The Messenger

Weekly newsletter

from St. John|San Juan

October 23, 2026

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:

Beyond perfect strangers

Dear Friends:

In 1995, Stuart Matlins and Arthur Magida published How to Be a Perfect Stranger, a book that guides well-meaning visitors to appropriate participation in religious rituals in unfamiliar faith traditions.

What does the book have to say to Episcopalians joining Methodists for a chili cook-off? Who knows?!?! Though I read bits of this book in seminary, I don’t own it, and the Amazon preview doesn’t stretch to page 184, where advice on visiting Methodists begins.

Even if we could read the “Methodists” section of How to Be a Perfect Stranger, much of it would not apply because we are not strangers (we have been engaging with First United Methodist Church of Olympia (FUMCO) in a variety of ways since 1860) AND because we are not “just visiting.”

This Saturday, FUMCO and SJSJ will take the next step building a partnership together. Our goal at Saturday’s chili cook-off is to get to know each other, to deepen our relationships.

Here are some suggestions for getting off on the right foot:

• Begin with prayer! Hopefully, you’re already praying for our new FUMCO partners. If not, now is a great time to start. As you drive to FUMCO for the Chili Cook-off and building tour, ask God to open our hearts to each other and give us the gifts of curiosity, listening, and generosity.

• Get to know our FUMCO siblings person to person, on a human level. Steer conversations toward getting to know each other and away from problem-solving about the future of our congregations.

• Allow the FUMCO Council/Trustees and SJSJ Vestry time to make the overarching decisions about specific space use, worship times, etc. All that stuff is yet to be decided.

• Share what you love about SJSJ and be curious about what FUMCO members love about their church, but wait until Pastor Heather and I give the signal (likely in early 2027) to start building bridges between ministry groups.

Today, as I prayed about our time together with the Methodists, God said, “As you gather on Saturday, may FUMCO and SJSJ begin to become imperfect family. There is much more grace, strength, and hope in being imperfect family than there is in being perfect strangers!”

May it be so!

Blessings,

Janet+

Español

#MovingChurch

Welcome to #MovingChurch

#MovingChurch is the place to look for news on our move to a new space in August 2027, including:

• Answers to your many, many questions, when we have the answers.
• Events, including tour opportunities at First United Methodist Church in Olympia, our new physical location.
• Updates on packing and moving plans.
• Timelines, calendars, etc.

EVENTS

All at SJSJ are invited to two events with FUMCO, followed by tour opportunities:

CHILI COOK-OFF FUNDRAISER – followed by building tour for SJSJ

Saturday, October 24, 1-3 p.m.

First United Methodist Church of Olympia, 1224 Legion Way S.E.

CHILI!!! Come try delicious chili and vote for your favorite! All funds go to support ministries at FUMCO and outreach ministries shared with SJSJ: Interfaith Works, SafePlace and LISO (Legal Immigration Services of Olympia) Food, games, and more!

BUILDING TOUR AT 3 p.m. FUMCO leadership will take SJSJ folks on a tour of the FUMCO building (please do not ask for a tour at an earlier or later time; building tour will last about 30 minutes), building is handicap accessible).

ESSENTIAL RSVP SIGN-UP on the bulletin board in the SJSJ Parish Hall by 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 21. When you sign up, please sign up to bring a SMALL side dish (serving three to four people), if you choose. Side dishes include chips, salads, corn bread, dessert, etc.

FUMCO POTLUCK SUPPER before evening activities, followed by building tour for SJSJ

Wednesday, November 4

First United Methodist Church of Olympia, 1224 Legion Way S.E.

POTLUCK, 6-7 p.m. Enjoy fellowship and food with members of FUMCO.

BUILDING TOUR, 7 p.m. FUMCO leadership will take SJSJ folks on a tour of the FUMCO building (please do not ask for a tour at an earlier or later time; building tour will last about 30 minutes), building is handicap accessible).

ESSENTIAL RSVP SIGN-UP on the bulletin board in the SJSJ Parish Hall by 8 p.m. Sunday, November 1. When you sign up, please sign up to bring a SMALL main dish, side dish, or dessert (serving three to four people).

NOTE: If you are unable to participate in a tour at one of these times, please do not ask anyone at FUMCO for a private tour. Please put your name on the “FUMCO TOUR: Another Date/Time?” list on the bulletin board in the SJSJ Parish Hall, along with your cell phone number and email address. Someone will reach out to you in early to mid-November regarding additional tour opportunities.

SJSJ ANNUAL GIVING COVENANT CAMPAIGN for 2027 OPERATING FUNDS

THEME: GOOD PLANS

THEME VERSE: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, plans to give you a future with hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)

Theme and campaign materials created by Pastor Heather Sparkman and Pastor Alexa Eisenbarth of FUMCO

DATES: through Sunday, November 22

NOVEMBER 8 PULPIT SWAP – FUMCO and SJSJ will worship at their regular times and locations. Rev. Janet will preach at FUMCO and FUMCO Pastor Heather Sparkman will preach at SJSJ.

QUESTIONS about #MovingChurch? Contact Rev. Janet at janet@stjohnoly.org or Mindy Chambers at mindy@orcalink.com. If we have the answer, we will share it with you. If we do not yet have the answer, we will add your question to the list of questions to be answered as we move forward. 

