St. John's Episcopal Church

Harvest Hope began in 1981 as the result of a shared vision of business leaders and the faith community who set out to provide for the hungry in Columbia. St. John’s has been a proud supporter, since its inception. We support in three ways. We have volunteers who serve at the food bank, we allocate $1,000 annually as a monetary donation, and we collect food donations each week. We have two receptacles where you may deposit your non-perishable food donations- a small wicker basket is located in the Narthex and a large white container is located in the entryway to the Barr Center. When these fill up, food is then delivered to Harvest Hope Food Bank for distribution to those in need.

Please bring your food donations to church each week of this month!

St. John’s Membership Core Features While On the Go!

• Use as a church directory. Search for parish members by last name
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• Tap profile image to add a new one (Individual or Family Selfie)
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• Get directions from GoogleMaps to a parish member’s residence

If you did not receive an email with login credentials, please email Dan Bernardo at drb@stjohnscolumbia.org or give the Parish Office a call at 803-799-4767.

ACCESS THE ONLINE DIRECTORY ON YOUR COMPUTER

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Christmas Eve - December 24
4:00 pm, Holy Eucharist*
5:30 pm, Holy Eucharist*
10:00 pm, Christmas Anthems and Carols
10:30 pm, Holy Eucharist

Christmas - December 25
10:30 am, Holy Eucharist

Nursery Provided*

With your help, St. John’s Church will be decorated for Christmas, showing forth the glory of our Lord through the beauty of flowers. For $25 you may contribute to the purchase of altar arrangements, wreaths, arrangements under the altar, and poinsettias in memory of, in honor of, or in thanksgiving for a loved one.

Forms available in the Church Narthex and Heyward Hall, or complete the form and pay online HERE. The deadline is Thursday, December 13.

A guild for women in their 30s and 40s, will hold an Ornament Exchange and Christmas Party on Sunday, December 16, 7:30 pm at Katherine Templeton's house, 27 Point Comfort.

For more information, contact Katherine at 803.622-8339.

For couples and singles in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. Held at the Jaillette residence (817 Arbutus Drive), December 18, 7 pm. We will hold our annual holiday dinner and white elephant gift exchange. Emailed information will be sent out ahead of time, if you are not on the email list and would like to be added, please contact Ashley Jaillette at ajaillette@alumni.clemson.edu for further details.

Newcomers are welcome!

Women in their early to mid 20s and 30s are invited to join new guild at St. John's. St. Catherine’s Guild is a new guild for a new age group of women at St. John’s. We are growing as a parish and felt it was time to start a new group. The purpose is mainly for fellowship. The other guilds meet as often as their schedules allow (around every other month) and usually for dinner or socializing. Occasionally the new guild will be asked to help serve breakfast or help out with some other church related events, but for now we just want to get on our feet, get to know everyone and then decide what we want to do moving forward. All are welcome!

If you are interested in joining St. Catherine's, please contact Charlotte Hodge at gantt.charlotte@gmail.com or (803) 427-2722.

We’ve got the perfect Christmas gift for your family! Save the date for St. John’s Parish Weekend Retreat at Kanuga Conference & Retreat Center, March 1 - 3, 2019.

St. John's is a people who gather at the table: the Lord's table, the family table, and the tables of our parish meals. St. John's is also a parish that loves the land, full of gardeners, keepers of bees, hunters, and many still connected to a farm, elsewhere in the state. This year's Kanuga retreat will explore the concepts of eating and gardening as liturgical practices. We will think about how eating connects us with God, our neighbor, the rest of creation, and with our own bodies. We will leave a wonderful weekend in the mountains with a renewed understanding of how faithful eating practices foster care for neighbor, place, and body in Christ-like ways.

Our retreat leader is Chas Edens, a native of Winston-Salem and Director of Anathoth Community Garden and Farm in Cedar Grove, North Carolina (pictured). Taking its name from Jeremiah 29, Anathoth heals divisions between neighbors and the land by growing and eating food together. Chas is a graduate of NC State University where he received a BS in Horticulture. Chas is particularly passionate about connecting the life of faith with the health of the land and community. Chas lives with his wife, Hannah, and daughters, Heidi and Margaux, on the farm. The whole family will be joining us for the weekend. #kanuga #discoverstjohns

Pick up registration forms in Atrium and Chuch Narthex

Bishop Waldo will be at St. John's on November 17, 2019 for Confirmation. The bishop expects those being confirmed to be in at least 11th grade, so those currently in 10th grade or higher are eligible.  If you think you would be interested in being confirmed, please come to a meeting on Sunday, January 13 at 9:30 am in the Library of Heyward Hall. Parents and teens should plan to attend. We'll discuss the schedule for classes and expectations. Any questions? Call Eileen Schell at 803-920-1487 or Gordon Schell at 803-476-5555.

Watch this space for information on adult confirmation preparation next year. 

