Thursday, May 21, 2020

 

Eastertide Prayer
 
Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ
ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things:
Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise,
he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
 
Scripture Readings For the Week

Readings for Ascension Sunday, May 24, 2020

Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47
Luke 24:44-53
 
Bulletin for Sunday, May 24

Facebook Link for Sunday Service: St. John's Facebook Page

Hospitality - it's time to sociali ze!

During this time of separation, we are looking for ways to stay connected as a family of faith.  One way is to gather as family and friends of St. John's on Sunday after our worship service for a virtual time to be together - "Coffee Hour".  So bring your coffee, tea, juice and whatever pastry you want to eat and join us for our Zoom Coffee Hour.

You will be sent the Zoom link prior to Sunday.  Click on the link (or enter the identification number if you already have Zoom).  If you have never been on a Zoom session you may be asked to download a small program or application.

For security purpose, you will be put into a "waiting room", where the host (me) will let you in.

In Zoom, "Gallery View" view will allow you to see the most amount of people.

Please join us!  This is a time to reconnect, socialize, see friends, and support one another during this time.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

   
Memorial Day
 
Memorial Day is an American holiday held to honor those who died while serving in the military. It is currently observed on the last Monday of May.
Two other days celebrate those who have served or are serving in the U.S. military: Veterans Day, which honors those who have served in the United States Armed Forces;  and Armed Forces Day,  an unofficial U.S. holiday (earlier in May) for honoring those  currently serving  in the armed forces.

WHERE DOES MEMORIAL DAY COME FROM?
 
Several cities claim to have held the first Memorial Day either during or in the wake of the Civil War. 
In 1868, the first national ceremony was held on May 30th at Arlington National Cemetery.  It was called Decoration Day after the tradition of decorating soldiers' graves with flowers. The date was chosen, in part, because it didn't correspond with any specific battle.
 
New York made Decoration Day a state holiday in 1873, changing the official name to Memorial Day in 1889. In 1888 Decoration Day was made a holiday for federal employees. By 1890, all the Union states had adopted Decoration Day or Memorial Day as a state holiday.
Following World War I, Memorial Day was held to honor all those who died while serving in the military, not just those lost in the Civil War.
 
In 1950, Congress passed a joint resolution, signed by President Truman, "proclaiming Memorial Day, Tuesday, May 30, 1950, and each succeeding Memorial Day, as a day of prayer for permanent peace."
 
The National Holiday Act, passed in 1968 and put into effect in 1971, changed the date of Memorial Day from May 30th, to the last Monday of May, and made Memorial Day a national holiday.
 
In 2000, Congress passed a resolution, signed by President Clinton, urging Americans to set aside 3pm on Memorial Day "to observe a National Moment of Remembrance to honor the men and women of the United States who died in the pursuit of freedom and peace."
 
"On Memorial Day,
the United States pauses to honor the fallen heroes who died in service to our Nation.  With heavy hearts and a sense of profound gratitude, we mourn these women and men  -parents, children, loved ones, comrades-in-arms, friends, and all those known and unknown-who believed so deeply in what our country could be  they were willing to give their lives to protect its promise."

Barack Obama, "Presidential Proclamation-Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2015," 
National Archives  (May 22, 2015)
 
(Excerpt from Dictionary.com)
 
