The Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols – On December 30, for worship we will observe the Service of 9 Christmas Lessons and Carols. We will need volunteers to read the lessons. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex or contact the Rector.

Greening the Church for Christmas – We will green the church on December 23, this Sunday. Everyone’s help will be needed. This is when we prepare the Sanctuary and ourselves for our Christmas Eve service.

Wesley Chapel Christmas Cantata – The annual Christmas Cantata at Wesley Chapel UMC will be held this evening, Wednesday, December 19 at 7:30 pm.
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December 23, 2018, 10:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite II
Lessons for Fourth Sunday of Advent
First Lesson:  Micah 5:2-5a
Canticle 15
Second Lesson:  Hebrews 10:5-10
Gospel:  Luke 1:39-55

Lay Participants for December 23, 2018 – 10:30 am service
Acolyte:  Jim
Lector:  Margaret
Prayers:  Jim
Ushers:  Garry & Marcella

Refreshments:  Marcella (greening of the Church

Sermon from December 16: https://chirb.it/EN8M0h
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Longest Night Service (Blue Christmas) – There will be Longest Night service on Friday, December 21st at 7:00 pm at Oakland Christian UCC. The purpose of the Blue Christmas service is to acknowledge this hope-filled season can be filled with overwhelming sorrow and pain. We hope that you will come and sit with one another in a liturgy that speaks of the love of God for the grieving so that you may gain a greater knowledge of the One who loves us in sorrow and joy.

Vestry Election – Congratulations to Bert and Jim on their election to the Vestry for the term 2019-2021.

Formation Classes – All are invited to come together in the Parish Hall from 9:15 to 10:15 am. We will begin a study reflecting on the weekly lessons from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Sunday’s Psalm – This Sunday we 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 Canticle 15 together.

Church Quiz – Over the coming weeks we will have a “Church Quiz” as part of our announcements and e-News. All are invited to think about and answer the week’s question. Answers will be provided the following week.
Last week’s question and answer: Question Concerning the book of Ruth: which testament is it in? What division is it in? How many chapters does it have? Answer: The book of Ruth is found in the Historical Books division of the Old Testament; it has 4 chapters.
This week’s question: Concerning the book of 1 & 2 Samuel: which testament is it in? What division is it in? How many chapters does it have? Look for the answer next week.

Hospitality hour Sign-up – The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board; please sign-up for an upcoming Sunday. If you would like to help but cannot provide all the items for coffee hour/lemonade on the lawn any assistance, even a single item, will be graciously accepted.

Upcoming Parish Events – Tuesdays through June: Boy Scouts (7:00 – 8:30 pm); Dec. 19 – Wesley Chapel Christmas Cantata; Dec. 23 – Greening of the church; Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve Service; Dec. 25 – Office Closed; Dec. 30 – Christmas Lessons and Carols.

Thought for the week – Savior: The truth is, we all need a savior, because the world isn’t all that we know it can be. It wasn’t then and it’s not now. It wasn’t for Isaiah, and it isn’t for us. It wasn’t for the psalmist, and it isn’t for us. Life isn’t what we frequently pretend it to be; nor is the world. And that’s the whole point of Christmas.

– Br. James Koester, SSJE
Society of Saint John the Evangelist
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Upcoming Events:
Online calendar: http://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/parish-calendar/
Online events listing: http://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/events/
Tues. until Jun.  * Boy Scouts meet
Wed. Dec. 19th * Christmas Cantata – 7:30 pm (Wesley Chapel UMC)
Fri. Dec. 21st    * Longest Night Worship – 7:00 pm (Oakland Christian UCC)
Sun. Dec. 23rd * Greening of the Church
Mon. Dec. 24th  * Festive Christmas Eve Eucharist – 5:00 pm
Tue. Dec. 25th   * Office closed
Sat. Dec. 29th    * Fifth Saturday Luncheon – Salvation Army
Sun. Dec. 30th   * Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols
Sun. Jan. 6th      * Epiphany Sunday
* Parish Annual Meeting and Potluck – following worship
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PASTORAL CARE
For Michael, our presiding bishop; Holly, our bishop; Jay our assistant bishop; and for Les, our priest.

Meriwether, Allen, Lon, Marvin, Leone, Virginia, Jimmye, Margaret, Richard, Mike and Gail, Opal, Carolyn, Diane, Ann, Virginia, Patti, John David, Bette, Larry, Alice, David, Bob, Carroll, Lawrence, Fin, Kim and family, Beth and Adele and family, Katherine, Leroy, Chris and family, and Toni.

Serving in the Armed Forces and Overseas: Alexander, Leon, Alan Vaughan, Sheldon & Elizabeth, Brandon, and Bryan.

Parish Cycle of Prayer: George & Trish
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Mrs. Stella Bartron
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). The Rt. Rev. Duke Akamisoko – The Bishop of Kubwa, Abuja, Nigeria.

Birthdays in December
Marcella 02   Gary 08
Fr. Les 08      John 14
Burr 18           Nansi 18
Jim 19            Will 28
Susan 30

Anniversaries in December
George & Tricia 17              Don & Marcella 17
Shannon & Dotty 20            John & Beth 28
Steven & Susan 30             Nick & Tina 31

If you are in need of Pastoral Care
Please call Father Ferguson
Home:  757-484-8409

Minister of Music: Roger Peyton

Website: http://StJohnsEpiscopal-Suffolk.org
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