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
No prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
2 Peter 1
This Week in
St. John’s
Thursday, February 23
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.
Friday, February 24
Parents’ Night Out: This Friday, February 24
Book a sitter, plan a date night, and start the evening off with your friends from St. John’s! Stop by O Cocina on Henderson Blvd. anytime between 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. this Friday, February 24, and stay for as little or as long as you’d like to enjoy conversation and camaraderie with other parents from St. John’s. The rest of the night is up to you!
Please RSVP to wwolf@104.237.132.142 or respond to our evite so we know how many people to expect and can reserve space accordingly.
Hope to see you there!
The Soiree: This Friday, February 24
Join us at 7:00 p.m. this Friday at the home of Mary and Ron Hulse. Bring an appetizer and beverage to share.
RSVP to Mary Hulse
or Pat Wilson
.
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 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.
The Christian Formation group will meet in the Lowry Room at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 26 for a pre-Lenten study of The Bible for the Biblically Challenged. Our Lent study will begin on Sunday, March 5.
Each session lasts approximately 30 minutes and takes place in the Lowry Room. Bring your coffee and join the conversation! For more information, email Kathleen Moore or call her at 221.6253.
11:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
Focus on Faith Adult Confirmation Begins This Sunday, February 26
The eight-week Focus on Faith 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.
Monday, February 27
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.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
6:00 p.m., Parish Hall
Join the Fathers’ Ministry for pancakes in honor of Fat Tuesday!
Wednesday, March 1: Ash Wednesday
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
12:15 p.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
Wednesday Nights In St. John’s
The Wednesday Nights group will not meet tonight because of Ash Wedneday. Contact Paul and Winkie Game at
If you have an interest in exploring a pastoral care ministry, come and join the Pastoral Care Team for dinner and discussion on March 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall and find the opportunity that fits your gifts. Register by March 8 by emailing jtunnell@104.237.132.142 or call Janet at 518.5232.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner
Next Tuesday, February 28, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Come join us in the Parish Hall for our annual Pancake Dinner as the St. John’s Fathers’ Ministry hosts this delicious, family-friendly event. on Tuesday February 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This is a fun event kids and grownups enjoy each year. See you there!
VBS 2017 – MEGA Sports Camp Registration Now Open!
A Vacation Bible School unlike any other, MEGA Sports Camp is an award-winning, high-energy, volunteer-friendly outreach that engages kids from pre-school through 6th grade (Fall 2017) in physical activity while furthering their connection with God. Each day, kids will have the chance to play a fun sport like soccer, basketball or cheerleading, while simultaneously learning Biblical principles and discovering the five important things they can do to become winners as they learn to Conquer the Day!
Log on, sign up, spread the word, get in the game! It’s going to be fantastic! We need lots of volunteers so we can include lots of kids.
We invite you to share in the 2017 Lenten email series from Episcopal Relief & Development. Each day during Lent you will receive a daily emailed reflection, co-authored by a group of Anglican Communion and other faith leaders. During this season of reflection on our Christian faith, their writings will enhance your spiritual journey as they both inspire and challenge you. Each daily meditation is presented in both English and Spanish. Click here to sign up.
Ash Wednesday Service Schedule
7:00 a.m. Ash Wednesday Liturgy and Holy Eucharist in the Chapel
8:00 a.m. Lower School School Service in the Church
10:10 a.m. Middle School School Service in Price Chapel at the Middle School campus
12:15 p.m. Ash Wednesday Liturgy and Holy Eucharist in the Church
5:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Liturgy and Holy Eucharist in the Church
Childcare available in the nursery.
7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Liturgy and Choral Eucharist in the Church
Childcare available in the nursery.
Kairos Weekend #40
Your prayers are needed for the Hernando Women’s Correctional Institution residents who will participate in the Kairos Prison Ministry weekend March 2 through 5. Our own Carol Ihrig is serving once again as a volunteer on the team. Kairos Prison Ministry is a Christian faith-based ministry that addresses the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women, youth, and their families. By sharing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, Kairos hopes to change hearts, transform lives, and impact the world.
To let the residents know that we at St. John’s are praying for them, we are making a paper prayer chain with the names of everyone who will be praying in the Courtyard on Sunday between services, so please stop by to add your name to the prayer chain! If you would like to get involved as a Kairos volunteer, contact MC Jenkins, David Wheaton, or Carol Ihrig.
