The Messenger

Weekly newsletter

from St. John|San Juan

SJSJ's 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship services are in-person

and live-streamed to YouTube. Click on the logo below to view them.

From the Rector:

Drone tone: God is here

Dear Friends –

A few weeks ago, I went to an indie-folk concert by Ellie Barber and her band Ollella. Several of their songs featured a drone synthesizer, a little box that generates a drone tone, a fixed pitch around which Ellie and her band created interweaving harmonies. The resulting musical experience was like sinking a deep pool of sound in which I could remain deliciously suspended.

Worship is where we gather to reconnect with the drone tone. Jesus promised, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Around the drone tone, our activities of movement, speech, listening, singing, giving, blessing, breaking, eating, drinking, and being blessed interweave to bind us together in harmony and send us out, carrying the drone tone inside us.

We often take the drone tone for granted – until we cannot hear it any longer. Then we notice. We REALLY notice. Sometimes our minds question, “I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s different.” A sadness or longing settles in without knowing why it’s there. An anger, distaste, or frustration lingers that, at first, seems to be about a particular irritant, but when we step back and realize that the irritant alone doesn’t account for how stuck or burdened we feel.

Can you hear it? It is OK to tell the truth.

Someone said to me this week, “I am so filled with anger I can barely hear myself think.” I get it. I felt overwhelmed this week – at one point by anger and at another point by sorrow. In those times, I could not hear the drone tone. Then I attended the Tuesday evening potluck, and we said Compline prayers together. Where two or three are gathered . . . I could hear the drone tone again. I’m OK. It’s OK. God is here.

In Sunday worship this Summer, our interactive sermons (!) will reflect on the various aspects of our worship together, on what we do, and why we do it, and how the aspects of worship connect us with the drone tone that allows us to sink into the deep pool of God’s love and remain suspended there, protected and nourished, especially when we leave the sanctuary and move back out into our daily lives.

Come, let us worship . . . aaaahhhnnnnn . . . God is here . . . aaahhhnnnnn . . . God is here.

Blessings,

Janet+

Español

Sunday July 5

8 a.m. Holy Eucharist

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, nursery | childcare available

6 p.m. Spanish service, nursery | childcare available

Monday July 6

10 a.m. Monday Morning Crafters, Parish Hall

6 p.m. Capital City AA, Parish Hall



Tuesday July 7

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July Jumble set up

6 p.m. Nar-Anon, Guild Room

Wednesday July 8

7 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Zoom (link below), followed by breakfast potluck

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July Jumble set up

Noon. Messenger deadline

6 p.m. Buddhist meditation

Thursday July 9

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July Jumble set up

Noon to 1 p.m., Centering prayer group, Guild Room

6 p.m. Capital City AA Group, Parish Hall

6 p.m. Capital Al Anon Family Group, Sanctuary

Friday, July 10

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July Jumble set up

Saturday, July 11

No Daughters of the King meeting today

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July Jumble

9 a.m. Men's Group, Chapel

It's summer

Yes, we still have coffee hour!

Coffee hour after the 10:30 (CHAT) in July, August, and September needs individuals or groups to provide modest treats after 10:30 a.m. worship. A few cookies, veggies, fruit, or crackers/cheese are sufficient. CHAT is not designed to be lunch -- it's just an hour-long opportunity to, well, chat!

And you can be reimbursed up to $30 by turning in receipts to the office!

July Jumble

next Saturday, July 11!!!

Volunteers still needed for setup beginning July 7

Stuff piling up? Want to get rid of it and support SJSJ ministries and operations?

The July Jumble is for you!

On July 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., this annual event will feature items donated by you! All proceeds benefit SJSJ programs.

An important reminder: Please bring items to the church only from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 7-10. Please do not bring them at other times, or leave them outside hoping others will bring them in.

If you need help finding homes for items not appropriate for the Jumble, click here.

Also, a big thank you to all those who have already volunteered to help with the Jumble. We still could use volunteers to set up/sort (remember, no pricing) July 8 and 10, 12:30-2 p.m., on the day of the Jumble, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for the clean up on Monday morning, July 13 (boxing and taking away). Please sign up in the Parish Hall or contact Adele Roberts at adele@stjohnsoly.org or 360-451-6962 (text). Thanks!

Sign-up sheets are on the back bulletin board in the Parish Hall.

Accepted items:

• Linens/bedding
• Housewares
• Toys
• Books
• Sports equipment
• Home décor
• Art
• Craft materials

Please do not bring:

• Furniture
• Electronics
• Large appliances
• Clothing
• Opened items, such as makeup, hygiene products, laundry soap, pet food, etc.
• Hazardous items, paint, etc.

