November 25, 2015 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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From the Parish Register

Birthdays:

November 26, George Peterson, Kimberly Rice, Debra Schrils

November 27, Logan Beckman, Robert Lewis, Julia Mattox, Arno Neugaard, 
Allison Watkins

November 28, Joe Andrews, James Carroll, Kay Peterson

November 29, Scott Dietrich, Samuel Giordano 

November 30, Elizabeth Arthur, Andrew Brown, LeRoy Collins, Jonathan Davidson, Lynn Guyton, Thomas Kendall, Jackson Lee, Jason Lejkowski, Ray Olsson, 
Joseph Strickland, Thomas Williams

December 1, Lorien Johnson, John Reffue, Caroline Schabacker, Meredith Weekes

December 2, Maximilian Borland, Laurie Calfee, Christopher Lykes

 
Sunday's Scripture Snippet  

"For this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

John 18





 

Breaking News
Thanksgiving Service: 10:00 a.m.
On Thursday, November 26, at 10:00 a.m., St. John's will celebrate the Eucharist for Thanksgiving Day.
Have a Digital Advent!
Anglicans worldwide and all Christians are being invited to observe Advent starting today, November 29 through December 24 in a fun and prayerful way through a global online Advent Calendar called AdventWord. 

AdventWord invites Christians to sign up to receive a daily meditation and respond by posting a picture on Instagram and other social media. The pictures combine to create the Advent Calendar in real time. To be part of this global Advent initiative, sign up at AdventWord.org. On Instagram and Twitter,with #adventword and the tag for the day. On Facebook go to the AdventWord Page and write on page using #adventword and the tag for the day.
Sandwich Sunday Hosts Needed
Each month, we make sandwiches and bag lunches for the patrons of Faith Café to take with them after they eat a hot meal at the Café.We are in need of monthly hosts for 2016 on March 20, May 15, June 19, September 18, October 16, November 20, and December 18. Hosting means purchasing supplies (costs are reimbursed by St. John's), helping facilitate the assembly line, and delivering sandwiches to Faith Café. If you are interesting in hosting on one of the dates, please contact Sandwich Sunday Coordinator Cindy Martin at cdmcasa@gmail.com.
Cornerstone Kids Christmas Party
Come celebrate the season with Cornerstone Kids! St. John's children ages 5 to 12 are invited to a Christmas Party at Cornerstone Ministries (2708 Central Avenue) on Thursday, December 3, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. There will be snacks, games, cookie decorating and,of all, an opportunity to make new friends.
Nominating Committee Report for November 2015 
The following parishioners have agreed to stand for Vestry election in 2016.
Nominees:
David Adams
Dennis Carr
Lynn Fluharty
John Marston
Ben Nelson
Jackie Preis
Lindsey Robbins
Janice Straske
 
Nominating Committee:
Kristie Salzer
Eric Williams
Frank Hancock
Bill Sansone
Events and Fellowship
Ordination of Chase Ackerman
Our seminarian, Chase Ackerman, will be ordained to the sacred order of deacons in Christ's one holy catholic and apostolic Church on Saturday, December 5, 2015. The ordination will take place at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in St. Petersburg at 11:00 a.m. All are invited.
Are You Ready for Advent?
On Saturday, December 5, from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Terry Hershey will be at St. John's as a part of a book tour to introduce his newest book, Sanctuary, Creating a Space for Grace in Your Life. Instead of just a book signing event, Terry will be giving a workshop in the Parish Hall on what sanctuary is, how to create sanctuary in your life, and how to create sanctuary in the lives of others.  This event will be a great way to begin Advent, since it is a penitential season that is all about creating space in our busy lives for receiving Christ. 
 
No reservations are necessary.  Just show up and pay at the door. There is a $30 fee to be paid directly to Terry either by check (made out to Terry Hershey), cash, or credit card.  The fee includes a copy of the book (retails for $22.95).
 
This is a community event for which St. John's is offering space and hospitality.  Feel free to invite your friends.  All are welcome.   
Advent Wreathmaking Event
The light, love, and grace of God broke into the world and our hearts in the person of Jesus Christ. Advent is the season when Christians eagerly await this world changing event in the birth of the Christ child. Advent wreaths help us all wait by reminding us of the light that is revealed to us in Christmas. Join us on December 6 after the 9:15 a.m. service to assemble an advent wreath with your family to take home and use in your season of waiting before the joy of Christmas. Snacks will be served. There is a cost of $5 per wreath and $5 for each set of candles.

