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
serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs;
then you shall take delight in the
Lord,
and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth.
Isaiah 58
This Week in
St. John’s
Thursday, August 25
10:00 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist and Healing and Anointing (Chapel)
Men’s Thursday Bible Study and Lunch
11:45 a.m., Peterson Room
The Men’s Thursday Bible Study and Lunch group continues weekly. 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 to dlrncrtpa@verizon.net if you would like to partake.
Service for Families with Small Children and Backpack Blessing (Parish Hall)
Following the 9:15 a.m. service
Coffee Hour Fellowship
(Parish Hall)
11:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
Monday, August 29
4:00 p.m.
Bible Women
(Lowry Room)
The study group for Bible Women by Lindsay Freeman welcomes all women. Each week is a standalone lesson. The book may be purchased from Forward Movement for $15.
CWBS is studying Amos and Hosea . 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, August 31
12:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Chapel)
Wednesday Nights In St. John’s
6:30 p.m., Parish Hall
The Wednesday Nights 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.
Breaking News
This Coming Sunday:
Services for Families Reconvene with a Special Backpack Blessing
Our monthly services for families with small children will reconvene on Sunday, August 28, at 9:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall, including a special Backpack Blessing to start the year off right. All students are invited to bring their backpacks to have them blessed for the new school year. The monthly Family Service is a casual and kid-friendly alternative to the formal service in the church, allowing us to introduce our youngest children to Episcopal lessons and traditions in a more relaxed environment. It will take place on the last Sunday of every month, at 9:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Randy Hehr Called as Rector
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Clearwater, has called The Rev. Randy Hehr as their Rector. That parish has scheduled a Celebration of a New Ministry on Saturday, October 8, at 11:00 a.m., with Bishop Smith presiding. Randy has been Priest-in-Charge since he went to Holy Trinity after being with us at St. John’s.
Children and Youth
Sunday School Kick-Off: September 11
Our Fall Sunday School Program will kick-off on Sunday, September 11. Kids will convene in the Parish Hall at 9:15 a.m. for a lesson and will be returned to the church during The Peace/Greetings so that they may partake in the Eucharist with their families. After the 9:15 a.m. service concludes, we ask that families please join us BACK in the Parish Hall to grab a coffee, register your kids, meet the teachers, hear a few words about our Fall program, and have some fun! We will be hosting a scavenger hut in the classrooms with a sweet treat for all who complete it.
As we prepare to kick-off a new year of Sunday School at St. John’s we would like to invite anyone who is interested in getting more involved with our program to contact Whitney Wolf ( wwolf@104.237.132.142 ) or 312.244.0871. We have positions open for Assistant Teachers and Substitutes as well as other part-time volunteer opportunities. Come help us make this year the best one yet!
Christmas Pageant Planning in Progress: Come Join Us!
It may be 99 degrees outside but we are already beginning to plan for our Children’s Christmas Pageant and would love to include interested volunteers early so that you can have a voice in the planning and we can make this great together. All talents are needed and welcome, so if you’re interested in learning more, please call Whitney Wolf ( wwolf@104.237.132.142 ) or 312.244.0871.
An Evening with Christian Band Unspoken
Holy Innocents’, Valrico, is hosting a Christian concert featuring Unspoken, a nationally recognized Christian band with five top-ten singles. The concert will be on Friday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. This is a unique opportunity, especially for our youth and young adults. For more information, visit the event website at https://eveningwithunspoken.com.
Events and Announcements
New Adult Formation Events Planned
Our mission at St John’s is to proclaim, by word and example, the good news of God in Christ, and to build a spiritual community forming Christians of all ages through worship, education, and outreach.We are formed within our church community through worship, continuous learning, intentional outreach, advocacy and service.The Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation of the Episcopal Church describes Christian faith formation as “a lifelong journey with Christ, in Christ, and to Christ.”
Join us on the journey this fall as we explore what it means to be a Christian with Episcopalian theologian Marcus Borg, discover the great themes of the Bible, and enter together into the expectant waiting and preparation of Advent, the first season of the church year.Watch the Scroll and Compass for more details or contact Kathleen Moore at kathleenmarymoore@gmail.com.
Baseball with the Bishop
The date for the annual Baseball With the Bishop event is Friday, September 23. The event is the Rays vs Boston Red Sox. Lower level tickets are $25 (a $35 value). Deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, September 9. Please send your check to the parish offices, payable to St. John’s. A portion of the sale of each ticket will benefit the Episcopal Charities Fund. Contact Kaivon Madani with questions at kaivonmadani@hotmail.com.
Women’s Mid Morning Bible Study Resumes September 6
On Tuesday, September 6, the Women’s Mid Morning Bible Study will gather to begin a study of “The Gospel According to Luke.” We will be using the study guide Luke for Everyone by N. T. Wright.
The group invites all interested women to join them in the Church Sanctuary from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. on alternate Tuesdays. On September 6, Mary Jane Schenck will facilitate the first discussion, which will focus on Luke 1 and 2. For more information, you may contact Joan McKay at mckayjhm@aol.com or Pat Wilson at 644.4640 or patwilson68@tampabay.rr.com. For help in ordering the study guide Luke for Everyone by N. T. Wright, contact Melinda Pendino at 215.3421 or melinda@palermolistings.com. She will place an order in early September if there is interest. The book is also available from Amazon and other booksellers.
Your Help Needed
Volunteers Needed for Children’s Ministry and Parish Events
Are you interested in becoming more involved in the community here at St. John’s? The Children’s Ministry has a number of exciting events planned for this fall and all sorts of opportunities for participation. We encourage anyone who is interested in sharing their gifts – be it an hour or two of your time, or the desire to take on a larger project – to contact Whitney Wolf at 312.244.0871 or send an email to wwolf@104.237.132.142 for more information about what opportunities might best fit your interests and availability.
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 on October 16. 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.
School Supplies Needed for Cornerstone Kids
As the new school year approaches, your generous support is requested for the children at Cornerstone Kids. The goal is to raise $1,500 to cover the cost of backpacks and school supplies for 35 children.
You may drop off your monetary donation at the parish office NO LATER than August 28. Please make your check payable to St. John’s. Contact MC Jenkins with questions at Bucsjenkins@aol.com. Thanks!
From the Parish Register
Baptisms
August 7
Buchanan Marcus Rose
Lincoln Zuan Rose
Birthdays
August 25, Carleton Compton, M. Leo Elliott, William Ihrig, Amy Lutz, Charles Stallings, Mark Weston
August 26, Albert Loomis, Leslie Minder, William Platt
August 27, Dallas Coffield, Cynthia Cox, Miller Hoskins, Meghan Nelson, Geraldine Parker
August 28, Grace Shoukry, Eric Williams
August 29, William Few, Rick Jacobson, Florence Marriott, Alexandra Palermo, Nancy Watkins
August 30, Christina Adams, Brett Couch, Virginia Elliott, Matthew Leach
August 31, Todd Bradley, Kathleen Moore, Dorothy Ruas