Memorial Day Roll Call
 
CAPT William Frank Archibald, USN
SPC Tim Attaway, USA
SSgt Andrew Belury, USAF
SSG Jim Belury, USA
COL Nick Belury, USA
PFC William M. Belury, USMC
Douglas Bolton, Canadian Scottish Army
Edward Bolton, RAF, UK
Gordon Bolton, Canadian Scottish Army
Phyllis Bolton, WAF, UK
Felix Brzeczek, United States Navy
J. Kellogg Burnham, USA
John Butcher, USA
Glen Chalfant, USA
2ndLt Byron H. Chase, USMC
CPT Joseph Chetwin, DMD, USA Air Corps.
LtCol Stuart T. Clark, USMC
Matthew Cola, USN
Les Cooper, RAF
SGT John Dennehy, USA
HM3 Verna Dennehy, USN
LCDR Chester Ditto, USN
Walter Dudziak, Polish Army
George F. Dukes, USN
PFC Hubert Elsie, USA Air Corps
CDR Carl Erickson, USN
PO1 Dean McGary Evans, USN
SGT Jack Evans, Sr., USA
CDR Jack Evans, Jr., USN
1LT Robert Warren Evans, USA
CPL Carl Ferguson, USA
RMSA Deborah Field, USN
EN2 John Field, USN
CWO Tom Felts USN
LCDR Ronald W. Foster, USN
CAPT Richard A Gilman, MD, Public Health Service
Estle Gollihur, USN
Cpl Joseph Gollihur, USMC
ADSN Robert Gollihur, USN
Gerald H. Graves, USN
MGySgt Philip Grignon, USMC
LT Arthur Gustafson, USN
CAPT William M. Gustafson, USN
1stSgt Bettina Haenel, USMC
MGySgt Richard Haenel, USMC
Cpl Jordan Haerter, USMC
Dale Harris, USN
David R. Harris, USMC
NEB Nieves Hernandez, Tail Gunner, USAF
Richard Higginbotham, United States Army
LT William H. Hoyt, USN
CDR Robert E. (Bob) Hunter, Jr., USN
RADM Richard Hutchinson, USN
PFC Arthur J Ingersoll, USMC
PVT Arthur B. Ingersoll, USA
Stanley Jamka, USMC
Andrew Jennison, USA
PO Michael Vann Johnson, USN
CPO Richard L. Jones, USN
LT Rodney Jones, USN
LT Comm Urbon Jones, USN
CW03 Denton K. Jordan, USN
1stLt Robert Klemola, USAF
RADM Alvin B. Koeneman, USN
SGT Robert Kraus, USA
Francis J. Lee, USA Air Corp
WO Peter Paul Lee, USN
AC1 John H. Lindshield, USN
ATCM David Looney, USN
John Makkonen, USA
Cpl Charles Mankin, (Silver Star) USMC
LCDR James S. Marsh, USN
Maj William T. Mattison CDR 302 Fighter SQD Tuskegee Airmen (Red Tails) RADM J. McNamara, USN
PVT Albert Meakin, British Army
AM2 Bill Milam USN
SSgt Keith Milam USMC
Cpl Lewis Milam USMC
GM1 Donald Moore, USN
Algernon Moore, USA
Virgil W. Moore, Jr.,
USN Silas Morris, USN
AO1 Sam Moskowitz, USN
CPL Theodore Neff, USA
Marden Nelson, Canadian Army
Gunner George Nightingale, USA Air Corp
Hugh Nightingale
RADM (Cardinal) J.J. O'Conner, USN
Al Oliveira, USA
Bud Oliveira
Randy Oliveira
Tony Oliveira
Mach2 Carl A. Polk, Jr., USN
CAPT Robert Radaski, USN
Paul L. Reed, USN
PO3 Charles Retsinger, USN
CAPT Gerry Rian, USN
Theodore Rogers, USA
CPL Donald Rowley, USA
AMCS John Schilpp, USN
David John Smith, USAF
SGT Emery Smith, USA
PFC Edward Stott, USA
PFC John Stott, Army
Louis Stott, USN
AN Richard R. Stott, USN
CPO William H. Tatu, USN
Sgt. Frank Thornberry, USMC
PFC James J.Tolley, USA
SGT Kenneth Tolley, USA Air Corps
Hector Vasquez, US Army  
Bruce Van Dam, USA
Reuben Van Dam, USA
SGT John H. Vickers USA Air Corp.
LT William Dean Wallace, USN
SSG Finnis C. Worton, USA
Cpl Jonathan Yale, USMC
166 men who died on LST577 in 1945

Memorial Day Prayer
 
We remember and honor the men and women of our military who died in the service of our country, particularly those who died in battle.

