ST. JOHN S EPISCOPAL CHURCH FEBRUARY The Grapevine. Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, or Renewal

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1 ST. JOHN S EPISCOPAL CHURCH FEBRUARY 2019 The Grapevine Ocean Springs, Mississippi stjohnsoceansprings.dioms.org Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, or Renewal What is Baptism? Baptism is the rite of full initiation, by water and the Holy Spirit, into membership in the Christian church. The Rector will be baptizing those prepared for baptism at the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening, April 20 at 8 p.m.; Or, on the Day of Pentecost, Sunday, June 9; Or, when the Bishop visits St. John s on Sunday, August 25, What is Confirmation? Confirmation is the rite in which we express our faith and commitment to Christ, and through prayer and the laying on of hands by the Bishop, receive strength from the Holy Spirit to continue a life of faith and commitment. Confirmation preparation consists of a period of study and the reaffirmation of baptismal vows. What is Reception? Reception is the rite of affiliation with this part of the body of Christ (the Episcopal Church), by the public affirmation of faith and the laying on of hands by the Bishop, for those who have previously received the sacrament of confirmation in another part of the body of Christ. What is Renewal? Renewal is the rite, for those who have been Baptized and Confirmed, in which we express a renewed commitment to the Baptismal vows. Renewal is signified by a public affirmation of the Baptismal vows, prayer, and the laying on of hands by the Bishop. Preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, or Renewal The season of Lent is an appropriate time for the intentional preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, or Renewal. Lent begins this year on Wednesday, March 6 (Ash Wednesday). Enrollment for Lenten Preparation will take place on Ash Wednesday. During Lent, classes will be held on Sunday mornings at 10:10 a.m. (following the 9:00 a.m. worship service). Optional classes on the history of the Episcopal Church will be held on Thursday evenings at 6:00 p.m. March 6 March 10 April 7 April Enrollment for Lenten Preparation Classes Begin, Sundays at 10:10 a.m. Classes End Holy Week

2 Centering Prayer Centering Prayer meets on Thursday afternoon s at 5:00 p.m. in the nave. For more information, contact Sharon Manuel at Pew Bibles Pew Bibles are available for donation. Bibles can be given in memory of or in thanksgiving for someone. For more information contact Sonia Cowart or Bonnie Luft, or find the forms on the Ministry Table in the parish hall. Bell Choir St. John s Bell Choir meets on a variable schedule. For more information about St. John s Bell Choir, contact Martha Thompson at Healing Service A Public Service of Healing with Anointing and the Holy Eucharist is held on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Nursery care available during the worship service. Worship service is followed with dinner in the parish hall. Sowing Tears, Reaping Joy The Bible and Brahams Requiem Thursday Theology Group Thursdays beginning February 28 Thursday Theology Group Looking Ahead. A course beginning on February 28th and spanning seven weeks -- Sowing Tears, Reaping Joy: The Bible and Brahms Requiem. From the introduction by Rev. Dr. Carol M. Bechtel: Sowing Tears, Reaping Joy: The Bible and Brahms Requiem is an exploration of what the Bible itself has to say about grief and hope in a Christian context. It features some of the most magnificent passages on these themes from both the Old and New Testaments.While it would be perfectly possible to study the Bible without Brahms, we think you will find the Requiem a rich resource. In fact the music may unlock the Bible s tenderness and passion in a way you have never experienced before. Merry Widows The Merry Widows meet on the first Friday of the Month at 5:00 p.m. Contact Lena Melton to RSVP. Did you know Parishioners who pledged financial support to the annual Stewardship campaign may use one of two options to have funds drawn from an account: (1) Contact your bank to establish an auto bill pay, which will send checks to St. John s for a specified amount and time period. Parishioners can modify the bill pay plan as desired; or, (2) A second option is available by way of an Automated Clearing House (ACH) apparatus. With consent of the parishioner, St. John s can start this automatic payment process.

3 Thursday Theology Group Thursdays through February 21 2:00 p.m. The next study will look at a video series on six of the parables as discussed by Amy-Jill Levine. In her book, Short Stories by Jesus, Professor Levine presents a portrait of what the parables of Jesus might sound like to the Jewish people who first heard them. In our course we will use an abbreviated booklet The Participant Guide to Short Stories by Jesus. We will begin meeting on Thursday, January 17 at 2 P.M. and will continue to meet through February 21st. Vacation Bible School 2019 Mark your calendars. Vacation Bible School has been scheduled for June 25, 26 & 27. Adult Bible Study Sundays, 10:10 a.m. Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. Adult Bible Study with the Rev. Bruno Schroeder meets in the Kindness Room on Sunday mornings at 10:10 a.m. and Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. For more information contact Bruno Schroeder at Vestry Minutes Vestry Minutes are posted on the bulletin board in the hallway of the parish hall each month. Mission Statement Once Upon a Time Tea Sunday, April 7, :30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Mark your calendars! We will know, love and serve God, be renewed by His Spirit and share Christ. Gather together your children, grandchildren, and friend s children and share a fun and memory making afternoon. Proceeds from "Once Upon a Time Tea will benefit St. John s Royal School of Church Music. For more information contact Becky Stanley. Rector on Social Media The Rector posts devotional and inspirational items on

