We are always looking for church-related pictures to share with the congregation. Submit them to LLowry@104.237.132.142.
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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. W e want to provide support in any time of need or crisis.
Please call the parish offices at 259.1570 or email
Parishioners who will stand for election are: David Adams, Dennis Carr, Lynn Fluharty, John Marston, Ben Nelson, Jackie Preis, Lindsey Robbins, and Janice Straske.
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.”
Palm Crosses Needed
Please bring in your last year’s Palm Sunday crosses so they can be burned for ashes. The deadline is January 31 for us to receive them in the Parish Offices.
Youth Confirmation Classes Begin January 31
Each week we affirm our faith by the Creed and with the Eucharist. Confirmation is an opportunity to confirm the vows made at Baptism by a mature affirmation of faith. At St. John’s, youth in the 6th grade (or older) have the opportunity to be confirmed after confirmation classes. In confirmation class, participants explore and seek to understand the historic faith of the Church before they are confirmed by Bishop Smith on May 22, 2016. Classes begin on Sunday, January 31, at 10:15 a.m. in Discovery House, and continue on most Sundays leading up to Confirmation Sunday.
Need a Creative Outlet?
Stitch 3, Pray 3 provides an opportunity to knit or crochet prayer shawls and blankets for parishioners or sew simple dresses for AIDS orphans in Tanzania. These are long term projects so you don’t have a deadline to finish. Knitting and crocheting instructions along with dress patterns and instructions are on the shelf by the door in the Lowry Room.
The Prayer Shawls will be given to parishioners who are hospitalized, ill, or need a gift of love from our St. John’s family.
Several precious dresses have been completed and are hanging in the Lowry Room. (Sewers: Please mark the size on the dress before hanging.) The first group of dresses will be blessed and sent to Tanzania in early March. Each dress represents a girl who now may go to school and church, so you are “Sewing for Hope.”
For reasons of modesty, the girls wear t-shirts with their dresses. If you would like to make a financial donation for the t-shirts, please write a check to St. John’s Church with “t-shirts” on the memo line.
For questions about Prayer Shawls, contact Janice at 879.6426. Questions about Sewing for Hope? Call Jan Elliott at 397.1004.
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.
Events and Fellowship
The Circle, Friday, February 5
The Circle will gather for its annual cocktail party on Friday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Steve and Lisa Sepulveda, 4423 West Kensington Avenue, The event will be co-hosted by Cary and Katey Brown. Make sure you are on our mailing list by contacting Kim French at frenchco@mac.com.
St. John’s Book Club: Tuesday, January 19
The St. John’s Book Club will meet on Tuesday, January 19, at 4:00 p.m. in the Lowry Room. Ann Dawson will lead the discussion of Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Men’s Ministry February Meeting
The Men’s Ministry’s next meeting will be Tuesday, February 2, in the Parish Hall. The speaker will be Andy Lutton, a healthcare consultant and former hospice executive. The topic will be “Your Decisions Matter: An Introduction to Advance Care Planning.” Find out how to make sure your loved ones know what healthcare treatments you would or would not want
if you could not speak for yourself. Learn about the differences between estate planning and advance care planning.
Please join us in the Parish Hall at 5:30 p.m. for fellowship time, followed by a fine meal catered by Holy Hog Barbecue at 6:00 p.m., and our speaker following dinner at 6:30 p.m. RSVP to Dallas Coffield at dcoffield@gmail.com
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Wednesday Nights at St. John’s
Beginning Wednesday, January 13, the Wednesday Nights group will study “CHRISTIAN (It’s Not What You Think).” In this eight-session video Bible study, Andy Stanley explores the truth and fiction behind one of the most famous religious brands in history. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. for food and fellowship, then starts their program at 7:00 p.m.
The group will also have a special movie night on Wednesday, February 3, before Lent begins. The movie will be the powerful War Room, and on this evening, the group will meet at 6:00 p.m., with the movie beginning at 6:45 p.m.
The schedule for this group for the next four months is as follows:
January 13 – Lesson One – Brand Recognition
January 20 – Lesson Two – Quitters
January 27 – Lesson Three – Insiders, Outsiders
February 3 – Movie Night: War Room
February 10, Ash Wednesday, NO MEETING
February 17, Lenten program
February 24, Lenten program
March 2, Lenten program
March 9, Lenten program
March 16, Lenten program
March 23, NO MEETING
March 30 – Lesson Four – Showing Up
April 6 – When Gracie Met Truthy
April 13 – Lesson Six – Angry Birds
April 20 – Lesson Seven – Loopholes
April 27 – Lesson Eight – Working It Out
Family Gasparilla Party
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 at Discovery House at 2:00 p.m. for food and fun with other St. John’s families. Bring a side item and soft drink or dessert to share. Questions? Contact Miranda Harrison-Quillin.
Women’s Mid Morning Bible Study: January 26 Meeting
This 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. On January 26, the group will be studying Philippians 2 and Laura Silva will be the facilitator.
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.
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, at 7:00 p.m. Bring an hors d’oeuvre to share and a drink of your choosing.
Mark 9:36-37: He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.
The Newborn Celebration Ministry delivers a small gift basket to families from their St. John’s family at the time of the birth of a child. We would like to also send along a meal to welcome the newborn and comfort the new parents. This would not be a burdensome commitment but surely one filled with love and joy. ALSO, if you or someone you know is receiving the blessing of a newborn, please let us know. Contact Elizabeth Strong at 837.9966 or eastrong1@gmail.com for further information.
This Week at St. John’s
Thursday, January 14
10:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist and Healing and Anointing (Chapel)
Each month, we make sandwiches and bag lunches for patrons of Faith Café to take with them after they eat a hot meal. We invite all parishioners to help. Thank you to the Kellar family for being our hosts this month!
11:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
Monday, January 18
12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Tuesday, January 19
6:45 a.m.
Contemporary Women’s Bible Study (Peterson Room)
CWBS continues their study of the book of Daniel on Tuesdays from 6:45 to 8:00 a.m. in the Peterson Room at the School’s 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
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12:15 p.m.
Noonday Prayer (Chapel)
Wednesday, January 20
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Nights at St. John’s (Parish Hall)
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.
The Wednesday Nights group is currently viewing “CHRISTIAN (It’s Not What You Think),” an eight-session video Bible study. In this series, Andy Stanley explores the truth and fiction behind one of the most famous religious brands in history. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. for food and fellowship, then starts their program at 7:00 p.m.
The group will also have a special movie night on Wednesday, February 3, before Lent begins. The movie will be the powerful War Room
, and on this evening, the group will meet at 6:00 p.m., with the movie beginning at 6:45 p.m.
