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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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Thursday, February 27, 2025 | |
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The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Sunday, March 2, 2025
9:00am with Organ/Choir and Sunday School
All are welcome!
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 34:29-35
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Luke 9:28-36
Worship Booklet for the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Welcome Home Reception for Marcia Morris
With great joy, we are grateful to welcome Marcia back home and to St. John's.
Please join us following our Sunday liturgy to welcome Marcia home.
The reception will be in Nale Hall.
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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.
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On Wednesday, March 5th, 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, March 4th, 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 5:00pm in Nale Hall.
We also burn palms, from the previous year, to be used as the ashes on Ash Wednesday. Please bring any old palms that you may have at home.
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 12:00noon (spoken) and 6:00pm (sung), we will ritually impose ashes on our foreheads.
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:
Spiritual Reflection
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Lenten Forums: Becoming Beloved Community
Sundays - March 9th - April 6th at 10:15 am in Nale Hall
Presented by: Rev. Susanna DesMarais
In a world where people are called illegal and Immigration begins the promised "mass deportation" in our own communities, how do we live as followers of Christ?
How do we bring together the teachings of Jesus in this particular time in history?
How do we become the Beloved Community of Jesus lovers?
Join us for a 40 minute conversation as we explore what it means to be Beloved Community and let love be our guide. Grab a cup of coffee, a donut or sweet and let's talk.
This Lent enjoy the rhythm of a daily podcast, listened to while driving, exercising, making coffee, or at the end of the day, can provide connection and support. Hearing how others wrestle with or find hope in the same Scriptures can offer comfort. It reminds us that we’re not alone in the wilderness. Faith to Go in Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, with a new episode airing Monday through Saturday each week. The final episode will air on Good Friday. And the regular episode of Faith to Go will still arrive as scheduled on Monday mornings! Read More
- Faith to Go Weekly Podcast
Faith to Go, our diocesan podcast, is hosted by David Tremaine and myself. We follow the lectionary, reading and discussing the Gospel for the Sunday ahead. At the start of each episode, one of us shares a “God Sighting,” a place where we saw or felt God’s presence in the prior week. These two simple acts, noticing God and talking about Scripture, have enriched my faith.
Embracing these two simple acts, these spiritual practices, is one small way that each of us can keep a Holy Lent. Faith to Go is releasing a special Lenten devotional with that in mind. For each of the 40 days of Lent, a different voice from our diocesan family (including Revs. Roger and Susanna) will offer a God Sighting and a reflection on the day’s Gospel. These five-minute episodes are an invitation to open yourself up to a daily conversation with God inspired by the wisdom and insights of others. The beauty of it being a podcast is that it allows you to take in reflections and Scripture while on the go. It invites you to pause, reflect, and apply what you’ve heard to your own life, particularly as you journey through the season of Lent.
Listen Here
Prayer
- Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study
Consider joining us on Wednesday mornings at 9:30am -
you may request the Zoom link from Rev. Roger.
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Walking the Labyrinth: A special presentation (by: Rev. Susanna DesMarais)
Saturday, March 22, 10:00am to noon
As part of our Lent devotions, we will once again offer a chance to walk the labyrinth.
We will do this in conjunction with the Lent Series on Beloved Community and have a special time of prayer and presentation at 10:00 am before we walk the labyrinth.
For those who just want to walk the labyrinth you are welcome to come anytime between 10:00am and noon.
Please respect the journeys of others and maintain a prayerful space for all.
Come to walk on your own; brochures of guidance will be provided.
Labyrinth Guide
For your private devotion, you are invited to walk the steps of Jesus on his
journey to the cross. You may "walk the steps" at home or in the church on Wednesdays from 9:00am-2:00pm. There is a link to an electronic service booklet located below or paper booklets will be available at the church.
Fasting
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
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.
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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
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OUTREACH AND EVANGELIZATION | |
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40 Days / 40 Items
Lenten Clothing Collection Beginning Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Each day of Lent, you are encouraged to think of someone less fortunate as you look in your closets and dresser drawers. Remove one item 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”.
Filled bags of clothing may brought to the church narthex. We will watch our generous giving grow. At the end of the Forty Days, St. John’s will donate new or gently used clothing to the families of ECS Head Start.
