New Sunday School Year, New Format! 

This Sunday, September 9, St. John's kicked off a new Sunday School year!  During the 9:00 a.m. service, more than 50 children learned and played at the new Sunday School class in Rudisill Parish Hall.  A drama presentation brought the Bible story of Jesus healing a deaf man to life.  Children ate a healthy snack of apples and grapes and colored a sheet about the Bible story. 

Between the 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services, parishioners participated in adult Sunday School and caught up with friends and fellow church-goers during coffee hour fellowship.  Children played on the new school playground and did an art project in the art room during the period between services so parents could take part.  

   

Land Purchased for New Bishop Masereka Hospital

On July 26, 2012, Bishop Masereka's vision of a modern hospital was firmly placed on ten acres in Kogere, seven kilometers north of Kasese, when BMCF purchased land from the Church of Uganda.  The purchase was made possible by generous gifts from donors committed to improving maternal-infant health and preventing and treating HIV/AIDS worldwide.

With land secured, BMCF and MASS Design have already embarked on the design process for the phase 1 facility, with hopes of beginning construction in early 2013.  Current funding will require they limit their phase 1 facility to providing current services, yet provide a home to expand their services in the future.  Please visit www.bmcf.org for more details.

Save the Date! 
St. John's Centennial Celebration is Saturday, September 29!

We are also looking for parishioners' help in locating photos of St. John's history.  Any baptism, wedding, Easter, or Christmas photos are welcome!  We will carefully scan and return them in the same condition, or please email jpg-format files to Sally Thompson at tampasal@verizon.net.

 for

Mother Stefanie Taylor

Saturday, September 22, 2012

11: 00 a.m. to ??

Rudisill Parish Hall

So we can plan for seating and food,

RSVP by Monday, September 17,  

to Peggy Curlin at 287.0176 or pcurlin@verizon.net.

If you would like to help with decorations or food,  

contact Miriam Faircloth at 839.2838 or miriam19@verizon.net.

Mother Taylor is registered at Babies 'R Us. 

St John's will offer the program Walking the Mourner's Path beginning September 25, with group meetings held weekly on Tuesday evenings for eight weeks.  The program is designed for individuals who have experienced the death of a loved one at least 6 months ago.  Walking the Mourner's Path is a small group experience whose goal is to help participants begin to heal and find a renewed joy in living.  Sessions are held at 7:00 p.m. in the School's Lower Division Library, upstairs at the Orleans campus; the last session is on Tuesday, November 13.  For more information, contact Fr. Randy Hehr or Jan Elliott in the parish offices at 259.1570 or click here to find more information at St. John's website.

The Dominican Republic is in Need   

The Tampa Deanery built the San Pedro and San Pablo church and school on ground not far from the area shown in the photograph.  The structure was designed to serve not only as a church and school, but also as a hurricane shelter and community center, and it was used as a shelter in this most recent storm.  Fr. Emilio Fumero sent a report that 100 people in La Barquita were affected by the flood waters and 13 have taken lodging in San Pedro y San Pablo.  The corrugated metal buildings alongside the flooded street in the photo are not storage sheds, it is in these buildings and others like them that the people of La Barquita actually live.

Having a Baby? The Newborn Celebration Ministry Wants to Know! 

If you or someone you know in our parish is welcoming a baby into the family, please let us know.  St. John's loves our little ones and we want to celebrate them by bringing the family a meal and our best wishes!    

If you would like to be part of the ministry, the volunteers of the Newborn Celebration Ministry would love your assistance.  Please contact Tweed Eckhard at 251-3887 or Vera Farmen at 434.6771 to participate or to share the happy news of a new baby in our parish family.

On September 16, the Middle School Youth Group will meet from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Youth House next to the School's Middle Division.  Youth Group meets every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month. Dinner is provided by parent volunteers, please contact Mother Taylor if you can help.  We hope you will join us! Questions? Mother Taylor, staylor@stjohnstampa.org.

On September 16, the High School Bible Study will take place from 7:45 - 8:45 p.m. at the Youth House next to the School's Middle Division.  Bible Study is on every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month.  High School Youth Group meets the last Sunday of every month for fellowship over dinner at a restaurant.  We hope you will join us! Questions? Mother Taylor, staylor@stjohnstampa.org.

The next Outreach Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 24, at 5:30 p.m. in the Lowry Room. On the agenda will be a continuation of discussion of activities for the upcoming year, including the Friends of Uganda Committee (which is meeting with Outreach). Meetings are generally scheduled for the fourth Monday of each month during the school year from August to May.  If you have any items to be discussed and cannot attend, or for more information, contact Sally Thompson, 254.3009 or tampasal@verizon.net.