Confirmation Dates Set

The dates for St. John's classes leading to confirmation in the Episcopal church have been set.  Click here for a full schedule of classes. Classes will be led by Fr. Connelly, Fr. Zimmerman, Chaplain Harrison-Quillin, and Leland Baldwin and will take place in Discovery House from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. on designated Sundays.  Confirmation by the Right Reverend Dabney T. Smith, Bishop of Southwest Florida, will be at 9:00 a.m. on April 6, 2014, and will be followed by a reception in the parish hall.

If you are interested in being confirmed, please call the parish offices at 259.1570 or email parish@stjohnstampa.org. 

Music News

Simon Morley will give an organ recital on Sunday, November 10, at 5:00 p.m. to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the leading organization working on behalf of cystic fibrosis patients. Cystic fibrosis is a degenerative lung and digestive illness for which there is no cure and with an average life expectancy in the mid-30s. Enjoy beautiful music while also supporting the CF Foundation whose mission is to make CF stand for "cure found" for all CF patients, including one of our own St. John's choir member's son.  Please join us in the church at 5:00 p.m. for a program to include works by J.S. Bach, Louis Vierne, and Herbert Howells.

Angel Tree Transition, New Opportunities with Cornerstone Kids

Thanks to the efforts of our Outreach Committee, we are embarking upon a more robust and sustained ministry with Cornerstone Kids. We expect this to expand into mutual ministries with St. James House of Prayer as we move into next year.  This effort will replace our ministry with Angel Tree, and is one which we feel will become an even more meaningful, lasting partnership than that ministry.

Our first step in this exciting effort will be to assist Cornerstone Kids in providing Christmas gifts for the 35 children that attend the program. We will have the names and ages of the children, along with a Wish List ready to hand out between services in the courtyard this Sunday, November 10. The gifts will be presented to the children at St. James House of Prayer in mid-December at a festive party before their holiday break. So please join us in doing God's work!  Look for all the details on Sunday. Thank you!

More from Cornerstone Kids

New rugs were purchased for several classrooms at Cornerstone Kids,

from a leaky roof. Thanks to Leland Baldwin for helping facilitate their purchase.  Pictured with one of the purchased rugs is new volunteer Nicholas Nitch, getting to know Marco and Rashad in MC Jenkins' class. 

St. John's School Admissions Open House

Please tell your friends and make plans to join us for the annual Admissions Open House on Thursday, November 14th!  Our Admissions Open House for parents with prospective students in grades K(4) through 8, will take place at the Primary Division Campus (1002 South Rome Avenue, 33606). 

Sandwich Sunday Hosts Needed

Hosts are needed for Sandwich Sunday on February 16, 2014 and March 16, 2014.  Hosts purchase supplies for Sandwich Sundays (costs fully reimbursed by St. John's), help coordinate assembly on the day of, and deliver the lunches to Faith Cafe.  Want to help?  Contact Amanda Sansone at asansone@carltonfields.com.

Faith Cafe News

Faith Café has been blessed with lots of St. John's volunteers and people from other congregations who have come to help on our Fridays.  We love their spirit and  dedication. Here's a list of those who served in October (hope we haven't missed anyone): Nicholas Nitch, Mary Jane Schenck, Jim Voss as Daily Coordinators; Mary Beth Carastro as driver; and, as servers, Lesley Hanlon, David Wheaton, Maria Howey, Sally Wiley, Sally Olsson, Ginger Price, Elizabeth Strong,  Madeleine Tellekamp, Tammy Pines, Helen Maseda, Rick Barrs, Marian Older, Anna Ashworth, Jo Ann Flagg, and Carol McCammon. 

We have three Fridays in November to cover, so please sign up, especially if you are available for the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Faith Café is always in need of men's t-shirts, shorts, shoes, underwear, and small toiletries.  Please bring to the parish offices and donations will be taken to FC.

Contact Mary Jane Schenck at MJSCHENCK@UT.EDU or 837-9428, or Hugh Cruse at hugh.cruse@gmail.com or 839-6789 if you can help!

Thanksgiving Food Drive Continues 

Through November 17

Click here to download a list of the suggested food items for this year's Metropolitan Ministries Thanksgiving Food Drive.

