December 2, 2015 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!
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:


December 3, William Sansone, Ray Stoll, Douglas Tozier

December 4, Jarret Dring, John Few, Frank Valdez

December 5, Harrison Browning, George Burchill, Claire Calfee, William Chastain, Robin Gonzalez, Cheryl Hamilton, Charles Harden, Lawrence Heisel

December 6, James Armstrong, Hayden Kendall, Gail Dee Russ, David Schenck 

December 7, Thomas Prebianca, James Voss

December 8, Sydney Braun, Robert Elliott, Mark Schabacker

December 9, Thomas Conlee, Heidi Green, John Koch, Lilly Young

 
Sunday's Scripture Snippet  

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

Luke 21





 

Breaking News
Christmas Lessons and Carols: This Sunday, December 6
The service of Nine Lessons and Carols has its roots in England, having begun at Truro Cathedral (and not King's College, Cambridge, who later made it popular through the annual broadcast!) in 1880, and was devised by the Bishop of Truro, Edward White Benson. Please join us this Sunday, December 6, at 5:00 p.m. for our own service of Christmas Lessons and Carols, which will feature works by Francis Poulenc, Boris Ord, Peter Warlock and others, together with traditional carols of the season for congregation and choir. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall to which all are warmly invited.
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) tomorrow, Thursday, December 3, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. There will be snacks, games, cookie decorating and, best of all, an opportunity to make new friends. RSVP to Miranda Harrison-Quillin if you can attend.
Have a Digital Advent!
Anglicans worldwide and all Christians are being invited to observe Advent now 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.
Introducing Care Notes
Care Notes will be available at both entrances to the church this Sunday.  Through these booklets, each month a new topic is presented addressing difficult and /or painful issues faced by regular people as we go through life.  The month of December will focus on Advent and Christmas topics, because while we think of the holidays as happy and busy times, they can be sad and lonely for those who are ill, grieving or have loved ones who are ill. 
 
People dealing with intensely emotional situations are looking for concise, easy-to-read guidance and support. That's why Care Notes have been designed with smaller, more manageable sections. Sidebars are added to support the information and stimulate interest; attention-getting subheads and call-outs are included to direct a reader through the booklet; and a thorough resource guide is supplied.
 
Care Notes are for your care and support.  There is no charge.  Care Notes are sponsored by the Stephen Ministers.  If you find that you need help in one of these areas contact Stephen Leader, Carol Ihrig, (831.3245 or carolihrig@verizon.net)  or Mother Alice (397.1005 or asadler@stjohnstampa.org).  Stephen Ministers have been trained to provide confidential listening and prayer.
 
Topics for December
Waiting for God:  The Grace of Advent                 
Going on an Advent Prayer Journey
Praying Our Way to Christmas and Beyond           
Rediscovering the Many Gifts of Christmas
Overcoming the "Blues" at Christmastime              
Coping with Holiday Stress
Grieving at Christmas: A Family Guide                   
How Holiday Traditions Help Heal Your Grief
Getting Though the Holidays When You've Lost a Loved One
Making Christmas Count: A Kids Guide to Keeping the Season Sacred
Events and Fellowship
Annual Meeting of Parish Announced
On Sunday, February 7, we will combine the 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. services into one 10:00 a.m. service. The Annual Meeting of the parish will follow in the Parish Hall. At this meeting, the election of four new Vestry members will take place. A light meal will be served. 

Parishioners who will stand for election are: David Adams, Dennis Carr, Lynn Fluharty, John Marston, Ben Nelson, Jackie Preis, Lindsey Robbins, and Janice Straske.

Biographies and photos of all candidates will be available in the parish offices and in the Scroll soon.

Early voting, supervised by Vestry members, will take place following the three services on the preceding Sunday (January 30) and during normal office hours in the parish offices during the week before the meeting. Voting by proxy is not permitted. According to our by-laws: "Only adult communicant members of this Parish, those who are 16 years of age or over, whose names are duly enrolled as such in the Register of said Parish, and who are regular in their attendance at its services and make stated contributions of record to its general support, shall be Electors qualified to vote at a duly convened meeting of the Parish." 
Upcoming Events for Youth and Children
Youth Confirmation Kick Off Brunch
Sunday, December 13, following the 9:15 a.m. service, Discovery House
Confirmation is an opportunity to make a mature affirmation before the Bishop of the promises made on our behalf when we were baptized. Classes to prepare for this affirmation begin with a kick off brunch on December 13 and continue on most Sundays until Confirmation Sunday, May 22, 2016. Classes are open to St. John's youth in 6th grade or above. Attendance at classes and in church on Sundays is required.

