Weekly Announcements, February 26, 2021

February 26, 2021

Rite I Service: Welcome back Rite 1! It is the practice of St. John’s to use Rite 1 during Lent. Rite 1 has a more penitential and contemplative perspective than Rite 2, which fits well with the scripture that accompanies this Lenten season.

Book Club: The Book Club is still meeting on Mondays from 5:30-6:30pm. We will start with The Greatest Beer Run Ever, a Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty, and War by John “Chick” Donohue and J.T. Molloy. It is a light, fast read and we anticipate being done in two weeks. The next book will be Veritas, A Harvard Professor, A Con Man and the Gospel of Jesus’s Wife by Ariel Sabar. Anyone interested in joining should contact Linda McMahon at moc.liamg@nwodhsalps.adnil for the link.

Lent Madness: is an online Lenten devotion that’s fun and engaging. 32 saints face off in a basketball-style bracket, and people vote for which saint deserves the Golden Halo. It’s a bit silly, but through the season we learn about the way Christ’s love shines in the lives of ordinary people. You can find more information about Lent Madness and how to participate here.

Zoom Yoga with Lenten Themes: Join Samantha for a weekly Zoom yoga class on Sundays at 4pm. During Lent, we will focus on Lenten themes and scripture. This class will be mixed level. If you have not been very active or have never done yoga, please talk to Samantha first. A good test is to make sure you can get from the floor to a standing position with relative ease. While there is stretching in yoga, this class will also include strength training and balance poses. It will be a Vinyasa (flow) class which means there will be times when your heartrate will be elevated. If you are not sure, you can still come and check it out. The great thing about Zoom is no one will know if you can’t do the poses! For now, I ask that you register in advance. This will be open to the public. Once you are registered, you will receive a link. The class is free. Register in advance for this meeting using this link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Lenten Book Study: Forgiveness: A Lenten Study by Marjorie J. Thompson: As the author notes, “Forgiving others and humbly asking for forgiveness are central disciplines for all Christian believers.” This brief book and study guide provides a framework for the topic using biblical examples and real-life situations. Lent is an appropriate season to deepen our understanding and practice of forgiveness, and this study provides a solid foundation. We will meet via Zoom on Thursdays at 7pm. Use this link. You can find either paperback or a kindle version on Amazon here. Questions? Please contact the office: 757-722-2567 or gro.notpmahsnhojts@eciffo.

Bible Study “Re-ZOOMs” in January with Isaiah: Our Wednesday Bible study has just started a study on Isaiah. We meet, via Zoom, on Wednesdays at 3pm. We are just beginning so please consider joining this wonderful discussion. Contact Mark for a link to the study: gro.notpmahsnhojts@kram / 757-722-2567, or if you would like to add a new study or time, please contact me.

Confederate Memorial Update: The committee continues to meet and has worked very diligently. They have made good progress and look forward to providing a report to the vestry long before their June deadline. If you have questions or comments, contact the chair, Linda Curtis at moc.liamg@anansitrucl. Please remember that the Vestry will make the final decision.

Limited Access to Office: In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines and an uptick in numbers, the church office will be open by appointment only. If you would like to make an appointment, please call the office at 757-722-2567 or e-mail us at gro.notpmahsnhojts@eciffo.

H.E.L.P. Pantry Most-Requested List: Due to the added financial burdens as a result of the pandemic, more families are seeking food assistance and pantries nationwide are struggling to keep up with the increased need. Locally, H.E.L.P. compiled a list of most needed items: Canned Fruit, Macaroni & Cheese, Canned Pasta Meals, Apple Sauce, Crackers, 1lb. bags of Rice, Juice, Dry Milk, Dry Beans, Pork & Beans, and Cereal. St. John’s serves as a donation/delivery point for H.E.L.P if you would like to add your support to their pantry needs. Questions? Contact: gro.notpmahsnhojts@kram.

COVID Vaccine: You can visit the state health department website to find out when you will be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Answer a few questions about where you live and work, and you can find out which phase of the vaccination campaign you fall into. You can also sign up to be notified by text or email when your phase is being vaccinated. Go online for more information on the different phases.

Pledge Envelopes: If you would like to come pick up your pledge envelopes, please call the church office to arrange a time for pick up. If you cannot get to the church and live in Hampton, we will deliver it.