However, 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
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1
This Week in
St. John’s
Thursday, January 26
10:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) and Healing & Anointing (Chapel)
Men’s Thursday Bible Study and Lunch
11:45 a.m., Peterson Room
The Men’s Thursday Bible Study and Lunch group meets on Thursdays at 11:45 a.m. at the School’s Middle School campus. The readings the group will study are those from the Revised Common Lectionary for the coming Sunday.
Please do not park in the Four Green Fields parking lots. Lunch is sandwiches at $5 per person. RSVP todlrncrtpa@verizon.net if you would like to partake.
Adult Formation classes meet at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. Each session lasts approximately 30 minutes and will take place in the Lowry Room. Bring your coffee and join the conversation! For more information, contact Kathleen Moore at 221.6253 or kmoore@104.237.132.142.
11:15
a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
Monday, January 30
Bible Women
4:00 p.m., Lowry Room
The study group for Bible Women by Lindsay Freeman meets on Mondays at 4:00 p.m. in the Lowry Room. All women are welcome and each week is a standalone lesson. The book may be purchased from Forward Movement for $15. Please complete the noted readings and reflections.
CWBS continues their study of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians.
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. For more information, please contact Kathleen Moore at 221.6253 or kathleenmarymoore@gmail.com.
Wednesday, February 1
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
Wednesday Nights In St. John’s
6:30 p.m., Parish Hall
No matter what you believe, no matter how you behave, Jesus invites you to follow In God’s Footsteps. In this eight-session study, best-selling author and pastor Andy Stanley shows you that Jesus’ invitation was really an invitation to relationship and this study explains what it means to follow Jesus.
The Wednesday Nights group will conclude viewing this series on February 1 with the segment Unfollow.
The 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
We are in need of hosts for the following dates: March 19, May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, October 15, November 19, and December 17. Contact Cindy Martin if you can help. Hosting includes shopping for the supplies, coordinating the sandwich preparation on the day-of, and delivering the meals to Faith Cafe. Costs are reimbursed by the church.
Parish Hymn Sing
The next event in our Annual Music Series will be a Parish Hymn Sing on Sunday, February 5,
at 5:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to come together for an hour and sing your favorite hymns with St. John’s Choir and organ. We all have our favorites – some of which come around in the liturgical cycle and others that are sung less frequently. All of the hymns that we will sing on this occasion will be by request, irrespective of the season, so if there is a hymn that is dear to you, be it one (or more) that we sing regularly, or one that you’ve been longing to sing, please contact me by email or phone at smorley@104.237.132.142 or 397.1012 We hope to raise the roof!
Simon Morley
Youth Confirmation Classes Begin February 26
All youth who are at least twelve years of age, or who have entered the seventh grade, are invited to pursue confirmation at St. John’s. The first Confirmation Class will be held in the Discovery House immediately following the 9:15 a.m. service on February 26 . Parents should attend this first class, as we will discuss the overall theology of confirmation as well as distribute the class schedule and requirements for the course. Confirmation by Bishop Smith will occur during the 9:15 a.m. service on May 7 during his annual visit to the parish.
An opportunity has arisen for a young British organist, who is taking a year out between school and university, to spend some time with us here at St. John’s between the beginning of March and the end of May. The aim of this is for him to gain experience of Anglican music and service accompaniment in the Episcopal Church. This has come about through the Director of Music of his school, who is a long-time friend of mine. It is very important to encourage young church musicians, and this opportunity will, hopefully, be beneficial on both sides. We are in need of somewhere for James to stay for the duration of the three months that he will be here with us, so if you feel able to help in that regard, please be in touch with me by phone or email to discuss this further.
Simon Morley
Shrove Tuesday, February 28: Flipping Dads Needed
This year, Shrove Tuesday falls on February 28 and our Fathers Ministry will again be hosting a Pancake Supper to mark the last day before Lent.
This annual family-friendly dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. Set up will begin in the Parish Hall at 4:45 p.m. Kevin Kellar is organizing volunteer dads. Ideally, he needs two to three fathers for setup, four or more in the kitchen, four or more in the serving line, and two or more to break down/do cleanup. Can you help? Contact Kevin.
T
he Cornerstone Kids
,
Inc. Board of Directors will host its
Twenty
–
Seventh Annual Lincoln-Douglass Ball
~
celebrating
and honorin
g
the relationship between
Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass ~ on Saturday, February 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 11 : 00 p.m. at the E mbassy Suites at the U niversity of South F l o rida . The theme of thi s y ear ‘s B all i s “ Valen t ine Celebration.” St. John’s has purchased ten seats to the event. If you would like to attend and support Cornerstone Kids, RSVP to Regan in the parish offices by email or by calling 259.1570.
