Thursday, February 16, 2023

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.

Office Closed on Monday

The office will be closed on Monday, February 20th

in honor of President's Day.

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.

The Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Sunday, February 19, 2023

9:00am

Collect for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany

O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son

revealed his glory upon the holy mountain:

Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance,

may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness

from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Readings for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Exodus 24:12-18

Psalm 99

2 Peter 1:16-21

Matthew 17:1-9

Worship Booklet for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, February 19, 2023

If you are not able to attend, please join our livestream service:

St. John's website: saint-johns.org

St. John's YouTube Channel: St. John's Episcopal Church, Chula Vista

Please Bring Us Your Palm Fronds

Do you have any palm fronds/crosses from previous Palm Sundays? Do you want to dispose of them? Bring your old palms to church and deposit them in the basket on the counter in the narthex of the church. 

The palms will be ritually burned; and the ashes blessed and distributed for the Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday.

Sunday School

We have resumed Sunday School for children. Children are invited to gather for a lesson during our Liturgy of the Word.

Birthday, Anniversary and Traveler Prayers

We are honored to pray for special people and events in our lives.



To make the requesting of prayers for someone more efficient, please let Maria Love know by the end of the day on Thursday or write their name(s) in the new Prayer Binder on the counter in the Narthex as you come into the church. The Prayer Binder will be given to the presider during the Sign of Peace.

New: 11:00am Sunday Liturgy

We will be celebrating (as a pilot) an additional family friendly liturgy with Sunday School at 11:00am beginning on Sunday, February 26th.

We need volunteers:

• Nursery Attendants
• Sunday School Teachers
• Music: vocal and instrumental
• Acolytes
• Readers
• Ushers/Greeters

If you are willing to serve, please contact Maria Love.

Altar Flowers for 2023

The altar flowers for February 19, 2023 are given by

Bill and Ann Rogers in celebration of their 48th anniversary.

Our 2023 Altar Flower sign-up is available in the Narthex. If you are not able to sign up in person, please contact the office to see if your desired date is available. If you donate online, please contact Maria with your dedication: [email protected]

Suggested donation is $40.00.

On Wednesday, February 22nd, we begin the season of Lent. The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion (Good Friday) and resurrection (Easter), and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for these holy days by a season of penitence and fasting.

You are invited, therefore, to an observance of a holy Lent.

We will gather on the evening of Shrove/Fat Tuesday, February 21st, for our traditional Pancake Dinner before entering into the fast of Lent. The Pancake Dinner sponsored by the Men of St. John’s will be at 6:00pm in Nale Hall.

On Ash Wednesday, we begin this season by marking ourselves with ashes as a sign of our own mortality. This year we will have Ashes To Go in the church parking lot from 7:30-9:00am. 

During our liturgical services at 12:00 noon (spoken) and 7:00 pm (sung), we will ritually impose ashes on our foreheads. If you are unable to join us in person for our liturgy at 7pm, you may join us virtually through our livestream.

The word Lent comes from the Saxon lencton which means Spring.  Lent, as we now know it, is the Spring Fast.  This season of Lent is traditionally marked by acts of special devotion: prayer, fasting, self-examination and repentance, spiritual reading, and alms giving.

We have the opportunity to intentionally practice who we are as people of faith.

We are providing optional acts of devotion to help you keep the season holy:

Prayer

• Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study 

Consider joining us on Wednesday mornings - 

you may request the Zoom link from Rev. Roger.

• Labyrinth Walk

The Labyrinth is a spiritual tool and can be walked as a pilgrimage for repentance: a shedding of worries and concerns; reaching a place of meditation and prayer; and finding union with God and the healing forces at work in the world.

Come to walk on your own; brochures of guidance will be provided.

Saturday, March 18th from 10am-2pm in Nale Hall.

Labyrinth Guide

• Stations of the Cross 

For your private devotion, you are invited to walk the steps of Jesus on his

journey to the cross; a link to the service booklet is located below.

Fasting 

• Self-Examination

Through self-examination, you may discern and consider fasting from those

things that are holding you back from being an example by word and deed

of God’s love.

