St John's e-News for November 10, 2013

Veterans’ Day and Fall Clergy Conference – The Church Office will be closed on November 11 in honor of Veterans’ Day. In addition, Fr. Ferguson will be away at the Fall Clergy Conference at Camp Chanco Tuesday and Wednesday. He can be reached on his cell phone if needed. If there is a pastoral emergency, please contact the Senior Warden, Leone, on her cell phone. 

The Growth Team – Will meet immediately following worship in the Parish Hall.

Second Sundays at St. John’s – This Sunday is the Second Sunday of November. The Church will be available for tours and some of the parish archives will be available to look at. Please invite your friends and neighbors to come and see St. John’s and our part in the history of Southside Virginia.

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November 10, 2013, 10:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite II
Lessons for the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 27)
First Lesson:  Haggai 1:15b-2:9
Psalm:  Psalm 145:1-5, 18-22
Second Lesson:  2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
Gospel:  Luke 20:27-38

Lay Participants for November 10, 2013 - 10:30 am service

Eucharistic Minister:  Leone
Lector:  Kevin
Prayers:  Terry
Ushers:  Anne and Bert

Refreshments:  No volunteer

Sermon for Sunday, Nov. 3: http://chirb.it/gx0Ork

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Advent Supper and Program – The Rector is planning on offering a short, three week program Wednesday evenings during Advent, Dec. 4, 11, and 18. There will be a simple soup supper and discussion beginning at 6:30 and ending at 8:00. We plan on completing a survey of Advent, its meaning, and practice. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex.

Cleaning the Parish House – It’s time for a little “fall cleaning.” We’re looking for a few people to help neaten/clean up the rooms in the Parish House. Places needing attention include the boiler room, stairwell, and couch room. If things go well, we could also attack some of the things in the attic.

Fall Wednesday Book Study – We are studying the book The Practice of Prayer by Margaret Guenther. We will take this coming Wednesday, November 13, off due to clergy conference. The study will resume the following week and we will discuss Chapter 5 “Practices of Prayer: Retreats and Journaling, Sacramental Confession, and Spiritual Direction”. All are welcome to attend, even if you have not attended any of the previous days. Fr. Ferguson has a book to borrow if necessary and if you would like to participate please contact Fr. Ferguson or Margaret.

The Benefits of Membership at St. John’s – You may wonder “what are the benefits of being a member at St. John’s and what does it cost to be a member?” The easier answer is the cost: it costs whatever God puts on your heart in pledge or in offering – no one keeps track of what a member gives. The benefits: intrinsically there are no special bonuses to being a member. However, membership allows people a vote in the governance of the Parish and its mission. If you have any other questions about membership please contact the Rector, one of the Vestry members, or Don in the Parish office.

Today’s Psalm – We will sing the portion of the Psalter together using a metrical version of the Psalter from A New Metrical Psalter by Christopher Webber as we sing Psalm 145:1-5, 18-22 together. The Psalm will be set to Hymn 529, “In Christ there is no East or West” (McKee) from the Hymnal 1982. The words and music will be found on a bulletin insert.

Formation Classes – This week we will discuss Haggai 1:15b-2:9, “’The Command to Rebuild the Temple’ and ‘The Future Glory of the Temple’” from 9:15-10:15 am in the Parish Hall. Next week’s class will discuss our Old Testament reading Isaiah 65:17-25, “The Glorious New Creation.” All are invited to come together in the Parish Hall from 9:15 to 10:15 am.

Suffolk Night Stay Program – The Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk (CAPS) is preparing to start a winter homeless shelter in the City of Suffolk. It is a distinction that Suffolk is the only City in Tidewater that does not have a homeless program. The vision of the Night Stay Program is to provide overnight lodging, dinner and breakfast for homeless people in Suffolk. CAPS is striving to begin January 1, 2014 and can provide more information about the mechanics of hosting – whether a church is a solo host or a number of churches partner to host for a week. Contact the rector for more information.

Thought for the week – Trust: Learning to relax in the water, to trust its buoyancy, to let go of our fear – all these are key to staying afloat in deep waters. In the same way, we could say that to have faith is to trust in God, to believe in God’s ability to sustain us, to hold us up, even in difficult circumstances. Faith helps us to relax and let go, to rest and find peace.

- Br. David Vryhof, SSJE

Society of Saint John the Evangelist

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Upcoming Events:
Daily Mon.-Thu.      * Daily Morning Prayer – 9:00 am (Parish House)
Thu. Nov. 7^th          * Choir rehearsal – 7:00-8:30 pm (Choir Room)
Fri. Nov. 8^th           * Sanctuary reserved for Bradshaw/Hudson wedding
Sat. Nov. 9^th          * Church and Parish House reserved – Bradshaw/Hudson
                             Wedding
Sun. Nov. 10^th        * Growth Team meeting – Following worship (Parish Hall)
Mon. Nov. 11^th        * Veteran’s Day – Office closed
Tue. Nov. 12^th        * Fall Clergy Conference – Camp Chanco
Wed. Nov. 13^th       * Fall Clergy Conference – Camp Chanco
                             * Garden Club Meeting – 3:30-8:00 pm (Parish Hall)
Thu. Nov. 14^th        * Choir rehearsal – 7:00-8:30 pm (Choir Room)
Mon. Nov. 18^th        * G. F. W. C. Junto Women’s Group – 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (Parish
                             House
                             * Vestry Meeting – 7:00-9:00 pm (Parlor)
Wed. Nov. 20^th      * Book Study – 10:00-11:30 am (Parish Hall)
Thu. Nov. 21^st        * Choir rehearsal – 7:00-8:30 pm (Choir Room)
Sun. Nov. 24^th        * Community Thanksgiving Service
Thu. Nov. 28^th        * Thanksgiving – Office Closed
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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/
Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk (CAPS)     http://www.capsuffolk.com

PASTORAL CARE

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

Marianne, Meriwether, Allen, Shirley, Suzanne, Janis, Lon, Barbara, Kathleen and Fergal, Steve, Morse, Rick, Tony, the Terry family, the Arnold family, Bob, Marvin, Kaille, Lillian, Opal, Elvira, Eddie, Pam, Dorothy, and David.

Serving in the Armed Forces and Overseas: Bryan, Elizabeth, Dane, Leon, and Patrick

Deceased: Kathy Eaton

Parish Cycle of Prayer: Pretlow & Mary Kemple

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Rt. Rev. Scott Hayashi – The Bishop of Utah.

Flower Dedication: To the Glory of God and in honor of His many blessings by Tony & Marvetta.

Birthdays in November

Dianne 04                    Doug 11
Eddie 13                     Steven 16
Kathy 28                     Dotty 29

If you are in need of Pastoral Care

Please call Father Ferguson.
Home:  757-484-8409

Contact Minister of Music Roger Peyton

Website: http://StJohnsSuffolk.blogspot.com

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