Parents' Ministry Meeting 

Come get to know your peers and build a community of love, while learning about the Word!  Youth Sunday School is now called "Rap  Hour" and will take place during the 9:00 a.m. service in Discovery House (on the south end of the church property).  Breakfast will be provided.  The group will be led by parish parents Alliston Duryea, John Reffue, and Eli Pento.

Youth, come to Discovery House when you arrive at church.  You will rejoin your family in the church after the announcements.  Hope to see you there! 

Gala Organ & Choir Concert Featuring David Briggs

Friday, October 19, 7:30 p.m., Church

This concert will feature David Briggs, former organist of Truro and Gloucester Cathedrals in England, where our own Simon Morley served as his assistant during the early '90s. Mr. Briggs is one of the world's foremost organists and composers, and is especially known for his skill in the art of improvisation. This concert has been subtitled "The Notre Dame Experience," not least because of Mr. Briggs' affinity with French  organ music and the Parisian organ scene. At this concert, Mr. Briggs will be joined by our St. John's Ensemble in a performance of "Messe Solennelle" of Louis Vierne. Vierne was himself organist of Notre Dame Cathedral from 1900 until his death (at the console of the organ) in 1937. We hope you will join us for what promises to be a spectacular concert event!  For the entire schedule of music events for the year, please click here. 

Help Needed: Middle School Youth Parent Chaperones

Due to the unprecedented attendance at Middle School Youth Group of more than 50 youth for the first two Sundays of the year, Mother Taylor will be splitting the group into two, one comprised of 6th graders and one comprised of 7th and 8th graders. One group will be in the youth house hearing a message and having dinner with Mother Taylor, and the other group will be in the gym with Nick Herrin (school music teacher and associate organist) doing music and games - then the groups will switch. In order to make this work, two parent volunteers are needed each Sunday. Please email Mother Taylor at staylor@stjohnstampa.org with questions or to lend a hand.

A Bag of Food = A Bag of Hope: Support Metropolitan Ministries 

Help stop hunger this holiday season!  St. John's annual holiday food drive for Metropolitan Ministries starts this Sunday.  Please take one of the brown bags with the Metropolitan Ministries shopping list attached and make a family's Thanksgiving holidays brighter.  Filled bags should be returned to the church on November 4.  If you need to drop yours off earlier, it may be left on the counter in the back of Rudisill Parish Hall.  Your generosity will make a real difference for a family in need this year!   

The Great Tablecloth Mystery

When Miriam Faircloth and I were planning for Mother Stefanie's shower, we were unpleasantly surprised to discover that most of the round tablecloths, plus some of the rectangular ones, were missing in action.  St. John's is supposed to have both white and ecru tablecloths -- none of the ecru ones are in the closet in the Lowry Room, and we only found a couple of the round white ones.  There should be at least a dozen.  I ended up purchasing five additional white tablecloths which I have gifted to the church.  Another mystery is the fact that a big pile of very dirty tablecloths (but no ecru ones and only a couple of round ones) was found in the kitchen.  St. John's does not have a maid nor a laundry service.  If you are responsible for a church event that uses tablecloths, please take them home and wash them, fold them neatly, hang them on a hanger (the type most cleaners use for trousers with a cardboard roll on the bottom piece), and return them promptly to the closet in the Lowry Room.  If you have tablecloths that belong to the church at home, please return them.   

Thanks!  

Peggy Curlin  

Middle School Youth, join us for dinner, a Bible lesson, games, music, and more!  Please bring $3 for dinner.  Questions? Mother Taylor, staylor@stjohnstampa.org.

High School Bible Study meets each Sunday except the last Sunday of the month.  Questions? Mother Taylor, staylor@stjohnstampa.org.

Women's Mid Morning Bible Study 

On Tuesday, October 16, the Rev. Kathy Connor of First Presbyterian Church will lead the group's study of the parable of "The Unmerciful Servant" (Matt. 18: 21-35).  The ladies invite you to join them in the Lowry Room at 10:15 a.m. for fellowship, followed by a lesson and discussion from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Whether you can attend one or all of the fall sessions, this is a great opportunity to expand your understanding of some of Jesus' most puzzling teachings. Questions? Contact Sally Wiley at swileytampa@aol.com or 253.3906 or Joan McKay at mckayjhm@aol.com.

St. John's School Golf Tournament

Shotgun Start at 1:30 p.m., Westchase Golf Club

The fourth annual St. John's School Golf Tournament, sponsored by the school's Dads' Club, will take place at Westchase Golf Club on October 19. There are many levels of participation available. Entry fees and sponsorships are a big part of how the Dads' Club funds various projects for the school throughout the year, including their annual Service Day.

For more information or to register, please click here, or contact Joe Strickland at jstrickland@mgfcg.com or 394.9348.