Preparing for holy Advent

Wednesdays, December 5, 12 & 19;
Evening Prayer, 6 pm, Church
Music Makers, 5:15-5:45 pm

Followed by a meal prepared by the WNS kitchen crew, Barr Center

Prepare yourself for Christmas with a holy Advent, a season of waiting, pondering, and planning. Take a break from the swirl of holiday activities for worship and a meal with your church family. Our evening prayer services will include a Godly Play lesson for children, helping them focus on the deepest purposes of Christmas. Adults are sure to overhear nourishing wisdom as well, in the context of our beloved evening prayer service.

Families welcome. Nursery Provided

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Vestry Nominations

The St. John's Episcopal Church Annual Parish Meeting will be held in the Barr Center following the 10:30 am service on Sunday, December 9. At this meeting, five new Vestry members, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, one delegate and alternate delegates to the Diocesan Convention will be elected. A light lunch will be served. All members, 16 years-of-age and older, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy. Sunday school is scheduled on December 9. The Fellowship Breakfast has been canceled. Children are welcome to enjoy a time of fellowship in the Barr Center Dining Room during the meeting.

Proxy voting can be completed at the Parish Office
8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday, except during Thanksgiving holidays

The 2019 Nominees

Senior Warden
Benton Williamson

Junior Warden
Julian Horst

Vestry Members
Brock Dillard, Craig Keeney, Will Grice, Mackie O’Keefe, Mary Sherrer

Diocesan Delegate

Meredith Blocker

Diocesan Alternate Delegates
Biff Blocker, Cilla Thomas

Click HERE for Nominee Bios
For more information, contact the Parish Office at 799-4767

Feast of Lights Casting Call! The beautiful Feast of Lights Epiphany pageant will be Sunday, January 6, with a rehearsal during the Sunday School hour. Sign-ups for ages 4 and up will begin in Sunday School, and you can also contact Ann Ruderman at aruderman@sc.rr.com directly to sign up for a role. Please indicate if you'd also like to serve in another capacity such as staging, costumes or the 12th Night Party, all of which could not happen without our wonderful annual volunteers.

12th Night Party Investor Our investor, who found the dime this year at the 12th Night Party, is George Petroff. Son of William and Lolly Petroff, George has chosen the SC Sea Turtles as his non-profit and invites you to invest with him to support his cause.

Join him on Sundays outside on the patio or during the Fellowship Breakfast in the Barr Center to learn more about why he's supporting the SC Sea Turtles.

For couples and singles ages 60+

Thursday, December 13, 12:00 pm in the Barr Center Dining Room. RSVP with the Parish Office at 803.799.4767.

 St. John's will host Family Promise December 9 - 16. There are many volunteer opportunities available: Overnight Hosts, Dinner, Set-up, Laundry. Please let us know how you can help by contacting the coordinators listed below or volunteer using the Family Promise Sign Up Board on Sunday morning located outside on the patio after each service. If you have any questions, contact Co-chairs John or Jackie Boylston at jdboylston@gmail.com or 803-636-6753

Needed:

• Moving in and out - Beds must be picked up and moved into our facility on Sunday. Beds must be moved out on Sunday morning. Contact Bryant Blakeslee at bryant.blakeslee@icloud.com or Pat O'Keefe at patbokeefe@gmail.com
• Dinner Providers - 6:00 to 7:30 pm, dinner is served at 6:30 - Sunday night through Saturday night - please contact Leigh Jones at jonesau69@gmail.com
• Overnight Hosts - Sunday night through Saturday night 7:30 pm to 7:30 am - need a male and female - two comfortable cots - two rooms available - Please contact John Boylston at jdboylston@gmail.com
• Sunday Setup - Set up bedrooms for guests Sunday afternoon. Contact Stacy Collins at stacyncollins@hotmail.com
• Laundry - Sunday will need laundry helpers. Linens and towels need to be washed. No hurry in returning clean items. Contact jdboylston@gmail.com

If you have any questions contact John Boylston at jdboylston@gmail.com or 803-636-6753

If you have any questions contact John Boylston at
jdboylston@gmail.com or 803-636-6753

Sunday, December 9, following the 10:30 service, Barr Center
The St. John's Episcopal Church Annual Parish Meeting will be held in the Barr Center on Sunday, December 9 following the 10:30 am service. At this meeting, five new Vestry members, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, one delegate and alternate delegates to the Diocesan Convention will be elected. A lunch, hosted by the Vestry, will be served. All members, 16 years of age and older, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy. Sunday school for adults, youth and children will not be held. Proxy voting can be completed at the Parish Office on November 19 - December 7, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday. Nominee’s biographical information will be available on St. John’s website, in the church narthex, and Heyward Hall.

For more information, contact the Parish Office at 799-4767.

If you are new to St. John's and have already been baptized, be welcomed as a member and renew your baptismal promises. Please let Fr. Beasley know of your interest: nmb@stjohnscolumbia.org or 799-4767. He can tell you more about the moment in the service.

Sunday, December 9 in the 10:30 Service

Need some Gospel medicine for your weary soul? The Wednesday Morning Bible Study resumes at 10:30 on November 14, using a book of sermons by the great Episcopal preacher Barbara Brown Taylor, Gospel Medicine. The books are available in the Heyward Hall atrium for $5. We'll read some Scripture each week, related to the sermons, and conclude on December 19.

