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Holy Week and Easter 2020
Holy Week begins with the Sunday of the Passion - Palm Sunday - when we
commemorate Jesus' triumphal entry to Jerusalem where he will experience the passion of his crucifixion. Normally, we would continue our celebration later in the week with the sacred three days, also known as The Paschal Triduum: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Great Vigil of Easter on Holy Saturday, the eve Easter. Each day's observance is an integral part of one long service stretched out over three days; commemorating the Last Supper, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ. These liturgies are meant to engage all our senses - sight, smell, hearing, touch, movement and taste - and invites us to experience the
climactic moments of God's story of redeeming love.
It is now clear that we won't be able to observe Holy Week and Easter as we had hoped or have done in the past. Parish members, staff and vestry are putting together a plan so that we can all worship from our homes and feel some connection as the Body of Christ.
All services will be available for viewing live on Facebook or "on demand" with recording of the worship services on our St. John's website.
On Palm Sunday, at 9:00 AM you can "join in" for the Palm Liturgy, followed by Morning Prayer, including the proclamation of The Passion according to Matthew.
More details to come regarding the liturgies for Holy Week and Easter.
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Stewardship
As we continue in this time of separation, please know that the operations of the parish continue with our staff working from home and in the office. Even though we can't gather in person on Sundays, it is important - as you are able - to remain faithful stewards of our time, talent and treasure. In a time when people are losing their jobs and income, I can imagine the difficulty of trying to make ends meet. The church is no different - as we have financial obligations that the parish must continue to meet.
As you are able, I offer 4 ways to continue giving your pledge:
1) US mail
2) the secured lock box 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by providing to her in writing the necessary information (bank name, account number, expiration date and amount to be withdrawn,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 (
sally@saint-johns.org) or phone call to the office on Thursdays for assistance.
I hope that you will be able to join us in worship either live on Facebook or "on demand" with the recorded worship service posted on our website. We all look forward to the day when we will once again gather in person as a family of faith to worship our God. Blessings and Peace
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Staying Connected in Isolation
Parishioners at St. John's have been divided into nine groups of 12-14 families/individuals each. If you haven't been sent a list of the members of your group, you will soon. One member of each group will have sent the list to the others, but there is no leader. All group members are asked to contact all the others on the list, perhaps in a two-week period. This means that ideally each of us will make one call per day. Those with ecard subscriptions are encouraged to send cards as well.
Let us all encourage one another until the day that we can meet in our beautiful sanctuary, hug and shake hands, and thank our God.
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Sunday Morning Prayer, 9:00 am
If you are able, please join us via
Facebook for the livestream of our Sunday Morning Prayer Service at 9:00 am.
Please find the link for the worship booklet here:
Sunday Morning Prayer, March 29, 9 am
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Scripture Readings For This Sunday
Readings for Sunday, March 29, 2020
Psalm 130
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45
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Lent 2020
We continue our Lenten journey.
We are invited, in the name of the Church, to an observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and acts of charity; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word.
For disciple of our God, this way of observing Lent becomes a way of life. After all that is what Jesus asked his disciple to do.
Our "Lenten" life will lead us once again to the Easter feast, whereby, we will renew our Baptismal commitment which promise new and everlasting life.
We do not strive for holiness because the world exp
ects it, but rather because a closer relationship with God will be our reward.
Lenten Practices
Acts of Charity:
The Maundy Thursday Footwashing Event has been postponed.
Norma Dunn has mailed $370 to the Diocese as our contribution for shoes, as requested.
The 135 pairs of socks and the 12 bags of toiletries are stored at her home
until they are required at a later date.
Fasting:
You are invited to consider the words of Pope Francis how they may become part of your daily life.
Prayer:
The Way of the Cross - prayer and reflections for the 14 Stations of the Cross
As we make our way through Lent, the weekly newsletter will include two or three Stations with questions of reflection for you to use in your prayer and meditation. By the end of Lent, you will have "walked" all 14 Stations. This week we continue with the next two stations:
Lent: Week 5
Eleventh Station
Jesus is nailed to the Cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him;
and with him they crucified two criminals, one on the right, the other on the left,
and Jesus between them.
And the scripture was fulfilled which says,
"He was numbered with the transgressors."
V.
They pierce my hands and my feet:
R.
They stare and gloat over me.