The proceeds from the Ball will
benefit our partner
Cornerstone Kids, Inc., the after-school program located in Tampa Height
s
. The program is designed specifically to reach at-risk
,
inner city children from
ag
e
5-11 who reside in lower income, single
–
parent h
o
useholds
.
The mission of
C
orner
s
tone Kids
i
s to assist
in
their educational, spiritual and emotiona
l
development in a safe
,
secure and nurturing en
v
ironment.
The Annual Meeting of St. John’s Parish will take place on Sunday, February 12, following a combined service at 10:00 a.m. There will also be an 8:00 a.m. service as usual that Sunday. A lunch of Cubanos, regular Cuban sandwiches, chips, dessert, as well as coffee, tea, lemonade, and water will be served at the meeting.
Voting for new Vestry members will take place before the Annual Meeting begins on Sunday the 12th. Votes can also be cast the two Sundays before the meeting (January 29 and February 5) between all three services. Additionally, ballots can be cast in the parish offices during the weeks of January 29 and February 5 during regular business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no absentee voting.
Christian Education
Mid Morning Women’s Bible Study
The Mid Morning Women’s Bible Study will meet in the Church Sanctuary from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 7. They will be continuing the study of Luke’s Gospel which they began in the fall. On February 7, the group will be studying Luke 11 and will be led by the Rev. Chase Ackerman.
The group invites all interested women to join them in the Church Sanctuary from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. on alternate Tuesdays. For more information, you may contact Joan McKay at mckayjhm@aol.com or Pat Wilson at 644.4640 or patwilson68@tampabay.rr.com.
Focus on Faith Adult Confirmation Begins February 26
Are you an adult seeking confirmation, reception, or reaffirmation of your faith? Focus on Faith will prepare and direct you toward an expression of this deeper commitment. The format is a small group experience where participants learn more about the Episcopal Church and our Christian beliefs. It is also a time to connect with others on your Christian journey.
The eight-week program will begin February 26 and is led by Rev. Janet Tunnell. Visitation for Confirmation by The Right Reverend Dabney Smith, Bishop of Southwest Florida, is May 7. Questions? Pick up a brochure, call Janet at 518.5232, or email her at jtunnell@104.237.132.142. Register by phone or email with Janet
by February 15
.
Children and Youth
Parents’ Night Out
Save-the-Date and book a sitter for a Parents’ Night Out on Friday, February 24. Details coming soon!
Action Items and Opportunities
Kitchen Help Needed
The Kitchen Guild was formed to provide the opportunity for all of us to break bread and be together as one Christian community, regardless of which service we normally attend. The guild is also a community unto itself, enjoying Christian fellowship with one another as we serve the Body of Christ. The following opportunities are open to those who wish to step out in the capacity of servant. Pick one Sunday morning or one Wednesday (or both) to come and join in the us in the kitchen. No experience necessary. The following days/times are available. Email Dave Kenyon for more details or to sign up to help You can also send him a text or call him at 404.5000.
Help Needed
Annual Meeting of the Parish (February 12): Arrive 8:30 a.m., we will serve about 125 people.
Lenten Dinners 2017 (Wednesdays from March 8 through April 5): Arrive 3:30 p.m., we will serve about 40 to 50 people.
Confirmation Classes (February 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2, 23, 30): Arrive 9:00 a.m., we will serve 12 to 20 people.
Vacation Bible School Volunteers Sought: June 19 – 23
Whether you want to join us for the whole week and lead a section of the program, contribute a few hours for afternoon care, help purchase supplies, or bring a snack, we are in search of enthusiastic helpers to ensure this year is a great success! If you’re interested in participating in any way, big or small, please contact Whitney Wolf as soon as possible at wwolf@104.237.132.142 or 312.244.0871.
Sunday School Volunteers Sought
Do you like what we’re doing in Sunday School? Would you like to be a part of it next year? If you are not currently on our team of teachers, assistants, substitutes, and helpers, but would like to be for the fall of 2017, please contact Whitney Wolf to discuss further. We can never have too many dedicated parents helping to bring the word of the Lord to the children of our parish.
From the Parish Register
Birthdays
January 26, James Graff, Gregory Rix, Andrew Williams
January 27, Emilie Williams
January 28, Ashley Carastro, Andrew Koch, Elizabeth Kurz, Henrietta Martin
January 29, Larry Brooks, Evelyn Haddad
January 31, David Adams, Amanda Colgan, Margaret Malizia, Ben Nelson
