December 16, 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 17, Chase Ackerman, Jackson Andrews, Dennis Carr, Lauren Haire, Guy King, Barbara Rydene, Susan Sharp, Raul Valles

December 18, Giuliana Pineiro, John Webster

December 19, Rocio Crespo, Marilin Espino-Maya, Lora Hulse, Paul Keesling, 
Evan Lick, Sandra Murray
 
December 20, Robert Gaudsmith, Rosalyn Gibbs, Ivy Gustafson, Nathaniel Lacktman, William Leal, Walker Martin, Taylor Moore, Erin Rabbitt, 

December 22, Zigmund Bereday, Helen Hall, Patricia Hancock, Trey Rubenzer, 
Eric Stoll, Stephen Swindal, Anne Williams, Patricia Wilson

December 23, John Ackermann

 
Sunday's Scripture Snippet  

"I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming."

Luke 3





 

Breaking News
Annual Choir Christmas Concert This Sunday
The Annual Christmas Concert, begun as a one time event in 2007, is now very much part of the St. John's Christmas tradition. Please join us on Sunday, December 20 at 5:00 p.m. for this year's concert, which will feature works of Joseph Haydn, Francis Poulenc, Harold Darke, and Peter Warlock, together with carols for choir and congregation. A reception, to which all are warmly invited, will follow in the Parish Hall.
Combined Services for the Feast of St. John: December 27
A celebration of the feast of our patronal saint, John the Apostle and Evangelist, will take place on the 27th. This service takes the place of the 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. services. Congregational hymns appropriate to the day and to honor our saint will be one of the highlights of this special service. We hope you will join us!
The Soiree
St. John's Church invites you to a Soirée at the home of Mary and Ron Hulse (4912 Lyford Cay Road) on Friday, February 5, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. Bring an hors d'oeuvre to share and a drink of your choosing.

RSVP to Mary Hulse at mmhulse@tampabay.rr.com or
Giving Envelope Pick Up
Parishioners who have requested giving envelopes can pick them up in the Parish Hall on the back counter for the next several Sundays.
Christmas Flower Deadline
If you would like your Christmas flower dedication to appear in the bulletin insert during holiday services, please return your envelope to the parish offices by December 21.
End of Year Giving
Please bring any final pledge payments to the parish offices before they close at noon on the 31st.  If you are mailing your payment, the IRS requires that it be postmarked by December 31 to count for 2015.
Christmas Service Schedule
Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve
Children's Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist  4:00 p.m.
Holy Eucharist 6:00 p.m.
Music Program 10:30 p.m.
Holy Eucharist  11:00 p.m.

Friday, December 25, Christmas Day
Holy Eucharist 10:00 a.m.
Fr. Connelly to Speak at UT Commencement Event
As part of our plan to build a relationship with the Episcopal students at the University of Tampa, Fr. Connelly will be speaking at the school's Interfaith Commencement Celebration on Friday, December 18. As this connection develops, we look forward to sharing more information about it.
Men's Ministry January Meeting
The Men's Ministry's first meeting of the new year will be Tuesday, January 5, in the Parish Hall. The speaker will be Rob Greenway (rescheduled from November). Rob has spoken to the group twice before and they are indebted to him for speaking again. The topic will be "Islam: Core Beliefs & Practices."

Rob's last appearance generated the largest number of attendees of any Men's Ministry meeting so it is important that those who wish to attend RSVP to Dallas Coffield as soon as possible at dcoffield@gmail.com.

Meeting Schedule 
5:30 Wine & Fellowship
6:00 Buffet Dinner ($12)
6:30 Speaker

Future Dates
February 2, March 1, April 5, May 3
Events and Fellowship
Upcoming Events for Youth and Children
Youth Movie Night
Friday, December 18, 5:00 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
The Women's Mid-Morning Bible Study 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.
Action Items and Opportunities
Candle Available
The candle in the sanctuary light is available on Sunday, January 10, 2016. If you would like to take this opportunity to support St. John's and honor a loved one, please contact parish@stjohnstampa.org or 259.1570.
A Note from St. John's Choir Guild
The Choir Guild is seeking additional membership in their ministry.  Our St. John's Choir has a very active year planned and it is the Choir Guild who supports their mission.  If you would like to become part of this ministry team, please contact Kris Angiulli at kangiulli@msn.com or by phone at 310.7653. 
 
Additionally, they are in need of assistance to support an upcoming reception following the Choir's Annual Christmas Concert this Sunday, December 20.  The list below includes current needs.  Food items may be supplemented with any creative ideas and favorite entertaining recipes.  They would also happily accept a donation toward the cost of an item if that is preferred.
 
Set Up
Meet in the Parish Hall from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. to set up tables with minor decorations, prep food trays, and set up drink stations. (Need 3-4 people)
 
Clean Up
After the reception, assist with cleaning reusable food trays, box up decorations and left over items, take home tablecloths to wash & return. (Need 2-3 people.)
 
Food Donations
4-6 desserts (brownies, cookies, mini-cupcakes)
 
6-8 trays of finger sandwiches (any variety or Cubanitos)
 
6-8 trays of cheese & crackers, hummus & veggies, chips & salsa, or bread bowl with spinach dip.
 
2 bottles each of coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite
 
If you are able to help by providing any of these, please contact Kris Angiulli at kangiulli@msn.com or via cell phone at 310.7653.
This Week at St. John's
Thursday, December 17
10:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) and Healing and Anointing (Chapel)
Please note, this service will not be celebrated next week on Christmas Eve.
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Church)
Friday, December 18
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Church)
Sunday, December 20
(choose Track 2)
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)
Following the 9:15 a.m. service
Coffee Hour Fellowship (Parish Hall)

Sandwich Sunday (Parish Hall)
Join us to assemble sandwiches and bag lunches for the patrons of Faith Cafe. Thanks to Dennis and Erin Carr and Steve and Lisa Sepulveda for being our hosts this month!
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal (Lowry Room)
11:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
Annual Christmas Concert
The Annual Christmas Concert, begun as a one time event in 2007, is now very much part of the St. John's Christmas tradition. Please join us on Sunday, December 20 at 5:00 p.m. for this year's concert, which will feature works of Joseph Haydn, Francis Poulenc, Harold Darke, and Peter Warlock, together with carols for choir and congregation. A reception, to which all are warmly invited, will follow in the Parish Hall.
Monday, December 21

Deadline for Christmas Flower Dedications

12:15 p.m.

Noonday Prayer (Chapel)

Tuesday, December 22
6:45 a.m.
Contemporary Women's Bible Study (Peterson Room)
CWBS will not meet on Tuesday, December 22 or Tuesday, December 29. They will resume their study of the book of Daniel on Tuesday, January 5. 

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 23
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Nights at St. John's (Parish Hall)
This group will not meet on December 23.
On December 30, the Wednesday Nights group will continue 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 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)

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.