4 St. Luke s Guild St. Luke s Guild meets on the third Thursday of the month for their monthly potluck dinner. St. Luke s is composed of ladies from St. John s and the community who meet for fellowship and support our preschool. Everyone is invited - come make a new friend. Saints & Sinners Saints & Sinners meet on the second Tuesday of the month. All are invited to join in the fun. For more information on Saints & Sinners contact Terry Armstrong at (228) The Lord is My Help St. John s is responsible for volunteers for The Lord is My Help on a rotating schedule. Our next week is February 4-8. If you can volunteer, contact Peggy Butera at (228) Wonderful Wednesdays Dinner Volunteers Welcome to Wonderful Wednesday February edition. Gracious, how the days go by. Before we can manage to catch our breath from Christmas, we are celebrating Mardi Gras and going into Lent. Join us this month on any Wednesday. The food is delicious and the company outstanding. Our teams with take a break durning Lent. The healing service begins at 5:30. Dinner follows shortly after six. Come to one or come to both. The evening is for you! Feb 6 Leah Snyder eastbeach@cableone.net , Lynn Rich lynnrich1098@gmail.com , Rhonda Yegerlehner , Virginia Montgomery mvmonty@gmail.com , Glenn Huff huffrg@yahoo.com , Shelia Turner sheilak1603@cableone.net , Martha Brown martha.stjohns.osms@gmail.com , Rick Fortenberry , Measha Daynes Feb 13 Lee Armstrong lee_armstrong@co.jackson.ms.us , Toni Norman , Lynn Rich lynnrich1098@gmail.com , Jean Holder deveene@att.net , Jean Hanlin robertkhanlin@bellsouth.net , Barbara Barrilleaux , Cookie Sampson casampson@gmail.com , Genie Talbert Feb 20 Melissa Johnson melissadjl@gmail.com , Rhonda Yegerlehner , Linda Schroeder lbsms@aol.com , C.G. Smith, cgsmith1945@yahoo.com , Alta Mereo themereos@gmail.com , Jeanne Grigsby jgrigsby68@gmail.com Shelia Muzzy bmuzz@aol.com Carolyn Whitehead whitehead1962@gmail.com , Teresa Jones

5 Feb 27 Lena Melton or , Gloria Richmond , Lisa Baker , Jean Hanlin , Lynda Knight , Jo Anne Calhoun , Kate Penrose , Merrill Markham , Bill Schaum , Virginia Montgomery , Pat Spear , Wilse Manning , Royal School of Church Music Tuesdays 4:30 p.m. Royal School of Church Music meets on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. in the choir room. For more information contact Cynthia Ramseur March 6 Ash Wednesday - The kitchen will be closed. Samaritan s Pantry Praying it Forward Praying it Forward Capital Campaign $725,000 - goal $726,704 pledged (142 pledges) $658,301 paid on pledges (through December18, 2018) $68,402 to go Financial Update Year-to-Date Report: December 31, 2018 Budget Actuals Tithes, Offerings, etc. $397,730 $423,307 Expenses $434,241 $426,179 Sunday, February 3, is St. John s First Sunday of the Month food collection for Samaritan Food Pantry. Thank you for your continued generosity. EYC St John's EYC is a community of young people and their friends who are members of St John's Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs, MS. We meet each week at 5:00 on Sunday afternoon. For more information about EYC contact Ann McGraw, EYC Director.

6 Wonderful Wednesdays Eight teams of volunteers rotate preparing dinner for Wonderful Wednesdays at St. John s. For more information call Cecil George Smith at (228) worship.together Join us for worship.together. Wiggles are welcome! We hope our time together will be a Holy Commotion for the whole family. Make yourself comfortable and at home as the Spirit of God moves amongst us. Sundays 10:15 a.m. In the Chancel Wellness Walk Lenten Soup Suppers Begin March 13 St John s will again serve simple meals on Wednesday evenings during Lent: soups, cheeses, and breads. Church groups and individual members are ask to bring items for our common table. Pleae sign up and help. Make it easy, keep it simple, but do please come. Share a contemplative meal with your church family on Wednesday evenings after the 5:30 service. The sign up board will be the foyer of the parish hall. Tuesday & Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 3 mile route 8:20 a.m. - 2 mile route 8:40 a.m. - 1 mile route Three mile, two mile, and one mile routes. All three routes leave and return to St. John s. Vision Statement Inspired by Christ, we will strive for spiritual maturity to attain a greater knowledge of God s divine plan. We will embrace those seeking spiritual renewal and growth. We will offer a diversity of programs and worship to fulfill the needs of all ages and backgrounds. We will be responsive to the changing needs of our Parish and world community. We will develop facilities to support our Vision Statement.

