Thursday, September 30, 2021

 

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.


WORSHIP
The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
October 3, 2021 

Please join us for our celebration of Holy Eucharist at 9:00 am in the church. 
  • Following the directive of our bishop, we will continue to wear masks and have low contact during our Sunday liturgies.
  • There is a section in the chapel where those who want to be social distanced can safely do so and still be part of the service. 
Come, pray, sing, receive Holy Communion, 
and join us for fellowship following our liturgy. 


Collect for Joy in God's Creation

O heavenly Father, 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 Sunday

Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 8:1-2, 4-10
Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-16


If you are not able to attend, please join our livestream service:
Facebook Link for Services: Saint John's Episcopal Church

In Remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi
and Blessing of Animals

Sunday, October 3rd at 9:00am. 
We will gather outside in the St. John's Courtyard for our celebration of Holy Eucharist in thanksgiving for all of creation with our annual blessing of animals.
 
During our celebration, we will remember St. Francis (whose Feast Day is on October 4th) and his love for all creatures big and small with a blessing of animals during the service.  Your pets are welcome to join you.

Please invite your family, friends and neighbors to join us in the celebration of God's great and diverse creation.

St. Francis of Assisi
Friar, 1226

Francis, the son of a prosperous merchant of Assisi, was born 
in 1182. His early youth was spent in harmless revelry and fruitless attempts to win military glory.

Various encounters with beggars and lepers pricked the young man's conscience, and he decided to embrace a life devoted to Lady Poverty. Despite his father's intense opposition, Francis totally renounced all material values, and devoted himself to serve the poor. In 1210 Pope Innocent III confirmed the simple Rule for the Order of Friars Minor, a name Francis chose to emphasize his desire to be numbered among the "least" of God's servants.

The order grew rapidly all over Europe. But by 1221 Francis had lost control of it, since his ideal of strict and absolute poverty, both for the individual friars and for the order as a whole, was found to be too difficult to maintain. His last years were spent in much suffering of body and spirit, but his unconquerable joy never failed.

Not long before his death, during a retreat on Mount La Verna, Francis received, on September 14, Holy Cross Day, the marks of the Lord's wounds, the stigmata, in his own hands and feet and side. Pope Gregory IX, a former patron of the Franciscans, canonized Francis in 1228, and began the erection of the great basilica in Assisi where Francis is buried.

Of all the saints, Francis is the most popular and admired, but probably the least imitated; few have attained to his total identification with the poverty and suffering of Christ. Francis left few writings; but, of these, his spirit of joyous faith comes through most truly in the "Canticle of the Sun," which he composed at Clare's convent of St. Damian's. The Hymnal version begins:

"Most High, omnipotent, good Lord, 
To thee be ceaseless praise outpoured, 
And blessing without measure.
Let creatures all give thanks to thee 
And serve in great humility".


Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace 
to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, 
following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you 
delight in your whole creation with perfectness of joy; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. 

Altar Flowers

The Altar Flowers are given by Bob and Norma Dunn   
in honor of the birthdays of Alex, Eric and Sarah 
and the 7th anniversary of Eric & Sarah.
 
Thank you to all who have donated for altar flowers. 
There are no more available dates for 2021. 

Thank you to our Flower Guild for the beautiful floral arrangements each week.

PASTORAL CARE
Lay Eucharistic Ministers
 
And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'                                                                                               Matthew 25: 39-40

The Episcopal Church affirms the place of the Holy Eucharist
as "the principal act of Chistian worship on the Lord's Day and other major feasts".  As an act of the whole community of faith, the Eucharist is a summons to all baptized persons to share in the table of the Lord.

As members of our congregation age and/or because of health and mobility concerns (especially during a pandemic), some in our family of faith are not able to attend our Eucharistic worship services in person and receive Holy Communion. 

At General Convention 1985, The Episcopal Church authorized a form for the distrubution of Holy Communion by licensed lay persons.  This is intended to foster a communal use of the Eucharist among those who, by reason of illness or infirmity, are unable to join the congregation in worship.

Pastoral Ministry at St. John's Episcopal Church will include Pastoral Visitations (without Holy Communion) and Eucharistic Visitations (with Holy Communion). Pastoral and Eucharist visits are made to those who request a visit by a priest, deacon or lay person, ie. persons in their home, nursing facility, or hospital and are not able to participate and receive Communion during our Sunday worship.
 
There will be a training for Lay Eucharistic Ministers on:
Saturday, October 2, 2021
9:00am - 12:00pm
The Rev. Jack Tolley Memorial Library
 
If you are interested in serving in this important pastoral ministry, please contact Rev. Roger or call the parish office (619-422-4141).
 
We Are Here For You!
 
As the pandemic continues and 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, Marriage, Renewal of Vows, QuinceaƱera, Anointing of the sick or Eucharistic visit.  
 
At St. John's, no matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey - you are welcome here

We Are Available in Your Time of Need

If you have a pastoral emergency when the parish offices are closed, 
please call 619-301-0724 or email [email protected]

FAITH FORMATION
Spiritual Gifts Workshop
 
Each of us has been given spiritual gifts to use for the glory 
of God and for service to others. Wouldn't you like to know what yours are and which ministries can use those gifts?
 
