Tomorrow, Thursday, December 9, we will have a special session of Evening Prayer. Not only will

Mark Lane-Holbert pray at the usual time of 4:00 p.m., Ayana and the Youth Council will do the service at 7:00 pm!!

Evening Prayer begins on page 63 of the Book of Common Prayer, and the scripture for that day will be Psalm 37, Revelation 2: 8-17, and the Gospel according to Matthew 23: 13-26. Join us!

Interested adults are invited to join us for an in-person Advent study, in the Lowry Room between services on Sundays from 8:50 to 9:50 a.m. This will be a video-based study, Light of the World, by internationally renowned scholar, teacher and author Dr Amy-Jill Levine, University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Bring your coffee and join the conversation! For more information, contact Deacon Kathleen at kmoore@stjohnstampa.org or 785.9400.

The first formal service of Nine Lessons and Carols was established by the then Bishop of Truro, The Rt. Revd. Edward White Benson, in 1880. Benson, concerned by the excessive consumption of alcohol in Cornish pubs during the festive season, sought a means of attracting revellers out of the pubs and into church for a religious celebration of Christmas! Four hundred people attended, in then what was a wooden pro-cathedral, since the Victorian gothic cathedral was still under construction. More recently, the service has been made popular through the annual broadcast on Christmas Eve from King's College, Cambridge.

Here at St. John's, we will offer an abbreviated service of Lessons and Carols with Eucharist on Sunday, December 19, at 10:00 a.m. This service will feature the music of Philip Stopford, William Mathias, and Peter Warlock, together with much-loved carols for choir and congregation. Please plan to join us!

The St. Bartholomew Travel Society is excited to announce its much-anticipated pilgrimage/tour August 31 through September 14, 2022 to four Balkan countries: Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and Bosnia & Herzegovina. These countries are visually stunning and contain several UNESCO World Heritage sites. This all-inclusive program

promises to be both spiritually and culturally enriching. Departure on August 31 will be from Church of the Redeemer to Miami International Airport.

Look for more details at a table in the courtyard beginning this Sunday, November 28. Questions? Please contact Linda Robinson at lindarobinsonsrq@gmail.com or 941.914.2688.

Advent Lessons and Carols yesterday was an incredibly beautiful way to usher in this special, joyful time of waiting for our Savior. Thanks to Simon Morley and our entire choir, as well as to Chef Dave and his helpers for making it so festive and our wonderful Sexton, Ken Johnston, for all his help with the service and reception and with the wreath making event!

Advent wreath making was so much fun! Thanks to all who attended, we hope you enjoy lighting candles and commemorating this season of joyful anticipation!

Offering envelopes for Christmas Memorial Flowers are in the Church. All dedications must be returned to the parish offices by Thursday, December 9, in order to meet our print deadline. Those wishing to participate may return the envelopes by Thursday or email the parish offices at parish@stjohnstampa.org, including the dedication and the name(s) of those making the request in the body of the email. You may also make your contribution by clicking on this link and selecting "Christmas Flowers" from the dropdown menu. Dedications may be given in memory of loved ones and/or in thanksgiving for loved ones.

Thanks to everyone who is participating in the Giving Tree effort this year to benefit Cornerstone Kids, the local after-school program in Tampa Heights.

We hope you are enjoying your gift-buying experiences for the children. We are still in need of $20 Wal-Mart gift cards for their parents, hoping to collect 40 in all.

All wrapped presents, gift cards and food/paper products are due in the church office by December 9. Call MC Jenkins with questions at 503.4605.

Ayana visited the Berkeley Winter Concert and the Plant JV Girls Basketball game this week to cheer on our youth! Do you have activities going on? Let her know, she'd love to be there!

Our 2022 Youth Mission Trip is now open! We will be serving in New Orleans from Thursday, June 2 through Thursday, June 9. The cost is $550 per person. We will sign for 30 service hours, and a $100 deposit will secure your spot!

