The Messenger

Weekly newsletter

from St. John|San Juan

October 30, 2026

SJSJ's 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship services are in-person

and live-streamed to YouTube. Click on the logo below to view them.

Daylight saving time ends

this Sunday, November 1.

Remember to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night, or you will be early for worship services!

From the Rector:

Eager longing

Dear Friends –

“The creation waits with eager longing . . .”

Those words have played in my heart all week, as we wait. We are waiting for SO many things.

Kids are waiting for Halloween. Adults are waiting for the outcome of the elections. Some are waiting for healing. Others are waiting for a new job, or an encouraging word, or a fresh start.

This week, two families in our congregation got things they have been eagerly and desperately longing for: the family who lost everything in the apartment fire got a new apartment, and Martin, who was detained by ICE in early September, was bonded out and returned home to his family yesterday.

O the joy! O the joy! Families restored to wholeness. Broken hearts begin to mend. Health begins to return. Furniture begins to make it feel like home. Hope grows roots and yes, eventually shoots of green, but that takes time. For now, roots. Roots watered by tears of rejoicing for what we can do together in the power of the Spirit.

“The creation waits with eager longing . . .”

It is the gardeners who teach us how to wait. After the harvest, the pace of the gardeners has slowed, but they are already preparing for Spring. Why? Because they believe that Spring will come. Again. No matter what.

So the gardeners gather seeds, prepare the soil, and plant bulbs, trusting that their investment will create the sustaining, needed harvest.

The waiting and the working, the pausing and the preparing, go hand in hand. Together at St. John | San Juan, we are in the midst of cleaning up this year’s harvest, gathering the last dollars we need to put things to bed for 2026. Please give what you can. Every dollar makes a difference.

AND we are in the midst of our “Good Plans” 2027 Annual Giving campaign, preparing our budget for 2027. Your finance team cannot finish their work without knowing what to expect on the income side. That’s where you come in! You will receive your covenant card in the mail this week. Covenant cards can be returned to the church in person or by mail, and they will be blessed on Sunday, November 22.

“The creation waits with eager longing” . . .

May the Spirit fill us with courage and confidence to be gardeners, gathering seeds, preparing the soil, and planting bulbs, trusting our partnership with the Creator to yield the sustaining, needed harvest.

Faithfully gardening with you,

Janet+

 Español

#MovingChurch

Welcome to #MovingChurch

#MovingChurch is the place to look for news on our move to a new space in August 2027, including:

• Answers to your many, many questions, when we have the answers.
• Events, including tour opportunities at First United Methodist Church in Olympia, our new physical location.
• Updates on packing and moving plans.
• Timelines, calendars, etc.

EVENTS

All at SJSJ are invited to a potluck supper, followed by a building tour, at FUMCO, 1224 Legion Way S.E., beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 4.

Beginning at 7 p.m., FUMCO leadership will take SJSJ folks on a 30-minute tour of the FUMCO building (please do not ask for a tour at an earlier or later time); building is handicap accessible).

ESSENTIAL RSVP SIGN-UP on the bulletin board in the SJSJ Parish Hall by 8 p.m. Sunday, November 1. Please sign up to bring a main dish, side dish, or dessert to serve three to four people.

NOTE: If you are unable to participate in a tour at one of these times, please do not ask anyone at FUMCO for a private tour. Please put your name on the “FUMCO tour: Another Date/Time?” list on the bulletin board in the SJSJ Parish Hall, along with your cell phone number and email address. Someone will reach out to you in early to mid-November regarding additional tour opportunities.

NOVEMBER 8 PULPIT SWAP – FUMCO and SJSJ will worship at their regular times and locations. Rev. Janet will preach at FUMCO and FUMCO Pastor Heather Sparkman will preach at SJSJ.

SJSJ ANNUAL GIVING COVENANT CAMPAIGN for 2027 OPERATING FUNDS

THEME: GOOD PLANS

THEME VERSE: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, plans to give you a future with hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)

Theme and campaign materials created by Pastor Heather Sparkman and Pastor Alexa Eisenbarth of FUMCO

DATES: through Sunday, November 22

QUESTIONS about #MovingChurch? Contact Rev. Janet at janet@stjohnoly.org or Mindy Chambers at mindy@orcalink.com. If we have the answer, we will share it with you. If we do not yet have the answer, we will add your question to the list of questions to be answered as we move forward. 

Weekly calendar

Saturday, October 31

Set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed! Daylight saving time begins Sunday.

