newcomers Wine and Cheese ReceptionNewcomers to St. John's Church, please join us for an informal wine and cheese reception at the home of our rector, Fr. Doug Remer, and his wife Sterling, on Sunday, May 20. Enjoy fellowship with other newcomers to the church and get to know our clergy in a relaxed setting. Please call the parish offices at 259.1570 or email Debbi Huelsman at dhuelsman@stjohnstampa.org with questions or to RSVP. We welcome you!
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| Sunday, June 2
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11:00 a.m.
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Ordination of Billy Daniel to the Diaconate
Our seminarian, Billy Daniel, will be ordained to the Diaconate on Sunday, June 2, at the 11:00 a.m. service. We congratulate him on this important milestone in his journey toward becoming a priest. A reception will follow the service.
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