Are you looking for another volunteer opportunity this season? St John’s Annual Cornerstone Kids Christmas Party, led by Shawn O’Brien, will be tomorrow, Thursday, December 9 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at St James House of Prayer Episcopal Church at 2708 N Central Ave, Tampa, FL 33602. This will be an outdoor event and includes Christmas karaoke, crafts, and games with the kids. If you would like to help, please contact Youth Minister Ayana Grady (agrady@stjohnstampa.org)!

Don’t forget to follow our EYC Instagram to stay up to date on current and upcoming events. We recently debuted our new One Minute Devotional series, which will be led each Thursday by members of our St John’s Youth Council!

Join our Remind EYC group text to stay up to date on EYC happenings by clicking here (from your phone)!

The Women’s Mid Morning Bible Study has concluded their fall study of the first and second letters of Paul to the Thessalonians. The group will break for Advent and Christmas, resuming meeting on Tuesday, January 11. The venue is yet to be decided. They will be studying 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus for the first half of 2022. More information will be forthcoming.

To learn more, contact Sally Wiley at wiley48sm@gmail.com or 244.4497 or Pat Wilson at patwilson68@tampabay.rr.com. All women of the parish and those whom they would like to invite are welcome to join them.

The Wednesday Afternoon adult formation group continues on Zoom on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. The group studies the work of a variety of Christian writers; group discussions are lively and substantive. All are welcome. For more information contact Deacon Kathleen at kmoore@stjohnstampa.org or 785.9400.

Flowers and the candle adorning the High Altar and the flowers at the Chapel Altar on Sundays and Holy Days are financially supported by individuals and families in memory of departed loved ones or in thanksgiving for blessings received.

If you would like to make a memorial or give a gift in thanksgiving on one of the dates below, contact us at parish@stjohnstampa.org or 259.1570.

January 2 – Flowers at the Chapel Altar

January 9 – Flowers at the Church Altar

January 16 – Flowers at the Chapel Altar

January 23 - Candle in the Sanctuary Light

January 30 – Candle in the Sanctuary Light

The next Love INC 101 session will be held on Wednesday, December 15 from noon to 1:00 p.m. on Zoom. If you would like more information about volunteer opportunities at Love INC (St John’s is a founding partner church), you may register on the Love INC website. Go to www.loveinctampa.org and click on "Upcoming Events. Questions? Please call Evan Smith, Love INC Executive Director, at 407.221.1931 (cell) or contact Deacon Kathleen at 785.9400.

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.

December 9, Thomas Conlee, Jack Koch

December 10, Kevin Johnson, Julie Sunich, Nicole Hasselbach, Reese Kenney

December 11, Ingalls Witte, Tommy Moxley, Corbin Bexley

December 12, Steve Galloway, Christopher Walker, Jack Walker, Ellie Taylor

December 13, none

December 14, Ab Goodman, Mary Greacen, Kathy Lewis, Donna Gem, Sharon Stoll

December 15, Peggy Thompson, Marty Angiulli, Alexis Farmen, Hayden Atzenhoefer

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. The group will convene in person in the Lowry Room for those who are comfortable. If you prefer to continue joining virtually, email John in the parish offices at jedgar@stjohnstampa.org for the link.

The Holy Eucharist (Rite I), 8:00 a.m., Church, followed by Coffee Hour Fellowship

The Holy Eucharist (Rite II), 10:00 a.m., in the Church and on Facebook, and our website, followed by Coffee Hour Fellowship

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 does 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, contact Deacon Kathleen at 785.9400 or kmoore@stjohnstampa.org; or Sally Thompson at tampasal@gmail.com or 254.3009 for the link.

In addition to welcoming 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. Please access our most current safety guidance here.

The audio for sermons is here. New sermons are uploaded by Tuesday 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 are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (open Fridays starting December 3). Email us at parish@stjohnstampa.org or call 259.1570 to speak with John Edgar if you have questions.

Our clergy, staff, and fellow parishioners 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.

Compline is offered by the brothers of the Society of St John the Evangelist on their web site at www.ssje.org on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:30 p.m EST.

If you have any questions or trouble using the online services noted above, please contact Lee Lowry by replying to this email, or to John Edgar at jedgar@stjohnstampa.org. You can also contact the clergy member or parishioner who is the contact for each ministry. 

Father Robinson: 941.350.0043

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.