St. John's Mission Statement
St. John's is a Christian community that intentionally gathers
to experience God's love through Episcopal worship, education,
fellowship, and ministry to the wider community.
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Special Parish Listening Session
Open Communication is critical for the growth of a healthy, vibrant parish community. In preparation for the Vestry Retreat, your Vestry would like to listen to your thoughts.
Please plan on joining us for the Listening Session on Sunday, May 1st, in person following our liturgy or on our live-stream click here. This special meeting will allow you to voice questions, comments and suggestions regarding our St. John's Parish. Our Listening Session will be led by Jason Evans, Canon for Mission in the Diocese of San Diego.
Questions to consider:
What is our identity?
How do we want to be recognized by the community of Chula Vista?
What ministries would you like to see happen at St. John's?
How would you like to see St. John's grow in the future?
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A Prayer for Peace Among the Nations (BCP 816)
Let us pray in this time of conflict for the countries of Russia and the Ukraine,
Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world
into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them
that peace which is the fruit of righteousness,
that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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The Third Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 1, 2022
9:00 am
Come, pray, sing, receive Holy Communion,
and join us for fellowship following our liturgy.
Masks are not required.
However, if you are unvaccinated or immunocompromised,
you may wish to wear a mask.
A word about worship - our worship service begins with the lighting of the altar candles
into the prelude and ends after the postlude with the extinguishing of the candles.
A sense of prayerful reflection is appropriate to be maintained.
Collect For Joy in God's Creation
O bountiful God, who has filled the world with beauty:
Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works;
that, rejoicing in your whole creation,
we may learn to serve you with gladness;
for the sake of him through whom all things were made,
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:1-6
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19
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If you are not able to attend, please join our livestream service:
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Reflection on John 21:1-19
Simon Peter feels hurt that Jesus continues to ask if he loves him, and responds with, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you”. Simon Peter implores upon Jesus that he knows him inside and out, so how could he not feel the enormity of his love? But in Jesus’ responses to Simon Peter, he tells him to “feed my lambs,” “tend my sheep,” “feed my sheep”, implying that Simon Peter might be missing a second layer of meaning. Yes, Simon Peter loves Jesus. We can see that in the exuberance he displays by jumping out of the boat and into the water when the disciples realize Jesus is standing on the shore. Simon Peter loves Jesus, but still has not quite grasped the encompassing nature of this love. To wholly love Jesus means being a disciple. It means going out into the world and proclaiming the good news of healing, resurrection, and God’s kingdom touching earth.
By all accounts, Simon Peter and the six other disciples are obedient to this call. Jesus taught them to fish, and so in the days following the Resurrection, they head out into the sea looking for fish. They have everything they need. Boat? Check. Net? Check. Who knows if they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the fish were not biting. This can sometimes be the case in our present-day efforts to walk the path of discipleship. We have our instructions and all the necessary supplies, and yet we still come up short. Jesus appears and gives the disciples a final nudge, then shows them the path of discipleship. Cast your net to the other side and then let us eat together. And when we have had our fill, “Follow me”.
- How do you embody Jesus’ love and share it with others?
- What obstacles are you running into on your path of discipleship?
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Creation Care during the Easter Season
It’s a time for Christians to celebrate God’s love,
which embraces not only humanity but all of creation.
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the encouragement of Michael Curry our Presiding Bishop and Susan Brown Snook our diocesan bishop we have been called to a committed response to care for creation.
Creation Care Forum – May 8th in Nale Hall following our 9:00am liturgy
Our guest speaker will be Adrienne Elliot, member of the Creation Care Task Force of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. Adrienne will provide educational information on Creation Care, The Creation Care Covenant of The Episcopal Church and other Creation Care activities.
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Creation Care Book Study – We are invited to join a 5 week study with Good Samaritan Episcopal Church beginning May 8th
The book Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World by John Phillip Newell will be the focus of a five-week forum series beginning Sunday, May 8th, directly after their 10:00am service on Zoom. Learn more about this book here, and consider ordering it today. If you have any questions, please contact Deann.
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Creation Care Activity with ECS HeadStart – “Sow and Grow”
We are partnering with leaders and teachers of HeadStart to do a planting, growing, and harvesting project the children.
The project will involve cultivating/nurturing soil, sowing seeds, planting young flower and vegetable plants, weeding the gardens, and harvesting vegetables for the children to take home.
If you are interested in participating in this fun, interactive project, please contact Maria or Rev. Roger.
