St. John's e-News for Sunday April 1, 2012 - Palm Sunday

Our Palm Sunday Worship – Weather permitting, we will begin the Palm Sunday worship in front of the Parish House and we will process across the yard to the Sanctuary. At the end of the service we will recess out in silence to begin the visible part of our Holy Week journey. In addition, we will be inviting attendees to assist in the choral reading of the Passion Gospel.

Easter lily Orders – Please consider sponsoring an Easter lily this year. If you would like to purchase one, please use the form in this week’s bulletin to order your Easter lilies that will be used to decorate the church for Easter Sunday. The dedications will appear in the Easter Sunday bulletin for the second service.

Holy Week Community Services – Again this year the Greater Oakland and Chuckatuck churches will celebrate Holy Week Services as Community Services. The schedule will be: Maundy Thursday (Apr. 5) at Oakland Community Church; dinner begins at 6:00 pm and a service of Eucharist and Tennebrae follows. Good Friday (Apr. 6) will be held at Wesley Chapel beginning at 7:00 pm. We will host Easter Sunrise Service at the Pond Altar at 6:30 am.

          Oakland would like a headcount for dinner before April 2. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. Please join our Christian Community in Oakland and Chuckatuck observe Holy Week as a community.
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April 1, 2012, 10:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I
Lessons for the Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday
First Lesson:  Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm:  31:9-16
Second Lesson:  Philippians 2:5-11
Gospel:  Mark 14:1-15:47

Lay Participants for April 1, 2012 - 10:30 am service

Eucharistic Minister:  Mary-Margaret
Lector:  Bernice
Prayers:  Marlene
Ushers:  Nick and Tina
Nursery Attendant:  Khristina
Nursery Assistant:  Laura

Refreshments:  Marlene

Sermon for March 25: http://chirb.it/whDvH2

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Newsletter inputs – We need to have Newsletter inputs form assigned people. We intend to publish the April Newsletter on April 4. For more information, contact Terry.

Volunteers for Flowers and Decorate the Church - Please lend a hand on Saturday, April 7, at 9:00 am, we will be decorating inside the Church and the outside altar. This will last 2 to 3 hours. We need everyone to bring any spring flowers you may wish. We also need for everyone to help do the decorating. Let’s present our best for the Easter service as it is a community service.

Parish Growth Strategy – Burr has agreed to serve as the head of our Parish Growth Committee. He will be contacting members of the Parish to identify the areas where we see potential growth and what actions we can take to achieve that growth. Please prayerfully consider serving on this committee if called.

New Diocesan Newsletter – The Diocese is kicking off a new, electronic Newsletter. This is in response to the cost cutting measure of ceasing publication of a hard-copy Jamestown Cross. The Diocesan Connection is available at http://images.acswebnetworks.com/1/2279/MarchApril2012.pdf.

Today’s Psalm – We will sing the portion of the Psalter in unison. We will use a metrical version of the Psalter from A New Metrical Psalter by Christopher Webber as we sing Psalm 31:9-16 in unison. The Psalm will be set to Hymn 457 Thou art the Way, to thee alone (St. James) from the Hymnal 1982. The words and music will be found on a bulletin insert.

Formation Classes – We will discuss our Old Testament reading Isaiah 50:4-9a, “The Servant’s Humiliation and Vindication” this Sunday from 9:15-10:15 am. We will not have class next week but will continue the week after Easter. All are invited to join us for class this Sunday.

Wednesday Book Study - Our book study will take a 1-week break on April 4 and will continue Wednesday, April11 at 10:00 am and we will discuss Chapter 11, “Seeing with God’s eyes” from the book Made for Goodness: And Why This Makes All the Difference by The Most Rev. Desmond Tutu and The Rev. Mpho Tutu. If you would like to participate or have a copy of the book please contact Margaret.

Thought for the week – Reconciliation: During these days of Lent, how might God be wanting to break again and break open the hardness of your head and your heart? If we allow God to break through, we may well be surprised and delighted to discover wonderful fruits within us – fruits of gentleness and kindness, of generosity and tenderness.

-Br. Geoffrey Tristam, SSJE

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Upcoming Events:
Wed. Mar. 28^th      Wednesday evening Lenten series and Soup Supper – 6:30 –
                             8:00 (Parish House) Islam
Sat. Mar. 31^st        Salvation Army Luncheon
Sun. Apr. 1^st           Palm Sunday – Procession of the Palms
                             Discretionary Fund Sunday
Mon. Apr. 2^nd     Deadline to sign up for Maundy Thursday Supper
Thu. Apr. 5^th          Community Maundy Thursday Dinner and Worship – Oakland
                             Christian Church, 6:00 pm (dinner) service following
                             Rev. Janet Weidler, Presiding; Rev. Ileana Rosario Preacher
Fri. Apr. 6^th           Community Good Friday Service – 7:00 pm Wesley Chapel
                             Rev. Ileana Rosario Presiding, Rev. Les Ferguson Preacher
Sun. Apr. 8^th         Easter Sunrise Service 6:30 am; St. John’s Pond Altar;
                             Rev. Les Ferguson Presiding; Rev. Janet Weidler
                             Festive Easter Eucharist - 10:30 am
Mon. Apr. 9^th         Easter Monday – Offices closed
Sat. Apr. 14^th        James River Rug Hookers
Mon. Apr. 16^th        Junto GFWC Meeting – 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (Parish House)
                             Vestry Meeting – 7:00 pm (Parish House)
Sun. May 6^th          Bishop’s Visitation
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Community Church Websites:
New Community Christian Center                      http://www.nccfamily.us
Oakland Christian Church (UCC)                       http://www.oaklandchristianchurch.com/
Perfecting Saints Church of God in Christ       http://www.pscogic.com/
Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church         http://www.wesleychapelchuckatuck.org
Ebenezer United Methodist Church                 http://ebumc.net/

PASTORAL CARE

Pray for Katherine, our presiding bishop; Holly, our bishop; and Les our priest.

St. John’s shut-ins, Marianne, Meriwether, Allen, David, Shirley, Suzanne, Janis, Dominique, Virginia, Lon, Luann, David, Evan, Kevin, Faye and family, Carter and family, Foster family, Lisa, Terri and Family, Marvin, Denise, Jaelyn, Sally, Bill, Heather, Toni, Pat, Elsie, Charles, and the Goman family.

Serving in the Armed Forces: Bryan, Susan, Jonathon, Aaron, and Kevin.

Serving Overseas: David
Parish Cycle of Prayer: Paul & Mary
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. Paul's, Norfolk; St. Peter's, Norfolk; St. Stephen's, Norfolk; Tucker House, Norfolk.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; All glory, laud and honor, to thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. The Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani - Jerusalem Middle East.

Birthdays in April

John 06                        Barbara 10
Matthew 14                 Bryan 16
Katherine 16               Paul 24
Jake 26                        Bryan 27
Bernice 30

Anniversaries in April

Tim & Bev 03             Doug & Mac 30

If you are in need of Pastoral Care,

Please call Father Ferguson.
Cell:  757-418-0063

Contact Music Minister Roger Peyton

Website: http://StJohnsSuffolk.blogspot.com

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