The Advent season begins the Church year and is observed in many Christian churches

as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word meaning “Coming”. We light the candles of the Advent Wreath to mark our passage through the four weeks. The evergreen circle symbolizes the eternal, living God who has no beginning and no end.

During Advent, God’s people summon the courage and the spiritual strength to remember that the holy breaks into the daily. In tiny ways, we can open our broken hearts to the healing grace of God, who opens the way to peace. Advent is not a season of passive waiting and watching. It is a season of opening our lives and our souls with active anticipation and renewed hope.

The deep roots of our Christian tradition may offer just such a path. By entering into reflection, discernment and commitment around the practices of Turn – Learn – Pray – Worship – Bless – Go – Rest, I (Bishop Curry) pray that we will grow as communities following the loving, liberating, life-giving way of Jesus. His way has the power to change each of our lives and to change this world.

As we continue our Advent walk, we invite you to see the Way of Love as a journey that includes the community. The witness of Zechariah and Elizabeth who bring infant John to the Temple to be circumcised reminds us of the importance of our faith community to sustaining the Way of Love. Just as the community did for John’s family, communities provide a place for discernment, sometimes challenging us and other times affirming us. Communities celebrate and mark important moments along the journey.

For more Advent resources related to the Way of Love, visit episcopalchurch.org/wayoflove. There, you’ll find links to the full Advent curriculum Journeying the Way of Love, as well as Living the Way of Love in Community, a nine-session curriculum for use anytime.

December 12, 2021

Please join us for our celebration of Holy Eucharist at 9:00 am in the church. 

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Canticle 9

Philippians 4:4-7

Luke 3:7-18

The mask requirement has been lifted, except for:

aaaaaayou may want to consider wearing a mask

Sanitize your hands, keep some social distance and limit physical touch

Facebook Link for Services: Saint John's Episcopal Church

St. John's website: saint-johns.org

We are accepting dedications to honor your loved ones while helping us to decorate the altar with Christmas Poinsettias.

Flower envelopes are available in the Narthex, or you may email Maria (maria@saint-johns.org) with your dedications:

In honor of ________________

In memory of ______________

In celebration of ____________

In thanksgiving for ___________

Payment may be made through the "Give Now" button on our website, by mailing a check to St. John's, or by placing your check in the offering plate. Please submit your dedications by December 16.

You are the Light of the World.

Sunday, January 2 - Bishop Susan Brown Snook's address to the Convention

Sunday, January 9 - Canon for Mission, Jason Evans' address to the Convention

Sunday School is now available. Children ages 4 and up are welcome to come and learn about the Word of God with Heather Wallace.

Child Care is available during our Sunday Services. Ana, the daughter of Alex Valdez-Beer, will be staffing our child care room.

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, Quinceañera Marriage, Renewal of Vows or Anointing of the Sick.

At St. John's, no matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey - you are welcome here

If you have a pastoral emergency when the parish offices are closed,

please call 619-301-0724 or email revroger@saint-johns.org

Rev. Roger will be away from December 7-14. If you have a pastoral emergency, please contact David Dennehy for assistance: 619-840-9994.

To give a monetary donation, visit toysfortots.org or write a check payable to Toys for Tots San Diego and place it in the offering plate.

St. John's Outreach Committee meets monthly to discuss our parish Outreach activities.

We will continue our ongoing collections for:

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.

The Outreach Committee has chosen to support Dreams For Change, an organization that provides resources for people living in their cars in ‘Safe Parking’ places set aside by the County. Please bring your clean, gently used blankets and they will be delivered to the organization. There will be a labeled container in Nale Hall to receive donations.

For more information on the Dreams for Change Safe Parking program, please click here.

Please click on the following link or visit the St. John's website (www.saint-johns.org) for more information on our Outreach Ministries:

Sign-ups are available in the Narthex for St. John's Christmas Party on Saturday, December 18th at 6:00 pm in Nale Hall. Please let us know how many people will be attending and what dish you will be bringing. Ham, turkey and drinks will be provided by the Men of St. John’s.  

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

2022 will be our Centennial Year!

Please contact Maria Love in the parish office by calling 1-619-422-4141 or emailing maria@saint-johns.org

Join us for Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study

on Wednesdays at 9:30 am as a Zoom meeting.

Please contact Rev. Roger ( revroger@saint-johns.org)

The Morning Prayer guide can be found here:

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.

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.

Today and every day include some time for prayer, for yourself,

for your church family, and for those in need.

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, Daniel Getreu, Jamal Warner, Matt Hernandez, Devon Strunk, Taylor Harrold, Jorge Zuazua, Katherine Milam, Sebastian Morales, Richie Lebron, Roberto Johnson and the crew of USS Essex.

Steve Magill, Gary & Shirley McCarren, Ann Lindshield, Scott Hunter, Darlene Hallsten, Helen McElvaney, Evan McClure, Julie Croom, David Dennehy, Anna Jones, and the Guajardo family.

For the repose of the soul of John Guajardo.

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the clergy and people of St. Barnabas in Borrego Springs.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Anglican Church of Canada.

In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for all Episcopal Chaplains serving around the world.

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).

Our stewardship campaign this year focused on using the gifts that God has given us in order to transform the lives of all people. While St. John's needs your monetary pledge, we hope that you will also give of your time and talent. 

As you discern your stewardship gift, your vestry encourages you to prayerfully consider an increase in the amount you will pledge. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

The Parish Council will meet on Saturday the 11th at 9am. We hope to have all our ministries represented as we plan our 1st Quarter Calendar for 2022 and discuss any ideas for possible events we can recommend to vestry. David Dennehy will have coffee and muffins ready when you arrive.

meeting is on Wednesday, December 15th at 6:00 pm. Please contact Maria in the office and to receive the Zoom link for the meeting.

David Dennehy, Senior Warden

aaaaaa619-840-9994 

aaaaaamasterfrog@att.net

Lynn Young, Junior Warden

aaaaaa208-695-7735

aaaaaalynnyoung2786@gmail.com

Bill Cheney, Treasurer

Terry Farrelly, Assistant Treasurer

In the coming year, three positions on vestry will become vacant. If you have an interest in joining the vestry, please consider running for election.

If you would like more information about Vestry, contact David Dennehy at masterfrog@att.net or 619-840-9994.

................................ (with choir and congregation carols)

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).

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.

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.

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.

A Weekly, On The Go Resource for Parents and Non-Parents Alike

Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar. Joined each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go team highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.

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.

Find resources to connect with real people that can help, here.

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.

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.