Thursday, May 20, 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
Reflection: Pentecost

This Sunday, the Gospel of John begins with Jesus continuing his conversation with his disciples. He tells them that he will send an "Advocate" to them from his Father. This Advocate will be the Spirit of Truth. Jesus also tells his disciples that the "Advocate" will testify to Jesus. And in turn, the disciples will go forth and testify to others and to the world.

I wonder what the disciples thought when Jesus told them that they would be changing the world by their testimony?
Did they think this would be grand and glorious?
Did they wonder if they would become famous?
 
Jesus quickly dispels any illusions of greatness or glory. Jesus warns them that they will be persecuted for their testimony. They also will be expelled from the synagogues and even might be put to death! Can you imagine how the disciples reacted to Jesus' words?
Were they frightened? Or did they feel empowered?
Was their commitment and love for Jesus so deep and strong that they were determined to follow him even if they might be persecuted or possibly be put to death?

How committed are we to Jesus? Most likely we will not be hung on a wooden cross! However, if we choose to follow in Jesus' footsteps, we also may have to deal with criticism, judgment or perhaps even persecution of one sort or another. Sad to say, our world today is not much different from the world Jesus lived in. Just listen to the morning or evening news. In many cities, typically there are reports of crimes, shootings, etc. Rarely is there "good news" on the morning or evening news.

If we want to follow in Jesus' footsteps, today may we strive to be attentive to the "good news" in our lives and in our world. Perhaps we can create some "good news" by brightening someone's day. Who knows? If we strive to bring "good news" to our home, city, world, perhaps this practice will "go viral" and become contagious!

Jesus brought "good news" to his world and his message is preached daily, hundreds of years after his death! We also may have an impact as we share "the good news." After all, we have nothing to lose by trying!
 
The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday

Please join us for our celebration of Holy Eucharist at 9:00 am in the church. No reservation required.

Collect for the Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life
to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit:
Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. 


Readings for Sunday, May 23, 2021

Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:25-35, 37
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15


If you are not able to attend, please join our livestream service:
Facebook Link for Services: Saint John's Episcopal Church
St. John's website: saint-johns.org

Updated Health Guidelines for In-person Worship

As the coronavirus situation continues to improve in our region, Bishop Susan has adapted our worship guidelines.
  • Temperature assessment and contact tracing are no longer required
  • Hand sanitizer will be place at the entrance and in the pew of the church
  • Face masks are still required (double masking is not required)
  • Social distancing of 6 feet  (entering the church, seating, and one communion line)
  • No physical touch at the sign of peace or passing of the collection plate
  • Communion will be bread only - No common cup
  • Spoken congregational responses are permitted (if masked)
  • Congregational music may be hummed quietly behind masks
  • Provide the best ventilation possible (doors and windows will be open)
  • Worship service may be 60 minutes or less - (One service at 9:00)
  • Attendance allows for 50% of seating capacity of the church capacity (129 people - No reservations required)
  • Services will be live-streamed for those who do not feel comfortable gathering
Altar Flowers

The Altar Flowers are given by Tom Brzeczek
in honor of Mark Higginbotham's 60th birthday.

Our Altar Flower donations chart for 2021 is available in
the narthex.  If you would like to donate altar flowers in memory of a loved one or in honor of a special occasion please sign up on the chart, or contact Maria at 619-422-4141 or
maria@saint-johns.org


The suggested donation for altar flowers is $40.00.

The following dates are available:

July 4 
August 15 and 22 
October 3, 10, 24 and 31

FELLOWSHIP
Men of St. John's BBQ and Meeting
       
To the Men of Saint John's Episcopal Church:
Tim Attaway and David Dennehy will be hosting a BBQ/meeting on Saturday May 29th beginning at 1:00 PM
in the courtyard of the church.
Because many of us have been vaccinated and it will be an open air gathering and we have not been able to meet for such an unbearable number of months, it seems like it would be an excellent way of reconnecting in 2021.  
The church needs a healthy MOSJ and we have many projects and fund raisers that would be so important for our church community into the future.  Please, give this meeting a priority in planning your calendar for May 29th.

