April 23, 2014 Issue 

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We are always looking for church-related pictures to share with the congregation.  Submit them to LLowry@stjohnstampa.org.

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We want to provide support in your time of need!
Current health regulations prohibit the clergy from being informed when our parishioners are in the hospital, so we will not know if you or someone you love is there unless you tell us. We want to provide support in any time of need or crisis.  
 
Please call the parish offices at 259.1570 or email 
parish@stjohnstampa.org to let us know when you need us.

 


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Sunday's Scripture Snippet

 

 

Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."  Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbou'ni!" (which means Teacher). 

 

John 20 


News
Combined Service, Parish Block Party, Sandwich Sunday, and Theological Education Sunday,
All On Sunday, April 27
This Sunday, April 27, we will combine the 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services into one 10:00 a.m. service, with the annual Spring Parish Block Party immediately following.  Please join us! Those with last names beginning with A through L should bring a side dish, M through Z, please bring a salad or veggie. St. John's will provide a main course and dessert.
 
Chase Ackerman, our seminarian, will preach at the 7:45 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. services in honor of Theological Education Sunday.
 

Also, each month on Sandwich Sunday, we make sandwiches and bag lunches for needy patrons to take with them after they eat a hot meal at the Caf�. We invite all parishioners to also help assemble sandwiches and lunches at 11:15 a.m. (after the 10:00 a.m. combined service) on Sunday the 27th.  Thanks to the Whiteley family for being our hosts this month!

 
Holy Week and Easter at St. John's Full
of Fellowship and Faith 

From the events of Maundy Thursday and beyond during Holy Week as we prepared for the death of our Lord, to the joyous celebrations of Easter Day, St. John's represented the thriving, living body of Jesus Christ this week.  Our youngest parishioners packed the Parish Hall with their families to worship on Easter morning as Fr. Zimmerman led them in a Eucharist especially designed for them, while other members of our congregation assembled in the spring flower-bedecked church for three vibrant services with delightful Easter anthems and canticles sung by our choir. 

 

    
  
A Note from our Seminarian Chase Ackerman 
I grew up on a different part of the Gulf Coast, in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and can honestly say that there has not been a time in my life that the church has not featured prominently.  As soon as I could hold a torch, I began serving as an acolyte at St. John's Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs and continued to sing in the choir with my father and brother until I went away to college. 

After high school, I attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where I graduated in 2005 with a B.S. in Naval Architecture and received my commission in the Navy.  My first duty station was in Norfolk, Virginia, where I served multiple deployments on two guided missile destroyers and also met my future wife, Jeanne.  I was then transferred to the United States Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base where I served on the commander's personal staff from 2009-2011.  It was then when I discovered St. John's, Tampa, and first began to really explore my calling to ordained ministry.  In the spring of 2011, Jeanne and I moved to Naples, Italy, where I was assigned as an exercise planner at the United States Sixth Fleet headquarters.  Throughout our two years in Italy, I maintained contact with St. John's and the diocese, and, with the help of our adopted church in Naples, Christ Church, completed my postulancy process.  Last summer, Jeanne, our one-year-old son Jonathan, and I packed up our house in Italy and moved to New York City where I completed my separation from the Active Duty Navy and began my three year studies towards a Master's of Divinity at the General Theological Seminary. 

I cannot fully express my gratitude for both the parish nominating committee and vestry at St. John's for working through the challenges and logistical issues associated with conducting meetings and interviews across six time zones!  It has been a wonderful journey so far, and, with your prayers and support, I look forward to continuing our journey together.

Chase 
 
Chase Ackerman will preach at both services this Sunday, April 27.
VBS Expands to Five Days, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

SJE Vacation Bible School 2014: Wilderness Escape! will take place Monday, June 23 through Friday, June 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. This year, aftercare will also be available until 5:00 p.m.

 

The cost is $25 for the week per child for VBS from 9:00 until 12:00 noon. An additional cost of $25 will be charged for the week per child for aftercare from noon until 5:00 p.m.  Scholarships are available, please contact Fr. Chip Connelly for more information about financial assistance for VBS

 

Volunteers (youth and adult) are needed.  Contact Leland Baldwin, Director of Christian Education, for more information about VBS at lbaldwin@stjohnstampa.org.

Events
Celebratio 2014
Celebratio is the largest fundraising event coordinated by the St. John's School Parents' Club each year. Funds are raised through an online auction, as well as through ticket sales, sponsorships and Silent and Live Auctions held during the party. Each year, St. John's relies on the funds raised to enrich our children's learning experiences and our School! Click here to learn more!
 
Men's Ministry: Final Meeting for Spring

The Men's Ministry will next meet on Tuesday, May 6, in the Parish Hall at 6:00 p.m. The speaker will be Scott Hitchcock, Area Chair for C12, a group of Christian business CEOs/owners who join together once a month for advice and counsel regarding how to run their businesses both as a thriving commercial enterprise and as a Christian ministry.

 

Food will be provided by Holy Hog for a small charge. Please RSVP to Dallas Coffield at dcoffield@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

 

The Men's Ministry will not meet in June or July, but will pick back up again on Tuesday, August 5.

