Ayana will be co-leading a virtual presentation at the Forma '21 conference on January 27. Forma is a national Episcopal conference for Christian Formation leaders, Youth Ministers, and clergy. Learn more here.

This group of twelve successfully completed St. John's first Sacred Ground circle: Leslie Jennewein (Leader), Lanny Russell, Sally Thompson, Melissa Ariss-Menendez, Greg Gaar, Mike Doyle, Ann Doyle, Laura Cruse, Nicholas Nitch, Kathleen Moore, Erika Cannon, and Michael Cannon.

We are excited to announce that parishioner Laura Cruse will be leading the next Sacred Ground, the film-based dialogue series on race and faith. The series will be held in a small group limited to 15 people and conducted on Zoom in 10 sessions, meeting every other week.

The small group will be invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. The series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. For more information, visit https://episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground.

Contact Laura Cruse or Fr. Michael to join.

• Prayer Support

• Replenish low eviction prevention funds to help guests pay past due rents.

• Donate including In-kind donations - media/promotion/office supplies, etc.

• Five warm introductions to new member churches.

• Ten new Help Center Volunteers: Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and flexible assignments to meet your schedule.

• Five new Volunteer Resource Navigators: In order to fully implement our REACH initiative, five volunteers willing to faith journey in a one to one relationship as mentor coach to participate in creating a success plan to improve the future of guests with long-term challenges.

• Five volunteers willing to be trained as facilitators for REACH Program.

• Interns year-round including Media Volunteer - media savvy student with iPhone in back pocket to help update our busy media platforms.

• New or gently used, updated computers and laptops for guest who are planning to return to school/training programs.

• Corporate Sponsors for breakfast events and/or programing.

Do you have questions or thoughts about how you can help? Please contact Evan D. Smith, 222.2250 or esmith@loveinctampa.org.

The Way of Love small group invites all parishioners under the age of 40 to join. This new fellowship group is a wonderful place for younger adults to make and nurture friendships while growing in faith. Meetings (currently on Zoom) are held the first Wednesday each month and last 90 minutes. In them we pray, talk, learn, find and give mutual support, and have fun! To learn more or to sign up, please send an email or text to Fr. Cannon.

In light of the pandemic, the Vestry has approved voting for 2021 Vestry candidates by mail. If you would like to receive a ‘Vote-By-Mail’ ballot, please email the parish office at jedgar@stjohnstampa.org or call us at 259.1570 as soon as possible. 

Early voting during office hours (Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) is open now. Early voting is also available in the parish office immediately following Sunday services on January 24 and 31 and on February 7. View the bios and photos of the eight candidates here.

The Annual Meeting will be held in the church and on Zoom on February 14, 2021, at 11:30 a.m. Parishioners will have the opportunity to ask questions whether they attend in person or on Zoom. The Zoom credentials and more information will be posted on Realm soon.

General registration for The St. John’s Open is now available through our event site here until Friday January 29 at 4:00 p.m. Your registration as a single player, or team registration as a foursome includes the following; one round of golf, a bucket of range balls, lunch, use of golf cart, an event golf shirt and towel, and select beverages.

 

Tournament registration options are: individual player (one cart) $150 and foursome (one cart) $500 

Access to the Bay Palms Golf course on the MacDill Base and registration confirmation is determined solely by base authorities upon successful clearance. Guests registering for the event will provide required personal information to process clearance requests, as well as their event beverage preferences. Once registration meets capacity guests may opt in to be added onto the event wait list. 

Holy Conversations/Holy Relationships is a six-session small group program focusing on how God is acting in our lives, designed to help participants strengthen their spiritual journey. It will explore the calling we often feel but struggle to understand, the joy that overcomes us when least expected, and the alignment of our secular and spiritual lives. 

If you are searching for something more in your religious life, participating in this experience might be a wonderful way to begin your Epiphany. The program will begin in late January. Meeting frequency and times will be determined by each group. Learn more about the program here. To view our Q&A about Holy Conversations/Holy Relationships, click here.

On Tuesday, January 26, the Women’s Mid Morning Bible Study will continue 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. Mary Jane Schenck will lead the discussion of Unit 2, “Let There Be Darkness,” Job 3:1-26 on January 26.

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

answer questions, contact her at patwilson68@tampabay.rr.com or 245.9562.

Our Lenten series On Forgiveness will be presented by the clergy and staff of St. John’s each Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. These conversational sessions will feature stories from a documentary entitled “The Power of Forgiveness,” explore the meaning of the parable of The Prodigal Son using Henri Nouwen’s Return of the Prodigal Son, and provide practical resources for approaching and processing forgiveness as found in the Book of Common Prayer and in tradition. If you plan to attend, you would benefit by the acquisition and reading of Nouwen’s book, though it is certainly not required.

