Notes from Patmos…Hot off the press!
A blessed and happy Feast of Saint Andrew to one and all!  I hope and pray that everyone is having a great Wednesday.  To aide us in our Advent devotions, we will host the first of our Wednesday concert series today with Stephen Redfield, violinist of note, from 12:05-12:30.  The concerts are meant to give of a respite from our day and allow us to enjoy art and beauty for a moment… I hope you will take full advantage.
This weekend is a one of the greatest… besides all of the activities in and around town, on Sunday morning at the 10:30 mass Saint Nicholas will make his annual visitation and give gifts to all the children present.  It is a wonderful tradition here at Saint John’s and one that is not to be missed!  Later that afternoon, at 3:00pm, our Sunday School children and their families will have an opportunity to gather for our Advent Family Project, making Advent Murals and learning about the history and meaning of Advent- this is a great opportunity to do something meaningful together and prepare for the birth of our Lord.  Then at 6pm, the parish will offer her Service of Advent Lessons & Carols. This service is meant to help us learn, recall and deepen our understanding of the story of our Salvation and is also meant to be a prayerful time of reflection and an offering to our Lord.
It going to be a rich and full weekend and I look forward to seeing you around the parish!




A Visit From Saint Nicholas

As has become an annual tradition at St. John’s on the Sunday closest to December 6th, St. Nicholas – the Bishop of Myra, will visit the parish to tell the children about different Christmas traditions and will be giving gifts to the young children.  Please join us at the 10:30 Mass Sunday, December 4th and help us welcome St. Nicholas!

Children’s Ministries
Family Advent Activity


Family Advent Activity – Will be held Sunday, December 4th at 3:00pm.  We are asking families with children ages K/3-6th grade to gather in the parish hall for an Advent activity to be done as a FAMILY. Each family will make an Advent mosaic, which promises to be an exciting time, with snacks, fellowship and art activity.  All material needed will be supplied, all we need is YOUR family, if you have young children.  Please mark your calendar!!  And plan to stay for Advent Lessons and Carols following our Advent Family Activity, you’ll be glad you did!

Saint John’s has a long-standing tradition of creating poinsettia trees at the altar for Christmastide, as well as making liberal use of festive flowers throughout the Nave.  The poinsettias are donated by the faithful in thanksgiving or memory of a person(s) or an event.  During Christmastide the parish includes a listing of these memorials/thanksgivings in the bulletin.   If you wish to offer a poinsettia for Christmas, please record your memorial/thanksgiving on the bulletin board in the Sacristy hallway, on-line through the link in Notes From Patmos, or call the parish office. Then mail, stop by the parish office, or place an earmarked check or cash in the offering plate.  You may donate a poinsettia by using Paypal (no account needed) and your credit card by clicking on the Paypal button below the form and following the instructions (if you do not have an account, look in the bottom left-hand quarter of the screen for instructions on using your credit card). Suggested donation is $15.


The EYC is selling 26″ Noble Fir Christmas Wreaths at a cost of $35/wreath.  The Wreaths will be delivered and available for pick-up during the first week of December. Click on the picture to place your order!



December 16th, 6:00pm

The Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas has become a holiday tradition in Laurel. Kids, families and music lovers flock to this concert every year to hear the mastery of Vince Guaraldi’s classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. The cameo appearance of Snoopy and Woodstock brings joy to those of all ages. The 8th annual show will feature the Joe Cool Trio with John Milham (drums), Chris Spies (piano) and Chris Severin (bass), followed by sets including New Orleans’s own Leon “Kid Chocolate” Brown on Trumpet and Clarence Johnson on Sax who both played with Preservation Hall Jazz Band performing their favorite Christmas tunes. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to help the Good Samaritan Soup Kitchen. Tickets are available at Southern Antiques in Downtown Laurel and also online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2716944



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.  Simply send the Box Top to the parish office, there is a container labeled for your Box Tops on the table in the hallway.

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH & GOOD SAMARITAN’S
8th ANNUAL FAMILY CONNECTIONS
CHRISTMAS PROJECT 2016

A great BIG ‘Thank You!’ to the 9 families and groups who have already adopted a family for Christmas. You will truly be doing God’s work during a happy but hectic season.  There are 10 more families who would love to have a share of the happiness that is Christmas. If you have not taken part in this action of loving one another in the past, please prayerfully consider this opportunity.
The deadline to bring gifts to St. John’s or to Becky Jackson will be Monday, December 12.  Pam Oglesby, Jane Hayes and Becky Jackson will deliver the gifts to Good Samaritan for distribution to the families before Christmas.  Thank you in advance for providing a joyful Christmas for a family that would otherwise be without gifts.
If you have questions call, Becky Jackson, at 601-466-7411


Upcoming at St. John’s

Visit From Saint Nicholas
Sunday, December 4th at the 10:30 Mass
Family Advent Activity (families with children ages K-6th grade)
Sunday, December 4th at 3:00
Advent Lessons and Carols
Sunday, December 4th at 6:00pm
Ladies Christmas Luncheon
Monday,  December 5
     Holy Eucharist at 11:00am
Luncheon at 12:00pm at the home of Susan Vincent
758 North 4th Avenue, Laurel
Bishop’s Visitation and Confirmation
Sunday, December 11th
     Brunch Beginning at 9:00am
Holy Eucharist at 10:30am

Children’s Christmas Caroling to Parish sick & shut-in
Sunday, December 18 at 2:00pm

Spring Youth Events
Hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi
Youth Lock-In at Annual Council
     9-12 grades @ Chapel of the Cross, Madison
February 3-5
Jr. High DOY Retreat
6-8th grades at Camp Bratton-Green
March 3-5
Sr. High DOY Retreat
9th – 12th grades at Camp Bratton-Green
March 24-26
Happening #85
10th – 12th grades at Nativity, Greenwood
March 10-12
Happening Reunion
St. Stephen’s, Indianola
March 10-12
Register for all events at www.diomsyouth.org

Connecting Ministry

We here at Saint John’s love reaching out to others and letting them know that they are loved by God, held in prayer and remembered.  Our Pastoral Care Committee, E.Y.C. and Daughters of the King society would love to write notes of encouragement, send small care packages and simply let others know that they are prayed for and remembered.  If you have a loved one who is shut-in, a college student or in the military, follow this link to fill out the form and let us stay in touch with them!  The form is here:  http://stjohnslaurel.com/?page_id=2037
For the Year Actual Budget Over/Under
Income
Pledges $ 277,451 $ 306,153 $  28,702(91%)
Plate $ 29,295 $ 35,264  $   5,969(83%)
Other $ 66,182 $ 49,437 $ 16,745(134%)
Total $ 372,928 $390,854 $  17,926(95%)
Expenses $409,087 $ 410,559 $  1,472(100%)
BUDGET TOTALS $ 36,159 $ 19,705 $  16,454 (183%)
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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