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. Click on the flyer to the left to view it at full size. The Zoom link is in the top right corner, or visit the diocese's website for more details.

Walt Hardenstine's funeral will take place in the church on Saturday, April 17 at 10:30 a.m. Please contact the church office for more information.

The candle in the Sanctuary Light is available on May 16, the candle in the Sanctuary Light is available on May 23, and the flowers at the Chapel Altar are available on May 30. If you would like to take one of these opportunities to honor a loved one and support St. John’s, contact us at parish@stjohnstampa.org.

St. John's invites parishioners and the entire diocese to join us for a three-part speaker program

featuring Christian M. M. Brady. The remaining two events will take place on Sundays 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. Click here to read more about the event and about Christian.

Click here for the recording of the first session. We welcome you to attend one or both of the remaining sessions of this moving and impactful series, even if you missed the first one.

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.

Gifts of thanksgiving for Christian’s generous time with us can be made to the Mack Brady Memorial Men’s Soccer Fund at Penn State, in memory of Christian and Elizabeth Brady’s son.

Join us for EYC this week! We will meet, socially distanced and masked, in the Parish Hall. 6th through 8th graders will meet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., and 9th through 12th graders from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

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 

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.

Save the date! St John's will have a masked, limited attendance Vacation Bible School this summer (June 14 through 17) for potty trained 3 year olds through 4th graders. Please watch for registration info in the coming weeks.

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

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. Adelaide Few will lead the study of Job 38:1 - 40:5 on Tuesday, April 20.

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.

The Wednesday Afternoon adult formation group continues on Zoom on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. The group will reconvene for a new study of Henri Nouwen’s book, Here and Now today, April 14. For more information contact Deacon Kathleen at kmoore@stjohnstampa.org or 785.9400.

We are in need of Sandwich Sunday Hosts for a few more months this year. Available dates are June 20, July 18, August 22, 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.

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.

April 15, Kurt Grotheer, Justin Pepe

April 16, Eric Polins, Sandy MacKinnon, Mark Graff, Grace Grimard

April 17, Margaret Brokaw, Rebecca Lowke, Allan Watkins

April 18, Sally Moore, Mary Picone, Laurie Spencer, Haydn Cole

April 19, Mike Barna, William Van Dyke, Kim Brown, Karen Moore

April 20, Michael Purdy, Chris Brown, Tyler Jones, Lauren Orebaugh

April 21, Sam Dolcimascolo, Cindy Gardner, Alston Barrow

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.

Lamentation, Grace, and Hope Speaker Series, 4:30 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.

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 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 are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Email us at parish@stjohnstampa.org or call 259.1570 to speak with John Edgar if you have questions.

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.