23nd Sunday after Pentecost

November 16, 2025

• Celebrant: The Rev. Hugh O. Bell
• Preacher: Deacon Kevin Mort
• Stewardship Theme: Tell out my soul!
• Remember to enter the church quietly and spend time preparing your heart for worship. Please be respectful of those in prayer.

Stewardship Campaign

Did you ever have news that was so exciting that you could not wait to share it with others? The Good News that fills our spirits with joy is about the radical abundance, abiding love, and healing power that Jesus shares with us when we respond to his call to follow him.

We would love to hear your story - your exciting news. If you are willing to share it with us on an upcoming Sunday, please contact Stewardship Chair Deb Hladky, dehladky0426@gmail.com If you prefer to submit something in writing for enews, send it to seniorwarden2024.stjohns@gmail.com Neither oral nor written testimony has to be lengthy.

From Marlene Eichelberger:

On Sunday I shared my story along with speaking about sharing our Time and Talents. If you would like to read it, please click on the link below.

CLICK HERE

We Celebrate Veteran's Day

Veteran’s Day (originally called Armistice Day) is a federal holiday observed yearly on November 11 for honoring military veterans of the U.S. armed forces. It falls on Nov. 11 because major hostilities of World War I were formerly ended on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918 when the armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major U.S. veterans, Armistice Day was renamed Veteran’s Day in 1954. Veteran’s Day is distinct from Memorial Day which specifically honors those who died in military service. (Information taken from Wikipedia.)

Dear Lord, on this Veterans Day, we humbly thank You for the brave men and women who served our nation. We pray for their safety, healing, and peace. May their sacrifices never be forgotten, and may we honor their courage with our gratitude and support. Bless them and their families.. Amen.

Second Annual Joint Thanksgiving Dinner

St. John's and St. Paul's will join together for the second year in a row for a Thanksgiving Dinner. It will be held on Wednesday, November 12 at 5:30 p.m. Turkey will be provided. Bring a dish to share. Please note the time change from 5 to 5:30.

Advent begins November 30

Advent is the first season of the church year, beginning with the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continuing through the day before Christmas. The name is derived from a Latin word for “coming.” The season is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord's nativity.

This year Advent begins on Sunday, November 30, We will begin liturgical Year A and will read the Gospel of Matthew. This past year, Year C, we read Luke.

The Lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer uses a three-year cycle, Years A, B, and C. Year A begins on the First Sunday in Advent in years evenly divisible by three (e.g., 2025 – 2025 divided by 3 is 673!). In the eucharistic lectionary the Gospel according to Matthew is read in Year A, Mark in Year B, and Luke in Year C. John's Gospel is used during Lent and Easter, and on some Sundays in Year B, since Mark is shorter than the other gospels.

St. Paul's has invited us to join with them in an Advent program. It will be held on Tuesdays beginning November 25. Pastor Anne will lead a class at 10 a.m. There will also be an evening Zoom class. The book being used is Advent for Everyone by N.T. Wright, based on the Book of Matthew. More details to follow.

The Need is Great

Good Neigbhors has been doing a pop-up food giveaway in our Parish Hall every Friday from 11 - 12. The lines have grown to hundreds. No one leaves without food. Each person is able to fill one bag. Please note the pariticular items that Good Neighbors is requesting in November in the article below. These pictures, taken by Pastor Anne Harmon, are from a recent giveaway.

Keeping up with the Diocese of Southwest Florida and The Episcopal Church

Bridges (e-newsletter of our Diocese) and Episcopal News Service from the National Church contain information on events and issues of importance. If you aren't receiving them, we encourage you to follow the links below and sign up. Bridges comes bi-weekly; ENS is weekly.

Bridges: https://episcopalswfl.org/bridges-e-newsletter-subscription/

Episcopal News Service: news@episcopalchurch.org

Wants and Needs

Vestry Candidates: Individuals are needed to step up to fill Vestry vacancies that will occur in January. Please consider if you are called to serve on the Vestry. The requirements are that you are a Baptized member (Your Baptism is recorded in the church records), are regular in church attendance, have a record of giving, and have a willingness to work for the good of St. John's. Speak with any Vestry member if you have questions.

Pack-a-Sack Chairperson: At the end of this school year, Caroline Barnett will step away from chairing Pack-a-Sack after 9 years. The new chair would not officially take over until September 2026. However, we hope that someone will step up soon, so that he/she would have the opportunity to work alongside of Caroline for a period of time. Packing is done every other week during the school year.

Coffee Hour: Bring a treat to share - baked goods, salty items, fruit, cheese and crackers, casseroles - any and all are welcome.

The Thrift Shop is in great need of volunteers to work in the sorting room.

Your emergency contact information.

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 service is live streamed on FaceBook and YouTube at 9:00 am on Sundays. 

If you can't watch live, you can watch it at your convenience by going to St. John's FaceBook page and click on "videos".

To watch on You Tube: Click HERE for November 16, 2025

23rd Sunday after Pentecost

November 16, 2025

9:00 a.m.

Readings:

Isaiah 65:17-25

Psalm 98

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Luke 21:5-19

Weekly Schedule

Choir Rehearsals

Bell Choir, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

Vocal Choir, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

Thrift Shop schedule:

Tuesday, Thursday 9:30- 12:30

Saturday: 9:30-3:30

Retirees

Second Monday of the month 10:00 am

Wednesday Morning Bible Study -

10 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Bring your Bible. 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

November 12 St. John's and St. Paul's joint Thanksgiving Dinner; see above

November 16 Last day to bring Thanksgiving blessing bags for Belcher School

November 18 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, 7 p.m., St. Catherine of Sienna

November 23 Stewardship Sunday Ingathering

November 30 Advent I

December 13 Decorate the Church for Christmas PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE

Office Schedule and Contact Information

Church Office hours are Mon. - Thus. from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Mondays & Wednesdays, for access to church office,

please call the office at 727-531-6020

The Rev. Hugh O. Bell, Priest in Residence

hobell2888@gmail.com

The Rev. Kevin Mort, Deacon

cell phone: 727 409-8248 

email: kdmort727@gmail.com

Office phone number:

727-531-6020

Office email addresses:

Parish Administrator

Jim May, Music Director email address:

Music Director

727-531-6020 Ex. 4

Marlene Eichelberger, Senior Warden

email: seniorwarden2024.stjohns@gmail.com

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 Tuesday enews is Monday, 3 p.m.

Marlene Eichelberger

NEWS, MINISTRIES, AND UPCOMING CHURCH EVENTS!

Read more HERE

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