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Other Creation Care Activities
1. Pray daily for our common home and all its inhabitants.
2. Take the Episcopal Creation Care Pledge here.
3. Complete TEC Carbon Tracker here.
6. Participate in civic engagement here.
7. Learn about environmental racism, eco-justice, and environmental justice here.
8. Consider your transportation choices here; and carbon offsets here.
9. Divestment resources from fossil fuels here.
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Covenant to Care for Creation
by Bishop Susan Brown Snook
Easter Blessings! God’s mighty act in resurrecting Jesus from the dead emphasizes what we believe: that God is the author of abundant life for all. It’s a time for Christians to celebrate God’s love, which embraces not only humanity but all of creation. The accounts of God’s creation in Genesis 1 and 2 depict the outpouring of God’s love, which resulted in a wondrous creation that God called “very good,” teeming with diverse and interdependent life. The first human was placed in the garden “to till it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Yet we humans have overused the riches of creation, jeopardizing the future of humanity and the Earth itself. I urge Episcopalians in our diocese to take action for the restoration of God’s beloved creation. At the end of this letter, you can find a list of resources for this work. Read More Here
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OUTREACH AND EVANGELIZATION |
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Outreach Ministry
Feel passionate about helping the homeless, but don’t want to hand out money on the streets? Here’s an idea!
Blessings in a Bag
St John’s will begin collecting and packing 1 gallon zip top bags with items that are helpful for our neighbors living outside. A few bags can be kept in your car to hand out when you come across a homeless person in need. We will also provide a card with the church’s address and phone number, and a welcoming thought for the recipient, so they know we care!
A table will be set up during Coffee Hour on Sundays with example bags. We will begin collecting items for the bags and scheduling bag stuffing events shortly.
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Outreach Collections
We will continue our ongoing collections for:
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New Blankets - Domestic Violence Shelters (Denise Czer and Linda Dennehy)
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Pill Bottles - Matthew 25 Ministries (Sally Elliott)
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Eyeglasses - (Norma Dunn)
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Greeting Cards - ECS HeadStart (Judy McKay)
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Clean, Gently Used Blankets - Dreams for Change (Norma Dunn)
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Emergency Food Pantry - South Bay Community Services (Maria and Joe Love)
Items may be brought to Nale Hall on Sundays when we gather for worship.
You may also bring your items to the church during our weekday office hours,
Monday through Thursday from 9am to 3pm.
If you are not able to bring them, please contact the parish office, and we will pick up the items from your home.
St. John's Outreach Committee meets monthly to discuss our parish Outreach activities.
Please click on the following link for more information on our Outreach collection activities:
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Centennial Events
Italian Dinner and Fundraiser
Saturday, May 14, 2022
6:00pm
Menu:
Salad
Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce
Italian Meatballs and/or Italian Sausage
Bread
Tiramisu
Water, Coffee, Wine
Dinner Tickets: $15.00 per adult; $10 per child
You may purchase tickets for the dinner at the parish office, Church on Sunday,
or on our website (through our "Give Now" button- click here)
Italian Dinner Opportunity Drawing Update
We are still collecting items for the Opportunity Drawings at the Italian Dinner. Hurry! Last day to donate is Sunday, May 1. Items will be displayed in the Narthex on Mothers’ Day, May 8, and tickets will be available for purchase on that day and on May 14.
Here are some of the prizes you could win:
- Eight bracelets made by Mark Higginbotham (keep some, give others as gifts)
- Anglican rosary made by Mark Higginbotham
- Barefoot Dreams poncho (woman’s) & a necklace made by Mark Higginbotham
- Crown Staffordshire bone china tea cup, saucer, and dessert plate previously owned by Florence Cooper & a can of Lyle’s Golden Syrup
- Flyby massage gun and Shiatsu massage pillow
- Wine decanter, four wine glasses, and a bottle of wine
- British food basket ($50 value)
- Lavender bath set & a necklace made by Mark Higginbotham
- Tortilla warmer, Quesadilla maker, and 1.5 qt slow cooker for cheese sauce
- 3.5 qt slow cooker, sandwich maker, and cookbook
- Large bone china teapot (Arthur Wood & Sons, Staffordshire, England) with purple pansies; previously owned by Dinah Bates. Also a figurine owned by Dinah Bates. And a whistling teakettle
- Irish knit cardigan and a Pandora bracelet with eight charms
- Succulent garden, two gardening books, and gardening gloves
- Gold satin purse from Bali & two necklaces and one bracelet made by Mark H.
- Coffee and spice grinder, Pour over coffee maker, coffee beans
Check back here next week for further updates!
Parish Potluck with Ethnic Foods on Pentecost Sunday, June 5th
Ice Cream Social with Old-Time Music
Save The Date!
Mark your calendars and save the date of Sunday July 3, 2022, for an all parish, all ages, old- fashioned Ice Cream Social at 3:00 p.m. There will be live entertainment, a community sing along, and lots of non- stop fun and socializing, as well as ice cream sundaes’ with lots of toppings! Please invite your friends and families to this event as we recreate a St. John’s favorite tradition from the past in this year of our Centennial Celebration. More news to come so watch the newsletter. Hope to see you there as well as members of our community!
