July 18, 2019


Taco Saturday 
 
If you bought tickets to the  "Taco Saturday" fundraiser, don't forget to use them this Saturday, 
July 20th at 6:00 pm.
All the Tacos you can eat with all of the fixings, too, provided by Baja's Tacos and Catering.

Hand made tortillas (flour and corn) made on-site; carne and pollo asada, fish and chorizo; condiments including guacamole; rice and beans,  4 salsas, horchata and jamaica! ALL YOU CAN EAT! 
Soft drinks and dessert will also be provided.
$2 Corona beer and $3 margaritas will be available.

You can find more information about Baja's Tacos and Catering here: 

Vestry Meeting

The Vestry's regular monthly meeting is Wednesday, July 24 in Nale Hall.
The meeting begins at 6pm. Vestry meetings are open to all. 

The main topics this month will include financial updates, status of the call process, revision of parish By-laws, and a discussion of the Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT) results.
 
Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT) Results

Sunday, August 4, after both services, a presentation on the results of the CAT survey will be made. A written summary will be provided in the August 1 edition of eNews. Printed copies will be available on Sunday, August 4. This will be the beginning of a parish conversation about how the information from CAT can be used to build Saint John's into a more vital congregation. 

New Lectors
 
The result of asking for volunteers to read lessons during the 10 o'clock services has been great; five folks have stepped forward.  This should round out the roster for now.  A big thank you to Ingrid Andersen, Tom Brzeczek, Denise Eddleman, Al Stott and, Lynn Young for adding their voices to this ministry.
 
Monthly Financial Summary
 
Pledge Updates
 
If you picked up an envelope last Sunday with your pledge update, please note that the  information about 2018 and 2017 pledging was incorrect. We apologize for any confusion  or anxiety that this created. The amount shown for this current year's donation should be  accurate. If you have any questions, please call Maria, the parish secretary, at 619-422-4141.
 
Calendar of Events:

Office hours are 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday-Thursday.
The office is closed on Fridays. 

Taco Saturday Fundraiser
Saturday, July 20, 6:00 pm
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Baptism of Kae'lani Collier
Sunday, July 21, 12:00 noon
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Bible Study
Tuesday, July 23, 6:00 pm
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Morning Prayer and Bible Study
Wednesday, July 24, 9:30-11:00 am
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Vestry Meeting
Wednesday, July 24, 6:00-8:00 pm
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Celebration of Life Reception for Celestino Hernandez
Monday, July 29, 2:00 pm
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CAT Presentation
Sunday, August 4, after both services
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Healing Service
Sunday, August 4, 11:30 am


Prayers

We Are Available in Your Time of Need

If you have a pastoral emergency when the parish offices are closed, 
please call 619-483-7883 or email  [email protected]

Prayer List
 
Today and every day include some time for prayer, for yourself,
for your church family, and for those in need.  

For our Military
 
Matt, Drew, Cody,  Cameron,  Chariti, 
Mark,  Sean, Jonathan,  TK,   Christopher, 
Timothy,  Jeremy,  David,  Jonathan,  Nick, 
Jamal,  Matt, Daniel,  Jocelyn, Devon, 
Taylor, Jorge, Katherine, Sebastian and Richie.

  For Strength in Time of Need

Scott, Betty,   Rob, Linda,  Bill, Austin, 
Flo, Mary, George, Ed, Eva and Becky .

For the repose of the souls of Ruth Stevenson
and Celestino Hernandez, husband of Minnie Hernandez.
May light perpetual shine on them.

Those unable to come to services, but thankful
 for their continuing connection with Saint John's, 
 especially Lois, Roland,  Ron & Cathy and  Juanita.   

For Churches in Transition in our Diocese

All Saints in San Diego
Christ Church, Coronado
St. David's in San Diego
St. Andrew's in Pacific Beach
St. Margaret's in Palm Desert
St. Mary's in Ramona
St. Paul's in Yuma
St. Paul's in Palm Springs
St. Thomas in Temecula


Opportunities For Service

Back to School Bash

St Mark's 8th Back to School Bash will include backpacks, certain school supplies, socks and shoes for 400 children who are in need of a helping hand to begin the new school year. Many of them are newly arrived immigrants.  The event also includes a family photograph, haircuts, games, crafts and snacks. It costs an average of $65 to sponsor each child. All this is only possible with your help. From experience, St Mark's has learned that it is a better deal to buy what they need in bulk. 
They therefore are requesting your financial support. Donations are requested on or before August 3rd.  A box will be located in Nale Hall for your contributions in any amount.
If you know of anyone will specialty skills - hairdressers, photographers, videographer, who could volunteer on August 17th, please contact Norma Dunn or St. Mark's: outreach@stmarks-cityheights.org
VOLUNTEERS are needed to assist before the event to assemble supplies  (dates to be announced) and on the actual day to help with every aspect of the event.

