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Lamentation, Grace, and Hope |
St. John's invites parishioners and the entire diocese to join us for a three-part speaker program
featuring Christian M. M. Brady. The events will take place on Sundays April 11, April 18, and April 25, at 4:30 p.m. The hour-long events will be held virtually on Zoom. The link will be sent to St. John’s parishioners via Realm, others, please contact us at parish@stjohnstampa.org to get the link. The first twenty parishioners to register will receive a complimentary copy of Christian's book, Beautiful & Terrible Things: A Christian Struggle with Suffering, Grief, and Hope. Click here to read more about the event and about Christian.
We all endure suffering in this life. No matter how blessed and privileged we may be, we will experience hardship and grief. Bible scholar Christian Brady, an expert on Old Testament lament, was as prepared as a person could be for the death of a child—which is to say, not nearly well enough. When his eight-year-old son died suddenly from a fast-moving blood infection, Brady heard the typical platitudes
about accepting God’s will and knew that quiet acceptance was not the only godly way to grieve.
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Diocesan Event: "To Understand the Present, Study the Past" |
To understand what is happening in the United States today, we need to understand an important document from the 15th century called "The Doctrine of Discovery." This series of edicts from Pope Nicolas V sent the kings of Europe into the world to conquer, convert, and enslave all nations. Sadly, relatively few people today know about the doctrine.
On Monday, April 19, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom, facilitator Brian McLaren will read the document, explain its impacts, and invite conversation about how elements of this doctrine are still having an impact on church life and political life in America. Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good.
Our own Ayana Grady and Fr. Reho are members of the Diocese's Race and Reconciliation Committee which is sponsoring this event. Contact John Edgar or Ayana to get the Zoom link. Click on the flyer to view it at full size. |
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Offices Closed, Service Schedule Changes |
The offices will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, April 5 and 6. There will be no healing service tomorrow, April 1, and no Evening Prayer this week tomorrow, Friday, or Saturday. Our regular schedule resumes next week. |
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Special thanks to David Wheaton and Michael Eachon for their help in reading and carrying the cross at our five Way of the Cross liturgies. These were beautiful and powerful devotions and we appreciate them helping make them possible.
Thanks also to Roy and Nedra McCraw for hosting the innovative Virtual Coffee Half-Hour fellowships these many months of COVID time.
Thank you all for your humble and faithful service to your fellow parishioners!
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Maundy Thursday Volunteers Needed |
We are looking for volunteers to participate in our annual Maundy Thursday Vigil, which begins at approximately 8:00 p.m. on April 1, immediately following the Maundy Thursday service. The Vigil will take place in the chapel and will continue throughout the night until 7:00 a.m. Morning Prayer and Communion from the Reserved Sacrament. Each volunteer will be responsible for an assigned reading(s) during one hour of the Vigil. We are in particular need of volunteers from midnight to 5:00 a.m.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Nicholas Nitch at nicholasnitch@gmail.com and let him know which hour you would like to sign up for. All are encouraged to attend one or more hours of the Maundy Thursday Vigil even if you do not wish to participate formally. |
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Parishioners are invited to a Zoom Q&A with the Head of St. John's School and the School's Division Heads on Wednesday, April 7 at 5:30 p.m. The link will be mailed out from Realm, or contact John Edgar to receive it. RSVP to Diane Scott if you plan to attend. The leaders of our School want to update you on their progress, please join them! |
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Holy Week and Easter 2021 |
The 2021 Holy Week and Easter schedule has been posted on our website. We are thrilled that, unlike last year, we will be able to gather in person. That said, a limit of 100 attendees remains in place at both the 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. service on Easter Sunday, so please arrive early to assure seating. There will be overflow seating in the Parish Hall, with a view of the livestream. There will not be a reception following the services.
We would love to be able to accommodate our usual packed church, but we appreciate your understanding of our continued need for safety. Because we expect more people in church for Easter services than what is usual right now, please follow the seating rules, distancing restrictions, masking requirements, and any directions from the ushers. Of course, this is not meant to detract from your worship experience, but will provide a safe and comfortable environment for everyone. Contact John Edgar with questions. |
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Love INC Virtual Breakfast |
"Love…Vision…Legacy." These words capture the commitment made by Ann and Michael Doyle over a decade ago to carrying out God’s mission through Love INC. Join Love INC on Tuesday, April 13, at 7:55 a.m. as they celebrate the Doyle's legacy and discover ways to ensure their vision lives on for decades to come.
