Pledge Sunday, November 24

Pledge Sunday is the day that we ask anyone who has not mailed their 2014 pledge to the parish offices or made a pledge online to bring their pledge card to church. You should have received the card in the mail with our Vestry's stewardship letter.  Cards will also be available at the doors to the church.

On Sunday the 24th, the cards will be collected, presented at the altar, and blessed. The Stewardship Committee will only call or send follow up letters to those whose pledges are outstanding after Pledge Sunday. 

Thanksgiving Food Drive Ends 

This Sunday, November 17

Click here to download a list of the suggested food items for this year's Metropolitan Ministries Food Drive and help needy Tampa families have a happy Thanksgiving!  All items are due back to the church by Sunday, November 17.

Advent Mini-Retreat

Women of St. John's (and friends of any denomination) 

are invited to attend

"Joyful Anticipation" (an Advent mini-retreat)

Saturday, December 7, 2013

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

St. John's Parish Hall

Continental Breakfast and Lunch provided by Contemporary Women's Bible Study

The retreat is free, but please contact the parish offices so we know how many to expect at

259-1570 or email rmckenzie@stjohnseagles.org. 

Children's Christmas Eve Pageant Actors Needed!

Children ages 4 to grade 5 are needed to perform in the 2014 Christmas Eve Pageant during the 4:00 p.m. service on December 24. Join us to bring the story of the birth of our Savior to life!

The rehearsal schedule is as follows:

Sunday, November 24, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 1, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 8, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 15, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

ALL REHEARSALS to take place in the Parish Hall.

Please email lbaldwin@stjohnstampa.org if your child would like to participate.

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. 

New Opportunities with Cornerstone Kids

"A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to organize the Southeastern Harp Conference here in Tampa.  There were 36 harpists and other musicians present for a weekend of continuing education as Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioners and Therapeutic Musicians.  The weekend was followed by a week-long module on Resonance under the direction of the International Harp Therapy Program in San Diego.  Among the things Tina Tourin, the director, asked me to do was to find several locations where students could observe her as she demonstrated what we do.  Two days I took the group to the Horizon Bay Memory Care facility on S. Howard; and then on Thursday, October 31, we went to St. James House of Prayer to visit with Cornerstone Kids.  It was so much fun for us as well as the kids.   

We took harps and bells for the kids to play and Tina demonstrated her Rainbow of Sound program and orchestrated a couple of pieces for the group.  Everyone got a chance to participate and they made beautiful sounds as you can only imagine.  The children were quite engaged."

Relief Needed in the Philippines 

Our bishop, the Right Rev. Dabney Smith, seeks our help in supporting the people of the Philippines following the devastating typhoon of earlier this week.  He asks that people of the diocese make donations directly to Episcopal Relief and Development, which can be reached by clicking here.  ER-D is in contact with local partners in the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, determining how best to respond in this time of crisis.  Your donation will be used to support necessary and immediate emergency work for the children and adults most affected by the storm.

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, Miriam Faircloth, Anna Ashworth, Jo Ann Flagg, and Carol McCammon. 

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!

Flowers Available

"There are many spiritual practices that make it more possible to choose life: prayer, service, study, worship. The spiritual practice of giving was a hard one for me to adopt. Early in my adulthood I was a latter-day Sadducee, working through all my financial obligations, lamenting what I didn't have and worrying about what I needed to save for. I gave only what I thought I could afford. I was a walking case study for the mindset of scarcity - tied up into a financial and spiritual pretzel."

During this time of stewardship, 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.

Advent Wreath Making

Between the 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services on Sunday, November 24, our traditional Advent wreath making event will occur.  St. John's will provide all the items you need for a cost of $7 per wreath.

Festal Eucharist

In honor of Christ the King Sunday, a special Festal Eucharist will be celebrated on Sunday, November 24, 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.

Choral Eucharist

Join us to show gratitude to our Maker on the American day of thanksgiving.  Our choral Eucharist 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 Rector Emeritus.  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.

Advent Lessons and Carols 

The Choir of St. John's Church will sing a service of Advent Lessons and Carols, with carols for audience and choir, at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 8. A reception will follow in the parish hall.  Music will include works by Boris Ord, Sir William McKie, Ralph Vaughan-Williams, and Orlando Gibbons.

Middle School Youth Study Break

On Sunday, December 15 during the usual youth time (4:00 to 6:00 p.m.), middle school youth are invited to the Youth House for a fun study break!  Drop in for a snack and some fellowship and take a break from studying for exams!

Choir Christmas Concert 

A Celebration of the Ministry of the Rev. Douglas 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!

College Christmas Breakfast

All our college-aged parishioners and their parents are invited to join us on the morning of Sunday, December 22 as well, as we celebrate their homecoming!  The breakfast will take place after the combined 10:00 service of Lessons and Carols.

Middle School Youth Christmas Party and Caroling

High School Girls' Retreat

Join Chaplain Harrison-Quillin and St. John's girlfriends for a retreat at the Franciscan Center.  Contact Chaplain HQ for details.   More info, including costs, will be available soon.