Sunday November 1

All Saints Day

8 a.m. Holy Eucharist

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with baptisms, Sunday School | nursery | childcare available

6 p.m. Spanish service, nursery | childcare available

Monday November 2

10 a.m. Monday Morning Crafters, Parish Hall

6 p.m. Capital City AA, Parish Hall



Tuesday November 3

Election Day

6 p.m. Nar-Anon, Guild Room

6:30 p.m. Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Library

Wednesday November 4

7 a.m. Morning prayer via Zoom (link below)

Noon. Messenger deadline

Noon. March and sing for peace. Meet in parking lot at 19th Avenue and Capitol Way

6 p.m. potluck and 7 p.m. building tour, First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way S.E., Olympia

6 p.m. Buddhist meditation

6 p.m. Oasis, contemporary sung worship service

6:30 p.m. Choir practice

Thursday November 5

10:30 to noon, Centering Prayer Book Club, Guild Room

Noon to 1 p.m., Centering prayer group, Guild Room

6 p.m. Capital City AA Group, Parish Hall

6 p.m. Capital Al Anon Family Group, Sanctuary

Saturday November 6

9 a.m. Men's Group, Chapel

Family affected by fire

still in need of support

Thank you to all of you who have reached out in support of the San Juan family that recently lost their apartment and possessions in a fire.

The family has found a new apartment, but they do need furniture, small kitchen appliances, pots and pans, dishes, etc.

If you have items that you think may be of use to the family, please take a photo of the items and email the photos to Rev. Janet at janet@stjohnsoly.org; she will ask the family if the items are something they can use. Pickup/delivery will be arranged for any needed items.

Please do not:

• Bring the items to the church. We do not have a place to store them and do not have money budgeted to take them to the dump.
• Donate any items that you would not use yourself, in other words, items that are stained, broken or damaged by pets, etc., cannot be used.
• Donate any clothing or food, children’s toys or linens. When and if the family requests those items, we will send out specifics.
• 
  

Cash donations still are welcome. Please make checks out to St. John | San Juan and put “San Juan family” in the subject line.

The family is grateful for and humbled by your generosity. SJSJ sure knows how to step up!

Adult forum for October/November

9:30 am Sundays



"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up . . ."

In the October/November Adult Forum, Rev. Janet and Usrah Claar-Peck will lead a discussion on John Philip Newell's The Rebirthing of God: Christianity's Struggle for New Beginnings. With Newell's thoughtful guidance, we will explore the things in our faith that hold steady in the midst of change. The book is widely available, including at online booksellers. A few copies are available for purchase at the church for $12.

Masks, hand sanitizer available

It's cold and flu season, and SJSJ is providing masks and hand sanitizer throughout the church building, including at the usher tables in side the sanctuary, in the pews and at the entrance to the kitchen by the coffee area. Please note masks are not required; we offer them to those who would like to wear one and may have left theirs at home!

Label your alb, please!

If you are a eucharistic minister or acolyte serving at the altar on Sundays, please label your alb (the long, white robe stored in the vesting room) by November 15.

We are giving the albs that we are not using to the Diocese of Olympia’s Altar Guild for distribution to other congregations! If you want to keep the one you are wearing on Sundays, you will need to label it.

A laundry marker is available in the vesting room for you to write your name on the label on the neck of the alb. If you share an alb with others, just write “in use” on the label and we will keep it.

Thanks for your assistance!

Election event

SJSJ chapel open on Election Day

St. John | San Juan’s chapel and sanctuary will be open to all for prayers and meditation on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m.

Please come to the portico doors off the parking lot at 19^th Avenue and Capitol Way and use the buzzer to gain entry.

If you wish, you may participate in a short service of prayer and song in the chapel from 9-9:15 a.m., noon to 12:15 p.m. and 5-5:15 p.m. and watch election returns until 8 p.m. on the TV in the chapel. If you are able, bring a beverage and snack or finger food items to share!

Musical notes

Concert series:

Next up, Seattle ProMusica



Celebrate the winter solstice with soul-warming music from Canada, Mexico, and the United States with Seattle Pro Musica’s “The Year's Midnight,” performed at St. John | San Juan Episcopal Church in Olympia on November 22.

Featured composers are Reena Esmail, Morten Lauridsen, Sarah Quartel, Caroline Shaw, David Garcia Saldana, Tomás Pascual and David MacIntyre.