7 Parish Office 705 Rayburn Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS telephone: website: Clergy Rector, Charles Hawkins charles.hawkins@me.com Deacon, Jim Lancaster Deacon, Linda Healy Associate for Pastoral Care, Bruno Schroeder Honorary Assistant, Harold Roberts Organist and Choirmaster Cynthia Ramseur choirmaster.stjohns.osms@gmail.com Lent Begins March 6 Sexton Stuart Smith Office Volunteer Hours Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.) Office Volunteers Charlie Clark, Ginny Dugaw, Flinda Hill, Bonnie Luft, Debbie Miner, Cecil George Smith, Darlene Stuart, Rick Fortenberry and Joyce Jurik Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting. Ash Wednesday services will be held at St. John s at 7:30 a.m., Noon, and 5:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Wednesdays 7:00 p.m. The adult choristers of St. John s meet for rehearsal at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in the choir room on the second floor of the education center under the direction of the Choirmaster, Cynthia Ramseur. For more information about the Chancel Choir contact Cynthia Ramseur. Rota Most Recent Schedule of Volunteers "Rota" is short for rotation. Sometimes the schedule of volunteers is called "the rotation" or, in short, the "rota." See the most recent schedule of volunteers in real time. Only one of the many informative features available on St. John s website. Lent lasts 40 days (not counting Sundays). Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made from palm branches blessed on the previous year s Palm Sunday, and placing them on the heads of participants to the accompaniment of the words Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

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9 Music Notes - February 2019 As February arrives, we are in the middle of ordinary time after Epiphany Sunday. This year there are eight Sundays after Epiphany which ends with Fat Tuesday, a day of feasting and celebrating before Ash Wednesday on March 6. The recurring theme throughout this season is light: Christ brings light into the darkness. It is a joyful season Alleluia! At St. John s Rite I liturgy is said at the 7:30 Eucharist. We sing hymns and several parts of the ordinary at the 9:00 and 11:15 Eucharists. Ordinary is the term used for the words that are said every Sunday. Proper is the term used for words that are not from the Ordinary. Our habit at St. John s is to rotate through settings of the ordinary from several composers: David Hurd, Franz Schubert, Robert Powell and William Mathias. The settings of the ordinary are found in the front service music section of the hymnal: for example the Schubert is in the hymnal on pages S96, S130, S164. Song of Praise: The song of praise is sung just before the Collect. During Advent we sing the Trisagion (Holy God) every Sunday; during Lent we sing the Kyrie (Lord have mercy); during Easter we sing the Gloria in excelsis. During ordinary time after Epiphany and after Pentecost, Father Charles schedules us to alternate weekly between the Kyrie, Trisagion and Gloria. Sanctus: The Book of Common Prayer includes four Eucharistic Prayers which Father Charles rotates each Sunday. All four prayers include the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might); the Sanctus is sung with all the angels and archangels to forever proclaim the glory of God. Obviously, the Sanctus is to be sung joyfully, not in hushed tones! Facebook & Twitter Want to connect with St. John s on social media? You can follow St. John s on Twitter and friend St. John s on Facebook. Parish Calendar The parish calendar is updated almost daily (sometimes multiple times a day). See the parish calendar in real time on your favorite device. One of the many informative features of the St. John s website. Cherub Choir Tuesdays 3:30 p.m. The children choristers of St. John s meet for rehearsal at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in the choir room on the second floor of the education center under the direction of the Choirmaster, Cynthia Ramseur. For more information about the Chancel Choir contact Cynthia Ramseur.

10 Updating the Grapevine Mailing List If you are receiving the Grapevine via the mail, but wish to be taken off the Grapevine mailing list, please let the parish office know. If you are not on the Grapevine mailing list, but wish to be placed on the Grapevine mailing list, please let the parish office know. And, did you know...you can also receive the Grapevine via ? Lots of options! Great Amen: Just before the Lord s Prayer, the congregation responds with a loud Amen. This is known as the Great Amen. Occasionally sung at St. John s, we usually sing it. Amen means so be it. By saying, or singing, the Amen together at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, we are collectively agreeing with all that has just been said. So say it (or sing it), like you mean it! Fraction Hymn: After the Lord s Prayer and breaking of the bread, the Fraction Hymn is said or sung. The two texts we use most often at St. John s are: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us and Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Vestry Alex Blevens - Finance - (228) Rick Fortenberry Buildings & Grounds - (601) Did you know Parish Announcements. Bulletins are prepared on Wednesday of each week. They are edited and printed on Thursday. Items for the parish announcements should be submitted by Wednesday of each week for the following Sunday Melissa Johnson Outreach - (228) Linda Schroeder - Outreach - (228) Marty Capalbo Buildings & Grounds (228) Henry Furr - Jr. Warden (228) Bonnie Luft Parish Life (228) Maraya Slaff Christian Education (831) Pam Heard Worship & Christian Education (228) Leah Snyder Sr. Warden (228) Sonia Cowart Finance & Fundraising (228) Karen Lucas Clerk (228) David Grigsby Treasurer

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12 Grapevine St. John s St. John s Episcopal Church 705 Rayburn Avenue Ocean Springs, MS Electronic Service Requested Mailing Address 2019 Annual Stewardship Campaign 113 pledges have been received so far for 2019 totaling $282,024 In 2018, 131 pledges were received for a total of $338,924 In 2017, 115 pledges were received totaling $297,043 In 2016, 142 pledges were received totaling $320,358