Jane Ferguson, Chair
Parish Art/Variety Show on a date to be determined
St. John’s Parish BBQ and Chili Contest on Saturday, August 13th, hosted by the MOSJ
St. John’s Centennial Dinner on Saturday, September 17th
St. John’s Centennial Liturgy with a visitation from Bishop Susan Brown Snook
on Sunday, September 18th
Parish Centennial Cookbook is being published and will feature the favorite recipes of the parishioners of St. John's.
The deadline for submitting recipes for the Centennial Cookbook is Sunday, May 15. Forms for recipes are on the Narthex Counter, or you may email or give your recipes to Nancy Painter ([email protected]) For every recipe submitted (no limit to the number you can contribute), your name will be entered into a contest. Anybody who has already submitted a recipe is automatically entered.
One name will be chosen at random for a $25 gift card to Thai Taste 2 restaurant on Bonita Road. The more recipes you submit, the more chances to win!
If you are interested in helping with any of these events, please notify
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I'll Bee There Book Sale
Contact Diane Gustafson: 619-253-7298/ [email protected] if you would like a signed copy of her book I'll Bee There: Short Stories and Personal Essays.
The entire $10.00 price will go to the Centennial Dinner fund.
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Lay Eucharistic Ministers
St. John's has four Lay Eucharistic Visitors who are commissioned to bring Holy Communion to anyone requesting a visit.
If you are not able to join us for our celebration of Holy Eucharist, we will bring Holy Communion to you. You may call the parish office (619-422-4141) and request communion to be brought to you by one of our Eucharistic Visitors.
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We Are Here For You!
As we carefully gather in person at St. John's, we would like to remind you that we are here for you!
If you, a family member, neighbor or a friend are interested in celebrating a significant event in your spiritual life, please know that you are welcome.
We would be honored to be a part of your Baptism, Holy Communion, Quinceañera Marriage, Renewal of Vows or Anointing of the Sick.
At St. John's, no matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey - you are welcome here
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We Are Available in Your Time of Need
If you have a pastoral emergency when the parish offices are closed,
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Coffee/Tea with Rev. Roger
For almost the entire time that Rev. Roger has been at St. John's we have been in a pandemic with part of that time being shut down.
Rev. Roger would like to provide an opportunity for any members of the parish to "get to know him".
On Wednesday mornings from 10:30-11:30, following Morning Prayer and Bible Study,
Rev. Roger will be available in the Rev. Jack and Sarah Tolley Memorial Library for a visit. This is time to get to know him, ask him questions, and learn about his vision and dreams for the church.
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Hospitality Hosts Needed!
Please join us for hospitality after the Sunday morning worship service.
If you would like to host a Sunday, you may sign up on the poster in Nale Hall or by calling or emailing Maria at 619-422-4141 or [email protected]
Refreshments should be individually portioned or wrapped, or served by a server who is the only one touching the serving implements. Coffee and Clean-up are done by our Sexton, Ryan Attaway.
Current Available Dates:
May 8
May 15
May 22
May 29
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Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study
Join us for Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study
on Wednesdays at 9:30 am as a Zoom meeting.
to be included in the Zoom meeting.
The Morning Prayer guide can be found here:
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Prayer Quilt Ministry
The leaders of the Prayer Quilt Ministry would like to remind
you that there are many quilts available for anyone in need
of prayer and support. This important ministry brings comfort and healing to many people who are suffering with illness.
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Daughters of the King Prayers
All the women of the parish are invited to discern becoming a member of the Daughters of the King. If you have any questions, please contact Lynn Young (208-695-7735) or Linda Dennehy (619-429-4747).
If you have a special prayer request for Daughters of the King, you are invited to fill out a prayer card, found in the narthex. Drop your prayer request in the church-shaped box or in the offering plate. These requests are confidential and are separate from our printed parish prayer lists.
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Parish Prayer Lists
Birthday and Anniversary Prayers
We would like to acknowledge and pray for anyone celebrating a birthday and/or anniversary in the coming week. Please let us know by Thursday of the prior week so that we can get it in the Sunday liturgy. If you have a picture of you that we could post for your birthday and/or a wedding photo or current photo for those celebrating an anniversary, please email it to us - it would be great to allow everyone to see you.
Our Parish Prayer Intentions
Today and every day include some time for prayer, for yourself,
for your church family, and for those in need.
