Diocesan Virtual Service for Christmas 1: As a gift to the Diocese, the Diocesan Office staff in conjunction with Diocesan liturgists will be offering worship on Christmas 1, December 27. Our worship service will be offered virtually to the entire Diocese and can be accessed via the Diocesan website, YouTube channel and Facebook. It will also be an opportunity for the Diocese to worship together during one of the most joyful times of the year. The service recording will be available for on-demand viewing after December 27. O Come Let Us Adore Him!
St. John’s “Double Blessing” 12 Days of Christmas Calendar & Guide: Bring JOY and be a “Double Blessing” each day in the Christmas Season by serving our neighbors in need. Collect the TWO (2) items listed on the attached calendar every day of the Christmas Season, and add to your joy by following the “12 days of Christmas JOY” guide. Then, during Epiphany, “reveal” what you have collected and drop off your “Christmas blessings” at St. John’s. (for safety, car side drop off can be scheduled). Our target is to deliver the collected items between the first and second Sunday after Epiphany (January 11th-15th). Calendar and “Guide to JOY” attached. Questions? Contact: gro.notpmahsnhojts@kram.
Pledge Envelopes: Thank you to those of you who have already pledged. If you have requested envelopes, there are three options for you to receive them: 1.) You can pick them up after Sunday morning’s online service in the church parking lot where we will also be offering drive up communion. 2.) You pick them up in the parish house during regular office hours (9am-3pm weekdays). 3.) We can hand deliver them if you are a Hampton resident. Please contact the church office if you are interested in this option.
Vestry Nominations: If you would like to nominate someone for the Vestry of St. John’s Church, prior to the Vestry Elections on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at the Annual Meeting, please fill out this form. This year we will be electing three persons to serve a three-year term from 2021-2024. There will be no nominations from the floor. We ask for these nominations in advance so we can get information on the candidates to the parish ahead of time. You may nominate yourself. Nominees for Vestry must be active, confirmed, pledging members of the congregation. The deadline for submission is Thursday, January 14, 2021.
Confederate Memorial Update: We would like to clarify a few points. The committee that is currently meeting is making a recommendation that the vestry will then vote on. The end decision is with the vestry. The vestry has already decided that the memorial will not be moved or removed. It will be a modification. We cannot yet say what that modification is as that is the decision of the vestry. But the intention is that the memorial will continue to honor those who have died in the Civil War.
Prayers for our Nation: A St. John’s parishioner suggested that we pray for our nation every day at noon. You can do this anywhere with any words that you choose. The idea is that we know somewhere, other members of St. John’s are praying for our country. While you can pray in any way that you would like, the Book of Common Prayer is a treasure trove of prayers. Therefore, we will be providing a different one every week. Here is this week’s: Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.