Heavenly Father,
On this Memorial Day, we pray for those who courageously laid down their life for the cause of freedom.  May the example of their sacrifice inspire in us the selfless love of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Bless the families of our fallen troops, and fill their homes and their lives with your strength and peace.  We pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Memorial Day Holiday
 
The office will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.
 
Reopening St. John's

Bishop Susan has recommended that parishes form a task force for the reopening of the parish.  The task force will look at the guidelines and practices set forth by the public health and ecclesial authorities that need to be in place when we receive the word that churches are allowed to reopen.  The reopening of our parish will be a slow, phased process.

We will look at all areas of our parish life - liturgy, discipleship, evangelization, outreach, and spiritual formation. I have formed that task force with members of the vestry and other lay leaders of the parish who will be convening soon to begin our planning.

The reopening of the parish will be done with an act of love for our neighbor, respect for government and public health experts, and with an opportunity to be "church" in a new way.  Please keep St. John's in your prayers as we begin this very important, careful work of reopening the parish.

Prayers

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]

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, Bill,   Lorena, 
Minnie, Barbara, Paul, Don, Kevin
and for all first responders, medical professionals, 
essential workers and their families.


For Churches in Transition in our Diocese

Christ Church, Coronado
St. Paul, Palm Springs
St. Margaret's, Palm Desert
All Saints', Vista


From the Prayer Journal of Fr. Jack Tolley

May 25th, Memorial Day, we remember all who have served in our Military Forces, and have passed on. It was called Decoration Day when I was young. We would go the cemetery and place flowers  on the graves of loved ones who had served, pray, and remember them, just like we do today.
Here are two beautiful prayers for members of the Armed Forces published in Forward Day by Day  issues during WWII.
Blessings and love, Fr. Jack.
 
For those in the service of our country:
Bless, O God, all who have left their homes to fight for the world's freedom, and those who risk their lives to serve. Give them wisdom, courage, and fidelity to the highest. Let no ordeal separate them
from the love of Christ. Sanctify the strong, uphold the weak, stretch forth thy gracious hand to the dying, in mercy receive the dead. And hasten the coming of godly peace, through the power of the
Holy Spirit, who cometh from thee, O Father, and thee, O Christ, world without end. Amen. (1945)
 
For the departed:
Almighty Father, who has set within thine own authority the times and seasons which are unknown to us; receive our prayers for thy servants whom death has overtaken in this war. Retain their souls in thy keeping. Pardon all that has been amiss; and draw them nearer and nearer to thyself; for the merits of Jesus Christ  our savior. Amen. (1944) 
 
Thank You from Fr. Jack 
 
I want to thank everyone who sent me cards, messages, gifts,  on my 85th birthday May 20. I also want to thank all  who participated in the drive by celebration in their  automobiles. Wow! That was so wonderful. Particularly  I want to thank Shawn Bajo and Gretchen Jordan for organizing the event.

Blessings, love, and hugs (from a safe distance), 
Fr. Jack.
 
Stewardship
 
Stewardship is about the offering of our time, talent and treasure, and this joyful Eastertide is a time for all of us to be as generous as we are able.
Thank you to those who make the work and ministry of St. John's continue.

We have made it even more convenient to give online.  You can find a "Give Now" button on our St. John's website:  www.saint-johns.org

There are 4 other ways to stay current on your pledge: 
1)  US mail
2)  the secured mail slot next to the parish office door on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:00am and 3:00pm
3)  Sally can add an automatic credit or debit payment by providing to her in writing the necessary information (bank name, account number, expiration date and amount to be withdrawn, 
4)  you can go to your bank (physically or on line) to set up an automatic payment to St. John's by bank check once a month.

If you need help with any of these options, please contact Sally via email ( [email protected]) or phone call to the office on Thursdays for assistance.