Candle Available

"Knowing Zacchaeus to be a flawed human being does not stop Jesus from reaching out to him. He is ready to bless Zaccheus now, before
he's had a chance to make any of the amends he promises, and this experience of Jesus' unconditional love makes the tax collector want to turn his life around. He wants to become worthy of his blessings. He'll still be a short guy, I guess. Nothing wrong with that. But he's about to grow a great deal as a human being."

As we near St. John's Pledge Sunday, we will provide you with writings from other Christians weekly as we all ponder the responsibility and blessing of providing financial support to our church.  To download the entire inspirational flyer for this week's stewardship narrative, click here.

FATHERS Camping Trip

The annual FATHERS camping trip to Lakewood Retreat will take place Friday, November 8 to Saturday, November 9.  This fun tradition for fathers and their kids includes an overnight in tents, dinner, breakfast, a hayride, kettle corn, and s'mores over a cozy campfire.  For more information, email Lionel Lowry. 

The Soiree (Home of Mary and Ron Hulse, 4912 Lyford Cay Road)

Men's Thursday Interactive Bible Study and Lunch

On Thursday, November 14, at 11:45 a.m. in the Peterson Room, the Rev. Denise Giunta, rector of St. Mark's, will facilitate the discussion on Reconcilation using Psalm 34.  Lunch is sandwiches at $5 per person, RSVP to mkconstcorp@aol.com if you would like to partake.

Parish Breakfast and Sandwich Sunday

Thanks in advance to resident chef Dave Kenyon, and Sandwich Sunday hosts for this month, the Sepulvedas and Carrs!

Ministry Moment

Ray Stoll will give a Ministry Moment on Cursillo on Sunday, November 17th.

Outreach Committee and Friends of Uganda Meeting

Outreach and Friends of Uganda will meet on Monday the 18th this month at 5:30 p.m. in the Lowry Room.

Women's Mid Morning Bible Study

On Tuesday, November 19, the Women's Mid Morning Bible Study will continue its study of "The Acts of the Apostles,"  an engaging narrative of the origins of the Christian church and the power of the Holy Spirit made manifest in and through its early members.   Mrs. Terri Weibley, a member of South Tampa Fellowship with a ministry in the area of bible study leadership, will facilitate their study of Acts 9:1-31, "God Calls Saul."

The group welcomes all women in our church community and their friends and neighbors to join them this fall on alternate Tuesdays in the Lowry Room for fellowship, prayer and study, 10:15 - 11:30 a.m.  Contact Sally Wiley at swileytampa@aol.com or 253.3906 or Pat Wilson at patwilson68@tampabay.rr.com or 644.4640 with questions.

St. John's Book Club

Mark your calendar for the next Book Club meeting, Tuesday, November 19 at 4:00 p.m., when we will discuss the book The Mirrored World, by Debra Dean. From Amazon: "The critically acclaimed author of The Madonnas of Leningrad ("Elegant and poetic, the rare kind of book that you want to keep but you have to share" -Isabel Allende), Debra Dean returns with The Mirrored World, a "breathtaking novel of love and madness set in 18th century Russia."  Contact Helen Gilbart at 837-4421 or hgilbart@tampabay.rr.com with questions.

Festal Eucharist

In honor of Christ the King Sunday, a special Festal Eucharist will be celebrated on Sunday, November 23, at the 11:15 a.m. service.  Incense, special hymns and prayers, and a sense of solemn celebration will highlight this service.  Music will include works by Herbert Howells, William Mathias, and Simon Preston.

Thanksgiving Service

Join us to show gratitude to our Maker on the American day of thanksgiving.  Our service will take place at 10:00 a.m.

Fifty-Year Celebration of Fr. John Peterson

This year marks the 50th year of ordained ministry for Fr. John Peterson, our former rector.  Please join us in the parish hall between the 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services on Sunday, December 8, for a celebration of this milestone event.  Please email parish@stjohnstampa.org for more information.

A Celebration of the Ministry of Fr. Doug Remer

The Rev. Douglas Remer will return for a final Sunday in St. John's on December 22.  He will preach at and celebrate the 7:45 a.m. service and preach at and officiate at the 10:00 a.m. combined Lessons and Carols service.  A reception will follow, please join us to celebrate Fr. Remer's time with us!