Weekly calendar

Saturday, October 24

Dioscean convention, Sea-Tac

1 p.m. Chili cook-off and building tour, First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way S.E., Olympia

Sunday October 25

8 a.m. Holy Eucharist

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

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

Monday October 26

10 a.m. Monday Morning Crafters, Parish Hall

6 p.m. Capital City AA, Parish Hall



Tuesday October 27

6 p.m. Nar-Anon, Guild Room

6:30 p.m. Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Library

Wednesday October 28

7 a.m. Morning prayer via Zoom (link below)

Noon. Messenger deadline

6 p.m. Buddhist meditation

6 p.m. Oasis, contemporary sung worship service

6:30 p.m. Choir practice

Thursday October 29

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

Saturday, October 31

9 a.m. Men's Group, Chapel

4:30 p.m. Halloween Spooktacular begins!

6:30 p.m. Spooky music, followed at 7 p.m. by three short, silent movies

Set your clocks back one hour. Daylight savings time begins Sunday.

Adult forum for October/November

9:30 am Sundays



"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up . . ."

In the October/November Adult Forum, Rev. Janet and Usrah Claar-Peck will lead a discussion on John Philip Newell's The Rebirthing of God: Christianity's Struggle for New Beginnings. With Newell's thoughtful guidance, we will explore the things in our faith that hold steady in the midst of change.

Copies of the introduction and first chapter will be provided. If you plan to participate in the study, or would just like to read along with the group, copies of the book are widely available, including on online booksellers. A few copies will be available for purchase for $12.

Masks, hand sanitizer available

It's cold and flu season, and SJSJ is, should you need them, masks and hand sanitizer. They are available throughout the church building, including at the usher tables in side the sanctuary, and at the entrance to the kitchen near the kitchen. Please note masks are not required; we offer them only to those who would like to wear one and may have left theirs at home!

Volunteers, treats still needed for annual SJSJ Spooktacular

St. John | San Juan will greet trick or treaters on Halloween again this year!

You still have time to donate candy (bring to the church before 4 p.m. Saturday, October 31) and to volunteer to help with this wonderful neighborhood event. Please see the signup sheet in the Parish Hall.

Volunteers are needed for two shifts:

• 4-6:30 p.m.
• 6:30-8 p.m.-ish

The church will be open beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Halloween, providing treats, cold and hot drinks, and restrooms, to the Olympia community. At 6:30 p.m., the spooky organ music will begin, followed by three short, silent movies, including the 1910 version of Frankenstein!

Most-needed are people to make hot chocolate and distribute drinks. People who help distribute drinks take coffee orders and pour and serve the coffee. It requires lots of standing (outdoors) and conversations with those who come to our doors. 

Those who prefer to help behind the scenes are invited to make hot chocolate in the SJSJ kitchen and deliver it to the distribution area.

Big thanks for your assistance in this wonderful ministry!

Election events

SJSJ chapel open on Election Day

St. John | San Juan’s chapel and sanctuary will be open to all for prayers and meditation on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m.

Please come to the portico doors off the parking lot at 19^th Avenue and Capitol Way and use the buzzer to gain entry.

If you wish, you may participate in a short service of prayer and song in the chapel from 9-9:15 a.m., noon to 12:15 p.m. and 5-5:15 p.m. and watch election returns until 8 p.m. on the TV in the chapel. If you are able, bring a beverage and snack or finger food items to share!

Join a march and sing for peace and hope on November 4!

On Wednesday, November 4 (the day after the elections) please join in a march and sing beginning at noon at St. John | San Juan Episcopal Church.

People will gather in the church’s parking lot at the corner of 19th Avenue and Capitol Way in Olympia and march and sing down Capitol Way to the United Churches parking lot at the corner of 11th Avenue and Capitol Way, where the event will end with prayers. After the march and sing, United Churches will be open for those wishing to stay and pray.

Many thanks to the organizers Concerned Clergy of Olympia, a coalition of religious and faith leaders who collaborate on social, civic, and human rights issues, United Churches and St. John | San Juan, and to music directors Steve O’Connor of SJSJ and April Kuhr of United Churches.

For children and families

Growing in Love:

Nurturing family faith

Our children and families program "Growing in Love" program welcomes you to:

• A children's moment at the beginning of the 10:30 a.m. worship service.
• Faith development activities in the Kid Center during the 10:30 a.m. service.
• Take-home resources to use at home.

Follow the signs to the Kid Center to learn more and find registration forms. 

Weekday worship services

Wednesday Morning Prayer

At the 7 a.m. Wednesday service, October 28, Rev. Janet will celebrate Holy Communion in the chapel. If you're unable to meet at the chapel, you can participate via Zoom.

The service will venerate the apostles St. Simon and St. Jude, who are named in the New Testament as two of the 12 disciples, although little is known about them. Tradition has consistently associated them working together as missionaries. Ancient authorities have indicated they were martyred together.

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.

Oasis: candlelight, music and reflection

Need to breathe at the end of your busy day? Maybe take some time to clear your mind, your concerns, and recharge and reinvigorate so that you may do good work in the world, enveloped in peace.

Then try Oasis, a service of candlelight, music and reflection.

For 30 minutes each Wednesday, beginning at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary at St. John | San Juan, leave the hectic world behind you for a half hour of meditation, music and prayer in a service in which all senses are engaged in the practice of worship relevant to the end of the workday and the beginning of evening rest.

Around the Diocese

Coming up

• Saturday, October 31 Halloween Extravaganza. Spooky organ music starting at 6:30 p.m. and three short, silent films starting at 7, and treats for the community at the 20th Avenue steps.

• Sunday, November 1. Daylight saving time ends. Remember to set your clocks back one hour or you will be early for worship services!

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 information about the SJSJ library and the latest books and news about religion and spirituality? Click the buttons below.

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