Thanks to Kim Osborne, Susan Arthur, and Cindy Hadlow for organizing the event!
Action Items and Opportunities
Holiday Food Drive on Now
The Holiday Food Drive by St. John's Church for Metropolitan Ministries continues through Sunday, December 6. Most needed items include:(hot or cold), canned cranberry sauce, canned fruit, canned yams, bags or canned beans, grocery gift cards, canned or packets of gravy, peanut butter, boxes of macaroni and cheese, canned vegetables, bag of rice, canned or boxed potatoes, dessert mixes, packaged cookies or pastries.

Please bring your donations to the blue bin inside thethe parish offices.We will collect donations through December 6. The desired quantities of these items are for families, not for large kitchen preparations.

May we be mindful and responsive to the need of others.Thank you for your generosity.
St. John's School News
St. John's Video Series: In Their Own Words
As part of St. John's Annual Fund drive for 2015-2016, our staff has created a series of three videos highlighting our values. Click on the screen below to see our short video on Character.

This Week at St. John's
Thursday, November 26: Thanksgiving Day
Parish Offices Closed for Thanksgiving Day
10:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist for Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 27
Parish Offices Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
Sunday, November 29
(choose Track 2)
8:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
9:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Church)

Service for Families (Parish Hall)
Following the 9:15 a.m. service
Coffee Hour Fellowship (Parish Hall)
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal (Church)
11:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
Monday, November 30
12:15 p.m.

Noonday Prayer (Chapel)

Women's Advent Series - Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter
The Bible Women Advent Series will meet on three Mondays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Lowry Room, November 30 (please note correct date), December 7, and December 14.  Please contact Alice Sadler (asadler@stjohnstampa.org or 239.919.2059) by Monday, November 16, if you plan to attend the class and wish to be included in the book order. Make checks payable to St. John's Episcopal Church for $22 for the cost of the book. All women of St. John's are encouraged to participate. The group will start again January 11 to continue studying more of the Bible Women.
 
As the author of Bible Women, Rev. Lindsay Freeman is passionate about sharing the great stories of faith from a woman's perspective.  She profiles the words of every woman who spoke in the Bible. The Bible Women series is an opportunity to get reacquainted with not only the stories of the biblical woman, but also to reflect anew on their words and actions as they relate to our lives.  
Fathers Ministry Social: November 30
The Fathers Ministry has planned their second social for Monday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. at Mad Dogs and Englishmen. All fathers are welcome!
Tuesday, December 1
6:45 a.m.
Contemporary Women's Bible Study (Peterson Room)
On December 1, CWBS will begin a new study of the book of Daniel. The group meets on Tuesdays from 6:45 to 8:00 a.m. in the Peterson Room at the Middle Division campus. After conversation and a light breakfast (fruit & some type of bread) that members take turns bringing, the study starts at 7:00 a.m. and ends shortly before 8:00 a.m.; a few people may leave early if they have to go to work. 
  
All women of St John's and their friends are welcome; the current group includes several valued members from other branches of Christ's church.  They would love to have you join them.  For more information, please contact Kathleen Moore at 221.6253 or kathleenmarymoore@gmail.com. 
Mid Morning Women's Bible Study
On Tuesday, December 1, the Rev. Don Goodheart will guide the Women's Mid Morning Bible Study through Ephesians 6. 

We invite all women of the parish and interested friends and neighbors to join us at 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. in the Lowry Room.  We meet on alternate Tuesdays.  For more information contact Pat Wilson at patwilson68@tampabay.rr.com or 644.4640 or Joan McKay at mckayjhm@aol.com.
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Wednesday, December 2
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Nights at St. John's (Parish Hall)
The group will meet on December 2 to conclude their recent study with the fifth and final DVD in the Vander Laan series: The Seeking Father: The Lost Son Returns (Datzrim, Israel). 
 
On December 9, the group will have a movie night, viewing the movie,The Mission, starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons.  The movie is a powerful epic about a man of the sword and a man of the cloth who unite to shield a South American Indian tribe from brutal subjugation by 18th-century colonial empires. This unforgettable, action-filled drama of faith vs. greed and wills vs. cultures stars Robert DeNiro as Captain Rodrigo Mendoza and Jeremy Irons as Father Gabriel.

The Wednesday Nights at St. John's group invites all parishioners and friends to join them each week in the Parish Hall. Bring a dish to share and an open heart and mind for discussion. Contact Paul and Winkie Game at pgamefla@aol.com for more details.