Just a few of the gifts are hospitality, leadership, 
music - vocal, music - instruments, writing, and teaching.  
 
After the service on Sunday, October 10 there will be a workshop of less than one hour led by Rev. Roger and Diane Gustafson during which you can find out what your spiritual gifts are and which ministries/activities can use them.
 
Much of the workshop time will be spent individually answering a questionnaire of sixty statements. For example, one statement is "I enjoy meeting new people and becoming acquainted with them." You will decide whether this is always true, often true, occasionally true, infrequently true, or never true. Most people who have taken the questionnaire have found it insightful and enjoyable.
 
If you plan to attend on October 10 after the service, please notify Maria in the Church Office so we can have enough of the questionnaires available. If you are unable to attend and would like to take the assessment on your own, notify Maria, and Diane Gustafson can consult with you by phone if you need assistance.

Sunday School
 
Sunday School is now available.  Children ages 4 and up are welcome to come and learn about the Word of God with Heather Wallace.

Children must be masked in order to attend Sunday School.  They will gather in the Sunday School Room before our service begins and return at the Sign of Peace.
 
Child Care

Child Care is available during our Sunday Services. Ana, the daughter of Alex Valdez-Beer, will be staffing our child care room.

FELLOWSHIP
Hospitality
 
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.

Current Available Dates:

October 3
October 10
October 17
October 24
October 31

Centennial Celebration
 
2022 will be our Centennial Year!
Our Centennial Liturgy will be on September 18, 2022.
 
In 1922, we were founded as a mission of St. James Episcopal Church and two years later chose the name
St. John's.
 
We need to start planning for our celebration!
In planning our celebration, we will need your help on the following committees:
  • Communications and Publicity
  • Gala and Fundraiser
  • Liturgy
  • History and Archives 
Lynn Young, Diane Gustafson and John Will have been sorting through many documents and photos on the history of St. John's.  If you know some of our history please let them know.
 
Would you be interested in helping with any of these committees?
Do you have ideas of how we can celebrate this important milestone?
Please contact Maria Love in the parish office by calling 1-619-422-4141 or emailing [email protected]

An Invitation for Opera Lovers
 
The AMC movie theater in Otay Ranch will show a special live 
performance from the Met.  The matinee performance of Boris Godunov will be broadcast on October 9th at 9:00 am.  Tickets are $20 and can be purchased through the AMC theater website: AMC Theater: Boris Godunov

If you would like more information, please contact Muriel Kulikowski at 619-421-0341.

OUTREACH & EVANGELIZATION 
ECS Head Start Program at St. John's
 
ECS Head Start provides high quality early childhood and family education programs at no cost to eligible families and their children, ages 0-5.

We welcome:
  • Low Income Families
  • Children With Special Needs
  • Foster/Kinship Families
  • Families Experiencing Homelessness
  • SSI or TANF Recipients
In-Person Services
In-person preschool services provided in daily sanitized classroom environments located throughout the South Bay San Diego area.

Distance Learning Option
Tablet provided for live instruction with our preschool teachers via Zoom, Face Time, or video call.

Meals Provided
Healthy balanced meals and snacks that promote wellness and development provided for your child.
 
APPLY NOW FOR THE FALL (invite your family and friends)
ECS Head Start
(619) 422-1642
Lic #: 376600897
 
Outreach Collections

St. John's Outreach Committee meets monthly to discuss our parish Outreach activities.
We will continue our ongoing collections for:
  • Blankets - Coordinated by Denise Czer and Sarah Tolley                               There is a great need for blankets
  • Pill Bottles - Coordinated by Sally Elliott   
         
    A financial donation for postage would be appreciated 
  • Eyeglasses - Coordinated by Norma Dunn
  • Greeting Cards - Coordinated by Norma Dunn
  • Emergency Food Pantry - Coordinated by 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 church during our weekday office hours, Monday through Thursday from 9am to 3pm.  Ring the doorbell, and you will be buzzed in to leave your items outside Nale Hall.
If you do not feel comfortable driving, please contact the parish office, and we will find a volunteer to pick up the items from your home.

Please click on the following link or visit the St. John's website (www.saint-johns.org) for more information on our Outreach Ministries:

 
MINISTRY OF PRAYER
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.

The Morning Prayer guide can be found here:
 
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.  

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, Jamal Warner, Matt Hernandez, Daniel Getreu, Jocelyn Hernandez, Devon Strunk, Taylor Harrold, Jorge Zuazua, Katherine Milam, Sebastian Morales, Richie Lebron, 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

Steve Magill, Gary & Shirley McCarren, Ann Lindshield, Lyne C., Kim B.,
the Mount family, Scott Hunter, Dean Nightingale, the McClure family, 
Adam Beneschan, Geraldine Adams, Helen McGrath and David Bricknell.

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. Timothy's in San Diego.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Church in Wales.

In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the crew of USS Essex (LHD-2).