Men of Saint John's, if you would please let Maria, David or Tim know that you will attend so that we can plan appropriately for food and drink. 
Tim   619 417 6392,   trattaway@cox.net
Maria 619-422-4141, maria@saint-johns.org
David 619-840-9994, masterfrog@att.net
 
Centennial Celebration

2022 will be our Centennial Year, and it's not too 
early to plan a year-long celebration!
In 1922, we were founded as a mission of St. James Episcopal Church and two years later chose the name St. John's.

In planning our celebration, we will need the following committees:
  • Communications and Publicity
  • Gala and Fundraiser
  • Liturgy
  • History and Archives 
  • Others as may be identified 
Initially, we have a need for a History Committee to collect information about the early years. John Will, the Historian/Archivist for the Diocese (husband of our interim priest Fr. Tom Wilson) will work with the committee in gathering and preserving the information and items for the archives.  Perhaps you know some of our history: identify "founding families" along with names of descendants baptized at St. John's; locate artifacts for an exhibit; and create short oral/video interviews of long-time parishioners.

Would you be interested in helping with any of these committees, especially the History Committee? Do you have any ideas about how we can celebrate this important milestone? Please contact Maria Love in the parish office by calling
1-619-422-4141 or emailing maria@saint-johns.org

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. Cathey (revcat@gmail.com)
to be included in the Zoom meeting, or to update your info, if she does not have your current email.

The Morning Prayer guide can be found here:
 
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, Drew, Cody, Cameron, Chariti, 
Mark, Sean, Jonathan, TK, Christopher, 
Timothy, Jeremy, David, Jonathan, Nick, 
Jamal, Matt, Daniel, Jocelyn, Devon, Taylor, 
Jorge, Katherine, Sebastian, Richie and Roberto.

For Strength in Time of Need

Scott, Steve, Gary & Shirley, Barb, 
Deborah and Sheri, Ron, and Ann,
and for all first responders, medical professionals, 
essential workers and their families.

Cycle of Prayers for the Church

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the clergy and people of 
St. Stephen's in Menifee.

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

In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the crew of US Naval Hospital Ship Mercy (T-AH-19)

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 (diangus15@aol.com)
or through the office (maria@saint-johns.org). 

OUTREACH & EVANGELIZATION 
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
  • Pill Bottles - Coordinated by Sally Elliot
  • Eyeglasses - Norma Dunn
  • Magazines - Bob Dunn
  • Greeting Cards - 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:

 
Magazine Collection for Seafarers-Update
 
Since the first of the year, repeated attempts to contact
the Stella Maris Seafarer's Centre at the commercial seaport have been unsuccessful.  As a result, St. John's will no longer be collecting magazines, puzzle books, etc. for the merchant sailors.  A sincere thank you to all who have contributed to this outreach effort through the years.  Should we find that the Centre is resuming  operations, and again wishes to receive donations, this mission will likely be restarted.
 
A Request from your Outreach Committee

Your Outreach Committee meets monthly, and we need your help. We are beginning to have lengthy discussions focused on what kinds of Outreach activities we can start planning for as restrictions start to loosen. 

We are looking for your ideas. Remember, Brainstorming is simply coming up with ideas, "wouldn't it be great or a good idea to do --?" Go to this link "Outreach Brainstorming", and let us know your ideas.  At this point don't worry about the "how" to or "what" would it take, just enter the idea and send, let the Outreach committee research the details. If you want to get involved in the planning all the better, we will get back to you. Right now, we just want to hear from you and hear your ideas. This can be fun and a great way to communicate great ideas that might never get addressed otherwise, and really get God's working doing just that, "Working".
 
Very Respectfully,
David Dennehy on behalf of the Outreach Committee
 
Veteran/Military Friendly Congregation
 
St. John's is registered with the Military Chaplains Association as a Veteran/Military Friendly Congregation. With this designation, military chaplains can direct military members and veterans to us for their spiritual needs.