Youth/Senior Sunday: May 11

On Sunday, May 11 (Mother's Day), at the 9:00 a.m. service, we will celebrate our graduating high school seniors. The youth of the church will participate in the service as lectors, ushers, and more. Please contact Chaplain Miranda Harrison-Quillin if you would like to participate.  

Action Items and Opportunities
St. John's 14th Annual Mother's Day In-Gathering
for the Mothers and Babies of Alpha House 
While Mom will get lots of "Luvs" and "Huggies" on her special day, remember that others need to be pampered too!  We can all help the Mothers and babies at Alpha House by bringing "Wish List" items on (or before) Mother's Day Sunday, May 11. Click here for the wish list.

Collection bags with wish lists will be distributed following all services on April 27, May 4 and will also be available at the reception desk outside of the parish offices.  Cash and very gently used in-kind donations are also appreciated.  All donations will be collected in the Garth prior to all three services on Mother's Day or drop off in the parish offices prior to May 11.

*****Volunteers are needed to distribute collection bags following 
 the two services on April 27 and 
all three services on May 4.  Volunteers are also needed to receive collection bags prior to all three services on Mother's Day.   If you can lend a hand, please call Ruth Giordano at 254.4332 or email tampagio@aol.com
This Week at St. John's
Thursday, April 24
10:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) and Healing (Chapel)
11:45 a.m.

Men's Interactive Bible Study and Lunch

(Peterson Room)

The group continues a series on The Fruits of the Spirit with the topic Gentleness.  Lunch is sandwiches at $5 per person, RSVP to dlrncrtpa@verizon.net if you would like to partake.

12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer(Chapel)
Friday, April 25
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
7:00 p.m.
The Soiree  (Hulse Home) 

At the home of Mary and Ron Hulse, 4912 Lyford Cay Road. Bring an hors d'oeuvre to share and the beverage of your choosing.

Saturday, April 26
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
Sunday, April 27: Theological Education Sunday
7:45 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I)  
Our seminarian, Chase Ackerman, will preach. 
10:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Church)  
Our seminarian, Chase Ackerman, will preach. 
Following Service

Parish Block Party (Church Grounds)

Sandwich Sunday (Parish Hall) 

4:00 p.m.
Middle School Youth Group
6:30 p.m.
High School Bible Study
Monday, April 28
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
5:30 p.m.

Outreach Committee and Friends of Uganda

Tuesday, April 29
6:45 a.m.
The Contemporary Women's Bible Study (Peterson Room)  
The Contemporary Women's Bible Study (CWBS)  group began a new study on April 22, 2014.  The study is based on UNC Professor Bart Ehrman's DVD series, From Jesus to Constantine, which focuses on the first three centuries of Christian history.  The series promises to promote lively and substantive discussion. 

CWBS meets on Tuesdays at 6:45 a.m. in the Peterson Room on the Plant Avenue (School Middle Division) campus.  All women of St. John's and their friends of other denominations are welcome for a light breakfast and discussion. Please contact Kathleen Moore at 221.6253 or kathleenmarymoore@gmail.com for more information. 
10:15 a.m.
Mid Morning Women's Bible Study (Lowry Room)  
The Women's Mid Morning Bible Study will conclude its study of Acts on April 29 with reflection and discussion on what we have found to be significant and personally inspiring about this chronicle of the beginnings of Christianity.  This will be our final meeting until fall, but, as always, newcomers are most welcome.

The group invites all women in our church community and their friends and neighbors to join them on alternate Tuesdays in the Lowry Room for fellowship, prayer and study from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. as they explore the spread of the Good News and the faith it awakened in the Mediterranean world.
Contact Pat Wilson at patwilson68@tampabay.rr.com or 644.4640 or Joan McKay at mckayjhm@aol.com with questions.
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Wednesday, April 30
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Nights at St. John's
(Parish Hall)
Becoming More by Doing Less
Our Terry Hershey Lenten series was truly a joy.  For those of you who attended  the Wednesday  Lenten programs you know what a joy it is learn from a master storyteller who has a great sense of humor.  One thing that you may have desired was a longer period of time for discussion.  During these Wednesday night sessions, we will have another chance to learn from Terry through a DVD series and to discuss at length the ideas which he presents to us about a fulfilling Christian life as we learn more from him.

This series features Terry Hershey telling stories.  In each of the brief sections we are invited to take practical steps to slow down, regroup, and regain  a sense of balance in  a world that worships at the altar of business and busy-ness.

This group meets each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Bring a Bible, a covered dish to share, and an open heart and mind! Contact Paul and Winkie Game at pgamefla@aol.com for details. 

More Upcoming Events
Sunday, May 4
6:00 p.m.
The Circle and the Orleanians Cinco de Mayo Party (Graham Home)
Tuesday, May 6
6:00 p.m.
Men's Ministry (Parish Hall)
Sunday, May 11: Mother's Day
9:00 a.m. Service
Senior/Youth Sunday
Sunday, May 25
2:00 p.m.
Youth Year End Party (Kelly Home)
Middle school youth, mark your calendars for our year-end celebration! We will have a blast at the Kelly family's home on Sunday, May 25, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.  Contact Chaplain HQ or visit the Youth Blog and Calendar for more info!