Male / Female Clothing of adult/teen/children sizes
The following are suggested items that are needed:
- Hoodie Sweatshirts / Sweatshirts
- Sweatpants
- Jeans / Pants
- Shirts
- Shoes
- Ball caps
- Socks (new)
- Underwear (new
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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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Eyeglasses (Bob Dunn)
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Greeting Cards - ECS Head Start (Judy McKay)
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Clean, Gently Used Blankets, Towels and Re-Useable Drinking Containers - Dreams for Change (Bob Dunn) - Please consider donating
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Emergency Food Pantry - South Bay Community Services (Maria and Joe Love)
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Blessings in a Bag - For our neighbors who live in need. Click here for a list of items you can donate to fill the bags.
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Gently Used Clothing - Men's, women's and children's
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
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ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH SCHOLARSHIP | |
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St. John's Episcopal Church Scholarship
St. John's offers a scholarship(s) available for parishioners, family members of a parishioner or a member of a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego who are pursuing a college education or an accredited vocational/technical training.
The Rev. Michael G. Kaehr Honorary Scholarship Award (application)
Please read application for more information on this available scholarship.
Applications include an essay, unofficial transcript, letter of recommendation, and a copy of a letter of acceptance. Financial need will be considered.
The 2025 scholarship application process is now open. The deadline for applying is Thursday, April 24, 2025. Please contact the parish office (619-422-4141) for more information and if you would like to apply.
Scholarship Committee: Pamela Brittain, Bill Cheney, Diane Gustafson, and Lynn Young
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St. John's Prayer Ministries | |
Prayers and Squares: The Prayer Quilt Ministry
This important ministry brings comfort and healing to many people who are suffering with illness. For information on how to help create prayer quilts, or on how St. John's parishioners can request a quilt (click here).
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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.
For information on how to join (click here)
For the Morning Prayer Booklet (click here)
There will not be Morning Prayer and Bible Study on Ash Wednesday, March 5th.
You are encouraged to attend Ash Wednesday services at noon or 6:00pm.
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The Order of the Daughters of the King
The mission of The Order is the extension of Christ's Kingdom through Prayer, Service and Evangelism. If you would like information about becoming a member, or if you have a Prayer Request (click here)
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Parish Prayer Lists
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, Roberto Chavez, Ryan Lothspeich, Andrew C. Dugger, Dan and Chelsey Nyaradi, Gen. G.C. Heinrich, Pedro Bonilla, Patrick King, and Sebastian Morales and the crew of the USS Nimitz.
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, the McClure family, Alec Hauer, Karen Polk, Bob Milam, Bill Rogers, James Kellogg Burnham III, Mike Gollihur, Linda Longoria-Neff,
Helena Livingston, Diane Gustafson, Craig Nightingale, Judy Walsh-Jackson,
Mark C. Jackson, Terri Valdez, Casey Brown, and Fr. George Keith.
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 Sts. Peter and Paul, El Centro.
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Anglican Church of Burundi.
In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for US Navy Reserves on their 110th Birthday.
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Celebration of Life for Robert Aguilar
The Vigil for the Deceased will be on
Friday, February 28th from 6:00pm-9:00pm
and
The Funeral Mass will be on
Saturday, March 1st at 10:00am
at St. John's Episcopal Church, 760 First Ave. Chula Vista, CA 91910
(Hawaiian attire encouraged)
and
The Burial and Reception will take place following the Funeral Mass at Glen Abbey
3838 Bonita Rd, Bonita, CA 91902
Notes of care and sympathy may be sent to:
Connie Aguilar
775 Iron Horse Place
Chula Vista CA 91914
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend you servant, Robert.
Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold,
a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.
Receive him 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 him, O Lord;
And let light perpetual shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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Celebration of Life for Joe Atkins
The Celebration of Life for Joe Atkins will be on Saturday, March 8th at 11:00am
at St. John's Episcopal Church, 760 First Ave. Chula Vista, CA 91910
Notes of condolences may be sent to:
Iris Atkins
586 First Ave
Chula Vista CA 91910
O God, full of compassion, who dwells on high,
grant true rest upon the wings of the Divine Presence.
May his soul be bound up in the bonds of life eternal.
May the All-Merciful One shelter him with the cover of His wings forever.
The Lord is his heritage; may he rest in his resting-place in peace.
Amen.
