Mother's Day In-Gathering for Alpha House a Big Success! 

A very special thanks to all St. John's parishioners for making our Mother's Day In-Gathering such a huge success.  Over 3,000 diapers and several hundred pounds of baby goods, clothing, food and toiletries were delivered to Alpha House of Tampa last week.  Additionally, almost $300 in checks, gift cards and coupons were donated.  The mothers were truly overwhelmed by the generosity of St. John's.  There is no doubt that many urgent needs of children and mothers at Alpha House have been satisfied for several months to come!  Many thanks to all, and especially to the leader of this ministry, Ruth Giordano, for coordinating!! 

Monday, June 18 through Thursday, June 21 

Click here to download a pdf of the application for this year's Vacation Bible School: Save the Earth!  Fill it out, and return to the parish offices with your check for $25 for the week, payable to St. John's Episcopal, by Friday, May 1 to reserve your 4- to 10-year-old child's spot. The week will culminate on Thursday, June 21 at 5:30 p.m. with a potluck family party. See what your child learned during VBS and get some tips from your little ones on how to take care of Mother Earth.  We are also looking for teen and parent helpers for one day or more.  Contact Leland Baldwin with questions at lelandtbaldwin@aol.com. 

The Soireé

Saturday, June 16, 7:00 p.m.

The Home of Mary & Ron Hulse, 4912 Lyford Cay Road

This informal get-together will be the final Soireé of the year. Attendees are asked to bring their favorite beverage and an hors d'oeuvre to share. RSVP to mmhulse@tampabay.rr.com or call 286.1121.

The Centennial Celebration 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. 

Dominican Republic Mission Trip: Our Deanery Team Needs Your Prayers and Support 

For the 13th summer, the Episcopal churches of the Tampa Deanery are sending missionary volunteers to the Dominican Republic.  One team, which includes St. John's youth, will be returning to paint the second floor classrooms and community hall at San Pedro & San Pablo in La Barquita, a small, very poor barrio located along the Ozama River in Santo Domingo.  The other teams will begin construction of a new Santa Cruz Episcopal Church in the sugar mill town of Santa Fe, located adjacent to San Pedro de Macorís, the birthplace of the Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic.  This year's goal for the three-year project is to "close in" the first floor of the new church through the roof level. Costs are estimated at about $35,000, but the impact that this facility will have on the future of the families in La Barquita and Santa Cruz cannot be measured in dollars.

For the first time, the high school and middle school youth will be traveling to different places for mission trips.  The high school youth will be going with the adults to the Dominican Republic, and the middle school youth will be heading to Daytona Beach for a week.  We will be staying at the Daytona Beach Alliance Church, along with several other youth groups across the country. For more information about the youth trips, please click here.

The team asks that you pray for them and the other team members during the mission trips and, if possible, make a tax deductible financial gift now to support the teams, their work, and the children of La Barquita and Santa Cruz.  If you are able to do so, please complete the Sponsor Form (click here for the form, as well as a letter and full description of the DR trip) and return it with your gift to St. John's Church.  You will also receive this letter and form in the mail. 

You may contact the chair of our parish Outreach committee, Sally Thompson (760.5120; tampasal@verizon.net), or our Director of Christian Education, Leland Baldwin (245.2776; lelandtbaldwin@aol.com ) via phone, text message, or e-mail for more information. Thank you for your consideration and support. 

Faith Cafe Needs Clothing  

The men of Faith Cafe are in need of hot-weather clothing as our Florida summer approaches.  Please consider making a donation of t-shirts in sizes L and XL, and of pants and shorts in any size.  Donations can be brought to the parish offices.

Sandwich Sunday Hosts Needed 

Sandwich Sunday, St. John's ministry that has provided over 15,000 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.