Call the Congregation Rodeph Sholom office at 837.1911 or visit www.rsholom.org to register.
St. John’s own Mary Jane Schenck will present an example of a Woman of Valor from the New Testament at this event.
Christian Education
Wednesdays in Lent
Mark your calendars for the five Wednesday evenings of Lent: March 8, 15, 22, 29, and April 5. We will gather in the Parish Hall at 5:30 p.m. for social time and prayer with a delicious dinner by Chef Dave served at 6:00 p.m. The first meeting’s menu will feature potato leek soup, bread, and salad. At 6:45 p.m. there will be a program for children in the Lowry Room. Adults will remain in the Parish Hall for a series of discussions on the topic When Bad Things Happen to Good People led by our guest speaker, the Rev Everett Walk of Sarasota. The evenings will conclude at 7:30 p.m.
The Mid Morning Women’s Bible Study will meet in the Church Sanctuary from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7. They will be continuing the study of Luke’s Gospel which they began in the fall.
The Rev. Don Goodheart will guide the study of Luke 13 and 14 on March 7.
The group invites all interested women to join them in the Church every other week 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.
Children and Youth
Parents’ Night Out: This Friday, February 24
Book a sitter, plan a date night, and start the evening off with your friends from St. John’s! Stop by O Cocina on Henderson Blvd. anytime between 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. this Friday, February 24, and stay for as little or as long as you’d like to enjoy conversation and camaraderie with other parents from St. John’s. The rest of the night is up to you!
Please RSVP to wwolf@104.237.132.142 or respond to our evite so we know how many people to expect and can reserve space accordingly.
Hope to see you there!
Join Us for Our Monthly Family Service This Sunday
There are only a couple of Family Services left before we “break” for summer. Our last Family Service of the year will be on Easter (April 16). So please come and enjoy this opportunity to worship in the more casual atmosphere of the Parish Hall with all of your energetic little ones!!
Inviting Families with Children to our Wednesday Event Lenten Series
St. John’s will be hosting an evening Lenten series from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings in Lent. The topic for this year is on Harold Kushner’s book, “When Bad Things Happen to Good People,” and will be led by the Rev. Everett Walk of Sarasota. For adults, the evening will offer a discussion of spirituality as it pertains to coping with crisis. In an effort to welcome families to this fellowship opportunity, we also created a special Lenten series for children to partake in simultaneously, which will include seasonally relevant discussion topics, games, and activities in the Lowry Room during the adult discussion in the Parish Hall. We hope you will come and enjoy dinner as a family, and then embrace nourishment for souls of all ages in the programs after dinner.
Easter Egg Painting Party Planners Sought
The Children’s Ministry is looking for volunteers to lead the planning of our Easter Egg Painting Party on Saturday, April 8 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. If you’re interested in leading – or helping out in any way, please contact wwolf@104.237.132.142.
Action Items and Opportunities
Palm Sunday Crosses Needed by this Sunday
Please bring your Palm Sunday crosses from 2016 to the church this Sunday so they can be burned for ashes for Ash Wednesday on March 1.
Candle Available
The Candle in the Sanctuary Light is available for April 30. If you would like to take this opportunity to honor a loved one and support the parish, please contact the parish offices by email or call 259.1570.
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
Lenten Dinners 2017 (Wednesdays from March 8 through April 5): Arrive 3:30 p.m., we will serve about 40 to 50 people.
Focus on Faith Adult Classes (February 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2, 23, 30): Arrive 9:00 a.m., we will serve 12 to 20 people.
Sandwich Sunday Hosts Needed
We are in need of hosts for the following dates: March 19, June 18, July 16, 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.
From the Parish Register
Birthdays
February 23, Conal Foley, Ruth Giordano, Karen Lassey, Lawson Lewis, Margaret Smith
February 24, Isabella Blewitt, Jeffrey Blume, Mark Mellon, Pamela Price
February 25, Gina Shelton
February 26, Sarah Benson, Charles Davidson, Mary Margaret Dolcimascolo, Alexandra Gay, Thomas Giddens, Jack Guyton, Aleta Prebianca
February 27, Kristopher Pento
February 28, Ryan Divers, Frank Rief
March 1, Phyllis Lax, William Lax, Edward Neugaard, Edward Page, Justin Williams