Youth Movie Night
Thursday, December 17, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Parish Hall

Family Gasparilla Party
Saturday, January 23, 2:00 p.m., Discovery House
The family Gasparilla party is a chance to celebrate the pirate season with friends and neighbors at the Children's Parade. Join us on January 23, 2016 at Discovery House at 2:00 p.m. for food and fun with other St. John's families.

Contact Miranda Harrison-Quillin for more details about any of these events at mharrisonquillin@stjohnstampa.org. 
Mid Morning Women's Bible Study
On Tuesday, December 15,  the Women's Mid-Morning Bible Study group will study the conclusion of Ephesians. Following this session, the group will take a break for the holidays and will not meet again until Tuesday, January 12.

Starting on January 12, the group's focus for winter/spring will be the study of Philippians, Colossians and Philemon.  They will continue using the study guide Paul, The Prison Letters by N. T. Wright.

They invite all women of the parish and interested friends and neighbors to join them at 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. in the Lowry Room.  They 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.
Wednesday Nights In St. John's Begins New Series on Christmas
Beginning Wednesday December 16, the Wednesday Nights group will study A Thrill of Hope, a DVD study presenting the familiar story of Christmas as told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Each scripture passage is illustrated and interpreted in the stunning artwork of John August Swanson along with commentary by some of America's premier Biblical scholars, names such as Dr. Thomas G. Long, Dr. Michael Joseph Brown, Dr. Carol A. Newsom, and more. The study is divided into six 7-minute chapters, each one featuring a passage of Scripture, commentary by the scholars, and a Swanson work of art.
 
The group will view and discuss the six sessions on three evenings:
December 16: A Visit (Luke 1:26-38), The Nativity (Luke 2:1-7) December 23, NO MEETING
December 30: The Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20), Epiphany (Matthew 2:1-12)
January 6, 2016: Presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:21-40), and Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
Action Items and Opportunities
This Sunday: Holiday Food Drive Ends, Deadline for Giving Tree Gifts
The Holiday Food Drive by St. John's Church for Metropolitan Ministries continues through this 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.

We also ask that Giving Tree gifts be returned to the church by this Sunday so they can be distributed to the recipients.
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.
This Week at St. John's
Thursday, December 3
10:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) and Healing and Anointing (Chapel)
11:45 p.m.
Men's Bible Study and Lunch (Peterson Room)
The Men's Thursday Bible Study and Lunch group will meet on Thursday, December 10. St. John's Director of Christian Education Miranda Harrison-Quillin will guide the study. They will meet again on December 17, then take a break for the holidays until January 14. 

The readings the group studies are those from the Revised Common Lectionary for the coming Sunday. They will continue with this pattern in the new year, reading and studying the lessons for the Sunday to follow, to better understand and absorb those readings and Sunday's sermon. 

Extra parking is available in the School's parking area across Plant St. under the Cross-town expressway if the regular lot is full. Please do not park in the Four Green Fields parking lots. Lunch is sandwiches at $5 per person. RSVP todlrncrtpa@verizon.netyou would like to partake.
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Church)
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) Thursday, December 3, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. There will be snacks, games, cookie decorating and, best of all, an opportunity to make new friends.
Friday, December 4
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Church)
Saturday, December 5
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.   
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.
Sunday, December 6
(choose Track 2)
8:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
9:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) and Holy Baptism (Church)

Sunday School for Children (Parish Hall)
Following the 9:15 a.m. service
Coffee Hour Fellowship (Parish Hall)
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal (Lowry Room)
Reception for Chase Ackerman (Courtyard)
We celebrate our seminarian Chase upon his ordination to the deaconate on Saturday, December 5.
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, Suzanne Arthur, and Cindy Hadlow for organizing the event!
11:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
5:00 p.m.
A Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols (Church)
Service is followed by a reception in the Parish Hall, to which all are warmly invited.
Monday, December 7
12:15 p.m.

Noonday Prayer (Chapel)

4:00 p.m.
Bible Women Advent Series (Lowry Room)
Tuesday, December 8
6:45 a.m.
Contemporary Women's Bible Study (Peterson Room)
CWBS continues 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. 
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Wednesday, December 9
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Nights at St. John's (Parish Hall)
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.