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
As for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.
1 Timothy 6
This Week in
St. John’s
Thursday, September 29
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 next week. 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.
Embracing an Adult Faith, Adult Christian Education Class
(Lowry Room)
11:15 a.m.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I) (Church)
4:30 p.m.
Middle School EYC
(Discovery House)
5:30 p.m.
High School EYC
(Discovery House)
Monday, October 3
Bible Women
4:00 p.m., 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.
Women’s
Mid Morning
Bible Study
On Tuesday, Oct. 4, Mary Jane Schenk will facilitate the Women’s Mid Morning Bible Study group’s discussion of Luke 4. 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 .
Wednesday, October 5
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
Family Bingo Night: This Friday, September 30!
Join us this Friday for dinner and Bingo in the Parish Hall from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. It’s sure to be a good time for all ages with lots of fun prizes for the kids and a pizza dinner for all to enjoy.
Episcopal Schools Sunday: October 2
Our annual celebration of the relationship between our School and church will occur this Sunday, October 2. Students and alumni will be our ushers, readers, and acolytes on this Sunday, and our Head of School, Robert Stephens, will give an address. We hope you will join us for this special day!
Next Sunday, October 2, Christmas Pageant Sign-Ups Begin
When you check in for Sunday School on October 2 and October 9, please be sure to sign your kids up for all roles of interest in the Christmas Pageant and pick up a rehearsal schedule so you can mark your calendars. We have parts for everyone and will be awarding lead roles to the kids with the best Sunday School attendance for the fall season. Role assignments will be announced during the Kick-Off Brunch on Sunday, November 13. If you have questions or concerns or if you miss the opportunity to sign up on Sunday, please contact wwolf@104.237.132.142 .
Metropolitan Ministries Service Day!
Parishioners helped in the kitchen, the community garden, and the thrift store at Metropolitan Ministries this past Saturday. We love helping our community while building our own! Stay tuned for more opportunities to help this year.
Pet Blessing: October 4
Please bring your pet, whether scaly, furry, or feathered, to our annual St. Francis Pet Blessing! The blessing will take place in the church courtyard on Tuesday, October 4, at 3:00 p.m.
Calling All Moms! Mom’s Mornings Begin Thursday, October 13
Join us at 8:45 a.m. at Discovery House (918 South Orleans Avenue) on Thursday, October 13, to kick off our monthly mom’s group. With the devotional Bible study, Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood, as our guide, you will learn how to nourish your own heart, mind, and soul with the wisdom you need to become the mother you long to be, while garnering strength and support from your peers in a comfortable and judgement-free environment. Let this group be your haven. Come for as little or as long as you’d like. Coffee and morning treats will be provided. Little ones are welcome. If you have any questions or want to join us, please email Whitney Wolf at wwolf@104.237.132.142.
St. John’s Fathers Ministry Service Project
Join the Fathers Ministry on Sunday, October 16 in the Parish Hall for their Holiday Letters for Heroes party! Parish children will be using their creativity to write thank you letters to service members deployed overseas over the holidays.
Grown-ups can write a letter too! We will have patriotic crafts and puzzles, and will even be making Veterans Day wreaths to take home! A drop box for letters will also be set up the week of the event. Let’s show these heroes our appreciation for their sacrifice and service. Hope to see you there!
Local Kairos Events
Prayer is requested for the following two upcoming Kairos events. A four-day weekend begins tomorrow, Thursday, September 29, at Hernando Correctional Institution (women) in Spring Hill. And in mid-November, there will be a two-day retreat at Sumter Correctional Institution (men) in Sumter County.
St. John’s has a rich history of involvement in the Kairos prison ministry. It is very fulfilling to work a weekend as a volunteer and see God change hearts and attitudes. The mission of Kairos Prison Ministry International is “to bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individuals, their families, those who work with them, and to assist the incarcerated in the transition to becoming a productive citizen.”
If your interest is piqued, or you are feeling God’s call to get involved, please contact MC Jenkins at BucsJenkins@aol.com.
St. John’s Fathers Camping Trip
This year’s St. John’s Fathers Ministry camping trip is upon us. This year’s trip will be November 11 and 12 at Lakewood Retreat in Brooksville, FL (https://www.lakewoodretreat.org).
This is one of the easiest camping trips you will ever attend. Do not worry if you haven’t been camping before – this is a “team event.” We welcome dads and children to come early on Friday, starting after lunch. Friday is really the meat of the trip and there are many activities such as canoeing, nature trails, and the animal farm that can be enjoyed. Arrival during daylight is ideal, especially for setting up your tent! If you are planning to purchase a tent, we would recommend the type that pops up, one which you do not need to run bendable poles through sleeves.
The camping trip is a simple event that our children look on with fond, powerful memories. We cannot emphasize enough how profoundly and positively this little adventure impacts them.
Dads, be prepared to stand up and say a few words about why you are proud of your child(ren) during the kettle corn campfire on Friday night. An e xample: ” Hello, I’m Kaivon Madani. This is my daughter Shahla. Shahla is a great swimmer. She has a wonderful imagination. She works hard at school and makes almost all A+’s, I’m so proud of her and so glad she is here tonight.”
Furthermore, as the date approaches, Kaivon will be asking fathers to sign up to take responsibility for a single task such as manning the grill, cleaning up after dinner, running the s’mores station, cleaning up after we leave on Saturday, etc.
Save the Date: Pumpkin Painting Party, Sunday October 23
On Sunday, October 23, we will host our annual Pumpkin Painting Party from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. BYOP (Bring Your Own Pumpkin) and we will have everything you need to make your pumpkin a beautiful and festive addition to your Halloween decor. Parents, look for our sign-up stand following the 9:15 a.m. service on October 9 and 16, as well as an evite coming soon to your inbox. Questions? Please contact Whitney Wolf at wwolf@104.237.132.142.
Events and Fellowship
The Soiree
St. John’s Church invites you to a Soirée
at the home of Mary and Ron Hulse, 4912 Lyford Kay Road
Friday, October 21
7:00 p.m.
Bring an hors d’oeuvre to share and a drink of your choosing.
Save the date, VBS 2017 will be June 19 through 23. Details to follow in early 2017. If you’re interested in volunteering and being a part of the plan, please contact wwolf@104.237.132.142.
Action Items and Opportunities
Kitchen Guild Needs Help
The Kitchen Guild could use volunteers for the Dominican Republic Fundraising Dinner on October 16. Meet at 1:00 p.m. in the kitchen if you can help. We also need help on our next Breakfast Sunday, October 16. Please meet at 8:30 a.m. in the kitchen.
Feel free to just join us at these times, or you can call the parish offices at 259.1570 to let us know you are coming.
AmazonSmile: Support St. John’s While You Shop!
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com
, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as at Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization, St. John’s!
On your first visit to AmazonSmile
, you will need to select St. John’s as your charitable organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. The site will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at AmazonSmile
will result in a donation to St. John’s. Click here to go to our page!
From the Parish Register
Birthdays
September 29, George Richardson, Margaret Russell
September 30, Emmala Brown, Jean Denney, Witten Graff, Hailey Stricker
October 1, Gregory Gaar, Virginia Galavis, Frances Gardner, Peter Hubbell, Zoe Nix, Christopher Poor, Lavail Shelton, Janice Straske
October 2, Daniel Blanner, Ashley Henderson, Lisa Jacobson, Virginia VanOsdol
October 3, Virginia Bever, Carolyn Hardy, Adam Hutchinson, John Koch
October 4, James Clark, Charles Jeffries, Joshua Lackey, Mary Jane Stagi
October 5, Jeanne Ackerman, Laura Hobby, James Martin, John McKay
