The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

July 5, 2026

9:00 a.m.

• Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Canon Andrew Gerns
• Lessons and YouTube link listed below.

Please enter the church quietly and spend time in prayer before the service.

Indoor picnic in parish hall to follow the service.

July 4, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress.

July 4 falls on a Saturday, so we plan to celebrate 250 years of independence and democracy on Sunday, July 5.

Wear red, white and blue! We will sing patriotic hymns, and we will use Prayers of the People provided by the Episcopal Church for the occassion. Fr. Andrew Gerns will be our celebrant and preacher.

Following the service, we will continue the celebration in the Parish Hall with an indoor picnic. Hot dogs and the fixins' will be provided. Bring picnic food to share.

The Rt. Rev. Douglas Scharf, Bishop of the DIocese of Southwest Florida, will be the celebrant and preacher at our service on September 13, at which time St. John's will celebrate it's 60th birthday. The Bishop visits each parish every two years, which means that his next official visit will be in 2028. This is a wonderful opportunity for Confirmation, Reception or Reaffirmation.

The Rev. Matthew Grunfeld who teaches at the Diocesan School of Ministry, has offered to hold an online (Zoom) class for all interested. It will probably be a 1 hour evening class held on Tuesday or Wednesday evening beginning the week after July 4 and lasting 8 weeks.

Please let Jan or Marlene know as soon as possible if you would like to be Confirmed, Reaffirmed, or Received from another denomination that celebrates Confirmation by a Bishop. You could also attend if you would just like a refresher.

Update on Sound System

Much of the new wiring for the sound system was installed a week ago. Unfortunately, the speakers and microphones did not arrive in time, so the upgrade could not be completed. Final installation is now set for July 7-8. This will improve sound in the church as well as for those who join us on Facebook and YouTube.

The Thrift Shop opens Christmas room today - Everything 1/2 price!

Good Neighbors is in urgent need of strong, dependable volunteers to help receive, sort, and load food for our community. Even 1, 2, or 3 hours of your time can make a real difference in helping feed families, seniors, and children across Tampa Bay.

www.goodneighbors.org/volunteer-application-fl

St. John's is in need of ushers. The job consisists of arriving at 8:30 on Sunday, greeting people as they arrive, asking visitors to sign the guest book, handing out bulletins. taking up the offering, and guiding people to the communion rail. Training is provided, along with serving alongside an experienced usher. Contact Ellen Seto

There is also a need for assistance with 4th Sunday coffee hour - set up, clean up. There is also a need for "goodies" for coffee hour. Contact Bonnie Lovell.

We are looking for a person or several people - who would be willing to hold up the "Honk, if you love Jesus" sign on the sidewalk on Belcher Rd. prior to the service.

Hurricane Preparedness

It is important to us that we know your plans in case of a hurricane. Are you in an evacuation zone? Many zones have changed this year, so be sure to check on yours.If you are in an evac zone, will you evacuate and where will you go? If you aren't, can you take in a parishioner or two?

We also need your emergency contact, preferably someone who is not local and won't be afftected by a hurricane. Please fill out the form and return it to church or email it to jandavis.stjohns@gmail.com.

LINK TO FORM

Pinellas County now has an app that can be downloaded to your phone or computer which put all storm information such as zones, shelters, emergency response, and more at your finger tips. It can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play

CLICK HERE for the Ready Pinellas App information

CLICK HERE for The Pinellas County Hurricane Guide

St. John's Facebook Page and Website

Are you aware that St. John's has a Facebook page? As of today, our Facebook page has 743 followers! It grows weekly. Are you one of them? If not, please go to Facebook.com and search for St. John's Episcopal Church, Clearwater, FL. Then either "like" or "follow" the page. We post not only events of local interest, but also information from the wider Episcopal Church.

St. John's website, www.stjohnsclearwater.org, is one of the ways that we communicate who we are as a community. If you are interested in learning and helping with the website, please contact Jim May, jimmay.stjohns@gmail.com

Scan the QR code below to make a donation to St. John's, via Faithstreet. Your generous donations help to continue our mission of loving and serving God in our community and the world.

Worship

Our services are live streamed on Facebook and YouTube. The YouTube link is listed below. For Facebook, go to the St. John's Facebook page and click on "videos

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

9:00 a.m.

Readings:

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67

Psalm 45:11-18

Romans 715-25a

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Readers:

First Reading: Marti Moore

Second Reading: Molly Sperandio

Prayers of the People: Peri Worrell

To watch on YouTube: Click HERE

Weekly Schedule

Choir Rehearsals

On hiatus for the summer. Rehearsals resume in August

Thrift Shop schedule:

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 9:30- 3:30

Wednesday Morning Bible Study -

10 a.m. in the Parish Hall; for more information, contact Bob Courdway

Rug Hookers - Parish Hall

Thursdays 10:00 am.

Men's Cursillo Grouping- Parish Hall

Thursdays 7:00 am.

Dates for your Calendar

July 4 Independence Day 250th Anniversary

July 5 Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the USA; indoor picnic to follow the service.

July Confirmation classes begin; date and time to follow

September 11 St. John's 60th Birthday

September 13 Visitation of The Rt. Rev. Douglas Scharf

eNews

What you would like to see in eNews? We need your input to keep it fresh and relevant. Is your ministry area doing something that you would like to share? Please send your news, ideas, articles, photos, etc. to me at seniorwarden2024.stjohns@gmail.com

The deadline submission for the Thursday enews is Wednesday noon.

Marlene Eichelberger

NEWS, MINISTRIES, AND UPCOMING CHURCH EVENTS!

Forming Disciples

Developing Leaders

Embracing Differences

Transforming Communities

https://episcopalswfl.org/

Read more HERE

To read more click HERE

To read more click HERE.