For our Military
Matt Jensen, Drew Shorkey, Cody Crossland, Cameron Ronie, Chariti Paden, Mark Stanfield, Sean Robinson, Jonathan Martinez, TK Nguyen, Christopher Lindshield, Timothy Lindshield, Jeremy Colton, David Sanchez, Jonathan Baldera, Nick Wyatt, Daniel Getreu, Jamal Warner, Matt Hernandez, Devon Strunk, Taylor Harrold, Jorge Zuazua, Katherine Milam, Sebastian Morales, Richie Lebron, Andrew C. Dugger, Dan and Chelsey Nyaradi, Ryan Lothspeich,
and Roberto Johnson and the crew of USS Essex.
Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping
all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad.
Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace;
strengthen them in their trials and temptations;
give them courage to face the perils which beset them;
and grant them a sense of your abiding presence
wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Strength in Time of Need
Scott Hunter, Steve Magill, Gary & Shirley McCarren, Ann Lindshield, the McClure family, Christy and Mike Gollihur, Linda Longoria-Neff, David Dennehy, Akiko Horst,
Barbara Oliveira, Norma Dunn and Dominick Smith and his family..
O God of heavenly powers,
by the might of your command you drive away from our bodies
all sickness and all infirmity:
Be present in your goodness with your servants,
that their weakness may be banished and their strength restored;
and that, their health being renewed, they may bless your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the repose of the soul of Mimma Fonti.
Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord;
And let light perpetual shine upon her.
May her soul and the souls of all the departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Cycle of Prayers for the Church
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the clergy and people of St. Andrews in La Mesa.
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Episcopal Church in the Philippines.
In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Naval Special Warfare Group One.
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ADMINISTRATION AND STEWARDSHIP |
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The Vestry
Lynn Young, Senior Warden
aaaaaa208-695-7735
Tom Brzeczek, Junior Warden
--------619-481-1256
Jane Ferguson, Clerk
Bill Cheney, Treasurer
Diane Gustafson, Recorder
Pamela Brittain
Alice Burnham
David Dennehy
Alejandra Valdez-Beer
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Upcoming Events at St. John's
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May 1: Listening Session in the church following our liturgy
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May 8: Creation Care Forum in Nale Hall following our liturgy
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May 14: Vestry Retreat, 8am in Nale Hall
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May 14: Italian Dinner and Fundraiser, 6pm in Nale Hall
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Emergency Contact Information
If you had a medical emergency at church on Sunday morning, would the ushers 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 in the office (619-422-4141 or [email protected]). Please provide your name, the name of your emergency contact, their relationship to you and their phone number. Any information you provide will be stored carefully in order to protect the privacy of your contact's information.
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Parish Office Hours and Contacts
As our staff are now fully vaccinated, we are permitted to open our parish office.
Masking and social distance should be maintained when visitors are present.
The Parish Office will be open 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Thursday.
Please call the parish office if you have any questions or concerns
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Rev. Roger's Office Hours
Rev. Roger will be working half-days in the office on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday; and all day on Wednesday and Friday. He will be available by appointment. Please call the office (619-422-4141) to schedule an appointment.
In case of a pastoral emergency, Rev. Roger may be reached on his cell phone at
619-301-0724.
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Beware of Scam Emails & Phishing Attempts
If you receive a suspicious email from an address that seems to be Rev. Roger or another parishioner asking for a favor, it may be a phishing attempt. Scam emails mimic addresses we are familiar with and are very often full of grammatical errors.
Rev. Roger will never email you asking for funds or financial support by way of gift cards. If you receive an email that seems suspicious, do not open it or respond to it. Delete it immediately.
Phishing is a cyber attack that uses disguised email as a weapon. The goal is to trick the email recipient into believing that the message is something they want or need - a request from their bank, for instance, or a note from someone in their company - and to click a link or download an attachment.
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Your weekly newsletter highlights 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.
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Help Ukrainian Refugees
Specific needs will change as the crisis evolves. As of right now, there is a need for food, water, and shelter. Please consider partnering with Episcopal Relief & Development in this response.
Please click the button below to donate:
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May AAPI Film Series
Celebrate AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Month through facilitated discussion and clip viewing of the 5-part PBS series: Asian Americans. Sponsored by EDSD Racial Justice Task Force, the series explores the impact of Asian Americans on the US’s past, present and future.
Meetings are on Tuesdays in May: 5/3, 5/10, 5/14, 5/21, 5/31, 2022,
6:30 – 7:45 p.m. via Zoom.
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Episcopal Evangelism 101
Evangelism 101 is a not-so-basic training designed to introduce a fresh, humble, effective and Episcopal approach to the spiritual practice of evangelism. The 90 minute online training will include stories, small group exercises, and Q& A time. Attendees will also be sent a Participant Guide + Handouts that include a host of resources for sharing the Jesus Movement, redefining evangelism, organizing a revival, sharing our stories, walking the neighborhood, improving hospitality, and more. Also, you will be given a preview of Embracing Evangelism, a training that any congregation can host on their own.
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