Please plan to bring your children to the Parish Hall by 9:00 a.m. this Sunday so that they have the opportunity to take part in the Processional through the Church with palms at the opening of the 9:15 a.m. service. We will assemble the children in the Parish Hall and then head over to queue up in the back of the church shortly after 9:00 a.m. After the Processional, children will be led by their teachers back to Sunday School and returned to the church at the Peace, as usual.

The next Choral Evensong will take place this Sunday, April 9 at 5:00 p.m. in the Church. Choral Evensong is widely considered the jewel in the crown of the Anglican Choral Tradition. We hope you will join us for this lovely way to worship and wind down your weekend.

For any of you who are newcomers or who are unfamiliar with Faith Café, it is an important ministry of St. John’s that we share with six other South Tampa churches (the group called STEM, or South Tampa Ecumenical Ministries). Faith Cafe is open six days a week to serve the needy a hot lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Located near the interstate (1340 N. Clearview Ave.) just off Himes Ave, it is a new facility that STEM, an entirely volunteer organization, opened in 2013. The third and fourth Fridays of each month it is St. John’s responsibility to set up and serve the food that comes to us from Metropolitan Ministries. Many of our parishioners have given many hours over the years to arrive around 10:30 a.m., set up, do some additional food prep, serve the meals, and then clean up. Each day there is a Daily Coordinator who has multiple tasks-our faithful coordinator Nicholas Nitch is famous for the soups he makes. There is also a driver who picks up the large containers (cambros) from Metro on Florida Ave to bring to FC. It is only a ten minute drive. There is no lifting required; but an SUV, van, or truck is required because, when full, the cambros would be very difficult to get out of a trunk of a passenger car. There are also drivers who stop to pick up donations from Starbucks on Bay to Bay, an easy task requiring no special vehicle.  Approximately 15 volunteers accomplish all the tasks in the kitchen and serving area. We have a very strong core group of volunteers, but always welcome more; and we especially need one or two people to step forward to train to be a Daily Coordinator because Nicholas would enjoy a vacation from time to time. One of our most frequent needs is for drivers to pick up the food because, although neither physically difficult nor time-consuming, it does require the right sort of vehicle. Bob Vawter, Pat Wilson, Rick Barrs, and Mary Beth Carastro have all served in this capacity. Sally Wiley has been a Daily Coordinator and Driver as well. We even have a category for the “less than mobile,” as a greeter. With the summer months coming we have both the opportunity to encourage more volunteers as schedules open up, but also the challenge of filling some slots as people leave Tampa for travel. So, if you can find in your hearts a calling to serve the needy, please contact us. All of us who volunteer find the service and the contact with our guests a meaningful, valuable experience. We have fun as volunteers, we see face of Christ in those who are hungry, and we are restored by their responses, “thank you” and “God bless you for being here.”  A smile shared with them brings each of us into the true meaning of being the hands of Christ in this world. Please contact us if you could join in this ministry:  Sally Wiley (253.3996 or wiley48sm@gmail.com) and Mary Jane Schenck (545.1868 or  mjschenck@ut.edu).

Join Bishop Dabney Smith and our own Fr Connelly for a day of reflection at DaySpring. The day includes four teaching sessions, lunch, personal time and walkabouts on the Manatee River campus. The registration fee is $10, which includes lunch in Curry Hall. Bring a Bible, notebook, and comfortable clothes for optional walks.  To register, email merfourth@episcopalswfl.org.

Easter Egg Painting Party – This Saturday, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

On the Sunday following Easter, as is our custom, we will combine the 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. services into one 10:00 a.m. service, to be followed by our spring Parish Picnic. The main course and dessert will be provided by St. John’s. Parishioners with last names beginning with A through L, please plan to bring a side dish. Those with last names from M through Z, please plan bring a salad, fruit, or some type of vegetable. Kids, look for a bounce house and Kona ice just for you!

The annual St. John’s Women’s Retreat will be held at Dayspring Conference Center from May 19 through 21.  All women of St John’s and their friends are invited.  Come for the whole weekend or just for the day on Saturday.  The theme for this year is Finding God in the Everyday.  There will be lively group discussion, crafts, music, social time, and quiet time for prayer and reflection; walk the labyrinth or just wander in the woods.  For more information about cost and registration, contact Deacon Kathleen Moore at   kmoore@104.237.132.142   or 785.9400.

The St. John’s Book Club will meet on April 18 at 4:00 p.m. in the Lowry Room.  Sally Thompson will lead the discussion of Out of Africa by Karen Blixen,  Everyone is welcome to attend.

Join us on Sunday, April 23, at the home of Lisa and Steve Sepulveda from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. for a wine and cheese party hosted by the Sepulvedas, Browns, and Stanfords. Guests should bring a favorite appetizer, bite-sized dessert, or beverage.  Hosts will provide heavy appetizers.  If you did not receive an evite, please contact Kim French to be added to the list.

Wednesdays in Lent

Happening is a unique high school experience weekend at DaySpring that helps teens foster a personal more meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.  During a Happening weekend, participants will experience the love of Christ through music, talk, prayer, worship and a community led by fellow students, all of which is supported by clergy and lay adults.  The weekend is designed as a one-time encounter for high school youth in 9th through 12th grades.  The next Happening (#74) will occur on the weekend of  April 28 through 30 , and participants must be registered by April 14 .  Anyone interested in this amazing weekend should contact Fr. Ackerman  or visit the Happening website at https://www.episcopalswfl.org/Youth%20and%20Young%20Adult/happening.html ) for more information.

In addition to our regular Sunday hours, the nursery will be open for children three and under as follows:Maundy Thursday, April 13:  6:30 to 9:00 p.m.Good Friday, April 14:  11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.Easter Vigil (Saturday), April 15:  6:00 to 10:00 p.m.