Pill Bottle Ministry

Did you know that in developing countries, the pill bottle and cap is often more expensive than the medication inside. You can donate your empty prescription bottles! Just drop off your empty prescription bottles in our collection bucket located in the foyer- no need to peel the information off.  Our volunteers will take care of that for you! We will wash them and ship them to Matthew 25: Ministries.  Matthew 25: Ministries accepts donations of empty plastic pill bottles for inclusion in shipments of medical supplies and for shredding and recycling. Our pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment.

Please note that we can currently only collect the clear orange prescription bottles.  We have found that the others do not benefit the program.
Thank you for your support!
Emergency Food Pantry:

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." John 21:17
The South Bay Community Services "Emergency Food Pantry" needs donations every month. It's easy to donate! We will focus on a different food category each month. Pick up a flyer from the narthex, carry in your car until your next trip to the market, purchase the food, and place it on the table in Nale Hall before the end of the month.  During the month of July, our featured items will be canned fruits and vegetables.  Thank you for your support!
  
Stella Maris Seafarers Mission
 
Mike Vasquez has generously volunteered to deliver the magazines, puzzle books, etc., which you donate, to the Stella Maris Seafarers Mission.  This Mission, supported by the EDSD, benefits the merchant mariners who crew the many cargo ships docking in San Diego's commercial port.  Your donations are important to these crews who are usually far from home and, being at sea much of their time, have little access to such material.

 
Separation of Families: What You Can Do

"Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." Matt. 18:5

We, the bishops of the Episcopal Church in California, write to express our opposition to the inhumane conditions in which our government is holding migrant children. Our commitment to our Christian faith compels us to speak out for justice and care for the most vulnerable.

The recent news stories of lawyers visiting detained children in an overcrowded facility in Clint, Texas underscore the humanitarian crisis at our southern border. Lawyers sent there to assess the conditions found traumatized children, many of whom have relatives waiting for them in the United States. They were untended by adults, fending for themselves, and sleeping on concrete floors with no blankets. The lawyers described filth and stench due to a lack of basic sanitation supplies such as soap, toothbrushes, and showers. Our practice of separating migrant children from their families and neglecting them in detention centers not only threatens their physical health; it also creates serious emotional and spiritual trauma.

We who follow Jesus Christ know that he showed a special love for children. Jesus reminds us that children are to be welcomed, nourished, and cherished. As Christians, we honor the image of God in all human beings. The inhumane treatment of these children violates our most basic Christian values.

We thank Congress for their passage of an emergency aid bill, and we ask our representatives and senators to continue to work on immigration reforms, especially the reuniting of children with their loved ones.
We also call upon our elected leaders to recognize the need to welcome refugees who flee from danger, and to follow international law regarding those seeking refuge and asylum.

Finally, we ask all Episcopalians to offer whatever financial, practical, and spiritual aid you can to care for those seeking refuge. Our dioceses will publish a detailed guide of ways you can help migrant families. Meanwhile,
please pray with us that God will move the hearts of all in our land to respond with love and compassion for those who seek safety, liberty and justice.

In Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus - Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of California
The Rt. Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce - Bishop Suffragan, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
The Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves - Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real
The Rt. Rev. David C. Rice - Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin
The Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook - Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor - Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
The Rt. Rev. Megan Traquair - Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Northern California

What Can I Do?
Ways to Help Immigrants Seeking Refuge and Asylum

The bishops of the six Episcopal Dioceses of California urge us to speak out and act on behalf of immigrants seeking refuge and asylum in the United States, and especially detained children. Many people are understandably concerned about the welfare of migrants and seek ways to help. Here are some suggestions for ways you can help.

Advocate
Speak out to your Congressional representatives as well as local officials. Tell them you oppose the threatened ICE raids and want them to be called off. Urge them to advocate for better conditions in detention centers, the end of child detention centers, and the reunification of families torn apart by family separation policies. If you don't know who your elected representatives are,   find out here.

Work with  Immigrant Families Together , which has branches through the nation.

The Episcopal Public Policy Network offers this suggestion: "Ask your members of Congress to co-sponsor the  GRACE Act:  The Guaranteed Refugee Admissions Ceiling Enhancement Act, S.1088 & H.R.2146.
 