Alms-Giving

• 40 Days – 40 Items

Please consider giving of your excess in order to clothe those who go without. 

See the table in the narthex or the article in our E-Newsletter for details. 

If you wish to have clothing collection bags sent to you, contact Maria in the

church office.

Stations of the Cross



Along with the prayers and reflections for each station, you will find artwork from former St. John's students.

Attached is the link to the prayer booklet:

Stations of the Cross

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]



Current Available Dates:

February 19th

February 26th

March 5th

40 Days 40 Items

Wednesday, February 22, 2023 (Ash Wednesday)

is the first day of Lent.

Each day of Lent, you are encouraged to think of someone less fortunate as you look in your closets and drawers. Remove one item from your closet that you no longer wear or need and put it into the appropriate bag.

Men’s items will go in a black bag, Women’s items in a white bag, Children’s items in a separate bag labeled “Children’s”.

At the end of the forty days, donate these items to St John’s so that we may share them with clients of ECS Head Start.

The following are suggested items that are really needed:

• Warm hoodie sweatshirts (men / women)
• Sweatshirts
• Sweatpants
• Jeans
• Pants
• Shoes
• Blankets
• Ball caps
• Used backpacks
• Socks (new)
• Men’s / Women’s Underwear (new)

Outreach Collections

We will continue our ongoing collections for:

• New Blankets - Domestic Violence Shelters (Denise Czer and Linda Dennehy)
• Eyeglasses
• Greeting Cards - ECS HeadStart (Judy McKay)
• Clean, Gently Used Blankets - Dreams for Change
• Emergency Food Pantry - South Bay Community Services (Maria and Joe Love)
• Blessings in a Bag - For our neighbors who are living outside. Click here for a list of items you can donate to fill the bags.
• Gently Used Clothing - Men's, women's and children's 
• Pill Bottles - We are no longer collecting pill bottles

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:

Outreach Ministries of St. John's

Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance

St. John's is pleased to partner with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency to offer Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-3pm

in Nale Hall.

Informational Flyer: Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance

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.

Celebration of Life for Dean Peters



The Celebration of Life for Dean Peters will be on

Saturday, March 11th at 11:00am

at St. John's Episcopal Church, 760 First Ave. Chula Vista, CA 91910

Please hold the Peters and Wier families in your prayers during this difficult time.

Celebration of Life for Lola Hunt

The Celebration of Life for Lola Hunt will be on

Thursday, March 23rd at 10:00am

at St. John's Episcopal Church, 760 First Ave. Chula Vista, CA 91910

Please hold the Hunt family in your prayers during this difficult time.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend you servants,

Dean and Lola.

Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, sheep of your own fold,

lambs of your own flock, sinners of your own redeeming.

Receive them into the arms of your mercy,

into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,

and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord;

And let light perpetual shine upon them.

May their soul and the souls of all the departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

A Prayer for Victims of Gun Violence

O God who remembers, we hold before you all who have died

from the plague of gun violence in our land.

We remember those who have taken their lives with a gun,

those who have died in school shootings and mass shootings,

those who have died from gun violence fueled by anger, by abuse, by accident,

by domestic violence, or by crime. We lift our voices in sorrow and frustration knowing that every life is infinitely valuable to you.

Receive all who have died into the arms of your mercy,

bless those who mourn with the hope of eternal life,

and strengthen our hearts and our arms to bring an end to this scourge.

This we pray in the name of the one who overcame the power of death,

your son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

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.

Please contact Rev. Roger ( [email protected])

to be included in the Zoom meeting.

Morning Prayer will resume on March 1st.

Calling All Quilters: We Need your Help

Our supply of prayer quilts is very low and need to have new prayer quilts made.

If you are interested in sewing new prayer quilts, please contact Diane Gustafson.

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 pray for you during the Sunday liturgy. 

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, Jamal Warner,

Matt Hernandez, Daniel Getreu, Devon Strunk, Taylor Harrold, Jorge Zuazua, Sebastian Morales, Roberto Chavez, Ryan Lothspeich, Andrew C. Dugger, Dan and Chelsey Nyaradi, and Gen. G.J. Heinrich.