Opportunities for Service

Donate Snacks to Uptown Safe Haven - The ECS Uptown Safe Haven clients love snacks and treats as they shelter in place together. You can send treats via Amazon or drop them by the house and leave them on the doorstep. 
Address for mailing or dropping off snacks: 
Uptown Safe Haven, Attn: Christina Zeman/UTSH Staff
2822 5th  Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103.

Volunteer with Head Start Food Distribution Program - 
ECS Head Start preschool programs are closed, but we are distributing food to families Tuesday through Friday, 9:15am to 12:30pm, each week and are looking for volunteers to help! This is taking place outside in South Bay, families drive by to get bags of food, and safety precautions are in place. Volunteer roles include helping with set up, break down, directing traffic, and handing bags to families through car windows.

For more info about any of these ECS activities, please contact Deann Rios at 619-694-9892 or  [email protected].

* Pill Bottle and Monthly SBCS grocery list collections are currently suspended at St. John's.   
 

Current office hours are 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Wednesday and Thursday.
If you need assistance, please email Maria Love: 


Year of Discipleship

In the Diocese of San Diego, Bishop Susan Brown Snook has called us to spend the year 2020 focusing on discipleship: How we grow in faith as followers of Jesus Christ.  Discipleship grows as we adopt spiritual practices for daily living.  Our diocese offers these resources to help you develop spiritual practices as individuals, families, small groups, and full congregations.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego invites you to  Learn  as part of
The Year of Discipleship 2020  in this holy season of Easter.

Find resources for the Learn area of The Way of Love in this season of Easter here:  Learn- Discipleship EDSD

One Diocesan-Wide Experience

Bishop's Book Studies  

Take part in this diocesan-wide book study led by Bishop Susan throughout the season of Easter. This will be an online offering, where each week Bishop Susan will post a reflection on a chapter and some discussion questions on the DiscipleshipEDSD website, to which participants can respond interactively online. Alternately, participants may choose to use the reflection and discussion questions in small groups in their congregations, or for personal reflections at home. No need to sign up. Just buy the book and take part in the conversation throughout the season.




Free Entertainment
 
Here is a list of some things to do while you are quarantined at home:

Streaming of operas from the Metropolitan Opera, which are occurring daily.  Go to https://www.metopera.org/ to enjoy the daily streaming available.

The Seattle Symphony is also offering live streaming at this site: https://seattlesymphony.org/

Museums worldwide are offering their exhibits online: https://artsandculture.google.com/partner?hl=en&tab=pop

One of the pianists who frequently visits our communities has made a free video performance, which you can enjoy by following this link:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI_FTFZNGm8

A free class to take at YALE University: https://www.businessinsider.com/coursera-yale-science-of-wellbeing-free-course-review-overview

More Museums offering free virtual tours: https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/g31815495/museums-you-can-virtually-tour-right-now/

Free coloring books for adults from 113 museums: http://www.openculture.com/2019/02/download-free-coloring-books-from-113-museums.html

An article with links to a variety of things that are now free: https://www.npr.org/2020/03/20/818670715/getting-bored-heres-a-list-of-free-things-that-werent-free-before-coronavirus
 
The Vestry

David Dennehy,  Senior Warden
619-840-9994 
[email protected]
Mark Higginbotham,  Junior Warden
619-861-5510
Terry Farrelly,  Treasurer
Diane Gustafson, Clerk
Pamela Brittain
Ray Contreras
Mark Higginbotham
Muriel Kulikowski
Jim McDevitt
Judy McKay
Lynn Young

Approved Minutes for the March 25th Vestry meeting can be found here:


Rev. Roger's Office Hours
 
Rev. Roger will be available, but working from home on Mondays and Tuesdays  and in the office all day on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  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.


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.

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
 
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May God's face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May God give you the grace never to sell yourself short;
Grace to risk something big for something good;
Grace to remember that the world is too dangerous for anything but truth 
And too small for anything but love.
So, may God take your minds and think through them;
May God take your lips and speak through them;
May God take your hearts and set them on fire.
-William Sloane Coffin

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