For more than 50 years, this choral group has been bringing the power of voices joined in harmony to enrich the lives of its audiences, singers, and the community at large.



The concert begins at 3 p.m. and tickets will be in high demand!  Admission is by donation (suggested $20, no one turned away), and tickets go quickly! You may reserve them by using the concerts tab on the SJSJ website, or pay at the door.

For children and families

Growing in Love:

Nurturing family faith

Our children and families program "Growing in Love" program welcomes you to:

• A children's moment at the beginning of the 10:30 a.m. worship service.
• Faith development activities in the Kid Center during the 10:30 a.m. service.
• Take-home resources to use at home.

Follow the signs to the Kid Center to learn more and find registration forms. 

Weekday worship services

Wednesday Morning Prayer



The Wednesday, November 4, morning service at 7 a.m. will be Morning Prayer, by Zoom only.

The service will include prayers and readings to recognize the God's grace on the day after the election. This will be a non-political service that gives everyone a chance simply to pray for unity and ongoing God-with-us love.

All are welcome to these inclusive language liturgies, an excellent opportunity for spiritual connection with God and with other spiritual seekers in the middle of your week. Join by clicking the button below.

Oasis: candlelight, music and reflection

Need to breathe at the end of your busy day? Maybe take some time to clear your mind, your concerns, and recharge and reinvigorate so that you may do good work in the world, enveloped in peace.

Then try Oasis, a service of candlelight, music and reflection.

For 30 minutes each Wednesday, beginning at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary at St. John | San Juan, leave the hectic world behind you for a half hour of meditation, music and prayer in a service in which all senses are engaged in the practice of worship relevant to the end of the workday and the beginning of evening rest.

In the community

Coming up

• Saturday, October 31 Halloween Extravaganza. Spooky organ music starting at 6:30 p.m. and three short, silent films starting at 7, and treats for the community at the 20th Avenue steps.

• Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day
• Saturday, November 14, Meredith Blundell memorial service, 11 a.m., SJSJ sanctuary, reception following
• Friday, November 20, Trans Day of Remembrance, 7-9 p.m., Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1601 North St. S.E., Olympia
• Sunday, November 22, Seattle Pro Musica in concert, 3 p.m., SJSJ sanctuary
• Thursday, November 26,  Thanksgiving dinner at SJSJ, 1:30 p.m., hosted by Rev. Janet, Chuck Moore, and friends. Please sign up in the Parish Hall or or RSVP by phone, (360) 352-8527 or email anna@stjohnsoly.org

Links

Do you want to know more about the ministries, worship and programs at St. John | San Juan? Click the button below.

Are you looking for information about the SJSJ library and the latest books and news about religion and spirituality? Click the buttons below.

Are you interested in news about the Diocese of Olympia, which organizes Episcopal congregations in Western Washington to do their best work? Click the button below.

Do you need food, housing or other resources? Find information by clicking the button below.

Prayer and Connection

If you or a loved one would like to be added to the prayer list, or to report an illness, hospitalization, surgical procedure or death, please contact the office, (360) 352-8527 or anna@stjohnsoly.org, to leave a message, leave your prayer on the yellow card in the pews, or, in an emergency, contact clergy:

Rev. Janet by text or phone

at (360) 358-2041

Rev. Jaime by text or phone

at (360) 606-4285

View the current prayer list here.

Names appear on the prayer list for three weeks. If you wish to continue prayers for someone, please contact the office by phone or email.

Clergy and staff

Rev. Dr. Janet C. Waggoner, Rector | janet@stjohnsoly.org

Rev. Jaime Case, Associate Priest | jaime@stjohnsoly.org

Rev. Gen Grewell, Deacon | gen@stjohnsoly.org

Steve O'Connor, Director of Music | steve@stjohnsoly.org

Anna Okrasinski-Maddox, Parish Administrator | anna@stjohnsoly.org

Jonathen C. Brown, Sexton

Your financial support of St. John | San Juan is welcome at any time. You can make a pledge, donate to specific SJSJ ministries, make a donation for concert tickets and more by clicking on the button above.

Photo Preferences and Privacy

From time to time, photos may be taken at worship, coffee hour, and parish events for the church's use on the church website and social media. If you prefer that your photo not be taken, please inform an usher, who will then inform the photographer.

(360) 352-8527 • www.stjohnsoly.org

Office Hours

Tuesday though Friday

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(360) 352-8527

Messages left after 2 p.m. Friday will be picked up

when the office opens on Tuesday