Thank you to all who participated

in Pride events in Olympia last weekend



Here's a few photos to enjoy

Outreach news

Thank you from the San Juan Food Pantry

Many thanks to all of you at St. John/San Juan for your continuing support of the food pantry that serves our immigrant community – it truly is appreciated!

Whenever the pantry shelves begin to look bare, you and our partners in the wider community come through to refill and replenish our supplies.

A shoutout to our community partners who help us make this work possible;

• Olympia Indivisible
• First Christian Church, Olympia
• Westminster Presbyterian, Olympia
• Panorama and Revel retirement communities
• 
  

Blessings,

Sherry Sullivan and Mary Magill

Support El Hogar, this Sunday, July 5

Our students Alondra and Johan are at El Hogar, the School of Love and Hope in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. 

El Hogar provides a high-quality formal education from first to 12th grade

across two campuses, with a focus on individualized support and active parental involvement. El Hogar offers a family-like home environment for children separated from their families, with an emphasis on family strengthening and reunification whenever possible. El Hogar delivers formal vocational training in welding and electricity, with students graduating 12th grade certified in electricity.  

The school also promotes physical and mental well-being through access to first aid, public health services, wellness support, and on-site preventative and restorative dental care. El Hogar does an amazing job of taking care of the students.

Click on the button below to learn more about El Hogar leasing its agricultural land, allowing better use of its while it continues to serve 250+ students.

Don't forget to place your coins, dollars and checks in the colorful offering plates on the first Sunday of every month (that's this Sunday, July 5) to support our students. 



Keep Alondra, Johan, and the other students and staff at El Hogar in your prayers.

Sue Michie

Wednesday 7 a.m. worship service

Holy Communion will be celebrated at the 7 a.m. service on Wednesday, July 8, a service which will venerate Priscilla and Aquila, who were friends of Paul and accompanied him to Ephesus where they remained while Paul continued to Antioch. They were earnest and effective in spreading the Good News of Christ. After the service all are invited to participate in a potluck breakfast. 

The service will take place both in the chapel and online.

All are welcome to these inclusive language liturgies, an excellent opportunity for spiritual connection with God and with other spiritual seekers in the middle of your week. Join by clicking the button below.

In the community

Fish War movie

screens at United Churches

Join Interfaith Works July 9 for a screening of the documentary Fish War, co-sponsored with the United Churches of Olympia and the 2026 Paddle to Nisqually Medicine Creek Potlatch.

The award-winning documentary chronicles the turmoil during a time when Washington state made it illegal for tribes to fish for salmon and the tribes' ensuing fight to exercise their treaty fishing rights.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the movie begins at 7, followed by a Q&A with Hanford McCloud, Nisqually Tribal Liaison and Nisqually Canoe Family Skipper.

United Churches is located at 110 11th Ave. S.E. in Olympia.

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

Links

Do you want to know more about the ministries, worship and programs at St. John | San Juan? Click the button below.

Are you looking for the latest books and news about religion and spirituality? The SJSJ Library Ministry recommends Religion Bookline. Click the button below for bi-weekly insights into religious books, trends, and publishers.

Are you interested in news about the Diocese of Olympia, which organizes Episcopal congregations in Western Washington to do their best work? Click the button below.

Do you need food, housing or other resources? Find information by clicking the button below.

Prayer and Connection

If you or a loved one would like to be added to the prayer list, or to report an illness, hospitalization, surgical procedure or death, please contact the office, (360) 352-8527 or anna@stjohnsoly.org, to leave a message, leave your prayer on the yellow card in the pews, or, in an emergency, contact clergy:

Rev. Janet by text or phone

at (360) 358-2041

Rev. Jaime by text or phone

at (360) 606-4285

View the current prayer list here.

Names appear on the prayer list for three weeks. If you wish to continue prayers for someone, please contact the office by phone or email.

Clergy and staff

Rev. Dr. Janet C. Waggoner, Rector | janet@stjohnsoly.org

Rev. Jaime Case, Associate Priest | jaime@stjohnsoly.org

Rev. Gen Grewell, Deacon | gen@stjohnsoly.org

Steve O' Connor, Director of Music | steve@stjohnsoly.org

Anna Okrasinski-Maddox, Parish Administrator | anna@stjohnsoly.org

Jonathen C. Brown, Sexton

Your financial support of St. John | San Juan is welcome at any time. You can make a pledge, donate to specific SJSJ ministries, make a donation for concert tickets and more by clicking on the button above.

Photo Preferences and Privacy

From time to time, photos may be taken at worship, coffee hour, and parish events for the church's use on the church website and social media. If you prefer that your photo not be taken, please inform an usher, who will then inform the photographer.

(360) 352-8527 • www.stjohnsoly.org

Office Hours

Tuesday though Friday

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(360) 352-8527

Messages left after 2 p.m. Friday will be picked up

when the office opens on Tuesday