Notes from Patmos…Hot off the press!
Hattiesburg/Petal Tornado Relief

Once again, our neighbors to the south have been impacted by disaster and we are stepping up our efforts to reach out and support them in their time of need.  Below is an itemized list of supplies we have been asked to provide in assistance.  You may bring your donations to the chapel at St. John’s and we will see that the items are delivered to those in need late next week.  Thank you in advance.

Items requested:

* Paper towels
* Toilet tissue
* Baby wipes and diapers (all sizes)
* Cleaning supplies:  Lysol, trash bags, buckets, mops, brooms
* Manuel can-openers
* Plastic food containers
* Large zip-lock bags
* Baby formula
* Toothbrushes/toothpaste, brushes, combs, deodorant, shampoo, soap
* Feminine personal care items
* Bottled water/Gatorade
* Pet food and supplies
* Work gloves
* Laundry detergent
* Individually wrapped snacks
* Clorox
* Dawn Dish Liquid
* Hand sanitizer
* Disinfectant wipes
* Tarps
* Plastic totes with lids
* Flashlights with batteries
* Duct tape
* Blankets, sheets, pillows, towels
* First-aid kits
* Hand tools:  hammers, pliers, screwdrivers


Daughters of the King
New Member Meeting
Wednesday, February 8th
6:00 pm

The Daughters of the King of St. John’s is a prayer order. In the words of Lawrence, “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of conversation with God.” The DOK group is comprised of ladies who care enough about their parish and the community at large to offer up prayers, not only for their needs, but for the need of others– requested by those in this congregation and prayers for the leadership in our parish. There is only one meeting a month  and it is brief. At that meeting, a list of names is given to the members. The expectation is that each member will pray for those on that list each day during the coming month. It is not full of accolade but full of relationship.  Your presence is needed. Your prayers are needed.  Please contact Pat Bailey with your interest.
The Daughters of the King invites all interested ladies of the parish to join us on Wednesday evening, February 8th at 6:00pm for an informational meeting.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Children’s Sunday School
Mark Your Calendars

Valentine Project – Our children enjoyed their last visit to Comfort Care Nursing Center so much last time we went and many have asked that we visit again.  On Sunday, February 12, we will meet at the parish at 3:00 for refreshments then travel together to Comfort Care and hand out Valentine’s Day cards we have been making, visit and play games with the residents.   Parents are invited and encouraged to join us in this meaningful outreach project.  We will return to the parish at 4:30pm.

The Feast of Candlemas

& The Blessing of Throats
Wednesday evening, February 1st at 5:30pm
Join us for an evening mass as we gather to celebrate and remember Jesus’ presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem.  This is a major feast day and one that helps us understand better the demands of our faith to be lights in this world.  This is one of the more lovely liturgies- we start in a dark church, the only lights being our hand candles.  From this moving and tender beginning we bless all of the candles to be used in our liturgies throughout the year.  During the liturgy we also offer an ancient healing rite known as the blessing of the throats, which is really a prayer for health of body and soul.  The evening ends with a lovely reception of dessert crepes.

Empty Bowls
Tuesday, March 21st
11:00am – 2:00pm
St. John’s Episcopal Church

Empty Bowls is an international grass roots effort to fight hunger created by The Imagine Render Group. The basic premise is simple: Potters and other crafts people, educators and others work with the community to create handcrafted bowls. Guests are invited to a simple meal of soup. In exchange for a cash donation, guests are asked to keep a bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. The money raised is donated to an organization working to end hunger and food insecurity. Events have now taken place across the United States and in at least a dozen other countries. Many millions of dollars have been raised and donated to hunger-fighting organizations.The largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, Feeding America, reports that the nation’s food banks could soon be overwhelmed by demand. Statistics show that 1 out of 8 Americans struggle with food insecurity every day. Your help is needed now more than ever. Please find the time, make the commitment, get involved. Your single effort can have a profound impact.
Plans are in full swing for our fund raiser to feed the hungry from St. John’s Episcopal Church.   Local artists have donated 600 hand thrown, high fired bowls for the 2017 event.  All proceeds go to support the Good Samaritan Soup Kitchen and St. John’s Episcopal Church Outreach Ministries.  Our project depends on the support of our entire community.  Tell your friends and join us March 21st to help us fight hunger in our community.  Tickets are $15 and will be on sale soon!


2017 Flower chart 


The Altar Flower Chart for 2017 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.


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.

Upcoming at St. John’s
Candlemas and Blessing of the Throats
    Wednesday, February 1, @ 5:30pm followed by a Crepe Reception
Children’s Ministries Visit to Comfort Care Nursing Center
Sunday, February 12th at 3:00pm  (meet at the parish)
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner and Warden’s Race
February 28th at 5:30pm
Ash Wednesday
March 1st  at 12:05pm – Mass
6:00pm – Mass
Empty Bowls
Tuesday, March 21st 11:00 – 2:00 pm

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


From the Diocese
Happy 2017 to all of our Camp Bratton-Green families! We wanted to let all of you know that registration is open for the 2017 Camp Bratton-Green summer! It is never to early to begin family plans and we want to make sure that Bratton-Green is available for all of our previous campers!  Registration is available at www.graycenter.org.
Please remember that you will register your camper for a session that reflects the grade they are in currently. If you have any questions, please contact Jason Ezell at ezell@graycenter.org. We will also be available at Annual Council in Jackson if you would like to stop by and see us!

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

A Tip O’ The Biretta
  • To Gina Gatewood and Wendy Herring for their help in the kitchen for our Annual Meeting.
  • To everyone that attended the 123rd Annual Parish Meeting and brought the delicious pot-luck food.
  • To Adam Sauls, Wendy Herring, Rand McLaughlin and Trent Mulloy for their service on the Vestry of St. John’s.
  • To Christopher Albritton, George Jackson and Jan Harlow for accepting the nomination to serve on the Vestry for the next 3 years and to Rand McLaughlin for accepting the nomination for Jr. Warden.
For the Year Actual Budget Over/Under
Income
Pledges $ 24,233 $20,710 $ 3,523 (117%)
Plate $ 4,956 $ 3,403 $ 1,553(146%)
Other $1,352 $ 3,446 $ 2,094 (39%)
Total $ 30,541 $27,559 $ 2,982 (118%)
Expenses $ 21,784 $ 27,423 $ 5,639 (79%)
BUDGET TOTALS $ 8,757 $  136 $  8,621 (644%)
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
Copyright © 2017 Saint John’s Episcopal Church, All rights reserved.