Sunday, December 21, 5:00 p.m.

The Choir of St. John's Church with Concordia Vocal Ensemble

Traditional carols of the season for choir and audience

Music of John Rutter, William Mathias, Harold Darke, and Philip Marshall.

A reception, to which all are warmly invited, follows in the Parish Hall.

What do you really know about the Bible?  Who wrote it?  Why is it important?  What does it have to do with your ordinary life?

On Sunday, December 14, from 4:30 until 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall, we will explore these questions and questions like them.  It's an experiment in a basic Bible study that is aimed for those with minimal (or no) understanding of the Bible, as well as those who are interested in reviewing some of the basics of the Bible or filling in some of their gaps of understanding.  Men and women are invited.  There is no homework and no preparation is required. Father Charles Connelly and Dr. Hal Wiley will be the presenters.   Please join us! High school youth are welcome!

  

Our Cornerstone Kids Christmas party with our Sunday school teachers and families on Friday, December 5, was a lovely gathering . 

Shout out to Lori Green for her amazing scarf craft. Each child added fringe to pre-cut soft fuzzy fleece scarves. Even the teachers received one! Anne Williams and Shawn O'Brien brought tasty cookies. Beth Keller made sandwiches, and made an adorable handprint reindeer craft as well!! Kathryn Swanson brought candy canes for all to share, and St. John's cooked and brought hot chicken fingers, apples, oranges, and Cheetos. 

After eating a hearty snack and completing two crafts, the group all headed outside for a game of kickball. It was a magical afternoon ...

and we are blessed to have Olatha Leggett as the Director of Cornerstone to help us gather and work with her children.

Thanks to the wonderful group from St. John's who attended and helped: the Swanson family, the Keller family, the Williams family, the O'Brien family, the Roper/Santiago family, the Kelly family, the John family, as well as Lori Green, Lucy Wilkinson, Raquel Palero, and Leland Baldwin.

The Wednesday Nights group viewed the movie Brother Sun, Sister Moon on Wednesday, December 3. The cinematography of the movie is brilliantly beautiful throughout. The film focuses on the early years of Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi.

 NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY...

Because the movie is not an entirely factual historical biography of Francis and Claire, we are fortunate to have a Franciscan friar join us tonight, December 10, to discuss the movie and give us accurate information about the two figures and about the continuing Franciscan order.  

Our guest presenter will be Rev. George Corrigan, O.F.M., Parochial Vicar and Pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa. Fr. Corrigan grew up in the Orlando, Florida area. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1974 and served on nuclear submarines. Thereafter he served as a lay missionary in Kenya for 4 years, performed civilian work and study and received Master's degrees in Business Administration, Information Systems, Divinity and Franciscan Studies. He became a Franciscan in 1996.  

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 more information.

Friday, December 19, at 6:00 p.m. Woo hoo! Christmas Break! Come out for dinner and movie at Westshore Plaza. Bring $$$ for food and a ticket to a fun youth approved movie. Bring friends and celebrate a break from school. 

College parishioners who will be home for the Christmas holidays, we welcome you HOME!!! After the 9:15 a.m. service on December 21, please join us in Discovery House for brunch and social time. There will always be a home for you here at St. John's! 

Plan to join us for our annual January Circle Cocktail party on Friday, January 9 at 7:00 p.m. Guests should bring an appetizer or dessert to share, as well as a beverage of your choice. The party will be co-hosted by David and India Witte. 

Look for an evite after the holidays, or contact Betsy Graham at betsygraham@verizon.net to make sure you are on our mailing list!

St. John's alumni are invited to join us for a cocktail party on February 11, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. We will reminisce, enjoy festive food and drink, and learn more about where the School is headed! Mark your calendars and look for more information soon! Questions? Contact Lee Lowry.

Don't forget, please bring your wrapped gifts either to St. John's or St. James House of Prayer by Wednesday, December 17. 

For those who were not able to select the name of a child, St. John's will also be collecting UNWRAPPED new toys for the children at Metropolitan Ministries and diapers for the babies at Alpha House. This way, everyone who wants to help others during the holiday season may have an opportunity to do so. Please bring your donations to the church and we will transport them for you. Contact MC Jenkins with questions at bucsjenkins@aol.com, and thank you for your generosity!

Required Course for Church and School Staff, Volunteers and Clergy

Monday, December 15, 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., Peterson Room, Middle Division Campus

Safeguarding God's Children provides participants with the information they need to protect the children they know and care for in their personal lives and the ministries in which they serve. Who needs to attend?

•  All paid parish staff members, and staff and faculty of the School. 
•  Any volunteers working with children and youth (including Christian education leaders, chaperones and other School volunteers)
•  Anyone who wishes to learn more about how the parish and School can protect children and youth.

Recertification may be completed online. Email parish@stjohnstampa.org to RSVP for December 15 or to learn about the online option.