St. John's e-News for Sunday March 11, 2012 - SPRING FORWARD!!

DON’T FORGET: SPRING FORWARD SUNDAY AT 2:00 AM!

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.

Bishop’s Visitation – The Rt. Rev. Holly Hollerith will conduct his first official Visitation since his consecration as our Diocesan Bishop on May 6. While not essential this is an opportunity for Baptism, Confirmation, or Reception in the Episcopal Church. For more information about these rites and being Confirmed or Received in May contact the Rector.

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March 11, 2012, 10:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I
Lessons for the Third Sunday in Lent
First Lesson:  Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm:  19
Second Lesson:  1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Gospel:  John 2:13-22

Lay Participants for March 11, 2012 - 10:30 am service

Eucharistic Minister:  Terry
Lector:  Ben
Prayers:  Suze
Ushers:  Steven and Suze
Nursery Attendant:  Stephanie
Nursery Assistant:  To be determined

Refreshments:  No one has signed up

Sermon for March 4: http://chirb.it/cIgebF
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Lenten Series and Soup Supper – We will continue our practice of a Lenten Series and Soup Supper beginning at 6:30 pm March 7^th and continuing until the week before Holy Week. We will survey World Religions with primary focus on monotheistic religions: Judaism and Islam; as well as (hopefully) Hinduism. Please come join us for food, fellowship, and education.

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.

Leading a Holy Life Task Force – The Episcopal Church in Southern Virginia, under the leadership of Bishop Hollerith, has created a blog where members of the churches in our Diocese are encouraged to enter the conversation regarding the potentially divisive subject of same-gender blessings and generally the Biblical discussions regarding human sexuality.

          The blog can be found at http://holylifetf.blogspot.com/. Information about comments is found at: http://holylifetf.blogspot.com/p/commenting-guidelines.html. No one is required to participate in the conversation but this blog is intended to provide a channel where more people across the Diocese of Southern Virginia can participate in this sensitive discussion.
          If you have any questions or would like to participate in a local discussion please contact the Rector.

Our Lenten Worship – During Lent we will celebrate communion using Holy Eucharist Rite I. We will continue to sing the psalm and sing the Trisagion instead of the Gloria. The Trisagion will be the one we “normally” use (or at least the one we used last year).

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 19 in unison. The Psalm will be set to Hymn 126: The people who in darkness walked (Dundee) from the Hymnal 1982. The words and music will be found on a bulletin insert.

Formation Classes – We will discuss our Old Testament reading Exodus 20:1-17, “The Ten Commandments” this Sunday from 9:15-10:15 am. Next week will continue our study of the Old Testament Lectionary reading; Numbers 21:4-9, “The Bronze Serpent.” All are invited to join us for class.

Wednesday Book Study - Our book study will continue this coming Wednesday, March 14 at 10:00 am and we will discuss Chapter 8, “Why Does God Let Us Sin?” 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 – Stewardship: One of the gifts God gives us with new life is the urge to respond by giving and giving generously and repeatedly as God gives. Of course, there is no way to repay for our new life. That is not what is asked. But our response can be to own the liberation offered us to live fully and give ourselves and what we have with bold generosity.

-Br. Eldridge Pendleton, SSJE

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Upcoming Events:
Wed. Mar. 7^th        Wednesday evening Lenten series and Soup Supper – 6:30 –
                             8:00 (Parish House) Judaism
Sat. Mar. 10^th        James River Rug Hookers – 10 am – 3 pm (Parish Hall)
Sun. Mar. 11^th         Daylight Savings Time begins – SPRING FORWARD 1 HOUR
                             Packing Food Bags for Stand Up for Kids following service
Mon. Mar. 12^th        Vestry Meeting – 7:00 – 9:00 pm (Parish House)
Wed. Mar. 14^th       Wednesday evening Lenten series and Soup Supper – 6:30 –
                             8:00 (Parish House) Islam
Thu. Mar. 15^th        Diocesan Fresh Start – 10 am – 3:30 pm (Camp Chanco)
Sun. Mar. 18^th        Healing Eucharist
Mon. Mar. 19^th        GFWC Junto Women’s Club – 10 am – 2 pm (Parish House)
Wed. Mar. 21^st       Wednesday evening Lenten series and Soup Supper – 6:30 –
                             8:00 (Parish House) TBD
Wed. Mar. 28^th      Wednesday evening Lenten series and Soup Supper – 6:30 –
                             8:00 (Parish House) TBD
Sat. Mar. 31^st        Salvation Army Luncheon
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

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, and Jonathon

Serving Overseas: David

Parish Cycle of Prayer: Bryan & Karen

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Ascension, Norfolk; Christ & St. Luke's, Norfolk; Happening #58
The Rev. Fletcher & Mary Fran Lowe, Jr.; The Rev. Jo Taylor.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Anglican Church in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui); The Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwong, Archbishop of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui & Bishop of Hong Kong Island.

Birthdays in March

David 02       Steve 05

Shannon 06   Brooks 07

Wade 08        Mary-Margaret 08

Caroline 09    Fred 12

Tim 13           Pretlow 15

John 18          Elizabeth 19

Clare 23         John 27

Cooper 28

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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