Ministry to active military members, veterans, and their
families is an important outreach ministry.  This outreach ministry offers us a way to tell the Good News to our many neighbors in the military and to give the opportunities for us to use their spiritual gifts while they are with us.

Rachel and Roberto Johnson, with the support of our Outreach Committee, are helping to lead this ministry opportunity.
 
PASTORAL CARE
We Are Here For You!
 
As the pandemic restrictions loosen 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 revroger@saint-johns.org

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
Muriel Kulikowski
Alejandra Valdez-Beer

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.
 
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 in the office Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and all day 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.

Upcoming Events at St. John's

Pentecost

9:00am

Sunday, May 23

Men of St. John's BBQ


1:00 pm


Saturday, May 29


Memorial Day



Monday, May 31


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 maria@saint-johns.org.

Please submit your announcements by Tuesday of each week for inclusion in the Enews.

AROUND THE DIOCESE
Update: Donation Items for Unaccompanied Minors
 
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego has been asked to coordinate a pastoral and spiritual care response for the 1400+ unaccompanied migrant children who are being housed in the San Diego Convention Center. We are working with our ecumenical and interfaith partners to bring together a coordinated program of caring for the young people's spiritual needs, working in partnership with South Bay Community Services, which is coordinating all programming for the migrants. There will be many opportunities to volunteer and support the young people - stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, here are new ways that your congregation can support the girls.

Make a donation to South Bay Community Services for care packages
The most helpful way to support the girls at this time 
is to  make a monetary donation toward the purchase of items for care packages here: https://southbaycommunityservices.networkforgood.com/projects/57168-sbcs-annual-fund

100% of donations will be used to purchase items for care packages for the migrant girls.
To make a $200 donation: Select "$200 - Provides care package for migrant youth"
To make a donation of any amount: In the "Choose your own amount" box, type in the amount you wish to donate, and in the "Apply my donation to" drop-down, select "Migrant Shelter"

Make a donation to EDSD for spiritual care materials
You can make a monetary donation to the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego (EDSD) here: https://www.borderministries.com/donate

These donations will support the religious, spiritual, and chaplaincy care EDSD is coordinating for the girls. Funds will be used to purchase religious materials, worship resources, devotional books, and other supplies. 100% of donations will be used to purchase items for the spiritual care of the girls.


South Bay Community Services is also accepting volunteer applications 
(click here)

Email Deann Rios at drios@edsd.org with any questions about supporting the teen girls.
 
Transformation Academy
 
All are invited to join the people of the diocese for an exciting, new virtual learning and enrichment series. Together, we'll dive deeper into four diocesan priority areas: Peace & Justice, Evangelism, Discipleship, and Leadership. 

Transformation Academy is offered over four months and features national speakers and local leaders from our diocese discussing issues that transform the way we serve the Church's mission.

Get ready to "be transformed by the renewing of your minds" (Rom 12:2) as we learn together at the Transformation Academy!

Transformation Academy is an exciting series of keynote presentations coupled with two different breakout groups to dive deeper into transformational ministry. Please register for both the keynote presentation and a breakout group.



Leadership Academy - Thursday, May 20, 6-7:30pm
Pivoting to New Realities:
Adaptive Leadership for a Post-Pandemic Church


Donald Romanik, President of the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF)

Breakout 1: Davey Gerhard
Year-round Stewardship

Breakout 2: Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch
Vestry 101

Evangelism Academy - Thursday, June 17, 6-7:30pm
Joining God in Mission

Dwight Zscheile, vice president of innovation and associate professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary

Breakout 1: Rev. Frank Munoz
Military Missions: Welcoming our Military Neighbors

Breakout 2: Rev. Darin Johnson
Campus Missions: Welcoming our College Student Neighbors
 
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, (jseitman@pacbell.net), 858-793-4555 or Ms. Equilla Luke, (aequilla@icloud.com), 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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