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Eucharistic Visits to your home
If you are not able to join us for our celebration of Eucharist and would like Communion brought to you (click here)
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Sacramental and Spiritual Preparation
If you are interested in celebrating a sacramental/spiritual event in your life (click here)
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Pastoral Emergency
If you have a pastoral emergency when the parish offices are closed,
please call 619-301-0724 or email revroger@saint-johns.org
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ADMINISTRATION AND VESTRY | |
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“Raise the Roof”
St. John’s Capital Campaign
Capital Campaign for Property Maintenance Reserve
Our loved ones raised the church with money and physical labor –
We must maintain their legacy
Property Maintenance Reserve Needs:
- New Roof for Church, Nale Hall and Graves Pavilion = $175,000
- Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Units (11 HVAC Units) = $325,000
Capital Campaign Goal: $500,000
Capital Campaign Donations Received: $163,831
Percentage of Goal Achieved: 33%
The church exists as the People of God,
but also, as the buildings from which God is served and worshiped.
Please consider investing in St. John's with a donation to the Capital Campaign:
Capital Campaign Statement of Intent
Capital Campaign Committee: Bob Dunn (co-chair), Terry Farrelly (co-chair),
Tom Brzeczek, Denise Czer, Jane Ferguson, Rev. Roger Haenke
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Upcoming Events at St. John's
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Friday, February 28th: Viewing Service of Robert Aguilar, 6-9pm
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Saturday, March 1st: Funeral Service of Robert Aguilar, 10:00am
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Sunday, March 2nd: Welcome Home Reception for Marcia, Nale Hall, 10:30am (following our 9:00am Service)
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Tuesday, March 4th: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner, Nale Hall, 5:00pm
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Wednesday, March 5th: Ash Wednesday; services at 12 noon and 6:00pm
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Saturday, March 8th: Celebration of Life for Joe Atkins, 11:00am
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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 beginning March 11th.
Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance has been shown to improve balance and mobility, and reduce the risk of falls. People of all ability levels are welcome. This class can be conducted from a seated or standing position. Classes are in English.
St. John's Episcopal Church
760 1st Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Every Tuesday and Thursday | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
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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 info@saint-johns.org.
Rev. Roger will be working Monday through Thursday, and Sunday.
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.
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Leadership Academy: Foundations Track
By: Chris Tumilty, Director of Communications
On March 1 at Leadership Academy, we are offering a Foundations Track with two key opportunities to reinforce your church’s foundation: Safe Church, Safe Communities and Youth Faith Formation - Beyond Grub and Games. These sessions help ensure that your church is a place of trust, accountability, and vibrant discipleship.
Building a strong foundation is essential for the life and longevity of the Church. In Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus teaches that those who hear His words and put them into practice are like a wise builder who constructs a house on the rock—able to withstand storms and trials. Just as a solid foundation provides stability to a structure, a strong church is built on faith, integrity, and discipleship. A thriving congregation is not just about joyful worship on Sundays; it is about creating a community that nurtures spiritual growth, fosters meaningful relationships, and ensures the well-being of all who enter. By prioritizing safety and formation, we build a church community that can stand firm in its mission for generations to come. Read More
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Leadership Academy:
Foundations, Storytelling, and Welcome
Saturday, March 1st, 8:30am at St. Dunstan's in San Diego
Leadership Academy offers the opportunity for new and seasoned leaders to explore new ways of doing things. One of the most tremendous blessings of our diocese is the amount of wisdom and talent found in its leaders. Leadership Academy invites participants to select workshops from three tracks – Foundations, Storytelling, and Welcome.
Click Here for More Information and to Register
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TEC’s Immigration Action Toolkit
Shifting federal policy on immigration is already impacting people in all four of our counties. With this in mind, the Episcopal Church’s church-wide office routinely collects up-to-date immigration resources for congregations. Visit the Immigration Action Toolkit to find ways your congregation can help migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers.
Click Here for More Information
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Creation Care Book Study in March
Mondays at 6:30pm, March 10th - March 31st
Throughout March, the Creation Care Community of the EDSD is leading a virtual book study on "The Serviceberry" by Robin Wall Kimmerer. This lovely book offers a bold and inspiring vision for how to orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity, and community, based on the lessons of the natural world. To register: dianelopezhughes@me.com
Click Here for More Information
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ECS Moonlight Ball
Episcopal Community Services invites you to the Moonlight Ball, an unforgettable evening of celebration and impact. Join us on May 17th for a night of fine dining, live music, and exciting auctions, all in support of ECS' mission to uplift our neighbors in need. Secure your spot now!
Click Here for Ticket Information
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