No charge for this event, login details will be provided after registration. Click on the flyer to view at full size. For questions, contact Evan Smith at esmith@loveinctampa.org
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Youth and Children's Ministries |
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No EYC this week - Happy Easter! Our next Outdoor EYC, Sunday, April 11, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. outside of Connelly House, will be an Easter Celebration! Come for Peeps, Easter games, and bunny foolishness! As usual, Outdoor EYC is a combined (6th through 12th grades) EYC.
6th through 12th graders, sign up to help at our St John’s Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt--which will be completely outside and masked--on Holy Saturday, April 3, at 10:00 a.m.! Please let us know if you are able to volunteer from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. that morning, hiding eggs and then helping to clean up. We will sign for service hours!
Our St John’s local Youth Mission Trip is full with 25 participants, but we are starting a waiting list! Some of our fun evening activities will be an EYC Olympics Night, a Scavenger Hunt, and a Mission Trip Talent Show. The cost is $125 per youth, which includes a day of ziplining! Look for more email communication as the trip gets closer.
Thank you to everyone who has joined our St John’s EYC "class" on the group texting app Remind. You can join the group to stay up to date on EYC happenings by clicking here from your phone : https://remind.com/join/4h36ff
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Our Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt is this Saturday, April 3, at 10:00 a.m. starting in the church courtyard! The St John’s youth group packed hundreds of eggs this week, so we will have plenty of candy and toys to share. The Easter Egg Hunt will be a fun, masked event completely outdoors. If you would like to participate, please contact Ayana Grady at agrady@stjohnstampa.org. |
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Youth Confirmation: No Class This Week |
There is no Youth Confirmation class this week, but don't forget to read Chapter 8 - Navigating the Church: From Local to Worldwide Church in your Confirmation book to prepare for class on April 11! |
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Please let us know if you’d like to "opt-in" for our May at-home Sunday School packets by contacting Children's Minister Ayana Grady at agrady@stjohnstampa.org. If you are already receiving the packets and want to continue, you don’t need to contact us.
This week’s Sunday School curriculum for all classes can be accessed here, along with the weekly cartoon videos.
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Adult Christian Formation |
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Women's Mid Morning Bible Study |
The Women’s Mid Morning Bible Study continues a study of the Book of Job, which biblical scholars include in the genre known as "wisdom literature." They are using Interpretation Bible Studies /Job by David C. Hester as their study guide. They welcome new members joining them at any point in the series. Nicki Weekes will lead the next session on Job 29 - 31, on Tuesday, April 6.
This is a Zoom study on alternate Tuesdays, 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. To receive an invitation to log in
email Joan McKay at mckayjhm@aol.com. Pat Wilson can also provide more information or |
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Wednesday Adult Christian Formation |
The Wednesday Afternoon adult formation group continues on Zoom on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. For more information contact Deacon Kathleen at kmoore@stjohnstampa.org or 785.9400. |
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Action Items and Opportunities |
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Sandwich Sunday Hosts Needed |
We are in need of Sandwich Sunday Hosts for the upcoming year. Available dates are May 16, June 20, July 18, August 22, November 21, and December 19.
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There are many ways to make a one time or recurring gift to your parish! The work of the parish goes on and is more important than ever, and we appreciate your support. Please note, though we have resumed in-person services, we do not pass the collection plates, they will instead be in the rear of the church.
Mail a check to the church
Our address is St. John's Episcopal Church, 906 South Orleans Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606
Send a check through your bank's online bill pay
The bank will need the church's name, address, and usually our phone number, 259.1570
Request that St. John's make an automatic monthly withdrawal from your checking or savings account
Give online
Go to www.stjohnstampa.org and click on "Give Now" on the right side of the top blue bar. The church now has the ability to accept credit and debit card payments, along with checking/savings account payments. To make a pledge or pay in some other way, click on "Stewardship" in the top website menu.
Give by text
In the 'To' field of the text type 73256, then in the message, type SJE. You will receive a text back immediately with a link to complete the payment.
Laurie is available to walk you through any of these methods by email at llawther@stjohnstampa.org or call her at the parish offices at 259.1570. If you prefer, you may also call John Edgar in the parish offices and he will fill out a pledge card for you.
