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Pentecost Prayer
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.
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Scripture Readings For the Week
Readings for Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 2020
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:25-35, 37
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
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Spiritual Reflection on Pentecost
Pentecost commemorates an event two thousand years old, when in Jerusalem, diverse peoples gathered for the Jewish celebration of Pentecost (Acts 2). This celebration fell on the 50th day (pentekostos) after Passover. Originally, Pentecost celebrated the first fruits of harvest, but it evolved into a celebration of God's giving of the Law (Torah) to Moses, and the covenant God made with Israel.
During the celebration, God's Spirit came in the form of blowing winds and tongues of fire. In a miracle of complete surprise, people of diverse tongues were given the means to understand each other. Human divides of culture, ethnicity and language were bridged, and this manifested God's will for all people to be One with God and one another.
On this 50th day after Easter, we join Christians throughout the world who celebrate the Church's birth, in renewed commitment to the mission of reconciliation. We thank God for the presence of the Holy Spirit, the gift promised by Christ that would be with us forever.
There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12: 4-7).
What gifts has the Spirit given you?
How will the Spirit move you for the common good of all God's people?
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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!
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Reopening St. John's
Bishop Susan has recommended that parishes form a task force for the reopening of the parish. The task force is looking at the guidelines and practices set forth by the state and church 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 are looking 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 have convened this week 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 continue this very important, careful work of reopening the parish.
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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, Bill,
Barbara,
Paul, Don, Kevin, Sophia
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
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From the Prayer Journal of Fr. Jack Tolley
Friends. I thought about all of you at St. John's and your limitless faith in doing God's work. I want to share this wonderful reflection on this topic in the May 26, 2020 issue of "Forward Day by Day" by Richelle Thompson. It's all about you regular folks who do great things.
Blessings and love,
Fr. Jack.
Ephesians 3: 14 - 21. Now to him who by the power within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
When I joined the Episcopal Church, my first bishop often ended his sermons with these words. During his episcopate, he set bold and audacious goals: for church, growth, racial reconciliation and spiritual formation. But he never believed these goals would be accomplished under his own steam. God was the engine, driving our bishop and us to new and unexpected places. Some other leaders in our tradition share this unwavering faith in a limitless God. But I'm most impressed when I encounter this steadfast faith in regular folks who set seemingly impossible goals of ending hunger, housing the homeless, reforming our prison systems, tackling addictions, and then set about working hand in hand with God to accomplish abundantly more than they can ask or imagine.
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Stewardship
Stewardship is about the offering of our time, talent and treasure.
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 (
sally@saint-johns.org) or phone call to the office on Thursdays for assistance.
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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.
* Pill Bottle and Monthly SBCS grocery list collections are currently suspended at St. John's.
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Current office hours are 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Wednesday and Thursday.
If you need assistance, please email Maria Love:
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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.
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.
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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
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The Vestry
David Dennehy,
Senior Warden
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:
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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.
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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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