Notes from Patmos…Hot off the press!
Good morning!
Lots of things going on around the parish!  At noon we will have the last Advent noonday concert featuring Dr. Theresa Sanchez- if you’ve not given the concert series a try, it is a great and uplifting break in the middle of the day.
We will gather to green the parish today at 5:30. The greening of the parish is a favorite for many in our parish family and it is a wonderful way to spend a bit of time preparing for Christmas.  Immediately following the greening, we will have a provided dinner and watch the children’s Christmas pageant, which is very lovely and not to be missed!
Then on Thursday morning the Sunday School children are going to Comfort Care Nursing Home to sing and spend time with the residents while members of the EYC will be volunteering at the Soup Kitchen.
Christmas will soon be upon us… I pray all of us are ready and have spent time growing closer to Jesus and are ready to welcome Him into our hearts and into our midst.  I have held our parish family in prayer and my hope is that we all have a good holiday and that our love and faith in Christ our Lord shines brightly in our community and beyond.
God bless you all
Jeff+


Children’s Ministries News

Back by popular demand!!  We will be taking the children of St. John’s to Comfort Care Nursing Center on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21st to sing carols, play games, color and visit with the residents there.  Everyone enjoys this magical outing – from the youngest to the oldest.  Please have your children at the church on Thursday at 9:30am and be at the church to pick them up at 11:15.  Please call the office or text Elizabeth and let us know your child will be going with us.  We are looking forward to one of our favorite activities!





ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE
This serves as public notice that the annual meeting of Saint John’s Episcopal Church will be held at 5:30pm, on Wednesday, January 17th, 2018 in the Parish Hall.  Nominations are now open and being accepted for persons to serve on the vestry of this parish.  To nominate a person, please make sure you have their permission and they meet the following qualifications: a person who is Confirmed, 21 years of age, a giver of record and living within the bounds of this parish.  You may make your nominations known to a current member of the vestry or to the parish office.

Good Samaritan Christmas
ST. JOHN’S FAMILY CONNECTIONS
ADOPT-A-FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS 2017

Wow! All 20 of our families have been adopted from the tree! I believe you have accomplished that faster than the other 8 years we have had this program going! Thank you! The gifts are due by this Friday, Dec 15. You may deliver them to the Church or to me. I can also pick them up.  Please call me at 601-466-7411 and Pam Oglesby and I will get them to the Good Samaritan people, who then arrange for the parents to pick them up while the children are at school.
There is one family with 6 children that we could use some more money to complete their shopping.  If you are so inclined, call me or Fr. Jeff or Elizabeth at the Church and let us know.
I appreciate each one of you who donate, shop, and deliver. Our parish families are ‘connecting’ with others as Christ asks us to do and it is a beautiful thing to see!
Contact Becky Jackson @ 601.466.7411 if you have questions.

Advent Concert Series
Wednesday at St. John’s

Greening of the Parish TONIGHT
Wednesday, December 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Calling all hands to “deck the halls!”  Join fellow parishioners, led by Randy Jackson, for the annual decorating of the church for Christmas.  Immediately following the greening, everyone is invited to join us in the parish hall for a catered festive dinner and our Children’s Christmas pageant.  Plan to spend a few hours getting ready for Christmas and enjoying the company of your parish family.

Children’s Choir News
St. Cecilia, St. Gregory And Youth Ensemble
Rehearsal Schedule
Wednesday, December 20 – Combined Rehearsal – 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 20 – Christmas Pageant and Dinner – Following Greening of the Parish


2018 Flower Chart

The Altar Flower Chart for 2018 is on the board  in the Sacristy hallway and we need the faithful to sign up to take a Sunday in memory or thanksgiving of someone or an event.  If you are unable to come to the parish to sign up, you are more than welcome to call the parish office with a date you would like and we will try our best to accommodate you.  When a person takes a Sunday, they contact the parish to make known their thanksgiving/memorial wording for the Sunday bulletin. Mr. Randy Jackson of Flowertyme is a communicant, but you may choose which florist you would like to deal with, or you can make the arrangement yourself and place them in the sanctuary.

Sign up to feed our E.Y.C.
We need your help feeding our E.Y.C. members on Sunday evenings.  Their meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at the parish.  There is a sign up sheet located on the board in the sacristy hallway with dates that are available.  For more information, contact the Parish Office.


An Easy Way to Help St. John’s Day School
Start clipping BOX TOPS for Education!  Hundreds of products participate in the program, and you probably already have several in your pantry, freezer and refrigerator.  For every Box Top you clip, St. John’s Day School will receive 10 cents!!!  That may not sound like a lot, but it adds up quickly. There are no limitations on the money’s use, so St. John’s can spend it as needed.
Grab your scissors and keep an eye out for the Box Tops for Education logo on the products you use every day.  Once you have finished the product, clip the Box Top before you throw it away.  Be sure to look over the whole box.  There is a container labeled for your Box Tops on the table in the hallway.


A Tip O’ The Biretta
For Year Actual Budget diff
Pledges  $ 310,997  $ 324,193  $ 13,196
Plate  $  44,476  $  53,226  $  8,750
Other  $  52,748  $  70,285  $  17,537
Total  $ 408,221  $ 447,704  $  39,483
Expenses  $ 447,884  $ 446,076  $  1,808
Net  $  39,663  $   1,628  $  41,291
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What donation is for
Pledge Payment Seasonal Flowers Flowers for Altar EYC Choir Rector’s Discretionary Fund Building Fund other

  
     

O God, our heavenly Father, make the door of this Church wide enough that all who need human love and fellowship and a Fathers care may find it, and narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and uncharitableness.  Here may the tempted find help, and the sorrowing receive comfort.  Here may the careless be awakened to repentance, and the penitent be assured of your mercy.  And here may all your children renew their strength in You, and go on their way rejoicing.  Through Jesus Christ Our Lord.  Amen.
Saint Johns Episcopal Church
541 North 5th Ave./ P.O. Box 1766
Laurel, MS 39441
office@stjohnslaurel.com
http://stjohnslaurel.com
601.428.7252 Office
601.422.7388 Mobile
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