The first gathering of this year's Lenten Series will be held Wednesday, February 25.  If you can arrive a little early, there will be a reception beginning at 5:45 p.m.  At 6:15 p.m. we will proceed into the parish hall where dinner will be served at your assigned table (if two or more need to be together at the same table rather being assigned independently, please arrive together).  A facilitator/host will be at each table to guide the flow of the evening which will begin with a blessing among those gathered at that table.  Dr. Hal Wiley will lead an introductory and interactive program the first night.  Subsequent weeks will be led by different presenters.  

God is always present to us.  But we are not always present to God. This year's Lenten Series will emphasize using our senses with spiritual intentionality and awareness as windows to the divine presence in our lives.  We will be using images from our stained glass windows, the taste and smells and texture of the food we eat during our meals, the music we hear and produce, the table arrangements on our tables, and the beauty of our worship spaces to guide and inform each week's Bible study. 

Each week's gathering will end at 8:00 p.m. after Compline in the sanctuary. Please be sure to sign up either by calling or emailing the parish offices or by signing one of the signup sheets after Sunday services.   Expect to be surprised.    

Please mark your calendar for Saturday, April 25, for the St. John's Parish Fellowship Retreat.  We will have activities for all ages at this parish-wide event.  There will be a ropes course, canoeing, labyrinth walk, and centering prayer, Lunch will be served and a closing Eucharist celebrated.   Dayspring is the Episcopal conference center just 30 minutes south of Tampa in Ellenton.  

St. John's "Outreach Saturday" will be held on Saturday, February 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., followed by a fellowship lunch in the Parish Hall. The outreach projects will consist of three different volunteer options at Metropolitan Ministries.  We would love your participation as we get involved in our community with a hands-on effort! Questions? Contact Erin Carr at erin@sunfishholdings.com.

Sunday, March 8
Concert by the Treble Choristers of St. Thomas Fifth Avenue, New York City and the Gentlemen of St. John's Choir at 5:00 p.m., followed by a reception in the parish hall.
 
We are delighted to welcome back the Boy Choristers of St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York City for a concert under their director, John Scott. The St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys is widely considered to be the finest of its kind in this country. The boys will be joined by the altos, tenors and basses of our own choir in several works in the program.
 
Thursday, March 19, The Feast of St. Joseph 

Concert by the Harvard Glee Club at 7:30 p.m., in the church.
 
Sunday, March 22
Choral Evensong offered by the Middle Division School Choir at 5:00 p.m., in the church.
 
March 29, Palm Sunday
Holy Week Concert offered by the Choir of St. John's at 5:00 p.m., in the church; Requiem (Op. 48) by Gabriel Fauré.
 
Contact the parish offices by email or by phone at 259.1570. 

On Monday, March 2 at 5:00 p.m. in the Lowry Room, a Grief Support group will begin and meet for eight weeks.  The focus of the group is for those who have had loved ones die in the last year.  We will direct the discussions toward how one handles the initial grief process.  We will discuss what to expect in the first year of grieving.

The following flowers and candle are available: April 12 - Flowers at the Church Altar and at the Chapel Altar; April 19 - Flowers at the Church Altar and at the Chapel Altar; May 31 - Candle in the Sanctuary Light. If you would like to take one of these opportunities to support St. John's and honor a loved one, please call 259.1570 or email parish@stjohnstampa.org.

We are delighted, as part of our Annual Music Series, to be welcoming back to St. John's the Boy Choristers of St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York City on Sunday, March 8. St. John's has forged a firm friendship with St. Thomas - our own choir having sung there on a number of occasions. The boys will give a concert here in the church at 5:00 p.m., and will be joined by our own altos, tenors, and basses for several pieces in the program. 

As part of their Florida tour, the boys require housing for two nights on Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 8. If you might be able to offer accommodation to at least two boys (they are required to stay in pairs), please contact Ginny VanOsdol, who has kindly agreed to coordinate housing. Ginny can be reached at 701.8029, or virginiavanosdol@gmail.com

Simon Morley

Sunday, February 22  6:30 to 8:30 p.m.   

Meet at United Skates of America on North Armenia