February 24 – Deacon Moore on “The Power of Forgiveness”

March 3 – Fr. Cannon on “The Younger Son”

March 10 – Ayana Grady on “The Elder Son”

March 17 – Fr. Goodheart on “The Father”

March 24 - Fr. Reho on resources and tools for forgiveness

The Way of the Cross liturgy will be performed in the church each Wednesday of Lent at 5:00 p.m. and broadcast online. The schedule of leaders is as follows: February 24 - Fr. Cannon, March 3 - Ayana Grady, March 10 - Fr. Goodheart, March 17 - Fr. Reho, March 24 - Deacon Moore.

St. John’s Enquirers Class is an important formational opportunity for all parishioners seeking to deepen their faith. Led by Fr. Cannon, this 10-week course delves into several critical topics through which we understand our faith. Holy Scripture, the Book of Common Prayer, sacraments, prayer, worship, mission, doctrine, and church history will be taught and discussed. The idea is for each participant to come to and strengthen their own faith by better understanding the teachings of the church and its instruments for faithful practice. This course is open to anyone who wants to deepen their faith. All will benefit from the content discussion and group fellowship. This course is required for adults seeking to be baptized, confirmed, or received into The Episcopal Church, and anyone wanting to make a public reaffirmation of their faith. The class begins Sunday, February 7 at 12:30, probably on Zoom until it is safe to gather in the parish hall. The class is free of charge. Please contact John Edgar or Fr. Cannon to enroll.

The Adult Formation Group meets via Zoom each Wednesday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Topics for study and discussion are suggested by the group, which is currently involved in a study of Cynthia Bourgeault’s book, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene.

All are welcome; if you have not previously attended the Wednesday afternoon sessions, contact Deacon Kathleen at kmoore@stjohnstampa.org or 785.9400 for the login information.

The following candles and flowers are available in the coming months: February 21- Sanctuary Candle, April 4 - Sanctuary Candle, April 11 - Chapel Altar Flowers, April 18 - Church Altar Flowers. If you would like to take one of these opportunities to honor a loved one and support your parish, please contact us.

We are in need of Sandwich Sunday Hosts for the upcoming year. Available dates are March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, August 22, September 19, October 17, November 21, and December 19.

Hosts can assemble lunches at their own homes, and deliver them to Faith Cafe the next day. Costs are reimbursed by the parish. Contact Cindy Martin if you can help.

On Sunday, January 31, St John's EYC will have a special guest--our Diocese of Southwest Florida Youth Ministry Director, Matt Bowers! Matt will be leading both Middle and High School EYC on the 31st, and he will also give us details about upcoming Dayspring events (Summer Camp, New Beginnings, and Happening).

Super Bowl Party, Sunday, February 7, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., outside of Connelly (Discovery) House

Join us for a combined (6th through 12th grade) Super Bowl themed EYC--with fun snacks, games, and raffle prizes! Dress in your best jersey for a costume contest. Kickoff isn’t until 6:30 p.m., so you’ll have plenty of time to get home before the big game! Bring a chair, and masks are required. Are you ready for some football? 

Please let us know if you'd like to receive our February at-home Sunday School packet by contacting Children's Minister Ayana Grady at agrady@stjohnstampa.org.

This week’s Sunday School curriculum for all classes can be accessed here, along with the weekly cartoon videos.

Contact Laurie Lawther at llawther@stjohnstampa.org to set up.

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.

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.

January 21, Laura Cruse, Marla Farrior, Peggy Sauerwein

January 22, , James Graff, Doug Arthur, Kelly Holbrook

January 23, Jim Martin, Thomas Gardner

January 24, Dylan Crain, Ron Hulse, Richard Eatman, David Stillie, Erin Carr, Andrew Galavis

January 25, David Wheaton, Calvin Hayes

January 26, Andrew Williams, Greg Rix, Jamie Graff, Hamilton O'Brien

January 27, Emilie Williams, Charleston Roman

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), 10:00 a.m., Church, on Facebook Live, and our website

Bulletins and other resources are available here. 

Click here for the readings, St. John's follows Track 2.

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.

St. John's continues to stream our 10:00 a.m. services on Facebook Live on Sundays. Access the stream at our page at https://www.facebook.com/stjohnstampa/. The stream is also live on our website.

The audio for sermons is here. New sermons are uploaded by Monday each week. Bulletins for Sundays are here, each week's bulletin is uploaded to this page by Saturday. Click here to find the readings for this coming Sunday (St. John's follows Track 2). You can also see Sunday services on our YouTube channel, they are uploaded each Sunday by mid-afternoon.

The parish offices have reopened. Regular hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, however most staff and clergy are still 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.

Fr. Reho invites you to join the School for daily chapel services on the School's YouTube channel. For safety, students will have chapel in their homeroom via video for the time being. A reminder that the sermon is geared to children, but is no less enjoyable for that fact. The link is the same every day: www.stjohnseagles.org/daily-chapel, the services become live each morning at 6:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. You can also access the Chapel Book here if you would like to follow along.

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.

Nightly compline is offered by the brothers of the Society of St John the Evangelist on their web site at www.ssje.org.

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. 

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.