December 10, 2014 Issue 

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Parish Office Phone: 813.259.1570
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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!
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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More Upcoming Events

  

Tues, January 13
Women's Mid Morning Bible Study resumes, 10:30 a.m., Lowry Room

Fri, January 16
The Soiree, 7:00 p.m., home of Henry and Carol Woodroffe

Sun, January 18
Annual Meeting of the Parish, following a combined service at 10:00 a.m., Parish Hall. Lunch will be provided.

 

 

 

 
From the Parish Register

  

Birthdays:

 

December 11

Melissa Moxley, Rebecca Moxley, Thomas Moxley, Ingalls Witte

 

December 12

Stephen Galloway, Eleanor Taylor, Christopher Walker, Jack Walker

 

December 13

Virginia Price

 

December 14

Donna Gem, Absley Goodman, Mary Greacen, Kathy Lewis, Sharon Stoll

 

December 15

Martin Angiulli, Hayden Atzenhoefer, Alexis Farmen, Peggy Thompson

 

December 16

Andrew Mason, Bridget Wiese

 

December 17

Chase Ackerman, Jackson Andrews, Dennis Carr, Lauren Haire, Guy King, IV, Barbara Rydene, Susan Sharp, Raul Valles

 

 
Sunday's Scripture Snippet

 

 

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

 

Mark 1 







 

News
religion_candles.jpg
Annual Christmas Concert

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.

Bible 101 Returns December 14 

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!

Cornerstone Kids Party!

 

  
  

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.

Music Auction Wrap-Up: Additional Items Available

Thank you all once again for a very successful event to benefit the St. John's choir. We have a handful of items that did not get sold, and we are discounting the price to a quarter of their suggested retail value OR LESS.

 

Below you will find a description of the items, what their value was listed at on the bid sheet, and what we are selling it for now. Great values! The items are all at my house, and we can arrange a mutually convenient time for payment and pickup of the item. There is no bidding for these- whoever responds first to a particular item will be the owner.

 

1) Imari decorative Tureen "Payne Street" with stand/bowl underneath is white/blues and crimson (cannot serve food in it), dimensions 15" W x 10" D x 10 1/2" H: donated by Stapleton Gooch, valued at $500, discounted to $100.

 

2) Luxurious needle point pillow 23" x 18" cream background with blue grey tassels around the edges and a pink/red/blue grey floral design on the front; donated by Stapleton Gooch, valued at $195, discounted to $40.

 

3) Black box/tray containing a body wash and lotion with a 10% store couple, donated by the Write Stuff, valued at $100, discounted to $20.

 

4) Hand made "slumped" glass platter by J and J Glass Designs in the shape of a wine bottle for appetizers in a light sea glass color 12'' x 4"; valued at $20, discounted to $5.

 

5)  Hand made "slumped set of glass platters by J and J Glass Designs in the shape wine bottles (one to serve crackers, one to serve cheese) in a dark olive color; valued at $35, discounted to $10.

 

6) 12" burlap fall/Thanksgiving wreath, valued at $50, discounted to $10.

 

Again, first come, first served. Please respond to margitwilliams@mac.com if you are interested in purchasing these items. I hope that everyone has a healthy and peaceful holiday! 

 

Margit Williams

Upcoming Events

Wednesday Nights at St. John's

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.

Middle School/High School Movie Outing 

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 Student Welcome Home Brunch 

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! 

Annual Circle Cocktail Party: Friday, January 9

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 School Alumni: Save the Date!

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.

Your Action Needed

Christmas Outreach Update

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!

Sandwich Sunday Help Needed

Each month, we make sandwiches and bag lunches for the needy patrons of Faith Caf� to take with them after they eat a hot meal at the Caf�. We are in need of a number of monthly hosts for 2015. Hosting means purchasing supplies (costs are reimbursed by St. John's), helping facilitate the assembly line, and delivering sandwiches to Faith Caf�. Please contact Amanda Sansone if you can help at amanda.arnold.sansone@gmail.com.

Safeguarding God's Children

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.

This Week at St. John's
Thursday, December 11
10:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Church)
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Friday, December 12
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Sunday, December 14
8:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
9:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Church) 

Sunday School for Children (Parish Hall)
Immediately following the 9:15 a.m. service
Coffee Hour Fellowship (Parish Hall)

Adult Sunday School: The Forum (Lowry Room)
11:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church) 
Monday, December 15
8:15 a.m.
Mom's Sanctuary Support and Bible Study Group (Discovery House)

Come have a cup of coffee, meet new friends, and reconnect with old friends at 8:15 a.m. in Discovery House. This group will continue meeting each Monday morning this fall. Questions? Email lbaldwin@stjohnstampa.org or call 259.1570. 

12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Tuesday, December 16
6:45 a.m.
The Contemporary Women's Bible Study (Peterson Room)  

The Contemporary Women's Bible Study (CWBS) group is continuing a new study of the Synoptic Gospels.  All women of St John's and their friends are invited to attend.  The group meets each Tuesday morning from 6:45 to 8:00 a.m. in the Peterson Room on the Middle Division Campus at Platt Street and Plant Avenue.  Coffee and a light breakfast are served. Join us for lively discussion as we discover the meaning of scripture in our lives. Please contact Kathleen Moore at 221.6253 or kathleenmarymoore@gmail.com for more information. 

12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Wednesday, December 17
Deadline for gifts for Cornerstone Kids
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
More Upcoming Events
Tuesday, January 6
5:00 p.m.
Men's Ministry (Parish Hall)

Mark your calendars for January 6 when the St. John's Men's Ministry starts its 2015 program with some inpact. We will be hosting Rob Greenway, a retired senior intelligence officer at the US Central Command currently working as a civilian in the Defense Intelligence Agency. Based on first-hand experience through deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Rob provides an in-depth perspective on Islam, and how the religion has garnered the attention of the world in its spread through the Middle East and beyond. While Rob continues to serve our country as a civilian, the views and perspectives he offers are his alone, and offers them from a solid Christian perspective. We've asked him to condense a couple of centuries of history in a short presentation-a big challenge. 

 

To accommodate the extensive program, we will start social time at 5:00 p.m., serve dinner at 5:30 p.m. sharp (that's 1730 for Cary Brown), and we'll let Rob take the floor shortly thereafter. You don't want to miss this one. RSVP to Dallas Coffield at dcoffield@gmail.com.