Knock Out Hunger Food Drive: This time of year, the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank is in crucial need of extra donations. To help out those in need and encourage a little friendly competition between the downtown Hampton churches, St. John’s is competing in a “Food Fight!” The rules are simple: during the week of November 15-22, donate as many non-perishable food items as you can. You can bring these donations to church on Sunday, or to the office between 9am and 4pm on weekdays. If you would prefer to make a financial contribution, visit this link. At the end of the week, the church with the most combined financial donations and food (by weight) will be declared the winner!
Need Heaters and Big Tents: We are considering ways we can safely celebrate Christmas Eve. One of those ways is doing parts of our worship outside. Therefore we are looking for outdoor patio heaters as well as large tents (in case of rain). If you have any you could loan the church, please contact the church office. Thank you!
Communion to Go: Have you missed communion but don’t feel comfortable attending church because of COVID? We will be creating bags with consecrated bread and wine, as well as the prayers we use for at home communion. We will even deliver them to you if you can’t come to pick it up. If you are interested, please contact the office at ro.notpmahhsnhojts@eciffo. You can also call between 9am and 3pm on weekdays at 722-2567.
Confederate Memorial Update: We are in the process of setting up the committee to examine options for modifying our confederate memorial. When we have finalized the committee, we will report the names.
Adult Forum: The adult forum is back with a special guest, The Rev. John D. Ericson. He will be presenting in the Parish Hall, immediately after the 9:15am service, on the topic of Race and the Church. Race, as we know it today, is a social construct rather than a scientific designation. It was invented in the context of Colonial Virginia in support of an economy that needed a cheap source of labor for its tobacco product. Learn how this changing definition of race made its way into law and how English Colonists in Virginia changed their identity from that of Christian to White persons. We will also record it so you can watch from home.
Home Communion: We are delighted to be celebrating communion again on Sundays. However, we know that some will not feel comfortable attending. If you would like a clergy person to bring you communion, please contact Samantha (gro.notpmahsnhojts@rotcerjs), Mark (gro.notpmahsnhojts@kram), or the church office (722-2567). Our preference will be to share communion with you on a porch, deck, or front stoop if possible. We know that will not work for some and we can come inside if that is the only option. We are just trying to keep everyone as safe as possible
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: Gracious God, we give thanks for military men and women, both from the past and present, and for their courageous service and sacrifice to our country and its people to secure the blessings of life, liberty, and justice for all. May our remembrance be a timely reminder that our freedom was purchased at high cost, and should not be taken for granted. Give us resolve to labor in faithful service to you until all share the benefits of freedom, justice, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.