If you crochet, knit, or quilt, we invite you to use your skills to provide shawls, lap blankets/afghans/quilts and baby blankets. Use any pattern you would like and pray for the recipient while you are stitching. These items will be used for those in the hospital, shut-ins, newly baptized babies and any other need that comes up. Father Frank will bless them and we will keep them on hand until needed.

Volunteers who send out appropriate cards for birthdays, anniversaries, and illnesses to all members of our Church family.

Your old cell phones and chargers can be placed in the collection box in the Parish Hall. Several times a year the phones are taken to be erased and donated to women and families in domestic violence shelters/homes in Arizona.

The people of St. John's do a great job providing for the homeless and very poor of north-central Phoenix. We serve the food and our chocolate milk along with the many donated clothes, shoes, blankets, toiletries, new socks, tooth brushes, Bibles (English and Spanish) and much more!

We can always use new servers. Likewise we need money to buy socks, milk, blankets, and other necessities for survival. Save and bring us any clothes from baby thru adult. Also in winter bring in things saved such as: blankets, gloves, scarves, jackets sweaters, sweatshirts, sleeping bags, and other cold weather things. There is a blue storage box in the Parish Hall for your donations to this group.

Share any ideas or questions with Dan Basche. Again thank you for your incredible support and love. They always suppose that we must be a mega-church, as we provide so much. You only need a smile and willingness to join this group. For God's glory!

Meet at 4:15 p.m. at Chris Becker Dining Hall on the 1st Sunday or 2nd Tuesday of each month (check Events for actual dates). Fun, fellowship and a feeling of accomplishment are the reward. Requirements: wear long pants and closed toe shoes and a smile. Must be age 14 or older

The First Annual St. John's Christmas Dinner and Party was held in 2009 and was a huge success! Cynthia Pastula, Jeanne Waterman and Cathie Kieborz co-organized this event. Through the generosity of our parish and the work of many, St. John's put on a Christmas dinner and party for 8 families in need. The event was filled with fun as well as many gifts and surprises for our guests. The Red Hatters raised $282 from their gift basket raffle to help support this event including a gift for Santa himself! St. John's parishioners made donations of many kinds including toys, games, candy and money. Two ladies from the Crafting and Sewing Group each donated a beautiful blanket for the raffle. A parishoner donated Avon gift sets for all the mothers. Mackenzie Kieborz hand painted the table centerpieces and each family got to take one home. Nancy Young was able to get Fry's Food Stores to donate two reusable shopping bags for each family. Santa (Rob Krug) made an appearance and took gift requests with the help of his trusty assistant (Nicole Krug). He gave each child a bag full of candy. Lil Dog Kieborz, a special guest, delighted everyone. Next year she'll be sporting either a Santa hat or reindeer antlers...

At the Christmas Dinner:

• Guests enjoyed chicken strips, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn, green beans, rolls and festive cupcakes for dessert

• Each family receied a raffle ticket for one of two beautiful blankets

• Bingo was played and winners selected prizes from a table full of toys

• Most closely guessing the number of pieces of candy in the jar won a nice play set - there were two lucky winners

• Everyone received a candy cane complete with the story of the candy cane

• Santa made an appearance, took gift requests and gave out bags of candy

• Each child received an individually wrapped age-appropriate toy as well as school supplies or coloring book and crayones, and a book

• Each family received a card game, a matching Christmas towel and potholder, a fold-up reusable shopping bag, Glade soy candle, and 2 reusable Fry's shopping bags filled with breakfast items (1-2 boxes of cereal, pancake mix, syrup, apple juice, 12 pack of Pop Tarts, peanut butter, jelly, and two boxes of cocoa)

• Each mother received a 2-piece Avon gift set

• Each child selected a book at the end of the event

The children loved the party; the parents appreciated the party. One child commented that "this is the BEST party ever," while one parent sobbed tears of sheer gratitiude.

Plans are already in the works for next year's event! Please consider picking up a few items to support this heart-warming and thoughtful event. Our guests felt very loved and cared for.

If you are interested in directly helping a homebound elder, you may provide a variety of simple services. After you attend a one-time orientation, we will work to find someone in your neighborhood who you can help.

St. John's Food Pantry serves over 1,000 people each year by providing food boxes to those in need. Through the generous donations of our parishoners (food, money and coupons) St. John's provides for those in need of emergency food. There are collection trays for canned and packaged foods at each side door in the Sanctuary. Types of food needed are generally listed in the bulletin each week, but ALL food is GREATLY appreciated. There is a basket in the back of the Parish Hall labeled "coupons". Coupon donations help to stretch the Food Pantry budget.

For the period of January 1st thru September 30th 2011, the Pantry has assisted 390 people with food! This number is down from last year, but there have been reduced hours due to office staffing.

Without the continued support of the congregation and the Red Hats we wouldn’t be able to do this. The families and individuals receiving assistance are always very grateful! Starshine School held a food drive in September and donated an amazing amount of food to the pantry!

Efforts are underway for the Food Pantry to provide 10 families with Thanksgiving food baskets.

If you are interested in directly helping a homebound elder, you may provide a variety of simple services. After you attend a one-time orientation, we will work to find someone in your neighborhood who you can help.

Computers, parts of computers, etc. are donated, cleaned, erased, put back together and given to persons who cannot afford a system. These are a real blessing to lots of folks, especially school children, the elderly, people wanting to start businesses, and persons who are not able to be out and about. Training is also provided.

If you crochet, knit, or quilt, we invite you to use your skills to provide shawls, lap blankets / afghans / quilts and baby blankets. Use any pattern you would like and pray for the recipient while you are stitching. These items will be used for those in the hospital, shut-ins, newly baptized babies and any other need that comes up. Father Frank will bless them and we will keep them on hand until needed.