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April 1, Ron Walker, Pete Arcuri, Luke Sevelius, Eliot Miller
April 2, Jim Arthur, David Martin, Kelly Horan, Janis Chapman
April 3, Alan Heller
April 4, Alexandra Greacen, Kevin Holmberg
April 5, Steve Cheeseman, Tim Andreu, Kim Osborne, Pat Matthews, Joceli Hicks, Andy Gustafson, Stacy Dunlap
April 6, John Robbins, George Robbins, Jackson Hoskins, Pam Divers, Amanda Crosby
April 7, Will Jennewein, Samuel Kelley, Christopher Smith
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Thursday, April 1: Maundy Thursday
No Healing Service this week due to Holy Week activities
Men's Interactive Bible Study, 11:45 a.m., Zoom
The Men's Interactive Bible Study meets every Thursday at 11:45 a.m. to study the readings for the coming week and for fellowship. Email John in the parish offices at jedgar@stjohnstampa.org for the link to join.
The Holy Eucharist (Rite II) with Footwashing and the Stripping of the Altar, 7:00 p.m., in the church and livestreamed
The Quartet of St. John’s will sing this service.
The Vigil at the Altar of Repose, 8:00 p.m., in the church
Parishioners will keep the Vigil in the chapel throughout the night.
Friday, April 2: Good Friday
Morning Prayer and Mass of the Pre-Sanctified, 7:00 a.m., in the church
The Liturgy for Good Friday, 12:00 noon, in the church and livestreamed.
The Quartet of St. John’s will sing this service.
Prayers and the Tolling of the Bell, 3:00 p.m., in the church
Saturday, April 3: Holy Saturday and Easter Eve
The Great Vigil and the First Eucharist of Easter, 7:00 p.m., in the church and livestreamed
The Quartet of St. John’s will sing this service and incense is used.
Flowering of the Cross begins this afternoon at 5:00 p.m., Courtyard
Sunday, April 4: The Sunday of the Resurrection, Easter Sunday
Flowering of the Cross begins at 7:45 a.m., Courtyard
The Holy Eucharist (Rite I), 8:00 a.m., Church
No Virtual Coffee Half-Hour this month for the Easter holiday.
Monday and Tuesday, April 5 and 6
Offices closed for Easter holiday
Tuesday, April 6
Women's Mid Morning Bible Study, 10:00 a.m., Zoom
CWBS, 6:00 p.m., Zoom
The Contemporary Women's Bible Study (CWBS) group is doing a weekly virtual study on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. This is a Zoom meeting, so if you are interested in participating, you will need to register. Contact Deacon Kathleen at 785.9400 or kmoore@stjohnstampa.org; or Sally Thompson at tampasal@gmail.com or 254.3009.
Wednesday, April 7
Adult Christian Formation, 2:00 pm., Zoom
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Virtual Worship, Ministries, and Resources |
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Service Information
Sunday Services
In addition to welcoming limited, safe in-person attendance at the 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Sunday services, St. John's streams our 10:00 a.m. services live on Facebook. Access the stream at our page at https://www.facebook.com/stjohnstampa/. The stream is also live on our website.
The Chapel of the Resurrection, outdoors in the courtyard, is open 24/7. Please practice safe distancing measures with other parishioners.
Offices Open But Please Make an Appointment
The parish offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. However most staff and clergy are working from home, so please make an appointment with the staff or clergy member you wish to meet with to be sure they are available. Email us at parish@stjohnstampa.org or call 259.1570 to speak with John Edgar if you have questions.
Virtual Ministries and Prayer Groups
Evening Prayer
Our clergy and staff stream evening prayer daily Monday through Saturday at 4:00 p.m. on Facebook Live. Intercessory prayers are invited in the comments during the feed or email us.
Compline Night Prayer
Nightly compline is offered by the brothers of the Society of St John the Evangelist on their web site at www.ssje.org.
Please note that blue text denotes a hyperlink directly to the service or website referenced.
If you have any questions or trouble using the online services noted above, please contact Lee Lowry by replying to this email, or John Edgar at jedgar@stjohnstampa.org. You can also contact the clergy member or parishioner who is the contact for each ministry.
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Individual Pastoral Care
Although in-person pastoral visits are restricted, your clergy are available to you for pastoral conversations. If you are unable to reach them at the parish offices at 259.1570, please call directly. They can be reached at these numbers:
Pastoral Emergency Line: 813.906.5199
Father Cannon: 864.320.7116
Father Goodheart: 321.446.4934
Deacon Moore: 813.785.9400
Father Reho: 917.526.0746
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Caring for our Parish Family
If you are someone who is able to help your fellow parishioners with errands and other means of support, please contact Fr. MIchael at mcannon@stjohnstampa.org. Conversely, if you are a parishioner who needs help, please also contact Fr. Michael at email at mcannon@stjohnstampa.org or by phone at 864.320.7116. He will match needs with resources so we are able to help one another in Christ's name. |
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