Wednesday, December 23, 2020

 

Prayer for Christmas

God of love, source of light,
A child is born to us and a son is given to us.
Your eternal Word leaped down from heaven
in the silent watches of the night,
and now your Church is filled with wonder 
at the nearness of her God.

Open our hearts to receive his life 
and let the light of faith shine in our words and actions,
that our lives may be filled with his glory and peace,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Christmas Eve
 




A Festival of
Nine Lessons & Carols
of Christmastide
 
December 24, 2020 
7:00 p.m.
  
Please Join Us!
 
St. John's Episcopal Church
Chula Vista, CA
 
This livestreamed service and the service booklet
may be found on our website:

Or on our Facebook page: Saint John's Episcopal Church
 
This evening's Festival Of Nine Lessons and Carols, a bridge between Advent and Christmastide, follows the format of the service at King's College Chapel in Cambridge, England. It was first introduced there in 1918 and has been broadcast live on Christmas Eve by the BBC since 1928.
 
The service includes carols and readings from the Bible. As the service begins, the prayers of the people are sought for those in need at Christmastime as accounts of God's redemptive acts unfold in the lessons which follow. These nine lessons begin with the account of God's confrontation with evil (represented by the serpent in the narrative of the Garden of Eden), continue with the prophecies of the Messiah who will bruise the serpent's head, and conclude with the fulfillment of these prophecies as recorded in the Gospels. Each lesson is followed by a carol chosen to enhance its message.


Christmas Day 
9:00 am
Liturgy of the Word with Christmas music, prayers and Spiritual Communion
Livestreamed from the church

First Sunday after Christmas
9:00 am
Liturgy of the Word with Christmas music, prayers and Spiritual Communion
Livestreamed from the church

Toys For Tots: Updated
 
Last week's amount was incomplete.

We were able to give Toys for Tots a check for $915.

Thanks to your generosity, we are able to share the love of Christ through the gift of a toy with many children this year.

You Are Needed!

The Vestry of St. John's will have two open  positions in 2021.

The Vestry serves as the Board of Directors for St. John's Parish.  According to the Bylaw of the Parish, the Vestry has the duties for the temporal business and affairs of the Parish.

The Vestry meets (usually) on the Fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:00pm.  The place of the Vestry meeting is designated by the Vestry (during this pandemic, the Vestry meets virtually on Zoom).

If you would are willing to serve as a member of the Vestry, please complete the short Vestry Member Biography.  Completed nominations and biographies should be submitted to Rev. Roger.  Election of the Vestry members will occur at the St. John's Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at 10:30am.

Thank you for considering to serve St. John's Parish
 
Vestry Member Biography 2021

Our Sunday Worship Services 
 
Because of the rising number of coronavirus cases placing us in the Purple (worst) Zone
we cannot gather in the church for in-person worship.  
We will continue to gather virtually for our worship service of the Word of God and Spiritual Communion.  Our service will be livestreamed on the internet.
You may access the livestreamed service through our St. John's website:  www.saint-john's.org  or our Facebook page:  Saint John's Episcopal Church.


Scripture Readings For the Week

Readings for Christmas Day

Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 96
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-20


Readings for Sunday, December 27, 2020

Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Psalm 147:13-21
Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7
John 1:1-18

Worship Booklet for Sunday, December 27
 
Facebook Link for Services:  Saint John's Episcopal Church
St. John's website: saint-johns.org


Wednesday Morning Prayer
 
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, Betty, Anne Marie, Bernie, Christy, 
Judith, Gloria, Dyan, Marla, the Milam family, 
Steve, Dawn, Gary and Shirley, John and Sheryl,
and for all first responders, medical professionals, 
essential workers and their families.

For the repose of the soul of Jeff Walker.
May light perpetual shine on him.

Cycle of Prayers for the Church

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the clergy and people of 
St. Michael's by-the-Sea in Carlsbad.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Christians in other denominations and the work of the ecumenical movement.

Pastoral Care
 
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

2020 Stewardship Campaign
 
It is with gratitude for the abundant grace received by our God, that St. John's gives thanks for all the gifts you have given to our family of faith. 


Stewardship Results Update

 
2020
2021
Number of pledges
70
51
Treasure amount pledged
$141,033.00
$112,270
Time and Talent responses
 
71

 

Pledge Envelopes
 
2021 pledge envelopes are available in the office. 
If you would like to receive yours by mail, please call or email Maria in the office
(maria@saint-johns.org/619-216-5220).

If you have been mailing in your pledge checks, you can continue to do so without a pledge envelope- your account will be credited correctly, with or without an envelope.
 
Prayer Quilt Ministry
 
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). 

 
Upcoming Events at St. John's

December 247:00 pmA Festival of Lessons and Carols 
Christmas Eve -Virtual

December 259:00 am Christmas Day Service - Virtual
December 24 & 25

Office Closed
December 31 & January 1

Office Closed

January 24, 2021

10:30 am

Annual Meeting

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.

 

Current office hours are 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Thursday.
If you need assistance, please email Maria Love: 

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.

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.
 
The Vestry

David Dennehy, Senior Warden
619-840-9994 
Terry Farrelly, Treasurer
Diane Gustafson, Clerk
Pamela Brittain
Tom Brzeczek
Ray Contreras
Muriel Kulikowski
Jim McDevitt
Judy McKay
Lynn Young


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.

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
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Contact Information
phone: 619/422-4141
pastoral care: 619/301-0724
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