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

Steve Magill, Gary and Shirley McCarren, Ann Lindshield, the McClure family, 

Barb Oliveira, Heather Wallace, Linda Longoria-Neff, Josey Felts, Celia Vasquez,

Susy Martin Del Campo, Helen McGrath, Irene Cheney, Ann Rogers,

Kurth Barnes, Tyler Anderson, and Oscar Morales.

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.

Cycle of Prayers for the Church

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the clergy and people of St. Alban's in El Cajon and for our full communion partners, especially the ELCA on the World Day of Prayer, March 4th.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Eglise Anglicane du Rwanda.

In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Sailors serving aboard USS Russell (DDG-59),

USS Hamilton(DDG 60), and USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62).

Upcoming Events at St. John's

• February 20: Office Closed for President's Day Holiday
• February 20: Men of St. John's Meeting, 6:00pm at Tim Attaway's home
• February 21 & 23: Tai Chi class, 2:00-3:00pm in Nale Hall
• February 21: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, 6:00pm in Nale Hall
• February 22: Ash Wednesday; services at 12 noon and 7:00pm
• February 26: New 11:00am Liturgy

1st Quarter Calendar Events 2023

Parish Office Hours and Contacts

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

(619-422-4141) or email [email protected].

Rev. Roger will be in the office on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons; and all day on Wednesday and Friday. He is available by appointment. Please call the office to schedule an appointment.

In case of a pastoral emergency, Rev. Roger may be reached on his cell phone at

619-301-0724.

Senior Ministry Event at St. Pius X Catholic Church

Monday, February 20th, 10am-12pm

1120 Cuyamaca Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91911

Faith to Go: The Complexity of Being Human

With special guest Greg Tuttle

This week Charlette and David are joined by our producer,

Greg Tuttle, who shares a God Sighting from Camp Stevens.

Listen Here

Episcopal Community Services

Achieves Award Winning Status

By: ECS Staff

Episcopal Community Services never settles for the status quo; we're constantly evolving and changing to stay ahead of the curve. This includes implementing a self-perpetuating board, a focus on diversity and representation, regular committee charter updates, and a commitment to expanding our reach and impact. With a shared vision of creating an abundant and equitable society where everyone has the potential to succeed, our dedicated board members are making a difference every day. Read More

Being Beloved: 2023 Epiphany Retreat

By: Lauren Sleeper

Hello EDSD! I recently joined 50 youth, eight of who attend my parish--St. Bartholowmew's in Poway--for the 2023 Diocesan Youth Epiphany Retreat at Camp Stevens. I am the Director of Communications and the Assistant Director of Youth Ministries at St. Bart's, so when our students (four middle schoolers and four high schoolers) wanted to go to the Epiphany Retreat, I couldn't have been more excited. I experienced this retreat last year, and I knew that this opportunity would enliven the students and give me a chance to chaperone and encourage my youth to attend again this year. It was one of the most fulfilling spiritual weekends I've had in a long time. Read More

Tree Planting in Lemon Grove

February 24th, 9:00am to 12:00pm



St. Philip’s is a pilot church kicking off EDSD’s year-long tree-planting project. Roll up your sleeves and join St. Philip’s in planting 13 new trees on their property! Bring heavy-duty gloves, close-toed shoes, and water!

Click here for more information.

New Sacred Ground Circles Forming

EDSD Racial Justice and Reconciliation Task Force will offer a Sacred Ground circle on Fridays from 6-8pm beginning February 17th.

Pre-registration for the circle is required.

Click here for information and registration.

• Founded by an Episcopal parish, the first shelter for LGBTQ+ youth in Indiana offers refuge to the rejected
• Concert for the Human Family, St. Dunstan's, February 24, 4pm
• RefugeeNet Gala, St. Paul's Cathedral, March 18, 6pm
• "We Believe..." EDSD Collaborative Confirmation

Help Ukrainian Refugees



Episcopal Relief & Development continues to work with Anglican and ecumenical partners to provide aid to people displaced by the crisis in Ukraine. 

Please click the button below to donate:

760 First Ave  Chula Vista, CA  91910

(619) 422-4141 |  [email protected] | www.saint-johns.org