Let us pray. (Silence)
Lord Jesus Christ,
you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross
that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace:
So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love,
may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you;
for the honor of your Name.
Amen.
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.
Reflection:
What would you say to someone who treated you in this way?
Can you identify anyone who has been tortured in this way?
Twelfth Station
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We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near,
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!"
Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!"
And when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished!"
And then, crying with a loud voice, he said,
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."
And he bowed his head, and handed over his spirit.
V.
Christ for us became obedient unto death:
R.
Even death on a cross.
Let us pray. (Silence)
O God,
who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross,
and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy:
Grant us so to die daily to sin,
that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection;
who lives and reigns now and for ever.
Amen.
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.
Reflection:
How have you prepared for your own death?
What is you attitude or belief about death?
Artwork by students from St. John's Episcopal School
For the complete Way of the Cross, please click here.
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A Message From Episcopal Community Services
We at St. John's are grateful for ECS as a partner in ministry. It is truly an honor to provide a home for one of their Head Start Programs. We extend to ECS our support as we all continue to remain at home and find creative ways to minister to one another. Please listen to the follow message from Lesslie Keller, CEO of ECS.
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| Lesslie Video Message 3.23.20 |
For ways to help, please visit ECS. California.org.
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Year of Discipleship
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego invites you to
Turn
as part of
The Year of Discipleship 2020
in this holy season of Lent.
The season of Lent is the perfect opportunity to turn and reorient yourself toward Jesus.
On the Way of Love, we don't only practice turning away from destructive things, but also turning ourselves toward God - like a flower setting its face toward the sun. In our daily lives, we are called to reorient ourselves to Jesus and his loving, liberating, life-giving Way.
Find a video message from Bishop Susan here and other resources for the Turn area of The Way of Love, as well as rules of life in this season of Lent here.
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Current office hours are 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Wednesday and Thursday.
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Prayers
We Are Available in Your Time of Need
If you have a pastoral emergency when the parish offices are closed,
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,
Marion, Bill, Brian, Marcia,
Malia, Norma, Allison, Bernie, Donna, Mary Ann and Liz.
Those unable to come to services, but thankful
for their continuing connection with St. John's,
especially Lois,
Juanita and Paul.
For Churches in Transition in our Diocese
Christ Church, Coronado
St. Paul, Palm Springs
St. Margaret's, Palm Desert
All Saints', Vista
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Opportunities For Service
Pill Bottle Ministry
Did you know that in developing countries, the pill bottle and cap is often more expensive than the medication inside. You can donate your empty prescription bottles! Just drop off your empty prescription bottles in our collection bucket located in the foyer- no need to peel the information off. Our volunteers will take care of that for you! We will wash them and ship them to Matthew 25: Ministries. Matthew 25: Ministries accepts donations of empty plastic pill bottles for inclusion in shipments of medical supplies and for shredding and recycling. Our pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment.
Please note that we can currently only collect the clear orange prescription bottles. We have found that the others do not benefit the program.
Thank you for your support!
Emergency Food Pantry:
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." John 21:17
The South Bay Community Services
"Emergency Food Pantry" needs donations every month. It's easy to donate! We will focus on a different food category each month. Pick up a flyer from the narthex, carry in your car until your next trip to the market, purchase the food, and place it on the table in Nale Hall before the end of the month.
During the month of March, our featured items will be peanut butter and jelly.
Thank you for your support!
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The Vestry
David Dennehy,
Senior Warden
Mark Higginbotham,
Junior Warden
619-861-5510
Terry Farrelly,
Treasurer
Pamela Brittain
Ray Contreras
Diane Gustafson
Mark Higginbotham
Muriel Kulikowski
Jim McDevitt
Judy McKay
Lynn Young
Approved Minutes for the January 22nd Vestry meeting can be found here:
Approved Minutes for the February 19th Vestry Meeting can be found here:
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Rev. Roger's Office Hours
Rev. Roger will be available in the office Monday and Tuesday depending on his school schedule 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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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
maria@saint-johns.org
.
Please submit your announcements by Tuesday of each week for inclusion in the Enews and Sunday bulletin.
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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
maria@saint-johns.org). 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.
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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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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
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Contact Information
phone: 619/422-4141
pastoral care: 619/301-0724 |
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