November 28, 2012 Issue 

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Evangelism
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St. John's Episcopal Church, South Tampa
Calendar for the Week Ahead
Wed, November 28
Thu, November 29
Fri, November 30
Sat, December 1
Sun, December 2
Mon, December 3
Tue, December 4
Quick Links
Visit Our Website

Visit the St. John's School Website

Visit the Diocese of Southwest Florida's Website

Events

Music At St. John's In December 

There are a number of special musical events being presented during the month of December in celebration of Advent and Christmas.  This Sunday, December 2, at 5:00 p.m. in the church, the Combined Choirs of St. John's will present Advent Lessons and Carols.  The term "Advent" comes from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming", and denotes our season of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.  Advent is also the beginning of our liturgical year.  Pieces at the Lessons and Carols service will include the hauntingly lovely Bethlehem Down of Peter Warlock, the Basque carol People Look East, and A Spotless Rose of Howells.  The service will be capped off with the Fantasia in G minor of J.S. Bach.

In the church on Sunday, December 16, at 5:00 p.m., the Combined Choirs will present a Christmas Concert.  This popular annual event includes music sung by our spectacular choir, as well as the opportunity for the congregation to sing along to favorite carols.

Both evenings will conclude with a reception in Rudisill Parish Hall, to which all are warmly invited.  We hope you will join us!
Your Action Needed

Faith Caf� Update 

The search for a new site for Faith Caf� began in the spring of 2011. Since then, the group has raised almost $400,000 from small and large donations. They have purchased the property, the site has been cleared, and the concrete slab was poured on October 31, 2012!  The group currently has $284,000 in their building fund after paying for the land and the permitting fees. The cost for the building is $368,000 and they also need to purchase interior furnishings, as well as cover operating expenses for 2013.  Therefore, the Caf� hopes to raise a final $200,000 by December 31.

To contribute construction materials, contact Burk Clark at  Burk@thesinclairgroup.com.  To donate funds, contact Mary Jane Schenck at mjschenck@ut.edu or Hugh Cruse  or hugh.cruse@gmail.com.  You may also donate directly through the website at www.faithcafetampa.com. Some smaller items needed are: a commercial dishwasher, washable plastic plates and glasses, and a microwave.  Please give prayerful consideration to donating so that Faith Caf� can re-open its doors and serve a hot noontime meal to over 100 very needy members of our community six days a week.

2013 Every Member Canvass  

This month marks the beginning of the 2013 Every Member Canvass campaign for St. John's Church.  Please prayerfully consider what you can contribute this year for the glory of God and the support of St. John's.  Please click here to read Fr. Doug Remer's letter regarding the canvass, and access our online pledge form here. You can also download a pledge worksheet by clicking here, or by visiting our website at www.stjohnstampa.org.
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.

This Week at St. John's
Wednesday, November 28
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Nights at St. John's (Rudisill Parish Hall)

Bring your covered dish, favorite study Bible, and an open heart and mind for wonderful fellowship and stimulating conversation on Wednesday nights at St. John's.     

 

Join the group for a four-session DVD during Advent, beginning this Wednesday, November 28.  Journey to Christmas is a documentary series following the journey of five diverse people as they experience the Holy Land for the first time.  For those who have visited the Holy Land,  Journey to Christmas will bring back memories, but will add new sites and insights to that experience.  Click here for more information. For further information about the group, email Winkie or Paul Game at pgamefla@aol.com.

Thursday, November 29
10:00 a.m.The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Church)
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Friday, November 30:
The Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle

Feast Day Facts: St. Andrew the Apostle 

Most biographical notes on this Apostle begin "Andrew was Simon Peter's brother," and he is so described in the Gospels.  Identifying Andrew as Peter's brother makes it easy to know who he is, but it also makes it easy to overlook Andrew's special gift to the company of Christ.  The Gospel according to John tells how Andrew, a disciple of John the Baptist, was one of only two disciples who followed Jesus after John had pointed him out, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God" (John 1:29).  Andrew also found his brother and brought him to Jesus, so we might call Andrew the first missionary in the company of disciples.

 

Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Barbados, Greece, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.  In 2006, the Scottish Parliament passed the St. Andrew's Day Bank Holiday Act 2007, which designated the Day as an official bank holiday. The University of St. Andrews also gives the day for all its students as a holiday.  

 

Saint Andrew's Day is celebrated as the national day of Independence in Barbados. As the patron saint of Barbados, Saint Andrew is celebrated in a number of Barbadian symbols, including the cross formation of the Coat of Arms, and the nation's national honors system, which styles persons as Knights or Dames of St. Andrew.  

12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
Saturday, December 1
8:00 a.m.

