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
I am the
Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
Isaiah 42
This Week in
St. John’s
Thursday, January 12
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.
Parish Breakfast and Sandwich Sunday (Parish Hall)
Thanks to Erin and Dennis Carr and Lisa and Steven Sepulveda for being our hosts this month!
10:30 a.m.
Adult Christian Formation (Lowry Room)
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)
4:30 p.m.
Middle School EYC Meeting (Discovery House)
5:30 p.m.
High School EYC Meeting (Discovery House)
Monday, January 16
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.
The St. John’s Book Club
The St. John’s Book Club will meet on Tuesday, January 17, at 4:00 p.m. in the Lowry Room. Janis Chapman will lead the discussion of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. Everyone is invited to attend.
Wednesday, January 18
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 continue viewing this series through February 1.
January 18 – What I Want to Want
January 25 – Leading Great
February 1 – 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
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
Kitchen Help Needed
Like to cook? Want to serve your parish? Are you a new member looking to meet and get to know some nice folks? Volunteer for a Sunday or a Wednesday afternoon in the kitchen! During the next three months there will be meals galore and lots of little tasks to perform. Feel free to just drop by. Take the opportunity to give back just a portion of what all the members of the parish have given you and your loved ones. 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.
If you look at all the meals we will be preparing, you will recognize that this is a monumental task for one person … but for two or three gathered in His name… it’s a joy! Most folks can make a sandwich, toss a salad, stir a pot… no culinary skills required.
Help Needed
Annual Parish Meeting (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.
A Thank You from Kathleen Moore
I want to thank all the women of St John’s who made it possible for me to start out in my diaconal ministry with such a beautiful and colorful deacon stole. I think you all know how much I love colorful things! I am overwhelmed by your generosity and so very grateful for your support. I could not have made this journey without you, and I look forward to working with you as I continue the journey in my new role as a deacon. God bless you all.
Kathleen
Annual Meeting of the Parish Scheduled
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.
Sandwich Sunday Hosts Needed
We are in need of hosts for the remainder of 2017, which include the following dates: February 19, March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15, November 19, and December 17. Contact Cindy Martin if you can help. Hosting includes shopping for the supplies, coordinating the sandwich preparation day-of, and delivering the meals to Faith Cafe. Costs are reimbursed by the church.
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
.
Christian Education
Mid Morning Women’s Bible Study: January 24
The Mid Morning Women’s Bible Study will meet in the Church Sanctuary from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24. They will be continuing the study of the Luke’s Gospel which they began in the fall. On January 24, the group will be studying Luke 10 and will be led by Margaret Brokaw.
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.
Children and Youth
EYC January Schedule
The next EYC meeting will take place this Sunday, January 15, in Discovery House. Middle School will be at 4:30 p.m., and High School is at 5:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!
Parents’ Night Out
Save-the-Date and book a sitter for a Parents’ Night Out on Friday, February 24. Details coming soon!
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.
Next Mom’s Morning: Thursday, January 19
The next Mom’s Morning will meet on Thursday, January 19, at 8:45 a.m. in Discovery House. Come for as little or long as you’d like and please feel free to bring your little ones. Toys and coffee will be provided. For more information or to RSVP, please contact wwolf@104.237.132.142.
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 wwolf@104.237.132.142 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.
Action Items and Opportunities
Flowers Available
The flowers at the church altar and t he flowers at the chapel altar are available for February 12, February 19, and February 26. If you would like to take one of these opportunities to honor a loved one and support St. John’s, please call 259.1570 or email parish@104.237.132.142 .
From the Parish Register
Baptisms
January 8, 2017
Charlotte Dahl Swain
Birthdays
January 12, Eliina Lick, Charlsey Roman, Linda Scarritt, Rodney Thomason
January 13, Paul Dolcimascolo, John Howey, Fredric LeVarge, Miriam Lykes, Mary Mixson, George Wiegand
January 14, Margaret Gustafson, Norma Peel, Christopher Spencer
January 15, Joseph Bever, Simon Matthews
January 16, Elizabeth Calfee, Michael Colgan, Connor Schrils
January 17, Stephen Cabral, Evelyn Conti
January 18, Cristy Braun, Suzanne Cuthbertson, Richard Jacobson, E. Miller, Charles Pekkala, Elizabeth Ruas, Michelle Sulzer, Dorothy Webster, Susan Webster
