News

Episcopal Schools Sunday

Episcopal Schools Sunday on October 21 was celebrated with lots of participation from students of our Bay area Episcopal schools.  Besides the usual acolytes and choir members, students served as ushers, read the lessons and prayers of the people, and collected the offering.  Children also helped in the kitchen, preparing and serving our monthly parish breakfast of French toast, sausage, and fruit.  And two of our young ladies provided the blessing over the meal.    

 

Another highlight of the morning was the address given by St. John's School Headmaster Gordon Rode.  Using the scripture readings for the day, Mr. Rode spoke of the need to make a conscious choice to be happy, to be honorable, and to be persistent, and how we teach our students to make these kinds of positive choices.  He also spoke of one of the themes he has embraced this school year: the idea of "grit,"  the kind of resilience that leads to success.  He stated that Jesus had that kind of grit to be able to complete his ministry here on earth, and that he calls us to have it as well as we follow him. 

 

The partnership that exists between our church and school, and the existence of more than 1,200 Episcopal schools in the US is a benefit to the entire country, as they provide excellence in education, while grounding their students in the teachings of Jesus. 

Gala Organ & Choir Concert Featuring David Briggs

Over 200 attendees enjoyed the magnificent organ concert given by internationally renowned organist David Briggs.  Pieces in the concert included the Prelude and Fugue in G major of Bach, Three pieces for musical clock of Haydn, and the Prelude and Fugue in B major of Marcel Dupre.  Mr. Briggs was joined during the second half of the concert by the St. John's Ensemble Choir for the Messe Solennelle of Louis Vierne.

 

The concert was warmly received, and is another highlight in the long list of lovely events presented by the St. John's Music Department.  Join us for the next event in the 2012-2013 season when the Combined Choirs of St. John's and St. Andrew's present a Choral Evensong, Sunday, November 4, at 5:00 p.m. at St. John's Church.  For more information, click here to download a flyer with the entire year's events. 

Faith Cafe- Under Construction!!

Faith Cafe has recently broken ground on construction for a new building.  They have made great strides with fundraising, donations of supplies, and donations of effort.  A bit more is required, so stay tuned.   

 

 

Meanwhile, some of their guests are being served bag lunches through  First Presbyterian of Tampa- preparations are made on Monday mornings.  Please contact Mary Jane Schenck or Hugh Cruse for more information (mjschenck@ut.edu or hugh.cruse@gmail.com).  For more updates on the construction process, pictures and updates are being posted on www.faithcafetampa.com.

Events

Annual F.A.T.H.E.R.S. Camping Trip, November 2 and 3

Lakewood Retreat, www.LakewoodRetreat.org

 

Dads and their kids of all ages are invited to come.

 

RSVP to Lionel Lowry ASAP at lionel@firsthook.com.

 

  Cost is $25 per family member, mail checks to: Lionel Lowry, 606 Marmora Avenue, Tampa, 33606.

 

F.A.T.H.E.R.S.:  

Fathers Accountable to Healthy Enduring Relationships and Spirituality

New Adult Education Class - Family Cooking

Sundays, October 28, November 4, 11, and 25, December 2

Every Sunday for 5 weeks (excluding parish breakfast Sundays on the third Sunday of each month), St. John's will hold a cooking class to help us bring fun and fellowship back into our family meals.

 

Each week will feature food from a different nation or nationality (week one was Japanese Miso Soup). The class will help remind us that when we cook and eat together with the intention of gathering in love and acceptance, our families benefit.  This entertaining class will be held in the kitchen in Rudisill Parish Hall during the Christian Formation Hour following the 9:00 a.m. service. Join us!

The Orleanians will hold a kid-friendly Halloween event this Sunday, October 28, immediately following the 9:00 a.m. service, at Bill and Amanda Sansone's home.  Their address is 910 South Oregon, just a short walk from the church.  Children can wear Halloween costumes, and all can jump in a bounce house and enjoy lunch and Halloween goodies.  It should be a good time for all!

 

Contact Dax Nelson for more information at dnelson@daxnelsonlaw.com or 494.0125.

USF Health: Byrd Alzheimer's Institute Presents Alzheimer's Disease Seminar for Caretakers

Wednesday, October 31, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,

Horizon Bay Memory Care, 2301 West Palm Drive, Tampa

Caretakers are invited to learn information about Alzheimer's disease, diagnosis, and treatment, tips for managing medications, and strategies for communicating with the AD patient. For information or to register, call 974.4357 or 800.633.4563. There is no cost, but you must pre-register to attend.

Your Action Needed

Flowers and Greenery Available 

The following flowers, Advent greenery, and candles are available:

November 11         Flowers at the church altar

December 23        Advent greenery at the chapel altar

December 30        Advent greenery at the chapel altar

                           Candle in the sanctuary light

Please call the parish offices at 259.1570 if you would like to take any of these opportunities to honor a loved one and support St. John's.  

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 is going on now.  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!   

This Week at St. John's

(Chapel)

Activities for Children (Various)

High School Youth Group (Straz Center)

High School Bible Study meets on the last Sunday of the month.  This month, the group will attend The Screwtape Letters at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.  Questions? Mother Taylor, staylor@stjohnstampa.org.

Today is the feast of St. Simon, who shares a feast day with St. Jude (though we do not officially celebrate the feast of St. Jude).  The only thing the Gospels tell us about Simon is that he was one of the disciples, and that he was called "the Zealot."

 Tradition has consistently associated Simon and Jude as apostles to Persia.  Some accounts state that they were martyrs, a tradition generally accepted by the Western Church.  The Monology of Basil, however, says that Simon died a peaceful death at Edessa.  The martyrdom story wins out in most depictions of Simon, showing him often with a saw, believed to be the instrument by which he was put to death.

There are other scholarly questions about Simon, including one involving the appellation of "Zealot."  Whether in fact he had been a member before his conversion of one of the several factions called "Zealots," or whether this title refers to his zeal for the Jewish law, is not known, but he has been consistently identified by it.

We will celebrate this feast as we do all major feasts, with the Eucharist at 12:15 p.m.  Join us!

More Upcoming Events

Hold the date for the first official Circle event of 2012-2013.  Pamela and Pickens Price will host a dinner at their home, co-hosted by Kim and Stephen French.  Look for an evite soon!  For more information, please email Kim French.