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Thursday, September 23, 2021
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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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The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 26, 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 the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy
and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we,
running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of
your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Readings for Sunday
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
Psalm 124
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50
If you are not able to attend, please join our livestream service:
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Reflection on Mark 9:38-50
This Gospel begins with John saying to Jesus, "Teacher, 
we saw a person who was driving out demons. We tried to stop him because he does not follow us." Are the disciples a bit jealous of this person's ability to drive out demons? Do they want to have this kind of power? Jesus says to John, "Do not prevent him. If someone performs a good deed in my name, then who can speak ill of me?" Then Jesus adds: "Whoever is not against us is for us."
Today Jesus is giving us an important instruction. He is telling us that anyone who is not against us is for us. Typically most human beings know which individuals support them. However, we also know which people may struggle with us, dislike us, or ignore us. We may allow these individuals to disrupt our internal peace and harmony. As human beings, many of us may care too much about what others think of us. Jesus, however, wants his disciples to be truly free. He does not want them to be jealous of others or to covet another's abilities and gifts.
Jesus clearly wants his disciples to appreciate their own gifts and gifts of others as well. Life is not a competition, yet many of us live as if it were. Today if you find yourself being critical of another person's actions, words, and being, STOP! Take a moment, breathe, and then change your reactive thoughts and your judgment. You may find that you feel more peaceful, relaxed, and calm. Judgment poisons our minds and our hearts. Release your judgment and relax and be at peace!
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Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers are given by Marcia Morris  in honor of Michael Morris' birthday.
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.
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Remembrance of St. Francis 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 and the blessing of animals.
During our celebration, we will remember St. Francis and his love for all creatures big and small with a blessing of animals during the service. Your pets are welcome to join you.
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 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.
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Child Care
Child Care is available during our Sunday Services. Ana, the daughter of Alex Valdez-Beer, will be staffing our child care room.
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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).
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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
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We Are Available in Your Time of Need
If you have a pastoral emergency when the parish offices are closed,
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The Rev. Jack Tolley Memorial Library
The Rev. Jack Tolley Memorial Library is open. 
Come in and borrow a book, to read here or to take home.
The library is a place where all are welcome to come visit with each other, have a cup of coffee and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the St. John's campus.
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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 maria@saint-johns.org
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
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Name Tags
If you are in need of a name tag, please contact Maria (619-422-4141;
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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 maria@saint-johns.org
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OUTREACH & EVANGELIZATION
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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.
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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
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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.
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Please click on the following link or visit the St. John's website (www.saint-johns.org) for more information on our Outreach Ministries:
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Thank You from Boyscout Troop 800
Over the summer, Boy Scout Troop 800 used Nale Hall for their meetings. Below are the sentiments they expressed in gratitude to St. John's.
To the Parishioners, Vestry and Rev. Roger of St. John's:
Thank you very much for lettingTroop 800 meet at your beautiful church
and courtyard.
April Flores
German Bollot
Diego Landeros
Ayden Padilla
Sabastian Oliveros
Arturo Flores
Anthony Dutra
Thank you for allowing Troop 800 to utilize the space.
Sincerely,
Dutra Family
GF Hyde
Gregg King
Dear St. John's,
We are incredibly grateful for your generosity with Troop 800. We have always felt welcomed and appreciate the fact that you open your doors to our organization. May God return those blessings ten fold.
Sergio O.
Tyler
Lucien Alexandre
Thank you!- Jesus Hernandez
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St. John's Thank you so much for allowing us to meet at your facility. Appreciate it! Stanley Pikes
Thank you for allowing our scouts to use the facilities. B. Flores
St. John, I really appreciate you allowing our scouts to use your facility. Sending lot of blessing your way. Thank you, Sandra
Thank you! Roxana Landeros
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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.
to be included in the Zoom meeting.
The Morning Prayer guide can be found here:
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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.
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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, Rodney Munoz, Oliva Escobar, Joe Cabral,
Ted Garcia, Dean Nightingale, the McClure family, Adam Beneschan, Geraldine Adams and Helen McGrath.
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. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego.
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Episcopal Church.
In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the crew of USS Boxer (LHD-4).
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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
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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.
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STEWARDSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION
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Stewardship Message
What is stewardship and when do we think about it? Once a  year when we fill out a pledge card - or weekly when we write a check to the church? Stewardship includes our time and our talents, as well as our treasure. Ideally stewardship is our ongoing commitment - those things we do as we try to follow the path that Jesus laid out for us. Sometimes we wander off the path but then we come back. I've been known to hide a bit when I'm being called to share time or talents, but sooner or later, I have to answer!
When Reverend Roger asked me to consider being the Junior (or Peoples') Warden, I immediately thought of four reasons why I couldn't do it, but he said, "don't give me an answer now - just prayerfully consider it." So when I really settled down and prayerfully considered it, I realized my immediate reaction (ways to say no) was not the answer, but rather just an excuse. There was no reason to say no and an infinite number of reasons to say yes - so I did.
The challenge of the pandemic made it difficult for me to connect with you in person, but now that we are back to in-person as well as virtual church, I have enjoyed seeing many of you on Sundays and I look forward to that day when we can all be together again in our beautiful sanctuary.
I urge you to inventory your talents and the time you can commit - it doesn't have to be a lot of time, and if you're willing to say yes, you will receive far more than you give. Opportunities for service abound - ushering on Sundays, being a money counter, arranging flowers to enhance our sanctuary for the Sunday service, preparing the altar (Altar Guild), serving as an acolyte during Sunday services, bringing communion to parishioners who are homebound, helping in Sunday School or the Nursery. Daughters of the King, a women's prayer order in the Episcopal Church has a chapter at St. John's and we welcome new members! We have several committees that are forming to help with our Centennial in 2022 - service on these committees is vital but short term, culminating in a wonderful celebration next fall.
I look forward to the opportunities we will have this next year as we continue our faith journey.
In service,
Lynn
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The Vestry
David Dennehy, Senior Warden
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
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Upcoming Events at St. John's
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Lay Eucharistic Minister Training
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9:00 am- 12:00 pm
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Saturday, October 2
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Remembrance of St. Francis of Assissi and Blessing of the Animals |
9:00 am |
Sunday, October 3
in the Courtyard |
Bonita Valley Garden Club |
9:30 am |
Wednesday, October 13 |
Men of St. John's Meeting
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6:00 pm |
Monday, October 18 | |
Daughters of the King Meeting
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10:00 am
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Thursday, October 21
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Vestry Meeting |
6:00 pm |
Wednesday, October 27 |
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Ordination of Deacons
The Right Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook,  Bishop Diocesan of San Diego, ordainedNancy Jo Burnett, Katherine Logan Gordon and Daniel James McMillan (brother of Malia Attaway) to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at Saint Paul's Cathedral.
Please keep these new deacons in your prayers.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
You're not alone!
Find resources to connect with real people that can help, here.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Contact Information
phone: 619/422-4141
pastoral care: 619/301-0724 |
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