Safeguarding God's Children Training

This course will be on Saturday, December 1, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, upstairs in the Peterson Room on the School Middle Division campus.  Please sign up at the parish offices by email or phone at 259.1570.

9:00 a.m.

Women's Advent Retreat: A Child Is Born

How about a day of study, quiet contemplation, music, and fellowship between the busy-ness of Thanksgiving and the rush of Christmas?  The ladies of the Contemporary Women's Bible Study (CWBS) invite the women and friends of St. John Episcopal Church to an Advent Retreat, on December 1, 2012, in Rudisill Parish Hall, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.  Join them for prayer, Bible study, contemplative and empowering music,  fellowship, and more as we prepare ourselves for the arrival of our Savior and the first season of the church year.  CWBS will provide a continental breakfast and a light lunch - just come, get to know some of your sisters on the journey, and take a break from the hectic-ness that invariably accompanies this Season of Peace.   

 

Come for the day or just through lunch if a full day is already out of reach!  RSVP to Robin Johnson, at rljohnson4@verizon.net or 837.1627, Nicki Weekes at wickersnic@yahoo.com, Debra McMaster at mcmasterde@verizon.net, or Sharon Stoll at harpwings@aol.com or 258.8725.   

6:00 p.m.
The Orleanians Christmas Party
Please join the Orleanians for a casual supper, some yummy winter beverages, and a Christmas Cookie Exchange to celebrate the holiday season.  Please bring cookies of your choice (enough for everyone attending) and you will leave with a box of many different kinds to share with your families!

This event will take place on Saturday, December 1, at 6:00 p.m., at the home of Erin and Matt Chantry, 502 South Willow Avenue, Number 8. Questions?  Email Erin Chantry.
Sunday, December 2
7:45 a.m.

The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)     

9:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Church)
Every Member Canvass Speaker: Dax Nelson

Sunday School for Children
(Various)
Children will process from the church during the opening hymn and will return later in the service.

Sunday School for Youth
(Discovery House)
Middle and high school students, please join us in Discovery House when the service begins.  You will return to sit with your families later in the service.
10:15 a.m
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal (Church)

Adult Christian Formation
      The Roundtable (Lowry Room)
      Family Cooking (Kitchen)

Coffee Hour Fellowship (Rudisill Parish Hall) 

Activities for Children
(Various) 
11:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) and Holy Baptism (Church)
Every Member Canvass Speaker: Dax Nelson
5:00 p.m.
Advent Lessons and Carols (Church)

The combined choirs of St. John's will present Advent Lessons and Carols in the church on Sunday, December 2, at 5:00 p.m.  There is no cost to attend.  A reception, to which all are warmly invited, will follow in Rudisill Parish Hall.

5:00 p.m. -
6:00 p.m.
Middle School Youth Group (Youth House)
Middle school youth will meet this Sunday at the church from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. for Advent Lessons and Carols.  Many of our youth are in the choir and attending is a great way to support our whole youth family!  Questions? ataylor895@gmail.com
7:45 p.m.
High School Bible Study (Youth House)

Questions? ataylor895@gmail.com

We encourage high school youth to attend Advent Lessons and Carols today at 5:00 p.m. to support our youth members in the choir! 

Monday, December 3
9:30 a.m.
Pastoral Care Meeting (Lowry Room)
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Tuesday, December 4
6:45 a.m.
Contemporary Women's Bible Study (Peterson Room)
Today CWBS begins a study of Isaiah 2, with Chapters 40 through 66.
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)

More Upcoming Events

Friday, December 7

Middle School Youth Christmas Party 

Mark your calendars for our Christmas party, Friday, December 7, at the church from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. We will do a gender-neutral $10 gift exchange, go caroling in the neighborhood, have dinner, and make gingerbread houses. Join us!

Sunday, December 9

High School Youth Christmas Party 

Mark your calendars for our Christmas party on Sunday, December 9!  We will meet at Canterbury Towers at 4:00 p.m. to visit the elderly and bring them Christmas cheer.   We will then go to the home of Avery Guyton for Christmas dinner and the exchanging of gender-neutral $10 gifts. You are ALL invited!  Please RSVP to STaylor@stjohnstampa.org or ataylor895@gmail.com by Sunday, December 2, so that we will know how many to plan for for Christmas dinner.

Sunday, December 16

Christmas Concert 

In the church on Sunday, December 16, at 5:00 p.m., the Combined Choirs will present a Christmas Concert.  This popular annual event includes music sung by our spectacular choir, as well as the opportunity for the congregation to sing along to favorite carols.

The evening concludes with a reception in Rudisill Parish Hall, to which all are warmly invited.

Sunday, January 13

Youth 2013

Middle School Youth Group and High School Bible Study will resume on Sunday, January 13.