This bill would ensure that the U.S. maintains its historic commitment to resettling refugees by requiring that the President set the number of refugees the U.S. will resettle in a given fiscal year at a floor of 95,000. The average number of refugees that U.S. presidents have authorized to be resettled in a fiscal year between 1980 and 2017 has been 95,000.  Over the past few years, this number has dropped dramatically, such that this year, the President authorized only 30,000 refugees to come to the U.S. The bill would also mandate quarterly reports on refugee admissions, increasing transparency, accountability, and oversight."

Provide Legal Assistance
Contact your local ACLU, which advises immigrants of their rights and helps them navigate asylum applications as well as other immigration matters.

Inform both migrants and citizens of their rights regarding searches and raids by asking the ACLU to host a Know Your Rights workshop. Pass out Know Your Rights cards.

Volunteer with and donate funds to organizations doing immigration law work at the border:

  • Provide transportation to immigration court hearings.
  • Accompany people to their ICE check-ins.
  • Help arrange for legal services and advice.
  • Sponsor an immigrant: Some immigrants can be released from detention as they await their asylum hearing if they have a sponsor. The sponsor must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and they must provide housing, food, clothing, and other basic necessities as immigrants await their final hearing, which may take 3-12 months. If you are interested in sponsoring someone, contact one of the organizations above that offer legal assistance.
Donate Goods and Money
In addition to giving money all the organizations listed above, you can also donate desperately needed clothing and some food items at the San Diego shelter for asylum seekers, contact  Good Samaritan Episcopal Church. To donate money for clothing, phone cards, or travel funds for asylum seekers, send a check to Good Samaritan with "refugee relief" in the subject line, or  donate online here with "refugee relief" in the Tribute field.

Build Relationships with Local Department of Homeland Security Office
U.S. citizens can nurture relationships with   Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Field Offices and  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) community relations officers. This may help to provide important contacts when advocating for individuals, and that is a long-term benefit for one's work with migrants.

Pray
Pray daily for immigrants and for all the agencies and volunteers working with them. Pray for local, state, and national leaders, for law enforcement agencies, and for immigration courts. Pray for the news media and for the safety and integrity of journalists.  

 

Scripture Readings For This Week

Readings for Sunday, July 21, 2019

Amos 8:1-12
Psalm 52
Colossians 1:15-28
Luke 10:38-42

Readings for Wednesday Morning Prayer

Psalm 38
Acts 12:1-17
Mark 2:1-12

Celebrant's Schedule

Here is our upcoming celebrant's schedule:

July 21
Presider: Fr. Tom
Gospel: Fr. Tom, 8:00
            Fr. Jack, 10:00
Sermon: Rev. Cathey

July 28
Presider: Fr. Tom
Gospel: Rev. Cathey, 8:00
            Fr. Jack, 10:00
Sermon: Fr. Tom

August 4
Presider: Rev. Cathey
Gospel: Rev. Cathey, 8:00
            Fr. Jack, 10:00
Sermon: Fr. Tom

Weekly Bible Study  and Morning Prayer 

Tuesday night Bible study meets on  Tuesdays from 6-7:30 pm  in the youth room.  For information, please contact Mike Gollihur
at 619-852-4960  or  mgollihur@aol.com.  
 
Every Wednesday, Saint John's will have Morning Prayer at 9:30 am and Bible Study from 10 am to 11. 

From the Prayer Journal of Fr. Jack Tolley 

Loving kindness seems out of vogue in some quarters of our national life.
Some find fault with fellow Americans constantly.
Jesus calls us to always to be loving and kind to each other,
even when we disagree with them on issues. 
Easy to say, hard to do isn't it.
In May of 1991, I put a reflection from Forward Day by Day,
by an unknown author, that speaks to this issue.
I have found St. John's to be a loving and kind, blessed community,
as Fr. Tom says.
Blessings and love to all. Fr. Jack
 
John 12.20-3 (Some Greeks) came to Philip...and said to him,
"Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
 
Pulpits sometimes have these words-"Sir, we wish to see Jesus"
carved upon them 
or engraved on a brass plate,
a reminder to preachers of what they are supposed be doing. 
We might all consider similar engravings on our dashboards, on our telephones,
our typewriters and computers, our front doors - both sides-and other places
(replacing sir where appropriate).
   Jesus went on to say to say, "I, when I am lifted up  from the earth, 
will draw all men to myself." He was  looking forward to being lifted on a cross. If we would  show Jesus, again he must be lifted up, this time in  what we say and do, in words and acts of compassion  and loving kindness.
   Remember the Greeks' request and engrave them on  your heart. 
Lord Jesus, give us the power to touch the
souls of those who have not seen you, and to open their eyes.

News from Around the Diocese
 

Pray for our Youth

August 3 - 9: Youth Mission Trip to the Diocese of Western Mexico
As our high school diocesan youth make their way to Mexico for a service trip, 
we ask your prayers for them, especially for safe travel, good health, 
and for the bonds of affection across borders to be strengthened.