Taylor, who long served in our neighboring diocese of Atlanta, has often been ranked among the most effective preachers in the country.

Below are some of the things specifically requested this year. Items can be dropped off with Debbie Wood at the main office and should be delivered by Wednesday, December 12. 

Items for men, such as sports paraphernalia (Gamecock and Clemson items are a big hit), new baseball hats, new socks, coffee mugs, key chains

• NEW Toiletry items for men, like after-shave, cologne, body spray, lotion
• Women's Jewelry
• Small household knick knacks
• NEW Toiletry items for women, like lotions, body spray, perfumes, bath products
• We also need gift bags and tissue paper this year; we have plenty of wrapping paper.

They can also be delivered to the break room across from the parish office in Heyward Hall. 

This Fall we are excited to continue our Fellowship Breakfast on Sunday mornings from 9:00 a.m to 9:30 am before Sunday school in the Barr Center.  If you would like to help with this ministry, please consider sponsoring a breakfast, hosting a breakfast, or both. The sponsor is asked to make a minimum donation of $150.  The host group will be responsible for providing juice and fruit, serving breakfast, and cleaning-up.  The Breakfast Committee has established a menu for each week, and the Committee will be responsible for all of the cooking and grocery shopping! Even if you are unable to sponsor or host, bring your whole family every Sunday to enjoy great food and great fellowship!

Sign up to serve or sponsor breakfast online HERE!

Fresh Start is an outreach program sponsored by St. Luke's Episcopal Church. It is coordinated by Deacon Dianna Deaderick along with her husband Doug. This mission provides free food, clothing, free showers and free laundry services to those in need. All this takes place in the O'Neal Center on Thursdays from 10 am to 3 pm and the second and fourth Saturdays.

Donations of laundry detergent, bleach, and men's boxers (large and x-large) would be appreciated. 

Make your donations by dropping off items in the Fresh Start box at St. John's located in the break room across from the parish office in Heyward Hall. Volunteers are always needed too.

Contact Susan Milton at jsmilton@sc.rr.com.

The Guild of the Flowering Cross invites all parishioners to sponsor altar flowers for any given Sunday throughout the year (even during Lent and Advent when greenery is used, you may still sponsor flowers and it will be acknowledged in the Sunday bulletin). Sponsoring altar flowers is a beautiful way to honor loved ones marking special life events such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, baptisms, confirmations, in memory of a loved one, or in thanksgiving for life's blessings. More than one person may make a gift on a particular Sunday. Names of those honored will be printed in the bulletin announcements and included in the weekly, online e-pistle for the week they are given.

The cost for sponsoring altar flowers begins at $50 per individual/family. The altar flowers are currently arranged by members of the Guild of the Flowering Cross. Donations can be made online at our Giving Page on the website or by calling the parish office at 799.4767.

Donations can be made online at our Giving Page or by calling the parish office at 799.4767. 

This is an opportunity to work with one of God’s most delightful gifts to us –flowers. The guild can be a way for you to offer spiritual service and floral beautification of our church on Sundays, Christmas, Easter, and special occasions.  Women and men of all ages can participate.

To volunteer or for more information, contact Emily Davison at  emilyok@gmail.com. 

 The price tag for the replacement of the chiller, the sanctuary doors and other building repairs, totals $75,000. Thank you for your generous offerings. We have $40,000 more to go! Donations can be made to support these projects through the capital building fund.

For more information on how you can contribute to these projects, please contact our finance administrator, Lori Anderson, at lka@stjohnscolumbia.org.

Join us for our Fellowship Breakfast in the Barr Center Gym at 9:00 am 
and regular Sunday school classes at 9:30 am, all beginning Sunday, September 9.  

Click HERE For more information on the Sunday School Programs

From Servant Ministry at St. John's

We ask the congregation to continue to show its support for Harvest Hope Food Bank.  Founded in 1981, the organization provides food to those in need across 20 different counties in the state of South Carolina. In the fiscal year of 2014-2015, Harvest Hope distributed 27,405,347 lbs of food to provide hunger relief for individuals in our service area.  Harvest Hope accepts a large variety of canned goods and non-perishable foods, but they are especially in need of specific items.
 
List of Items Most Needed
Food items and plastic shopping bags can be brought to the basket containers at every Sunday service at St John's.   You can find the containers right behind the front doors of the Barr Center. 
 
We also ask that you make monetary donations when you can to Harvest Hope.
 
Let's all do what we can to feed a hungry soul today!

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”  John 6:35

We ask the congregation to recognize and continue its support for Coins for Change. The program is designed to provide financial support for our Weekend Backpack Food Program, which is coordinated by the St John's Servant Ministry's Committee to help bring needed food items to the students of Hand Middle School. The food is given to students of the school who have been identified as homeless or in transition between homes. Ten dollars in change will feed a child for one weekend. So keep scrambling for those coins from your piggy bank jars to the depths of your sofa cushions!  We have many great children to feed with both the food we bring as well as the love we share with them.

Help the Servant Ministry Team fill the basket with items for Harvest Hope every Sunday.