A Prayer for the People of Afghanistan 

Eternal God, hear our prayer for the peoples of Afghanistan. There is a profound humanitarian crisis. Countless people, mostly women and children, are now fleeing and vulnerable. The lives of many are now endangered. The hopes of many are forgone. Send your Spirit, Lord, to rally the resolve of the nations of the earth to find pathways to save human lives, protect human rights, and to resolve the hardships of those seeking refuge, asylum, and safety. Hear our prayer for the peoples of Afghanistan. This we pray as followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church

Prayer Quilts
 
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. 
Please contact Diane Gustafson directly ([email protected])
or through the office ([email protected]). 

STEWARDSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION
The Vestry

David Dennehy, Senior Warden
619-840-9994 
Lynn Young, Junior Warden
208-695-7735
Bill Cheney, Treasurer
Terry Farrelly, Assistant Treasurer
Diane Gustafson, Clerk
Pamela Brittain
Tom Brzeczek
Ray Contreras
Jane Ferguson
Alejandra Valdez-Beer

Upcoming Events at St. John's

Lay Eucharistic Minister Training

9:00 am- 12:00 pm

Saturday, October 2

Remembrance of St. Francis of Assissi and Blessing of the Animals

9:00 am

Sunday, October 3 
in the Courtyard

Spiritual Gifts Workshop

10:00 am

Sunday, October 10

Bonita Valley Garden Club

9:30 am

Wednesday, October 13

Men of St. John's Meeting

6:00 pm

Monday, October 18

Daughters of the King Meeting


10:00 am


Thursday, October 21

Vestry Meeting

6:00 pm

Wednesday, October 27


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 
(619-422-4141).

Rev. Roger's Office Hours
 
Rev. Roger will be working half-days in the office on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Sunday; and all day Wednesday and Thursday.  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.

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.
 

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.

AROUND THE DIOCESE
Good News Festival Postponed to 2022
 
As you know, our diocese has been looking forward to 
welcoming Presiding Bishop Michael Curry for a Revival here in the Diocese of San Diego this year. We have also been keeping a close eye on the COVID situation, as we want to make sure that our festival gathering is safe for all involved. After prayer and careful consultation, we have decided to reschedule the Good News Festival for Dec. 9-11, 2022. Presiding Bishop Curry is still coming, and the Town & Country has graciously agreed to honor our commitment, one year later. While it's disappointing to reschedule, we want to make sure that our event is held as safely as possible, with the opportunity for a large group to gather in person and celebrate. We thank co-chairs Susan Jester and Martin Hall, and the committee they are leading, for all the great work that has gone into planning so far!
 
The extra year will offer us an opportunity to reboot the Year of Evangelism. Originally scheduled for 2021, our ability to do some of the things we had hoped for in the Year of Evangelism has been limited by COVID restrictions. Stay tuned for more information about a Year of Evangelism in 2022 that will include revival opportunities in congregations, training and support in doing evangelism in your communities, and other ways to grow in faith and discipleship! We are praying for a true spirit of renewal to come into our diocese as we emerge from this COVID time. In 2022, more than ever, our communities will need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ!
 
ERD Hurricane Relief Fund
 
On Sunday, August 29, sixteen years after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, Hurricane Ida made landfall in the same region. This Category 4 storm brought flooding and damaging winds that caused a loss of water to hundreds of thousands and a loss of electricity to over 1 million people. Episcopal Relief & Development is working closely with the Diocese of Louisiana and other regional partners in what will be a long-term response. Your generous gift will help alleviate suffering for the most vulnerable residents impacted by Hurricane Ida. Please visit episcopalrelief.org/hurricane-relief to make a gift today.
 
Refugee Housing Needed
 
If you or someone you know has housing connections 
in the wider San Diego area and could advise a local Lutheran church that is providing housing to several refugee families, please contact:  
or call 619-464-4211. 

Resources for Emotional Support

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is changing life for all of us. You may feel anxious, stressed, worried, sad, bored, depressed, lonely or frustrated in these circumstances.

EDSD Statement of Commitment
 
As part of the Jesus Movement and the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, we pledge to love our neighbors and protect the most vulnerable among us, remembering our baptismal vows to "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." We live these pledges out by actively engaging in dismantling racism. For many of us, this will mean learning more about our racial identity, listening to those who have experienced racial prejudice, speaking out against racism, and showing up alongside those in our community working to change unjust systems in our society. We also live out this pledge at worship during this pandemic, by wearing face-coverings, respecting distancing guidelines, foregoing the common cup and refraining from congregational singing.
 
Episcopal Relief and Development
What Would Love Do: 1000 Days of Love

Love calls us to care for our neighbors and for our enemies. Love calls us to attend to those in prison, to those who are homeless, to those in poverty, to children, immigrants and refugees.

What would love do? To you, who so generously support the transformative work of Episcopal Relief & Development, love calls you to continue to sow seeds of lasting change

Visit Episcopal Relief and Development: One Thousand Days of Love to see how you can help.

 
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
 
In this issue
Contact Information
phone: 619/422-4141
pastoral care: 619/301-0724

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