Is Your Church Safe? Safety and Security Roundtable

Saturday, July 20, 12 - 2 p.m.
St. Timothy's, Rancho Peñasquitos
Learn what others are doing to protect their congregations, and what you can do to provide a safer experience for everyone who sets foot on campus. 
Lunch provided.
Contact Information
Jeff Green 
619-481-5463
[email protected]

School for Ministry Fall Classes

The School for Ministry in Ocean Beach is a community of students, teachers and staff  who are dedicated to nurturing and preparing people for church service.  It is a place of formation that allows people to learn, grow and deepen their faith.  The School for Ministry welcomes any and all who would like to increase their knowledge  in faith formation. 
For more information please contact Rector Laura Sheridan Campbell, [email protected] or Diocesan Registrar Alyson Terry, [email protected]

Stewardship and Beyond

Saturday, August 3, 8:45 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Good Samaritan, University City
This daylong workshop will explore stewardship as a spiritual practice, and help learners understand fundraising as building connections and drawing people deeper into community. The Rev. Canon Nancy Holland and Mr. Erik Daubert will present.
Contact Information
Hannah Wilder 
619-481-5456
[email protected]

Diocesan Service and Justice Coalition

Quarterly Meeting
Saturday, August 3, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
St. Mark's, San Diego ~ City Heights
The Diocesan Service and Justice Coalition invites outreach coordinators or committee members to share about your church's outreach, learn from others, troubleshoot problems and share in service and justice projects larger than your one church. 
A guaranteed inspiring dialogue at every meeting. Join us!
Please RSVP to Carolyn Lief: [email protected]




 
Meet Your Vestry
 
Meet Your Vestry
Pamela Brittain, a teacher, has been attending St. John's since her daughter was preparing for confirmation eight years ago. In the 1990s she attended Christ Church in Coronado and served on the Vestry there. This is her first year of a three-year term on St. John's Vestry.

What aspects of serving on Vestry do you like best?
(Pamela) I enjoy the fellowship, working with other members at church toward a common goal.

Has anything surprised you about being on Vestry?
I was surprised by the focus on financial matters. I expected that we would also work toward attracting new members and finding ways to meet the needs of the congregation.

How much time does Vestry take per month?
Outside of my prayers for our parish, I spend about five or six hours a month. Although meetings are about two hours, I spend time reading to learn so I will be able to make good decisions. I have also attended a few all-day seminars/meetings.

Do you have any advice for anyone considering Vestry?
Come sit in on a meeting; ask questions; seek God's will.
 
The Vestry



 
Karen Duignan-Senior Warden
(619) 470-1647
David Dennehy-People's Warden
(619) 429-4747 
[email protected]
Terry Farrelly - Treasurer
Pamela Brittain
Ray Contreras
Diane Gustafson 
Mark Jordan
Jim McDevitt
Judy McKay
Lynn Young

Parish Profile  Writing Committee

Muriel Kulikowski
Linda Longoria-Neff
The Rev. Cathey Dowdle

Calling Committee

Tim Attaway
Lynn Boster
Alice Burnham
Bob Dunn
Jane Ferguson
Helena Livingston
Lynn Young

Approved Minutes for the June 26th Vestry meeting can be found here: 

Emergency Contact Information

If you had a medical emergency at church on Sunday morning, would the Wardens or church  staff know who to contact? If you would like to add someone to St. John's emergency contact  list in case of such an emergency, please contact Maria, our parish secretary (619-422-4141 or
[email protected]). A sign-up sheet will also be available in the church lobby to collect this information. Please provide your name, the name of your emergency contact, their relationship to you, their phone number and/or their email address. This is one more way we can show how we love one another.
 
Reporting Misconduct
 
As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe haven for everyone, our diocese trains people in the prevention of misconduct and encourages all to report misconduct. All reported incidences are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and confidentially. If you believe you have experienced misconduct of any kind, please contact Mr. John Seitman, ([email protected]), 858-793-4555 or Ms. Equilla Luke, ([email protected]), 760-583-0485.

Safeguarding God's People
 

To our Saint John's Family:
Here is your weekly newsletter highlighting important events at St. John's Episcopal Church.  You can also find news about St. John's at  www.saint-johns.org.

We welcome your feedback, photos, and news items. Contact Maria Love at 619-422-4141 or  [email protected] .

Please submit your announcements by Tuesday of each week for inclusion in the Enews and Sunday bulletin.

In this issue
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Contact Information
phone: 619/422-4141
pastoral care: 619/483-7883
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